AT&T Moving Away from Apple and iPhone?

What started with the Motorola Backflip is gaining momentum as more Android phones are introduced on AT&T's network, and may be signalling an attempt by AT&T to distance itself from iPhone 4 issues. AT&T was the last cell phone provider to pick up Android phones, and did so reluctantly up until the iPhone 4 launch, and now seems to have several in the works with HTC and Samsung.

AT&T recently picked up and is marketing the HTC Aria, an Android phone and plans to add Samsung into the smartphone mix with the Galaxy S series Android phones This is occurring as the spotlight has shined a bit brighter on the Apple iPhone's inability to get signal due to a design flaw that placed form over function. 

Is AT&T moving away from Apple because of poor design of the iPhone4? As a carrier, AT&T Mobility has to be unhappy with the bad press, starting with Steve Job's assertion that users should just "stop holding it that way" and Consumer Report's refusal to recommend the iPhone4 because of the antenna issues. Several web petitions have been started calling for Apple to pay for a cover or the bumpers and ship them free to angry iPhone4 customers. Apple even admits that their next software upgrade won't fix the issue.

Or perhaps AT&T just finally realized that you can't stop the rise of the Android Army, as the OS powers over 20 phones, and has recently announced nearing the 10,000 application mark. Either way, the Google vs. Apple debate will be a contest we watch with interest.