iPhone News Updated

AT&T CEO: We’ll push Android phones

The CEO of AT&T Inc. on Thursday said the company will start “very aggressively” marketing smart phones based on Google Inc.’s Android software now that it will no longer be the exclusive carrier for Apple Inc.’s iPhone in the U.S.

So far, Verizon Wireless, AT&T’s chief competitor, has been the biggest supporter of Android. But it will start selling the iPhone on Feb. 10, and is likely to shift resources away from Android.

Motorola on Wednesday said it’s already seeing a drop-off in sales of its Android phones in Verizon stores, as customers are holding off, waiting for the iPhone.

In effect, AT&T and Verizon Wireless are set to swap strategies in the high-stakes smart phone market, with AT&T turning to Android and Verizon to the iPhone.

“We’re going to be a heavy participant in the Android market this year, so you’re going to see a significant shift in mix” of the phones sold by AT&T, CEO Randall Stephenson told analysts on a conference call. Apart from Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc., major makers of Android phones are Samsung Electronics Corp. and HTC Corp.

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Verizon Turns On iPhone Pre-Order Countdown Clock

The Verizon iPhone 4 is getting closer. So close, that Verizon has posted a pre-order countdown clock on its Web site.

The clock is ticking down to 3:00 a.m. EST on Feb. 3, when existing Verizon customers can sign up for a “reserved quantity” of the device, which are likely to be delivered on the Feb. 10 launch date. To secure the phone, those that sign up will also have to sign a new contract with Verizon.

Customers on other carriers will have to wait until Feb. 10 to nab the iPhone on Verizon.

After months of rumors, Verizon announced that it had nabbed the iPhone 4 in a press event in New York. Previously, Apple’s smart phone had been exclusively supported by AT&T.

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