By Kat Asharya | Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:44 am |
The survey also found that 34 percent would be willing to switch if any other carrier sold the iPhone, highlighting the dissatisfaction with AT&T's network.
"Many consumers who have been attracted to an iPhone have not switched simply based on the popularity of Apple's smartphone," Morpace wrote in its report. "A sizeable percentage of AT&T's iPhone customers are known to have become dissatisfied with its carrier's service, including network coverage, dropped calls and other issues."
AT&T has been Apple's exclusive U.S. provider for the last three years.
Morpace found that Verizon had a high customer satisfaction rate, as 29 percent of customers on any carrier said they would be willing to jump on over to Verizon for a non-AT&T iPhone. Over half of current Verizon subscribers also said they were either "somewhat likely" or "very likely" to buy an iPhone if it offered the iPhone.
The Michigan-based company's findings are nearly identical to those collected last May by market research firm ChangeWave, coming on the heels of recent rumors of a Verizon iPhone to be offered January 2011.
AT&T seems to be preparing for an end to its iPhone exclusivity. The wireless carrier stated in its latest filing with the SEC that the loss of any exclusivity would "not have a material negative impact" on revenues. But Morpace's poll hints at a different outcome if Verizon gets the iPhone.
Analysts say Apple would also benefit from offering the iPhone to other carriers. Such a move might increase Apple's share in the U.S. smartphone market, where it now trails both Google's Android and Research in Motion's BlackBerry operating systems.
Morpace polled 1,000 U.S. consumers from July 15 to 20.
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