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A day after strong rumours appeared suggesting Apple was testing its own mobile network, the technology giant has spoken out to shut down the story.
On Monday, Business Insider reported that the iPhone maker was discussing and even testing an MVNO – the term for companies that add their own cellular signal on to existing mobile networks.
However, the Cupertino firm has told CNBC in no uncertain terms that this is definitely not the case.
BREAKING: Apple says it has not discussed & is not planning MVNO cellular service following reports saying it was planning on doing that.
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) August 4, 2015
While the company does offer the Apple SIM, which enables users to jump between different mobile networks in order to get better coverage, this is the closest it has so far come to its own network. The initial rumours suggested that the service was already being tested in the US, and work had begun to bring it to Europe – with an overall release date up to five years away.
Apple’s swift rebuke confirms that this is definitely not the case. If it had been, the most likely response would probably have been silence.
There have been previous suggestions that Apple was looking into the idea of a mobile network – before the launch of the first iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs is said to have entertained the idea before eventually shelving it. A stance the company appears to be keeping to this day.
