AT&T looks beyond Apple's iPhone

AT&T (T) has had a rash of problems since it partnered with Apple (AAPL) and began selling the iPhone two years ago. The cause of the rash is that its data network cannot keep up with the demand from iPhone users.

While speaking last month in Pasadena AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson admitted his company may not be the only one selling the iPhone in the future. But while many AT&T iPhone customers await the day where they can buy an iPhone at, say, a Verizon (VZ) store, AT&T is also planning for the day when it either no longer has an exclusive agreement to sell the iPhone or no iPhone to sell at all.