“There’s also no denying that these distribution deals have benefited consumers. More than 30 devices have been introduced to compete with the iPhone since its debut in 2007. The fact that one carrier has an exclusive has forced other companies to find partners and innovate. In response, the price of the iPhone has steadily fallen. The earliest iPhones cost more than $500; last month, Apple introduced a $99 model.
“If this is a market malfunction, let’s have more of them. Isn’t Washington busy enough re-ordering the rest of the economy?”
— The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2009
