Looks like AT&T really wants to prove me right. According to a report from BGR, AT&T has instructed its retail staff to push Android & Windows Phone based smartphones and limit sales of iPhone models. Even though AT&T has issued a denial, certain impromptu checks by Forbes staff show they may be some truth to this report. This obviously comes as no surprise to regular readers, but for the benefit of all readers let's take a quick look at the primary reasons behind this move.

According to a report from Reuters, Nokia's stock price has jumped by more than 10% on rumors of Lenovo's interest in buying the Finnish cellphone maker. Volumes were nearly double that of Nokia stock's 90 day daily average. Gianfranco Lanci, head of Lenovo's EMEA operations categorically denied any interest in Nokia.

MTS' Vice-President of Marketing, Vasyl Latsanych, has strongly criticized Apple for being heavy handed about the iPhone's pricing policies in Russia. MTS is the iPhone's largest carrier in Russia, where the device is priced above $1000.