Apple To Be New Mobile Carrier? [Archive]

MacRumors

Dec 28, 2004, 01:51 PM

According to Spanish site CanalPDA.com (http://www.canalpda.com/print.php?sid=243) (translated) in an interview with Apple's VP of Mobile Platforms and Services business unit Albert Slope, Apple is lining up their ducks to be a new mobile carrier.
"creating our own mobile carrier is the next logical step in our strategy of providing the Apple experience to the users of our products. We believe that existing carriers are not offering the flexibility nor the performance consumers deserve, so we have decided to move forward, providing cellphone users a full, personal communications and information environment, with the user-friendliness that has become synonymous with Apple's products and services"

"On the other hand", says Slope, "the sucess achieved by the iTunes Music Store has shown us the way to go: by selling songs to consumers at $0.99 apiece, we have accumulated a valuable expertise that will be most useful for billing them talking minutes".

According to the article, Apple's new mobile carrier will start operating as a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), using existing infrastructure to build a new brand.

zyuzin4

Dec 28, 2004, 01:54 PM

interesting, i'm not so sure if this would fly

Ja Di ksw

Dec 28, 2004, 01:54 PM

Learning from iTMS, huh? Just give us your credit card, and every time you talk for a minute we'll charge you $.99 :). Actually, I hope Apple can come out with something good. I'm back in the stone age, and hate cell phones. Something about them just . . . . . bothers me, its a long story I won't go into here, but maybe Apple will convince me to switch.

mcarnes

Dec 28, 2004, 01:54 PM

Damn! That's ambitious. Go Apple! Show those crappy mobile companies how it's done.

kansast

Dec 28, 2004, 01:55 PM

You'll only be able to talk to Macintosh users ??? :-)

nagromme

Dec 28, 2004, 01:58 PM

So in the midst of all the strange rumors, what IS Apple really doing with mobile phones? :)

This sounds awfully far-fetched to me, but then so did the iPod... and the #1 reason I don't have a mobile phone is because the user experience isn't good enough to be worth dealing with, for me.

I guess anything's possible. It WOULD be one more way to capitalize on the iPod's cross-platform popularity and mindshare.

kenaustus

Dec 28, 2004, 02:00 PM

This is somewhat confusing for me. Why would an Apple exec be discussing this so soon before Steve J's Keynote?

It is interesting though. I'm assuming that the phone would be GSM, making it possible to use anywhere. That would make it possible to set up an international system, but that does take big money.

Unusual and interesting.

SleazyBreezy

Dec 28, 2004, 02:01 PM

maya

Dec 28, 2004, 02:04 PM

VoIP via iChat that is what this is all about.

Chat either for free connecting via iChat on the mobile end and Apple computer end or you can dial to a landline that will cost.

A flat rate for America and a slight charge for worldwide.

Since Skype does this however not as effective IMHO.

Get ready for iChat to be ported to x86.

sjpetry

Dec 28, 2004, 02:05 PM

I want an iPod phone :D

Ysean

Dec 28, 2004, 02:06 PM

Well first, a cell phone wasn't designed to be any more than a home phone really. So if you don't like the user interface then you probably don't like your home phone either. (This is strictly talking about the phone functions not any of the added bs.)

A bit more on topic, I've heard this before. A few months ago at minimum. I don't know if it's BS or not but it's been discussed before. The only way Apple could make it fly is to have good value adds. I honestly don't know what those could be without playing on price. Data services for a reaasonable fixed rate could be one. The primary problem I see with this is that if Apple just piggybacks like the quote stated it is doing then they are greatly limited as to the cellular services they can provide. 3G? Not really. EDGE? only some places. Inter-carrier MMS? I don't think anyone in the states is doing that. All in all, I just don't see it being a good idea unless they can do it all right from the beginning. And honestly, I don't think Apple has the cash to "do it right the first time". I could see them offering things like .Mac integration with the phones or such. But is that really that big of a deal?

