Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:06 am
AT&T reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter profit as it added a record number of iPhones to its network.
The Atlanta, Ga.-based company said it added 2 million new customers -- a third more than analysts had expected -- with a big chunk of those coming at the expense of rival carriers.
AT&T's recent focus has been upgrading its network and increasing revenue from selling data services, encouraging email use and Web surfing. It activated 3.2 million iPhones in the quarter, demonstrating its reliance as the exclusive U.S. carrier of Apple's popular device.
However, neither AT&T nor Apple have revealed how much longer their exclusive deal will last.
"We know that's going to continue after the iPhone is no longer exclusive to us," said Ralph de la Vega, AT&T Mobility's chief executive. "I am confident that's well ahead of our peers."
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