Apple iPhone exclusive to Cingular: gentlemen, start your scuttlebutts!

According to a posting on the always-speculative Thinksecret.com, an agreement has reportedly been signed between and Apple and Cingular to offer the iPhone exclusively through Cingular for the first six months after the phone is launched.

Since I use Verizon, as do most of my Apple-enthusiast friends, I guess we'll just have to wait even longer for this much-ballyhooed Apple-branded handset. Either that, or I can follow the herd in switching mobile service providers -- as was the case when RAZR hit the market a little less then two years ago.

Apple's phone will reportedly feature a candy-bar design with a 2.2-inch display and 3MP camera. Robust iTunes and iSync support will also be delivered with the phone. Insiders say Apple is internally estimating that shipments of the iPhone will top an astonishing 25 million in 2007 alone. In contrast the RAZR has sold more than 50 million units since its launch in late 2004.

The release date for the phone is rumored early 2007 and look for it to sweep through college campuses following its release. On my campus, the scuttlebutt has already started.