"It would not be in Apple's best interest to stay exclusive with AT&T, and in fact, Apple should be getting onto every carrier's network as soon as they can," added Craig Mathias, an analyst at Farpoint Group and a former Computerworld columnist.

All those interviewed said it wouldn't be hard to build in radios that work on other networks, including the EV-DO network from Verizon Wireless.

If, in addition to AT&T, Apple should go to Verizon or T-Mobile USA to sell the iPhone, there is a chance that a price competition would occur, lowering the average sales price and the profit that Apple could make on each device, warned Sean Ryan, an analyst at market research firm IDC.