Report: Apple privately testing a U.S. MVNO, has eyes on Europe as well

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is privately testing an MVNO service in the U.S. but is also in talks with European carriers on an MVNO as well, according to a Business Insider report. The report, citing unnamed sources, said that although Apple will purchase wholesale wireless capacity from carriers as other MVNOs do, Apple's SIM card, which it uses in new iPad models, will switch between carriers to offer customers the best service.

The report said there is no guarantee Apple's service will launch beyond a test phase, and if it does, it could take at least five years to fully launch the service. Apple has been in talks with carriers for years over its MVNO plans, the report said. An Apple spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this year Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)  launched its Project Fi MVNO in partnership with Sprint (NYSE: S) and T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS). The service lets customers dynamically switch between the carriers' LTE networks and Wi-Fi networks for the best service. However, for now, Project Fi is invitation-only and works on just one phone, the Nexus 6. Article