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iPhone to come to Cingular?

Will Apple's rumored iPhone be a Cingular Exclusive?

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
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Kent German
Ministry of Tech

As we told you yesterday, iPhone rumors in the past year have become like I Love Lucy reruns--you just can't get away from them. But in recent days some of the most interesting gossip has emerged with a report that a Taiwanese company has received an Apple order for 12 million iPhones. This is the latest picture of the supposed device, but as with every other "iPhone" photo we've posted, we have no way of knowing whether it's real or fake.

We're also hearing again that Cingular will be the exclusive launch carrier for the phone. If that's true, it goes without saying that it would be a huge coup for the carrier and would erase any bad customer feelings left over from last year's ill-fated Rokr. On the other hand, it would be a bit surprising. Since Apple doesn't always play well with others, I expected the company to start an MVNO.

Most reports agree that the phone will be available next spring, which may give Apple enough time to announce the device, but not release it, at January's Macworld.