Avicdar

Dec 28, 2004, 02:10 PM

Old news people. That article is fake. The referring website even prefaces the article with links that show they're just having fun! Today is "April Fool's Day" of sorts for the Spaniards - they publish false stories in their media on purpose.

Hard to understand how this could make it onto Macrumors when the site itself even gives away that the story is a fraud.

Besides, this isn't the kind of event that gets handled this way by Apple. We all know that. Any official discussion with the media on such a thing would be at the announcement event, not a candid interview with an exec before the fact.

Arcus

Dec 28, 2004, 02:10 PM

Didn't anyone actually read the information through the link? Its a fake.

Lord Blackadder

Dec 28, 2004, 02:10 PM

I dunno, right now every mobile carrier in the US sucks, so I fear that Apple would just be the latest. Stupid enigmatic contracts, phones with locked features - It's like leasing a car and paying extra to open the moonroof or play a CD. Bah. Humbug.

...Though I'm hoping Apple will be different (not holding my breath).

EDIT: I'm questioning the validity of this rumor anyway. LOL, I shoud look at the links for once :o :D .

1macker1

Dec 28, 2004, 02:10 PM

This is a BS article. Selling Computers and Mp3 players are not in the same class of setting up a telephony service.

mkjellman

Dec 28, 2004, 02:11 PM

yea sorry this is VERY fake unless he wanted to have his wife see jobs cut off his head infront of her...

obeygiant

Dec 28, 2004, 02:12 PM

well i hope apple is IN with verizon if they do this

BWhaler

Dec 28, 2004, 02:15 PM

Macrumors is really, really slipping.

No new rumors.

Rehashing other sites.

Now, it's clear they are not even reading the linked stories.

Get with the program people, or close down.

Ja Di ksw

Dec 28, 2004, 02:18 PM

You'll only be able to talk to Macintosh users ??? :-)

Yeah, of course, you'll have to wait for a long time if you want to talk to them in Europe, Canada, etc . . .

loneAzdgari

Dec 28, 2004, 02:18 PM

Yeah it even has two links for non-spanish people to read. Apparently Dec. 28th is a day of fake news articles across spanish speaking countries.

ifjake

Dec 28, 2004, 02:20 PM

oh good it's fake. this seems like a bonehead idea. i can see apple engineering a cellphone, but not being a carrier.

TiBook1ghz

Dec 28, 2004, 02:20 PM

This is fake, will someone please remove this article? Don't need to be spreading a Spanish april fool's joke around like its legit.

JoePike

Dec 28, 2004, 02:22 PM

Even if this were not obviously fraudulent and false, I'd have to question whether it was real. Why? Because it seems too good to be true.

If Apple made a simple, easy to use, yet powerful and cool cell phone with a rate structure that you don't need a phd to understand.....I'd be on board in a heartbeat.

-Piker

eogold

Dec 28, 2004, 02:23 PM

Macrumors is really, really slipping.

No new rumors.

Rehashing other sites.

Now, it's clear they are not even reading the linked stories.

Get with the program people, or close down.

I totally agree. MacRumors no longer functions as a "rumors" site. They simply recycle tidbits reported widely elsewhere on the web. No in-depth or add-on analysis. No interesting rumors - just standard News from other sites. And now on top of it all, they are propagating obvious hoaxes!

I find myself visitng this site less and less these days...

Chip NoVaMac

Dec 28, 2004, 02:25 PM

Bummer that the "news" was a fake. Though with the consolidation of the cell phone companies, it would seem that there might be someone that Apple could buy.

basehart

Dec 28, 2004, 02:28 PM

Hard to understand how this could make it onto Macrumors when the site itself even gives away that the story is a fraud.

Besides, this isn't the kind of event that gets handled this way by Apple. We all know that. Any official discussion with the media on such a thing would be at the announcement event, not a candid interview with an exec before the fact.

There's NOTHING coming out of Apple this year, not with a "fill in the blanks " lawsuit sat on a table somewhere waiting for names.

