For the love of all that's good, please God don't let Apple get talked into extending the contract. I've dealt horrible service for almost 2 years so far, I don't think I can bring myself to wait till 2011.
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AT&T Exclusivity Expires in 2010, AT&T Asking for Extension?
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You have any better options? Oh wait, I forgot, we have no freakin choice in the matter! Either eat their **** up in spoonfuls or walk around without a phone at all. Simple as that.
YES InkMaster I do. Petition to separate Internet service from phone service and use VOIP apps as primary phones.
Not going to happen. If you look at any iPhone-esque device, they all cost around $500-$700 without a contract. Are you expecting Apple to perform miracles?
If we were in Europe or Asia, I could see the argument that Apple should release the phone without a subsidy. Problem is, the initial release of the iPhone has shown it's not as successful as the subsidized iPhone. I don't expect Apple to go the unsubsidized route anytime soon.
Even if AT&T doesn't manage to extend the exclusivity, I don't know that negotiations between Verizon and Apple will be successful. The problems that plagued their first negotiations are still there. Verizon wants to control the phone and may be unwilling to cede to Apple.
I personally think that Apple should stick to GSM systems, because they're worldwide. Going CDMA, even if it's only for this country, is limiting. You could never take that phone out of this country--unless you enjoy paying exorbitant rates. With yellowsn0w, you can take your iPhone to Asia and pop in a pre-paid SIM.
Petition to.... who exactly?
They're not doing anything illegal. They own the towers, they own the signals, according to the contracts in many cases they even own the phones...
You may not like it, but they're not doing anything unlawful. Gotta love capitalism
I mean feelings be feelings, but business is business and business always comes first.
And just to clarify, I hate their **** also, but if I was the one running those companies, would I change anything if it meant loosing customers and revenue? HELL NO!
It's likely that Apple will remain with AT&T until 2011 or 2012 when both carriers have 4G (LTE) networks and chipsets are mature enough to be used in phones. Apple gains nothing from trying to switch to other carriers since T-Mobile has a much smaller 3G network and Verizon/Sprint use CDMA which is all but dead in the future.
okaayy.... that makes no since. what am i missing?
how does that apple to the iPhone? please do explain sir/maam.
That is the lamest excuse for apple not to make a CDMA Phone just because you think at&T is the best over the other services
Apple would be dumb not to expand on this trust me if they knew the success the iphone would have in the smartphone market, I'm sure Apple wouldn't have signed just to ATT heck if they signed on to the other networks i could easily see the Iphone being the Number one or number 2 right now in the market share if they signed on with other company's.
I agree, but truth is, sometimes we just need the one service or plan they offer.
Nothing is wrong with AT&T or Verizon IMHO other than the usual crap they may put you through, but I've stuck with Sprint all these years simply for the insurance and the uber cheap unlimited data plan.
Verizon would be my next choice simply because they also have the insurance.
I think Apple would win big with a universal iPhone that works on many carriers.
AT&T wins big with the Apple iPhone. It has made a ton of money and been very successful with the iPhone contract.
I don't know how feasible this would be, but it sure seems like a great idea to me:
What would be best for all of us, is if Apple would just eliminate all contracts and charge us full price for the phone.
Then, the carriers wouldn't have to subsidize the cost and could charge us less for the service. But, this would be a barrier to entry or switching costs for phone users. It would work for us who could afford to pay the full price for the iPhone but then could pay much less for phone/data services.
I think the ultimate best solution would be to have a universally working iPhone. Then, carriers could give "certificates or vouchers" that would subsidize the cost for the iPhone. The carrier would then pay Apple once the voucher is used for the subsidized portion of the iPhone.
This would allow Apple to sell MANY more iPhones. And if a carrier wanted to, it could offer the subsidize the cost for buyers. If people paid full price for the iPhone, they would presumably pay a much lower price for their phone/data service.
But this type of system would eliminate a lot of the barriers to Apple selling three or four times as many iPhones. Some areas don't even have AT&T. Some people are dedicated to their current carrier. Some people need it for work and it has to have service in their area. Different carriers have different problems, and a universal iPhone would yield the most money for Apple if they could work out a voucher system to subsidize the costs for any carrier who wished to allow the iPhones on its networks.
It does suck for people that NEED good phone service to not be able to have an iPhone. I guess the iPod touch works better for most who don't want the AT&T service. Probably why Apple sells so many iPod Touch's.
AT&T wins big with the Apple iPhone. It has made a ton of money and been very successful with the iPhone contract.
I don't know how feasible this would be, but it sure seems like a great idea to me:
What would be best for all of us, is if Apple would just eliminate all contracts and charge us full price for the phone.
Then, the carriers wouldn't have to subsidize the cost and could charge us less for the service. But, this would be a barrier to entry or switching costs for phone users. It would work for us who could afford to pay the full price for the iPhone but then could pay much less for phone/data services.
