Apple is denying a report that said it was testing its own wireless service.
“We have not discussed nor do we have any plans to launch an MVNO,” said an Apple spokeswoman in a statement.
On Monday, a report from Business Insider quoted sources ‘close to Apple’ who said that the company is looking to get into the MVNO game. A MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, is a company that runs a service built upon borrowed networks leased from established carriers.
BREAKING: Apple says it has not discussed & is not planning MVNO cellular service following reports saying it was planning on doing that.
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) August 4, 2015
“There is no guarantee Apple’s service will launch beyond a test phase, and if it does, it will not roll out anytime soon. Telecoms sources say Apple is looking long-term with its MVNO and could take at least five years to fully launch the service. Apple has been in talks with telecoms companies for years over its MVNO plans, those sources say, adding that it’s an “open secret” among carriers that a virtual Apple network is on the way,” said the report.
If Apple were to launch its own phone service, it would control every aspect of your smartphone life. Apple would sell you an iPhone, and you would sign on to Apple’s mobile service (which would be powered by one or more likely, multiple, established networks).
But according to Apple, that’s not going to happen.
One report says a company is planning something – company says it’s not planning anything. Color everyone shocked.