Expect a lot of smoke and mirros folks - the rumor mongers have to sell ads somehow ;-)

Doctor Q

Dec 28, 2004, 02:30 PM

applemobile.com forwards me to sedoparking.com, which is the same as e-mobile.com.

ojames

Dec 28, 2004, 02:32 PM

Mr.Hey

Dec 28, 2004, 02:32 PM

interesting, i'm not so sure if this would fly

I would have said the same until I visited a BestBuy yesterday and check out Virgin's prepaid phones. Apple can most certinly do the same. :) Here comes another Revolutilon...Yup! :D All the millions of iTunes Users that purchase music online could at the same time buy a fifty or hundred dollar prepaid phone card.

sjpetry

Dec 28, 2004, 02:35 PM

I hope it's not fake Apple would be a great phone service. :(

t300

Dec 28, 2004, 02:35 PM

Macrumors is really, really slipping.

No new rumors.

Rehashing other sites.

Now, it's clear they are not even reading the linked stories.

Get with the program people, or close down.

I agree. I have been getting most of my news for a while from AppleInsider or Think Secret, which MacRumors seemingly get their news from most of the time...

It's time for some higher ups to consider closing down the rumors section and just focus on the great Mac community forums we have here, as I know for a fact that is why most people are here in the first place.

displaced

Dec 28, 2004, 02:36 PM

I totally agree. MacRumors no longer functions as a "rumors" site. They simply recycle tidbits reported widely elsewhere on the web. No in-depth or add-on analysis. No interesting rumors - just standard News from other sites. And now on top of it all, they are propagating obvious hoaxes!

I find myself visitng this site less and less these days...

Erm, that's what MR has always been about.

They provide a central point for the discussion of Mac Rumours which have surfaced elsewhere on the web. If original material's what you're after, go elsewhere.

Quoting the About MacRumors page:

The goal of Mac rumors is to compile interesting news and rumors from all source (sic) to try to create a big picture view of what to expect from Apple, Inc.

For me, that's what makes this site so valuable. The web can do with yet another site with their 'inside sources' like a hole in the head.

This particular article should've been Page 2 at best, but I'd bet on an 'Updated' comment appearing soon in the story text warning that the original article was a hoax.

Put the oversight down to the time of year :)

sjpetry

Dec 28, 2004, 02:37 PM

obeygiant

Dec 28, 2004, 02:48 PM

if apple does do this
it will probably mean the service will
be overpriced with half the features and compatibilty.

~Shard~

Dec 28, 2004, 02:57 PM

This story is FAKE! Yesterday's story was taken from another website, and frankly i cannot take anymore of macrumors. this place sucks. I actually believed the story until i went to the article and translated it myself.

this proves my point that macrumors doesnt know what they are doing

If you're going to complain about MR then do something about it - I am bothered by people who just whine and complain and don't take action. So, etiher become an insider spy and collect some top secret info for MR and actually contribute, or don't visit the site anymore - no one is forcing you to. It's as simple as that.

Since you said yourself that you can't take anymore of MR and it sucks, I expect never to see you on here again. (Unless you're a hypocrite of course.) Thanks for coming out. :cool:

~Shard~

Dec 28, 2004, 02:59 PM

Fake or not, this is still quite the concept- I wonder if Apple does indeed have something along these lines in the works. Could this possibly tie into the Motorola rumors we heard about earlier?

Bring on the iPhone! :cool:

Dave00

Dec 28, 2004, 03:01 PM

this would seem to be an extremely odd arena for apple to enter, i can't imagine shareholders would be happy about it. wireless service is an extremely competitive and low-margin field, something that goes completely against apple's business model. And it's not like Apple routinely goes out and talks about new products with foreign media... I wouldn't be surprised if this story was a little fudged.

--D

~Shard~

Dec 28, 2004, 03:03 PM

Toe

Dec 28, 2004, 03:06 PM

Had me going till I read "Apple's recently created Mobile Platforms and Services business unit." I figure I woulda heard about that had Apple made such a move, eh?

Porchland

Dec 28, 2004, 03:08 PM

Hard to understand how this could make it onto Macrumors when the site itself even gives away that the story is a fraud.

