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AT&T and Apple Tightening Policies to Reduce iPhone Unlocking

Teddy's said:
From the company point of view, if the rule does not work (restrain people from buying the product) then it has to be adjusted.
"We don't want X to buy a CrapBerry, we want X to buy an iPhone" What can we do? Change the rule.
I am sure Apple, maybe AT&T, will listen to the +1000 negative comments about this and do something.
Click to expand...

I just checked the AttRumors.com site and this identical story is getting 5000 Positives and 0 Negatives.

Based on your comment, I can tell you are not a business person: "if the rule does not work (restrain people from buying the product) then it has to be adjusted. " Every business has rules that restrain people...credit checks, cash only, age requirements, no shirt, no shoes, no service. Business rule #1 is to maximize profits. Face it, no matter what the policy, you are going to have unhappy people. Apple and AT&T are looking to sell millions of these things, I don't think they are concerned about 1000 negatives from mainly whiny kids. If they are missing their sales objectives, they will try to determine why and adjust accordingly.

You also add: "That is why many countries don't let companies get away with tactics that go beyond what is FAIR." There is a word for that, it's called socialism. The U.S. is a capitalist society, people have a right to vote with their wallet. I don't want the government telling me or a business what to do. There is competition is the wireless market, huge competition. You have multiple carriers & equipment to choose from. You don't like one, feel free to go to another. Or better yet, start up your own wireless service and phone manufacturer company. Then you can go ahead and give your product away for free since it would make people happy.

"Change the rules" to make you happy. LOL! Good one.
 
But but but...

kavika411 said:
I totally agree with you; AT&T is horrible. I look forward to letting them know by not buying their products and services. And if they commit fraud to induce me into a contract, I look forward to suing the hell out of them and, if their fraud is strong enough, to bringing in the Attorney General's office for criminal charges.
Click to expand...

Isn't suing corporations communist? Isn't your spew up to this point about how corporations should be able to do what AT&T is doing all about enabling them? Well, and try to find a non corporate owned judge who can be 'fair and balanced' in deciding your issue and not just rubber stamp the corporation's opinion into law.

We in America are suffering from runawway capitalism, from the California energy crisis a few years ago to the price of gas and corn and, and, and...

Corporations are in control and ruthless speculation and careless gouging and biased judges and bought and paid for legislation is the rule of the game.

But, hey. We can always 'vote with our feet', can't we. Until the poison infects that country too. The corporate cancer eating America is spreading. We will ALL pay the mighty groping hand of the soul less corporate monster with our money and our lives.
 
bbplayer5 said:
Imagine that, a company protecting their product. All you negative voters need to seriously just switch to ATT or buy a different phone.
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No we will Hack it!

Its like telling me I must power my Mac with a Particular Power Company

Fook That!

LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS!

up your a$$ jobsey:mad:
 
I don't mind paying for the handset. That's not the issue. I just don't like being told that the only network I can use it on in the UK is O2. I'm a T-mobile user, can't use anything else as it doesn't work where I live (which is where I spend a third of my life). I would love an iPhone, but for me it's out of the question. Still looks like an N95 or nothing for me :(
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
We in America are suffering from runawway capitalism, from the California energy crisis a few years ago to the price of gas and corn and, and, and...

Corporations are in control and ruthless speculation and careless gouging and biased judges and bought and paid for legislation is the rule of the game.
Click to expand...

I think you should move to North Korea, they don't like capitalists there. And you don't have to worry about high gas & corn prices...because they don't have any gas or corn. For every one person who leaves the U.S. there are about a million lined up to take their place.

Adios!
 
Mind you, I won't be getting one. $70/month is way the hell too expensive for me.

Yep I would have to agree. $70 a month is way too expensive (especially the way our economy is headed ) Actually I was paying close to $80-$90 on my Iphone after taxes ( Thank Goodness I dumped it )

I thought the new 3G would be justifiable but with the increase service fee, I'm going to opt out and stay with using my company's Smartphone which is free.


good luck to all
 
The piper's song...

The piper's song is so calming...

Calming the masses for the slaughter... :( :eek:

Yes, plenty of people will gladly assume the yoke of AT&T for the oportunity to be Owned by their iphone.

Not me, thanks...
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
Isn't suing corporations communist? Isn't your spew up to this point about how corporations should be able to do what AT&T is doing all about enabling them? Well, and try to find a non corporate owned judge who can be 'fair and balanced' in deciding your issue and not just rubber stamp the corporation's opinion into law.

