There's no telling yet whether or when AT&T (T) might lose its position as the sole U.S. carrier of the Apple (AAPL) iPhone. But in the event Apple opts to partner with other mobile-phone service providers, Verizon Wireless says it's up to the task.
Verizon Wireless has even made upgrades that would make its network more capable of handling extra traffic that would be generated by the iPhone, Verizon Wireless Chief Technology Officer Anthony Melone says in an interview.
"We have put things in place already," Melone tells Bloomberg BusinessWeek. "We are prepared to support that traffic."
AT&T has come under fire for the spotty performance of its network. Vexed by dropped calls and slow download speeds, some consumers say the company was unprepared for the surge in traffic that's resulted from iPhone use. Verizon Wireless in TV commercials has mocked AT&T's network coverage, and Melone says his company's equipment would do a better job catering to the heavy data demands of iPhone customers. "Absolutely, I think we could handle it," he says.
Melone didn't address the prospect of landing a deal to carry the iPhone, though Verizon Wireless officials have in the past said they occasionally discuss partnerships with Apple executives. Earlier this year, the companies were considering releasing iPhone-like devices that would run on the Verizon Wireless network, people familiar with the matter said
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