During the course of Apple’s analyst conference call on Monday, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tim Cook not only revealed that the company’s estimate-beating earnings, but also defended its not-so-popular iPhone exclusive carrier AT&T.

Saying that AT&T has shown Apple its wireless network plans, Cook added that the carrier is committed towards the enhancement of the performance of its network, in an attempt to turn around the widespread customer displeasure with the service.

Cook added that Apple has reviewed AT&T’s plans, and is fully convinced that the carrier will undertake all possible efforts to significantly improve its coverage and fix the problems that have largely marred its reputation.

In reply to a question by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Muenster, about what Apple was gaining form its partnership with AT&T which is constantly the target of customer complaints, Cook argued that AT&T is effectively managing “more mobile broadband usage than any other carrier in the world.”

Further supporting AT&T, Cook said that in most of the areas, iPhone users are reportedly having “a great experience” with the carrier.

Despite Cook’s overt defense of its partner, it is quite likely that Apple will deviate from its AT&T exclusivity for the iPhone this summer, and would, as per the rumors making rounds, bring iPhone on the Verizon network as well.