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Behind the Scenes of the Apple-AT&T Relationship
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Try reading just a fraction deeper. If Apple had gone with a different chip more suited to AT&Ts sparse coverage, all it would have is slow AT&T down, rather than light a fire under their rump. That's what Apple likes to do. Push their partners to become better, rather than acquiescing so they can compete for the middle.
The revenue share arrangement was only for the iPhone 2G.
https://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/09/atandts-iphone-3g-data-plan-and-no-longer-revenue-sharing/
From what I understand, Cingular bought AT&T's wireless business and AT&T bought Cingular.
Could be wrong.
Yeah if this report is even remotely true, apparently the rest of us should pay extra for a chip the modern world doesn't need.
Actually, that's not correct.
Cingular was a conglomerate based on a couple got the former Ma' Bell pieces, including Bellsouth Mobility (where I'm located).
After forming Cingular, they bought the former AT&T wireless, and absorbed their debt (AT&T Wireless was heavily in debt, and needed the pockets of Cingular to bail it out).
Several YEARS after the sale, AT&T stepped in and put in a bid for Cingular, and bought it out. This wasn't an act of Cingular taking AT&T's name. They were genuinely bought out and the name changed.
AT&T Wireless and AT&T were two different companies. So the above statement is correct.
How the hell does changing carriers affect the phone's hardware in any way? Changing carriers only requires changing SIM cards, and that the software allows it (which it does by default unless a company deliberately blocks other carriers' SIM cards to make more money). Otherwise how would the same iPhone function in other countries?
It's rather convoluted. There was AT&T Wireless, which was separate from AT&T. SBC bought AT&T, Cingular bought AT&T Wireless. Long story short, the AT&T name has been attached to a bunch of different companies...
in the US verizon/sprint are on a totaly different tech than ATT/T-Mobile. you need different chips for the radio hardware and frequencies
I've owed both a 3G and a 3GS. Though, I think we'd sooner see Apple selling it's iDevices on both AT&T and T-Mobile sooner (if ever) than any other network.
Why? These two networks are so similiar (both GSM) which could give Apple a potential sales boost and a new talking point with minimal changes.
Don't like AT&T? Go to T-Mobile. Don't like either, at least you have a choice now. Being able to unlock your iPhone at the end of your contract and take it to the other carrier if you want to would be nice and fairly effortless to. Unlike most phones, Apple has been able to ship all it's iDevices sans "carrier branding" too.
Regardless of your choice, you won't have to give up simultaneous voice / data like you might otherwise have to before LTE becomes the norm.
T-Mobile's HSPA+ roll-out can't hurt either. Network size / coverage is not all that matters and I'd like to think Apple agrees here.
This is why Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular (CDMA) all seem like worse choices to me. Anyone agree?
Why? These two networks are so similiar (both GSM) which could give Apple a potential sales boost and a new talking point with minimal changes.
Don't like AT&T? Go to T-Mobile. Don't like either, at least you have a choice now. Being able to unlock your iPhone at the end of your contract and take it to the other carrier if you want to would be nice and fairly effortless to. Unlike most phones, Apple has been able to ship all it's iDevices sans "carrier branding" too.
Regardless of your choice, you won't have to give up simultaneous voice / data like you might otherwise have to before LTE becomes the norm.
T-Mobile's HSPA+ roll-out can't hurt either. Network size / coverage is not all that matters and I'd like to think Apple agrees here.
This is why Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular (CDMA) all seem like worse choices to me. Anyone agree?
I find it interesting the point that Verizon's network wouldn't fare much better. I've said this all along. Their network isn't nearly as stressed or robust as AT&Ts is and their data speeds are ALREADY slower. So many people think a switch to Verizon would be "magical", but in reality it would just be the beginning of the Verizon network's flaws showing themselves.
AT&T is a GSM network while Verizon uses CDMA.
They are not compatible with each other and the iPhone would need redesigning to operate on a CDMA network.
The most recent rumor regarding a Verizon iPhone comes from Bloomberg, which late last month cited sources claiming a January 2011 launch for the device.
That's a crock!
That's a crock!
AT&T/T-Mobile uses the global standard GSM. Verizon/Sprint use CDMA. GSM and CDMA requires different hardware. Thankfully, AT&T and Verizon are both adapting LTE( is Sprint's 4G network LTE?) so making the iPhone multiple carrier capable will be a whole lot easier.
I don't see a Verizon iPhone until this dual-chip or until LTE is rolled out.