We in America are suffering from runawway capitalism, from the California energy crisis a few years ago to the price of gas and corn and, and, and...

Corporations are in control and ruthless speculation and careless gouging and biased judges and bought and paid for legislation is the rule of the game.

But, hey. We can always 'vote with our feet', can't we. Until the poison infects that country too. The corporate cancer eating America is spreading. We will ALL pay the mighty groping hand of the soul less corporate monster with our money and our lives.
Click to expand...


Thank you for some words of truth. Happy to see that not everybody is blind and brainwashed. Runaway capitalism is exactly what it is.
 
allymac said:
I don't mind paying for the handset. That's not the issue. I just don't like being told that the only network I can use it on in the UK is O2. I'm a T-mobile user, can't use anything else as it doesn't work where I live (which is where I spend a third of my life). I would love an iPhone, but for me it's out of the question. Still looks like an N95 or nothing for me :(
Click to expand...

like I said earlier look out for the samsung i900 while it wont match the iPhone's multi touch it will have far more features including basic abilities like BlueTooth a Picture/File/mp3 or Movie to a friends Phone, anotherthing apple are trying to lock down.
 
iPhone Unlocked Option

According to this site: iPhone Italia the iPhone will be sold in an unlocked version at 499 and 569 euros, 8gb and 16gb respectively.

I'm probably gonna grab one when I go to Italy this summer. The price is still worth it to avoid breaking my T-Mobile contract and being shackled to ATT and their expensive monthly fees.
 
As others pointed out, one business model or another, someone has to pay for the handset. What strikes me though is that everyone will be paying more now with AT&T on the new businessplan (and the increased rate for unlimited data).

So how on earth could Steve say on stage that the price is halved ? And say it with a straight face ? And put it up on the screen real big ? It is quite simply put a blatent lie, and not even a very good one !
 
Best Phone+ Ever

Thank you Apple and AT&T!

I'm buying one and I'm going to love it. It will be the best and coolest phone on the planet. For you disgruntled folks (for various reasons, including what appears to be perpetual anger), if I pass you on the street, I will let you touch it.

Come on, be happy and turn that frown upside down.
 
TheVille1974 said:
According to this site: iPhone Italia the iPhone will be sold in an unlocked version at 499 and 569 euros, 8gb and 16gb respectively.

I'm probably gonna grab one when I go to Italy this summer. The price is still worth it to avoid breaking my T-Mobile contract and being shackled to ATT and their expensive monthly fees.
Click to expand...

Yeah alright!

Then you ebay it to us Englanders muhahhhahahhahahhahahha


Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaa
 
who cares?

The iPhone is an amazing device. I spend the least amount of time using it to make calls, so the cellular network is irrelevant to me. Mobile email and websurfing are what make this unique from all other phones, thus it really doesn't matter what cellular service I have, as long as I have 3G. And now we have that.
 
one third of all iPhones sold since launch have been unlocked.

enough said, Apple are idiots for doing this.
 
Fluffy Bunny said:
I just checked the AttRumors.com site and this identical story is getting 5000 Positives and 0 Negatives.

Based on your comment, I can tell you are not a business person: "if the rule does not work (restrain people from buying the product) then it has to be adjusted. " Every business has rules that restrain people...credit checks, cash only, age requirements, no shirt, no shoes, no service. Business rule #1 is to maximize profits. Face it, no matter what the policy, you are going to have unhappy people. Apple and AT&T are looking to sell millions of these things, I don't think they are concerned " 1000 negatives from mainly whiny kids.

You also add: "That is why many countries don't let companies get away with tactics that go beyond what is FAIR." There is a word for that, it's called socialism. The U.S. is a capitalist society, people have a right to vote with their wallet. I don't want the government telling me or a business what to do. Their is competition is the wireless market, huge competition. You have multiple carriers & equipment to choose from. You don't like one, feel free to go to another. Or better yet, start up your own wireless service and phone manufacturer company. Then you can go ahead and give your product away for free since it would make people happy.

"Change the rules" to make you happy. LOL! Good one.
Click to expand...

Would you call Germany and the United Kingdom socialist countries? Yet, there is much more consumer protection there. The ignorance that people spew out when brainwashed is unbelievable. Strong consumer protection is an indication that the state is doing what it is supposed to do: protect citizens from predators, be they large corporations or foreign aggressors. The U.S. government has completely failed in this regard and there are countless examples of it that are far more serious than the mundane wireless industry.

