AT&T is the first operator in the world that started selling iPhone terminals, the company being also Apple's oldest partner in terms of iPhone sales. In Q2 2012 AT&T sold almost 4 million iPhones representing half of all smartphones sold through its own distribution network, but it seems that the operator would like to stop selling this device. Company leadership would be recommended his employees to try to convince customers to buy Android/Windows Phone terminals when they enter the store, even if that customer came specifically to buy an iPhone, and forbade some employees to buy iPhones.
Regional retail sales managers at AT&T have been instructing store managers to pump the brakes on Apple's iPhone. Instructions handed down from corporate state that customers seeking smartphones at AT&T retail stores should be steered away from Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and towards Android phones or Windows Phone handsets like the Nokia Lumia 900 instead. BGR has confirmed the directive with three independent sources. Even when customers come into stores specifically looking for the iPhone 4S or iPhone 4, staffers have been instructed to make an effort to show people Android and Windows Phone devices as well, so they can "make an informed decision." In addition, AT&T retail staff in at least some locations are no longer permitted to obtain iPhones as their company-owned devices, and must instead choose an Android smartphone or a Windows Phone.
The information is extremely important and extremely worrying for Apple because AT&T is the second mobile phone operator in the US if we look at the number of subscribers, but AT&T was the main channel for promoting the iPhone in that country. The problems between Apple and AT&T now seem to affect sales, and the orders from the company's management will surely affect iPhone sales, even if many customers will refuse an Android or Windows Phone terminal regardless of the employees' insistence.
Looking at things from a distance, I say that if everything is true, then Apple has a huge problem because the gesture of those from AT&T will have a strong echo in the boardrooms of the other operators and the power that Apple had over them could disappear over night. If the information is untrue and AT&T did not act in this way, then someone must be held accountable for the published information because it will seriously affect Apple, no matter how real it is.
UPDATE: Here is the official position of AT&T.
The idea that we would steer any customer away from a particular device could not be more far-fetched. Our reps do what it takes to align customer needs with the best device for them. iPhone remains one of our most popular devices, which doesn't happen by steering people away from it. Our reps are encouraged to try all devices so they are more knowledgeable about our industry-leading smartphone lineup.