Besides, this isn't the kind of event that gets handled this way by Apple. We all know that. Any official discussion with the media on such a thing would be at the announcement event, not a candid interview with an exec before the fact.

Amen. I don't get the article selection at all. I sent a link last week to an article purporting to disclose a list of new features in iLife '05.

applekid

Dec 28, 2004, 03:10 PM

Apple cell phone keeps creeping closer to reality...

But, an Apple cell phone is undoubtedly going to be expensive. And a cell phone isn't an electronic that I personally wouldn't blow hundreds of dollars on. I try to stay under $100 and that is when I am signing up with a contract with a carrier.

Making Apple into a carrier would at least open the possibility of having something priced competitively with the rest of the market with a contract.

EDIT:
IT'S FAKE!!! (http://www.canalpda.com/displayarticle245.html)

Arcus

Dec 28, 2004, 03:12 PM

That goes hand in hand with thier newly created "Breakfast Food and Softdrink" division. Of course everything tastes like apples...

Toe

Dec 28, 2004, 03:13 PM

Dang article didn't register my negative rating. Hmph!

http://www.macrumors.com/rate.php3?sid=20041228145106&rate=2&from=1

Seems to be stuck at 21 positive and 22 negative.

MacsRgr8

Dec 28, 2004, 03:15 PM

Erm, that's what MR has always been about.

They provide a central point for the discussion of Mac Rumours which have surfaced elsewhere on the web. If original material's what you're after, go elsewhere.

Quoting the About MacRumors page:

The goal of Mac rumors is to compile interesting news and rumors from all source (sic) to try to create a big picture view of what to expect from Apple, Inc.

For me, that's what makes this site so valuable. The web can do with yet another site with their 'inside sources' like a hole in the head.

This particular article should've been Page 2 at best, but I'd bet on an 'Updated' comment appearing soon in the story text warning that the original article was a hoax.

Put the oversight down to the time of year :)

Exactly.

And here are the best forums too! :cool:

Object-X

Dec 28, 2004, 03:22 PM

I am officially removing MacRumors from my daily reading list. This site is really going downhill. :(

big duane

Dec 28, 2004, 03:28 PM

I'm glad its fake. Being a 'MVNO' means you're just piggybacking off of someone else's already crappy service (like Virgin uses Sprint in the US), so it's not like all of a sudden we'd get great call quality because the service is from Apple. ..but the phone probably would be pretty dope!

mcarnes

Dec 28, 2004, 03:41 PM

I am officially removing MacRumors from my daily reading list. This site is really going downhill. :(

Good. One less knob to deal with.

TWinbrook46636

Dec 28, 2004, 03:49 PM

There's NOTHING coming out of Apple this year, not with a "fill in the blanks " lawsuit sat on a table somewhere waiting for names.

Apple's timing with the lawsuits is perfect too, right as the rumors hit their traditional peak just before Macworld.

melchior

Dec 28, 2004, 03:50 PM

i couldn't help noticing that this is the first news item in ages where there has been a clear and outright 'negative' vote. interesting.

*FLASH*

Australian press conference expected same time as MWSF, could this mean the introduction of both services simultaneously! (iTMS and iConnect) Australia is basically the little brother of America when it comes to mass consumerism, we watch the same crap tv, eat the same crap food and listen to the same crap music. The only thing that would be a negative here is all the poor American Apple users feeling bad that someone else got a new toy first. Well maybe it's time Steve taught them all a lesson, that he's the big dada and he doesn't have to give them presents if they're not all good boys and girls!

Do I amuse you?

mac512pbg4

Dec 28, 2004, 04:01 PM

It's really a headfake by SJ

Everybody's laughing.

Then on Jan 9:

SJ in MWSF; Bono in LA

"uno, dos, tres, quatorze...

Hello, hello!!!"

