Analyst Piper Jaffray "conservatively estimates" that Apple is getting an $11 a month kickback from AT&T for every new iPhone customer, and $3 for existing AT&T customers who switch to the magic box.
Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray thinks that the split between switchers and existing customers who upgrade is around 50/50 which, if Apple sells his projected 3.2 million iPhones this year, means over $500 million over two years (this is a rough calculation – 1.6 million iPhones x 24 months x $11 for switchers plus 1.6 million iPhones x 24 months x $11 for stickers).
Not a bad chunk of change, especially as that's on top of the actual hardware sales. Munster also believes that by 2009 this revenue sharing deal could boost per-share earnings on Apple stock by 58 cents. It looks like the iPhone is business friendly after all, hey Steve?
Analyst weighs in on Apple's rev-share arrangement with AT&T [AppleInsider]
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