Before iPhone was released it was rumored that Apple will launch it on Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). A 10th October 2006 patent filing by Apple shows that it had prepared an alternative model that would have seen the iPhone sold contract free on its own roaming network. Under the proposed model, each iPhone with a stored network address would be in constant communication with an iTunes-like mobile virtual network operator server, feeding the server real-time information about its geographic location. In return, the server would query its database of participating wireless networks within that region, and then select a carrier for the iPhone based upon predetermined rates from those carriers for that region. To get more information about the Patent visit AppleInsider.