iPhone 5 Rumors Could Hurt Apple, but Benefit Verizon, ATandT

NEWS ANALYSIS: Verizon Wireless and AT&T posted surprisingly strong second-quarter earnings, given that rumors of an upcoming iPhone 5 likely delayed some iPhone sales. While those missed sales hurt Apple, they seem to have benefited the carriers.

Smartphone and tablet usage is up, Americans are burning through more data than ever and the wireless carriers, which have invested billions of dollars to get to this point, are beginning to enjoy the results.

They’re also enjoying what the Apple iPhone has helped to create, even in absentia.

AT&T this quarter announced its “best-ever wireless margins,” a $1 billion wireless data revenue increase from a year ago, and sales of 5.1 million smartphones. Wireless service revenues increased 4.3 percent, to $14.8 billion, and its postpaid ARPU—or, average revenue per user—grew to $64.93.

Verizon Wireless’ wireless service revenues increased 7.3 percent year-over-year, to $15.8 billion. It sold 5.9 million smartphones during the quarter, 3.2 million LTE devices, and raised its ARPU to a three-year high of $56.13.

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