Following an upgrade of the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock this morning, Citigroup (NYSE:C) analyst Michael Rollins says that the exclusive U.S. carrier deal with Apple could include payouts of up to $300 per new subscriber. According to AppleInsider, Apple Inc., could receive between $250 and $300 for each new subscriber it helps lure to Cingular's network.

Apple could see extra commissions from its iPhone partner AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)/Cingular, if the company is able to attract "switchers" from other mobile networks. The payouts would likely come over the life of the service contracts and represent very high-margin revenue for Apple, the analyst wrote in a research report. Though the deal is not yet in place, if it were to come about look for Apple's esteemed brand to drive hoards of people to the change.

Some still seem skeptical. "The recent launch of Apple's iPhone does not pose a threat to Research In Motion Ltd.(NASDAQ:RIMM) 's consumer-geared BlackBerry Pearl and simply marks the entry of yet another competitor into the smartphone market," RIM's co-chief executive, Jim Balsillie, said in an interview.

Recently I have been interviewing for summer jobs on Wall Street. As an Apple enthusiast, I always ask the interviewer whether he or she would consider purchasing the iPhone. Thus far I have received only responses of "no way" or "the screen could break too easily," so maybe Mr. Balsillie has a point. On the other hand, those conducting the interviews may fall outside the generation expected to drive sales of the iPod; i.e., my college friends and me.

Apple iPhone not a threat... Think again! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.