AT&T has been itching to retain a vice-like grip on its exclusivity contract with Apple regarding the iPhone, though it appears Apple perhaps isn’t quite so keen to keep its technological phenomenon locked up for much longer.

According to USA Today, Steve Jobs began discussions with Verizon before going on sick leave earlier in the year, though the talks apparently continued. These ‘high-level’ discussions could apparently see Verizon enter an iPhone deal as early as next year, once AT&T’s exclusivity runs out.

The rumour comes from an unidentified source, so it’s too early to say whether or not the deal will come off. But with the massive success of the iPhone, it’s ultimately in Apple’s best interests to get the device into as many hands as possible, and exclusivity contracts aren’t the best way to achieve that goal.