I think the ultimate best solution would be to have a universally working iPhone. Then, carriers could give "certificates or vouchers" that would subsidize the cost for the iPhone. The carrier would then pay Apple once the voucher is used for the subsidized portion of the iPhone.
This would allow Apple to sell MANY more iPhones. And if a carrier wanted to, it could offer the subsidize the cost for buyers. If people paid full price for the iPhone, they would presumably pay a much lower price for their phone/data service.
But this type of system would eliminate a lot of the barriers to Apple selling three or four times as many iPhones. Some areas don't even have AT&T. Some people are dedicated to their current carrier. Some people need it for work and it has to have service in their area. Different carriers have different problems, and a universal iPhone would yield the most money for Apple if they could work out a voucher system to subsidize the costs for any carrier who wished to allow the iPhones on its networks.
It does suck for people that NEED good phone service to not be able to have an iPhone. I guess the iPod touch works better for most who don't want the AT&T service. Probably why Apple sells so many iPod Touch's.
That's because they don't need to. They're all out in a half dozen different kiosks in all of the malls in the country bugging people on the way to JC Penny's. How I hate cell phone kiosk salesmen!
On a more serious note, has it really been 5 years already?
I like it just the way it is. I almost feel like letting all the other carriers have the iPhone might either a) lead the iPhone to be waaaaay more whored out than it already is or b) lead to its downfall as each company would "tweak" the OS and put their own shovelware apps on it.
Plus I think it's cool that Sprint will have the Pre, Verizon with the Storm, T-Mobile with the G1 and Android OS, and of course Apple with the iPhone. Makes for some great comparisons/competition
Plus I think it's cool that Sprint will have the Pre, Verizon with the Storm, T-Mobile with the G1 and Android OS, and of course Apple with the iPhone. Makes for some great comparisons/competition
No...not Verizon
God just don't let it go to Verizon. Then it will NEVER...NEVER EVER get an OS update. Just look at the damn Storm. Verizon are horrible at dictating control over their devices and would destroy the iPhone. AT&T ftw.
Oh, for the record, I'm a Storm user. Probably switching in July after the iPhone 3G II.
For those hoping AT&T doesn't get the extension because they want the phone but not the service, um hello there are other phones in this world. Service should be top priority. Get the iPod Touch for pete's sake. Quit depriving yourself just to have the iPhone. From where I stand, though, Apple and AT&T have a good thing goin'.
God just don't let it go to Verizon. Then it will NEVER...NEVER EVER get an OS update. Just look at the damn Storm. Verizon are horrible at dictating control over their devices and would destroy the iPhone. AT&T ftw.
Oh, for the record, I'm a Storm user. Probably switching in July after the iPhone 3G II.
For those hoping AT&T doesn't get the extension because they want the phone but not the service, um hello there are other phones in this world. Service should be top priority. Get the iPod Touch for pete's sake. Quit depriving yourself just to have the iPhone. From where I stand, though, Apple and AT&T have a good thing goin'.
Given that AT&T has never issued an OS update to the iPhone, or any kind of update for that matter, I don't think that will be an issue.
The only thing AT&T does with the iPhone is give it service and tell customers what they can't do with their phones. I know that any other carrier that may carry the iPhone will be doing the same thing.
There won't be some Windows Mobile looking crap os on the iPhone, EVER.
OK, seriously, this first day of economics thing has got to go. Why would it make the iPhone more affordable??? You figure four big providers in the US (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile) would provide a little more pricing flexibility. That's bull puckey. You pretty much have to either use a prepaid plan (Virgin Mobile, Boost, GoPhone) or start at about $40/month. Each company's data plan is about $30. Text messages are all outrageous.
So basically, someone please show me how competition has made this better. The only competition that worked out was at the extreme low end. For people who would like about 200 minutes/month with all the rollover and stuff from AT&T and then adding a very limited data plan, THERE IS NO OPTION. Why would opening the iPhone to all carriers be any different?
no more at&t please.
at&t is holding the iphone back in my opinion. at least in my area, the 3g service is not so reliable from at&t. i hear a lot of complaints from co-workers who switched to at&t just for the Iphone. they love the phone but hate the service.
Verizon Iphone get's my $$$$ as soon as it happens.
i would buy an Iphone tomorrow if it were on Verizon. i won't give up my reliable service just to have one, and i can't justify paying for two services.
Verizon Iphone. make it happen.
no more at&t please.
at&t is holding the iphone back in my opinion. at least in my area, the 3g service is not so reliable from at&t. i hear a lot of complaints from co-workers who switched to at&t just for the Iphone. they love the phone but hate the service.
Verizon Iphone get's my $$$$ as soon as it happens.
i would buy an Iphone tomorrow if it were on Verizon. i won't give up my reliable service just to have one, and i can't justify paying for two services.
Verizon Iphone. make it happen.
no more at&t please.