Digipimp

Dec 28, 2004, 04:15 PM

This site really is starting to suck.

macridah

Dec 28, 2004, 04:25 PM

MacFan26

Dec 28, 2004, 04:26 PM

nagromme

Dec 28, 2004, 04:31 PM

It really does suck how rumors and facts are two different things. Can't this site DO something about that? ;)

This joke was OK, but I won't REALLY be ready for MWSF until there's a photo hoax :D Come on, somebody... they're just too much fun!

macmax77

Dec 28, 2004, 04:42 PM

Old news people. That article is fake. The referring website even prefaces the article with links that show they're just having fun! Today is "April Fool's Day" of sorts for the Spaniards - they publish false stories in their media on purpose.

Yes , it is Fool's day for us, you woldn't want to know what i have been thru today :eek: :( :mad: :rolleyes: :cool:

t300

Dec 28, 2004, 04:54 PM

Okay this was moved to Page 2 and updated that is a "joke" but perhaps it should be take off altogether. What's the reasoning behind it still being up?

Digipimp

Dec 28, 2004, 05:33 PM

lol, what's with all the newbie's saying the site is "starting to suck?" There's been many rumors about an Apple phone/service before, too bad that this is not real..I guess, who knows. Can't wait when they release a phone at macworld ;)

maybe a newbie to you because i don't post much but i've been registered for about a year and a half and been dealing with apple products for about 16 years genuis. and that doesn't just mean playing on them, it means actually working.

mac512pbg4

Dec 28, 2004, 05:49 PM

Okay this was moved to Page 2 and updated that is a "joke" but perhaps it should be take off altogether. What's the reasoning behind it still being up?

Let's see - add a small iTrip like device (with phone chip and mic) to the top of the iPod with a little antenna thingy; use the iPod display and click wheel to control phone; synch with iCal and Address Book files on iPod HD; add Mail app - connect to Apple VoIP server

Hello Hello

PS - maybe add voice recognition at Apple server to dial numbers, compose email etc

hob

Dec 28, 2004, 06:35 PM

I'm slightly disturbed by the amount of "newbies" completely slagging of the site!

The reason many of us come to MacRumors is just to get the lowdown. I don't really have the time or inclination to browse through sites with 10's of storys. MR normally displays what's important. OK, so it's been a slow few months - but that just reflects the quality of the rumors in general. I don't think we're missing anything valid - I also think slips like this are bound to happen, but maybe whoever put it on page 1 should be told what page 2 is for....?

Hob

MacFan26

Dec 28, 2004, 06:41 PM

maybe a newbie to you because i don't post much but i've been registered for about a year and a half and been dealing with apple products for about 16 years genuis. and that doesn't just mean playing on them, it means actually working.
I never said you didn't know anything about Apple products, genius. And I'm glad that you've been able to actually work on them, I'm sure no one else around here does.

zac4mac

Dec 28, 2004, 07:54 PM

Thanks for leaving this up. needed a chuckle today.

Lighten up people, at this rate you'll have an aneurysm before the Stevenote.

Z

HasanDaddy

Dec 28, 2004, 08:29 PM

Too bad this is fake

I was just on the verge of pressing *2 upon my Sprint PCS phone and then yelling into it "see ya jerks in hell!!!!!!"

jholzner

Dec 28, 2004, 10:18 PM

Okay so I'm not usually as critical as everyone else here but this doesn't belong on this site at all except MAYBE under macbytes in the humor category! It hasn't been "reported" to be a joke...it IS a joke...as stated by the site before you even read the article! It does not belong on page2!!!

HasanDaddy

Dec 29, 2004, 03:34 AM

would you guys QUIT being so critical of all the folks at Macrumors.com

If you wanna run your own rumor website, then register the IP address and go for it!

