Speaking to Business Insider, “telecom sources” are also reporting that Apple is in talks with telecommunication companies in Europe as well, while it has been in talks with US carriers for years now. There’s been some indication in the past that Apple was interested in launching an MVNO service, but Business Insider nowreports that Apple has actually begun trialling such a service in the US. The telecoms companies auction capacity to Apple so it can run the service. However BI reports that Apple won’t launch the service any time soon and consumer might not see it until five or more years down the line.
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Acting as MVNO, Apple would provide your wireless service but use the spectrum from an existing carrier.
The Apple SIM already lets you switch between network carriers without needing to change the SIM (or be locked into a long-term contract) and now works with AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint’s networks. Most of us know that Apple is all about control and keeping things in its own ecosystem by doing things like keeping OS X and iOS on Macs and iPhones/iPads/iPod touches, so it’s no surprise to hear that the Cupertino firm is playing with the idea of offering its own MVNO. Once Apple launches iCloud Voicemail, you won’t have that problem, and will be free to sign up to Apple’s MVNO.
There have been rumours about an Apple MVNO for years. It has since filed to extend that patent.
Apple has already signalled its intent to become the gateway to carriers when it launched the Apple SIM in 2014. This happens to be the same thing that Google is doing with its Project Fi MVNO. Then in 2014, Apple launched the Apple SIM, which is only available for the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3.
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But not every MVNO is successful.
