Five-Year contract for Apple

USA Today runs an article on the iPhone today with mostly known facts and tidbits about the pending launch of the new device. However, one interesting new fact stood out from the article:

“AT&T has exclusive U.S. distribution rights for five years — an eternity in the go-go cellphone world.”

Five years? Apple must have truly gotten an amazing deal out of Cingular in order to agree to a five year exclusive arrangement. Or were they just desperate after Verizon turned down the iPhone deal?

And you thought your two-year cell phone contract was cut throat huh?