Sprint may have jumped at the chance to carry the iPhone, but other carriers may have a few requirements. Per Fierce Wireless, carrier U.S. Cellular is not interested in the iPhone, at least not until it has LTE.
Speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, Ted Carlson, CEO of U.S. Cellular’s parent company TDS, said, “The iPhone for us would need to be at the cutting edge of where we’re going, and then there might be an opportunity to consider it.”
Like other wireless carriers, regional carrier U.S. Cellular is updating its 3G network to 4G LTE. Because its network is small, the carrier will blanket 25 percent of its subscribers in 4G by the end of this year and another 25 percent by the end of 2012. It hopes to cover all its subscribers across 26 states within three years.
U.S. Cellular will sell its first 4G handset and tablet in early 2012 and may pick up the iPhone if it shipped with LTE.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.