Thank you MacRumors, for all the good info and keep doing what you do!

swissmann

Dec 29, 2004, 10:37 AM

No joke this is a joke.

wdlove

Dec 29, 2004, 11:14 AM

I certainly would have been surprised at this news. Steve has been working with Motorola to develop a partnership. That way they are both using their particular expertise in the project.

yg17

Dec 30, 2004, 04:50 PM

I wish this wasnt a joke :(

Although I couldn't do much with my cell service for awhile because I just signed a 2 year contract with cingular the other day

Skybug

Dec 31, 2004, 07:01 AM

Apple going against Verizon and Cingular and T-Mobile! That is like saying that Northrup Grumman's expertise in building military tank makes it logical for it to enter the sausage and hot dog industry. Ummm! Enriched Uranium flavor!!!

lcjmc

Jan 1, 2005, 02:17 AM

Finally a phone that can possible sync with iCal and my address book!

djdarlek

Jan 1, 2005, 11:36 AM

I'm slightly disturbed by the amount of "newbies" completely slagging of the site!

blah blah blah MR normally displays what's important. OK, so it's been a slow few months - blah blah blah

Hob

I completely agree with this! Hell i'm probably still a newb myself for I rarely speak, but I tend to enjoy reading the comments related to the news articles. With all this talk of insiders and a drought of Apple-related information, it always baffles me how we rarely get to see 'images' of these new products pre-release. Millions of specs, and the names are usually bang on but NO PICTURES! And then a day later said product is released with a big hoo-haa, countless pictures of families playing with their new gizmos in a field... With so many people involved and the coolness of the products in question, I do not understand how Apple can effectively keep wraps on their new products as well as it does.

TednDi

Jan 1, 2005, 12:33 PM

... With so many people involved and the coolness of the products in question, I do not understand how Apple can effectively keep wraps on their new products as well as it does.

Non Disclosure Agreement.

Apple employees all sign one and the penalites are pretty stiff....

does anyone have a copy of the apple NDA? I would love to read it!

alexhb

Jan 2, 2005, 01:08 PM

Damn! That's ambitious. Go Apple! Show those crappy mobile companies how it's done.

the new AppleMobile wouldn't mean a new mobile providered, just a rebranding of another wireles provider. It wouldn't mean a new Cingular, which operates it's own network, but a new Virgin Mobile, who just is a rebranded front end of Sprint.

FelixDerKater

Jan 2, 2005, 06:18 PM

well i hope apple is IN with verizon if they do this

Apple wouldn't dare to make themistake of getting into CDMA communications.

xy14

Jan 2, 2005, 06:51 PM

Non Disclosure Agreement.

Apple employees all sign one and the penalites are pretty stiff....

does anyone have a copy of the apple NDA? I would love to read it!

I would show it to you, but I might get sued by Apple. :D
-----------------------
Here is my opinion on the phone rumor:

I know this is most likely a joke, but just listen to what I have to say.

Apple is already making a phone by teaming up with Motorola. Apple hates giving comsumers choices (RealPlayer can't put music on iPods). I think Apple should do something like start a mobile business through Cingular and, say, sell minutes for $.15 a minute or $1.50 a day and $.05 per minute, and then they could port the iTMS to the service and then you could download real music ringtones to your phone for $.99+$.26 data transfer fee. As a promotion, they could give away ten free songs and one-hundred free minutes.

FelixDerKater

Jan 3, 2005, 06:44 PM

Good thing the article was a joke. I don't think it would of worked. It's better that they partner with a cell phone maker so the customer could decide which carrier to use.

Now, should apple make a GSM or CDMA phone? or both?

Unfortunately, I must say both. GSM is the way to go, but most of America hasn't figured that out.

~Shard~

Jan 3, 2005, 07:04 PM

Unfortunately, I must say both. GSM is the way to go, but most of America hasn't figured that out.

There's a lot America hasn't figured out yet - Asia is well on their way with 4G while N. America hasn't really got it straight with 3G yet...

hob

Jan 3, 2005, 09:01 PM

There's a lot America hasn't figured out yet - Asia is well on their way with 4G while N. America hasn't really got it straight with 3G yet...

It baffles me still how there's still a CDMA vs. GSM debate... I've grown up with GSM in Europe - it was a "big thing" about 8 years ago... I think...

Still, EVERYONE's behind asia. According to the BBC 2005 will be year of the 3G for Britain with all the mobile service providers finally getting their services up and running... What's 4G?! :O

Hob