iPhone is likely to stay with AT&T for another year

A “75 percent probability” exists that AT&T will hold onto the American iPhone during 2010, claims Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin. There is a  high chance that AT&T will bid and win a one-year contract extension. Rumors of a Verizon iPhone have accelerated in recent weeks, but have mostly been tied to a January 27th event which turned out to be the iPad debut, and didn’t shed any light on the iPhone.

Only AT&T would gain anything from continued exclusivity, says Chaplin. The iPhone already accounts for 66 percent of AT&T smartphones, meaning there is little room for expansion.

A Verizon iPhone is nevertheless expected in 2011. Other analysts have commented that both AT&T and Verizon phones could gain LTE (4G) support at the same time.

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