Its a global game not a US one. The amount of money to buy global operators is large. Vodafone is 125bn dollars and as a global operator is just the first on the list. Apple and Google can't just buy global mobile.
True, but you can expand that. It is a long term strategy.
They are sitting on 120B that is just in some hedge funds anyway, why not do something with it that has a competitive advantage. They just have no plan....
Give this money Amazon or Google they would know what to do with it. That's the reason i dislike Apple. They don't have a mayor purpose any more. If there is no company vision, then at least do something that improves everyone's live and gives this company another shot. In the worst case Apple loses the phone wars and is the biggest mobile operator in the world. Not even that of a risky move, mobile operators have a pretty solid business model.
You have the best network so a lot will join with their contracts. Make tons of profit there.
I think Apple has a real problem now, the iPhone is their primary source of revenue. There is not much diversification going on there.
Edit: And btw, this would create an Arms Race for greater good, why not "Who has the best Network" than "Who has the most patents?"