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How much longer does Apple (AAPL) plan to continue its iPhone exclusivity contract with AT&T (T)? Some say until June<\/a>, when the device arrives on Verizon’s airwaves. Other’s say fall.<\/p>\n Not unreasonable predictions given issues with AT&T\u2019s network<\/a> and the simple fact that adding Verizon would more than double the iPhone\u2019s addressable market<\/a>. But perhaps a bit over-eager — particularly in light of Apple COO Tim Cook\u2019s remarks about the carrier during a company earnings call Monday<\/a>. <\/p>\n Asked about AT&T, the bad press its network has been receiving lately and the impact it has had on the Apple brand, Cook defended the company.<\/p>\n “First of all, AT&T is a great partner,” he said. “We’ve been working with them since well before we announced the first iPhone. And I think it is important to remember they had more mobile broadband usage than any other carrier in the world. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cAnd in the vast majority of locations we think that iPhone customers are having a great experience from the research that we have done,\u201d Cook added. \u201cAs you know, AT&T has acknowledged that they are having some issues in a few cities and they have very detailed plans to address these. We have personally reviewed these plans, and we have very high confidence that they will make significant progress toward fixing them.\u201d<\/p>\n Now Cook\u2019s remarks certainly don\u2019t preclude the possibility that Apple will end its exclusivity arrangement with AT&T. But his eager defense of the carrier suggests there\u2019s at least a chance that it will renew it. <\/p>\n Of course, Apple did a hell of a job talking up the PowerPC architecture too–right up until it dumped it for Intel’s x86 design in 2006<\/a>.<\/p>\n Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n