Verizon could've had the iPhone

Who says second place is the first loser? Certainly not Cingular. Yet, two years ago, it played second-fiddle to Verizon Wireless, who Apple first approached as its exclusive carrier of the iPhone.

Apple’s offer was a good one . . . for Apple. In exchange for sole distribution rights, Apple wanted a monthly cut of Verizon’s phone fees, management over how and where iPhones were sold, and "control of the relationship with iPhone customers." The latter demand is rather bizzare, don’t you think? Financial gain is one thing, but insisting that the reins of customer service be handed over to you is quite another. In the face of a malfunctioning iPhone, what Apple wanted was "sole discretion over whether to replace or repair the phone."

Sounds like someone’s got control issues.

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