But losing exclusivity also may mean losing access to services
I believe it's ATT's lust for iPhone revenue that allowed Apple to dictate allowing App store downloads, over the air Itunes purchases and other services a mobile phone network would normally block and prohibit with other non-exclusive phones. Without an exclusivity deal, Apple would be hard pressed to win any concession from these carriers since anyone can buy an iPhone anywhere and Apple will lose any leverage they have to demand anything from these companies at all.
I believe it's ATT's lust for iPhone revenue that allowed Apple to dictate allowing App store downloads, over the air Itunes purchases and other services a mobile phone network would normally block and prohibit with other non-exclusive phones. Without an exclusivity deal, Apple would be hard pressed to win any concession from these carriers since anyone can buy an iPhone anywhere and Apple will lose any leverage they have to demand anything from these companies at all.
If At&t is doing all it can to renew, then Apple should come out the winner with better terms. Hopefully translating to use of tethering and VoIP on 3G or no restrictions on apps riding on the carrier's network. Proven stats show that At&t's revenues and subscribers have increased since selling iPhones. The mobile industry have been watching closely.
Verizon or Sprint may come in this time to offer attractive terms to lure Apple. Maybe. I doubt Apple will switch providers though provided they've already created a synergy with At&t. Who knows, Apple may have a already have business plan after this exclusivity expires to be on more than one carrier.
Verizon or Sprint may come in this time to offer attractive terms to lure Apple. Maybe. I doubt Apple will switch providers though provided they've already created a synergy with At&t. Who knows, Apple may have a already have business plan after this exclusivity expires to be on more than one carrier.
And in my area it is exactly the opposite. AT&T is by far the best around, Verizon MIGHT be second, but US Cell. is considered second by most people.
People need to stop talking as if one of the companies provides better service nation wide because neither of them do.
From what I understand, Apple was on the brink of doing what you suggest if they could not get a carrier to go with. By going through A T&T they got a whole infrastructure without the overhead of making one from scratch. In hindsight I suppose it was a good choice to go with A T&T as the question of whether Apple had a good network as well as a good phone was limited to only a question about the phone. Also, since A T&T, with all they had going for them, struggled to build the capacity an iPhone required and got some egg on their face instead of Apple getting it all.
To all of you who want Verizon, me being one of them. I don't think iPhone will be available any time soon. The iPhone strongly wants to be world wide, AT&T has that, while Verizon is only really good in the States And I think Apple would make Verizon switch to using SIM cards before they would agree that they would make a Verizon specific phone As much as I would love Verizon as much as you guys...dont count on it. But until then I guess I am more about the iPhone then I am about the network so I say who cares, just give me the next gen. iPhone and I will be happy...even if I lose reception here and there 
And I think Apple would make Verizon switch to using SIM cards before they would agree that they would make a Verizon specific phone As much as I would love Verizon as much as you guys...dont count on it. But until then I guess I am more about the iPhone then I am about the network so I say who cares, just give me the next gen. iPhone and I will be happy...even if I lose reception here and there 
Folks, folks, folks...
I see this as really going nowhere. What is it you all want to achieve? Do you all have roughly the same ends in mind? Or are you just a bunch of cats who want to run in your all different directions, wants what you want, and "the heck with everyone else"? Mind you, I'm not putting that forward with the intent to accuse, condemn or attack anyone in particular. I'm just saying it because you have to understand that, unless you present a unified front, there's no way you're going to have any impact at all on any of the carriers' revenue streams, and that's the only reliable way to ensure you'll get their attention.
Do you want CDMA? Do you want GSM? Do you want no contracts? Do you want better pricing on the phone when under contract? Do you want better pricing on a phone that's not under contract? Do you want to have contracts? Do you want to do away with contracts? Do you want a specific set of features? How do you want the plans structured? How much carrot and how much stick do you plan on attempting to bring to the industry?
It's all about strategy and patience. Figure out what you want. Get your stuff together. Then go after your goal.
It is up to you. Call it.
I see this as really going nowhere. What is it you all want to achieve? Do you all have roughly the same ends in mind? Or are you just a bunch of cats who want to run in your all different directions, wants what you want, and "the heck with everyone else"? Mind you, I'm not putting that forward with the intent to accuse, condemn or attack anyone in particular. I'm just saying it because you have to understand that, unless you present a unified front, there's no way you're going to have any impact at all on any of the carriers' revenue streams, and that's the only reliable way to ensure you'll get their attention.
Do you want CDMA? Do you want GSM? Do you want no contracts? Do you want better pricing on the phone when under contract? Do you want better pricing on a phone that's not under contract? Do you want to have contracts? Do you want to do away with contracts? Do you want a specific set of features? How do you want the plans structured? How much carrot and how much stick do you plan on attempting to bring to the industry?
It's all about strategy and patience. Figure out what you want. Get your stuff together. Then go after your goal.
It is up to you. Call it.