Carriers as dumb pipes?

Given Apple’s tremendous earnings yesterday, 80% growth in iPhone shipments (30M), 150% year-over-year growth in iPad shipments with margins improving to 47%…. what does the future hold for carriers? If consumers go to the Apple store to select product and network is just an afterthought? Retailers also loose when manufactures can create both an effective BRAND and EXPERIENCE (see related USA Today article and Forbes). Continue reading