- Citing "sources close to Apple," Business Insider reports Apple (AAPL -2.5%) is "privately trialing" a U.S. mobile phone service, and is also in talks with European carriers to offer something similar. The services would be provided on an MVNO basis - Apple wouldn't build/own the underlying infrastructure, but obtain wholesale access from existing carriers.
- BI cautions there's no guarantee the services will go beyond the test phase, and that Apple "could take at least five years" to do a full launch. The company has reportedly talked with carriers for years about the idea, so much so that sources call Apple's interest in launching an MVNO an "open secret" within the industry.
- Launching MVNOs would extend Apple's control over the iPhone user experience to voice/data services, and allow it to experiment with new service plans/pricing. It could also trigger a backlash among carriers that find themselves competing with an Apple MVNO, and aren't getting wholesale revenue. However, the fact carriers would still have no other company to buy iPhones from could limit the fallout.
- In April, Google launched a beta for its aggressively-priced Project Fi MVNO service, in partnership with Sprint and T-Mobile. However, for now, the service is only available via Google/Motorola Mobility's Nexus 6 phablet.
- Shares have sold off amid a 0.8% decline for the Nasdaq. They're at their lowest levels since February.
- Update: Also reported by BI: Apple is prepping a voicemail service that will use Siri to answer calls and transcribe messages. It's expected to launch in 2016.
- Update 2 (8/4): Apple says it hasn't discussed launching an MVNO service, and has no plans to do so.