If you haven't noticed it yet, the U.S. economy is in a shambles right now and one of the underlying causes is that large corporations have been allowed to reign freely and ruthlessly without regulation. Well,guess what, it's coming back to bite them and, sadly, it's also devastating for a lot of totally innocent people too.
 
Banjhiyi said:
Just because it doesn't suit you or anyone else, it doesn't mean it's not suiting Apple or AT&T. It's their ball, they can limit use of it to whoever they want.
Click to expand...

True, but I'd be curious to find out what's in that exclusive 5-year arrangement Apple has with AT&T. I assume from a legal standpoint Apple couldn't just dump them and create an entirely new distribution model (i.e.: unlocked U.S. iPhones). Perhaps giving the activation over to AT&T was Apple's concession for having AT&T subsidize the phone's cost. :confused:

Something must have forced Apple's hand. I can't imagine Jobs abandoning iTunes activation for no reason; it was a remarkable innovation in the cellular business, one that he seemed thrilled with.
 
You people still don't get it.

Unlocking is mostly used by people who CANNOT get an iPhone in their countries and not by people who want a different carrier.

I for one would be happy using the Apple chosen carrier, if THEY HAD ONE IN THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN.
 
Are you...

Fluffy Bunny said:
I think you should move to North Korea, they don't like capitalists there. And you don't have to worry about high gas & corn prices...because they don't have any gas or corn. For every one person whole leaves the U.S. there are about a million lined up to take their place.

Adios!
Click to expand...

Are you really that internationally ignorant?

North Korea LOVES capitalism...

They exploit it like a tool over the rest of the world. We, the Bush administration, have given North Korea immense power over us. The corporate ruling power here is the problem. Same thing for China. They (the corporations) have given away the entire store to the Chinese government. All for cheap labor and even cheaper made (and often deadly) products.

What has capitalism in the recklessly pro-corporate Bush (and Clinton) years gotten us?

Look around... Millions out of work. A fat and well fed upper class. A nearly destitute working class and a nearly DOA middle class. Tax cuts in a time of war, and an environment that is growing more and more toxic every year.

Yippee! Lets all genuflect to the corporate ruling masses (and hope that they don't roll over in bed and crush us). Or gosh, 'move to North Korea'. Are you really that simplistic? You have some growing up to do... Maybe Fox News has a purpose: The 'Barney' of the idiot class...
 
So if activation has to ne done by either AT&T or Apple, how does the consumer restore the phone if it gets buggy?
 
ts1973 said:
As others pointed out, one business model or another, someone has to pay for the handset. What strikes me though is that everyone will be paying more now with AT&T on the new businessplan (and the increased rate for unlimited data).

So how on earth could Steve say on stage that the price is halved ? And say it with a straight face ? And put it up on the screen real big ? It is quite simply put a blatent lie, and not even a very good one !
Click to expand...

You are exactly right. Since the monthly fee increased $10 the phone is now more expensive than the previous iPhone by $40 ($199 + ($10 x 24) = $439.99).

So much for a "cheaper" iPhone. :rolleyes:
 
Diatribe said:
You people still don't get it.

Unlocking is mostly used by people who CANNOT get an iPhone in their countries and not by people who want a different carrier.

I for one would be happy using the Apple chosen carrier, if THEY HAD ONE IN THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN.
Click to expand...

Or by people who would rather chew glass than give one dime to ATT :-D
 
Diatribe said:
You people still don't get it.

Unlocking is mostly used by people who CANNOT get an iPhone in their countries and not by people who want a different carrier.

I for one would be happy using the Apple chosen carrier, if THEY HAD ONE IN THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN.
Click to expand...
actually unlocking is for people who don't want to be locked to a network for 2 years. if you use pay as you go, cause you are not on the phone all the time, unlocking is the best solution.

what i don't get though, why people saying you cannot buy online. yes, you can, signing a contract online is not any different from doing that offline. you give your ssn anyhow. if you're not comfortable doing that online, that's your choice.

i believe even Amazon will carry iphone in their ATT store.
 
Diatribe said:
You people still don't get it.

Unlocking is mostly used by people who CANNOT get an iPhone in their countries and not by people who want a different carrier.

I for one would be happy using the Apple chosen carrier, if THEY HAD ONE IN THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN.
Click to expand...

even if that said Carrier Taxed your nads off?

behave get on ebay ffs
 
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