Apple In ‘High Level’ iPhone Talks With Verizon Wireless

Will Verizon ever wrest away iPhone exclusivity from AT&T? We don’t know for certain, but tonight we do know that the wireless carrier is working hard to make it so, possibly by 2010.

The revelation comes to us by way of USA Today, where we also learned that Steve Jobs was involved in the negotiations when they first began a few months ago. The year 2010 is a magic number of sorts too, as that is when the super secret exclusivity contract between Apple and AT&T is rumoured to expire. You can bet AT&T is working equally hard to extend its contract and keep Verizon at bay.

In remarks made to USA Today, Roger Entner, head of telecom research for Nielsen, said “breaking the (iPhone) exclusivity with AT&T is a huge thing. That would send shivers into AT&T’s stock and senior leadership.”

It would also send shivers, of the positive kind, through the spines of current Verizon customers that really, really want an iPhone. Choice is good. [USA Today]