That has to be the dumbest, most pathetic petition I have ever seen...
* The claim both companies are making about the iPhone 3G being less expensive than the first generation iPhone are false and deceptive due to the price increase for data on AT&T's network. The increase leads to $240 of incurred data charges along the 24 month contractual period, making it more expensive at the end of the contractual agreement.
Oh no! Deceptive advertising! Wow... just like every other ad out there. Do you sign the petitions for all of the print ads with the fine print at the bottom? Or the car dealer ads on the radio that start with an auctioneer spewing out all the hidden fees?
Aside from that idiocy, AT&T
has not increased their prices, they have brought them in line with the new service you are getting. You may have noticed at some point with the new phones being announced that they are now using 3G instead of EDGE. Here's a pretty simple thought for you: newer and better technologies generally cost more. If you are flying a two-seater Cesna and upgrade to a private jet, I hate to break it to you, but fuel will probably cost more.
You can also check out
this post for more info on how point one is embarrassingly stupid.
* The lack of non-subsidized prices for the iPhone 3G is a clear attempt to limit the consumer's liberty. There are consumers that would not like to extend or purchase new contracts, even if they ultimately use AT&T as their service provider.
Liberty... give me a break. The iPhone is a toy, an accessory, not a necessity. Since when has the option of buying a new, interesting, unnecessary device that happens to cost a lot of money and doesn't include an attached subsidy sales pitch had
anything to do with
"freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice."
This point alone says to me that you should be ashamed of yourself if you signed this petition.
People have fought and died for your liberty, and liberty has nothing to do with you paying less for your toy.
* The service plans for cell phone, data, and text messaging, are extremely expensive for the average consumer and are not competitive with other carrier plans. Unfortunately, using the iPhone 3G with another carrier such as T-Mobile is impossible without incurring hefty Early Termination Fees. This is the same attempt to limit the consumer's liberty as described above.
Yes, they are extremely expensive for the average consumer. So make the choice of whether or not this toy is for you. If you can't afford it, guess what, it is not for you. No one is forcing you to buy the iPhone. And the idea that the plan is not competitive is absolutely untrue. Unlimited service plans for
every single US cellphone company are $30, without any text messaging, or more. AT&T's plan is not only competitive, it is as good or better than every single other option there is in the US.
For shame.
