Apple denies it plans to sell mobile services directly to consumers

(Reuters) – Apple, the world’s most profitable mobile phone maker, has denied a media report that it is working on a plan to market communications services directly to consumers and bypass telecom operators.

Business Insider on Monday reported that the iPhone maker was testing a so-called mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in the United States, which would see it rent out capacity from mobile network operators and then sign up its own customers.

The mobile phone maker is also in talks with European operators about such an arrangement, the website reported.

“We have not discussed nor do we have any plans to launch an MVNO,” said an Apple spokeswoman in a statement on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Eric Auchard; Writing by Leila Abboud; Editing by Georgina Prodhan)