Apple special vice president Eddy Cue sat down for a conversation with British publication The Evening Standard, and discussed Apple Music, and how Apple is “trying to fix” the issue of carrier roaming charges for iPhone users.
Cue’s discussion with the Standard took place on the eve of the release of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and while the company is presenting their newly renamed Apple Music Festival in London.
Cue is queried about being worried to see the end of the three-month free trial of Apple Music coming to an end. Is he worried about subscriber numbers falling off a cliff?
“Ultimately, you never know until it happens,” he reasons. “But we’re pleased with the number of people who have tried. Everybody gets fixated on the short term but we’re in this for the long haul.”
Against an Apple publicist’s wishes, Cue shows off the new iPhone, which won’t be available until the next day. (“I know I’m not allowed to talk about the phone but what the hell — he can’t fire me”). While showing it off to the Standard reporter, the subject of international roaming for phone call and data comes up.
“It’s sad, it’s another problem,” says Cue. “We’re trying to fix it and we’re making a little bit of progress but you’ve got to convince a lot of people.”
While Cue didn’t elaborate on what Apple is doing to try to fix the problem, it may be pushing carriers to follow T-Mobile’s moves to adopt international data roaming at no extra cost.
AppleInsider notes that Apple may become an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). Although the Cupertino firm has already denied rumors to that effect that popped up earlier this year.
