Cingular seen providing service for Apple phone

AT&T's (NYSE:T - news) mobile phone unit, Cingular Wireless, is expected to provide a service for a phone from Apple Computer Inc.(Nasdaq:AAPL - news), the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

An announcement could come as soon as Tuesday, the newspaper said on its Web site.

Apple Chief Executive
Steve Jobs speaks on Tuesday at the Macworld expo, the company's main annual showcase for new products, and this year's Macworld address has long been seen as a likely kick-off for a phone based on Apple's iPod music player.

Apple watchers had seen Cingular as a top candidate for an iPod phone deal. Some Cingular phones already work with Apple's iTunes music service.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment and a Cingular spokesman was not immediately available