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Length of AT&T's exclusive contract revealed
- Thread starter kdarling
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7on
macrumors 601
Yes, but by 2010 AT&T will have their LTE out which is what? 7mbps?
3G will be old news in 2010. T-mobile would do better to invest in WiMAX or lease tower space from AT&T or Verizon.
protekt0r
macrumors regular
it's not apple's problem. if t-mobile is only 3G in 2010, that's t-mobile's problem. all apple does is supply the phone... know what i mean? if t-mobile can't keep up w/ at&t in data speeds they'd just further subsidize the phone OR give more minutes away to compete with at&t; it would all work out (for apple).
Rybold
macrumors 6502a
Awesome! I love AT&T ! I know that in some areas, other cell providers have better coverage, but in the area that I work and in the area that I live, AT&T totally has better service. This is a huge plus for me ! Go AT&T !😀😀😀😀😀
MASSIVE COVERAGE MAP: http://www.xti9.com/att/att3gfull.gif
WOOHOO !!!!
MASSIVE COVERAGE MAP: http://www.xti9.com/att/att3gfull.gif
WOOHOO !!!!
I agree 100% in the Phoenix Metro area Verizon has much better cell reception, so much for more bars... But they do not have the iPhone which compensates for the service.
Jeff
This Is Bs
I'm sorry, I now I might upset a few but AT&T sucks! The Iphone is the only thing keeping them around. I really wanna get the iphone, but I refuse to pay roaming charges and bad signal and terrible service. Plus those that have the iphone are paying even more, I really wanna get the iphone but its gonna have to wait, plus the phones have cracks😕😕 sorry i'm not a sucker
I guess i'm just gonna have to wait and see what phone Verizon comes out until then.
I think if Apple really wanted to go for the world dominance of the cellular phone, they should just sell the phone unlocked and work with any service provider, and the individual would get a smartphone plan that the provider offers but NOOO they went with AT&T....
I'm sorry, I now I might upset a few but AT&T sucks! The Iphone is the only thing keeping them around. I really wanna get the iphone, but I refuse to pay roaming charges and bad signal and terrible service. Plus those that have the iphone are paying even more, I really wanna get the iphone but its gonna have to wait, plus the phones have cracks😕😕 sorry i'm not a sucker
I guess i'm just gonna have to wait and see what phone Verizon comes out until then.
I think if Apple really wanted to go for the world dominance of the cellular phone, they should just sell the phone unlocked and work with any service provider, and the individual would get a smartphone plan that the provider offers but NOOO they went with AT&T....
longofest
Editor emeritus
They did, but Verizon declined. I think they lost their only chance for a good long time to come.
I am very happy though with my switch to AT&T. Verizon's customer service was horrible, and I've had no complaints with AT&T (yet).
Apple makes its own employees, contractors, and AT&T employees sound incompetent because it gives out zero more information to its workers than it does to the general public. It's not the teams' fault who are answering the phones. Now, I will agree that there are cases where people who don't know something make something up, which is kind of stupid. But just not knowing something isn't their fault.
This makes more sense. I always thought that the idea that Apple would agree to a 5 year exclusive deal far-fetched.
They aren't incompetent. Building 2 different models costs more money. If Apple thinks they can make enough money to make it worthwhile, they'll do it. But if the dollars aren't there, or the numbers tell Apple that CDMA users have no problem jumping carriers to get an iphone then they won't do it.
That should be the quote of the day. It is not AT&T's fault for lack of information.
Personally, I've had both AT&T and Verizon and both read off the Q cards and if it's a real problem they'll escalate it to the next level.
As far as coverage goes, Verizon does have far superior 3g coverage than AT&T (I live in the 98% of the country that doesn't have it).
That said, the iPhone is currently worth being with AT&T until a better phone comes out.
My biggest complaint of the iPhone is the lack of support for corporate users.
Not every corporation runs Exchange as its email service. The company that I work for has 29,000 employee's still uses Lotus Notes (hate it but stuck with it).
"For me" the iPhone is the best option as a personal phone but can't be used for business.
Saladinos
macrumors 68000
Agree that O2 are a great network. The plans are great and fairly priced, and their insurance is a fantastic deal. IMO, they're the best iPhone carrier out there (been on T-Mobile when I lived in Germany, also on AT&T).
It's not like I really care all that much, but I think O2 deserve to keep exclusivity. Great prices, friendly customer service, fairly good coverage, and priority tickets at the O2. And they support tethering. Model carrier - just letting Apple get on with the phone.
Apple had no choice but to go to ATT, since VZW and Sprint both turned APL down. I bet the major point of contention was that carriers wanted to integrate their music stores into the iphone and steve said no. Since ATT doesnt have a music store (and doesn't customize handset UI's as much as the CDMA carriers) it was a good match for both parties.
It drives me nuts when people complain "well, I love the iPhone, but I won't get one because AT&T has terrible customer service".....
Here's a hint. ALL companies customer service departments suck. It doesn't matter who they are. The only time we contact them is when we have a problem, and lets face it, most of the problems involve money of some sort. Rarely do problems work out in the favor of the customer. Lets face it people, its Cell phone service, for the most part we're going to get screwed somehow.
I really don't care which of the cell phone companies provides me service, they're all going to screw me in their own way.... so don't not get the most amazing phone on the planet because "I don't like their customer service" That's ridiculous.
BornAgainMac
macrumors 604
No loss. They are all basically the same to me. Anyways, there is always Jail breaking for people that love the other phone company that much.
I don't think your icon of Ned Flanders justifies a quote to "Jail Break" a phone.
It's against Apple's policies and as much as I hate the 2.0 release with it's bugs I'd never Jail Break a phone. It's unethical to say the least.
You bought the phone and agreed to the terms. My guess is people who Jail Break phones have illegal satelite or cable boxes.
I'm a PC Guy with a Mac Phone but I still have Morals. Personally I wish AT&T and Apple would brick a Jail Broken phone for good if it meant a lower end user price!
Apple approached Verizon first before AT&T about the iphone, but Verizon rejected it due to all the restriction and control that Apple wanted in the deal. It's kind of ironic when you think about it considering all the restrictions Verizon imposes on their phones and service. Although what can you expect when you get 2 companies who both want to do everything they can to milk every dollar out of their user base by locking down features and accessibility then forcing everything to go thru their respective services. I wonder if Verizon is having second thoughts at this point.
By the way, I'm a former Verizon customer of the past 8 years who never really had any complaints with their basic service, but switched to AT&T for the iphone.
By the way, I'm a former Verizon customer of the past 8 years who never really had any complaints with their basic service, but switched to AT&T for the iphone.
gkarris
macrumors G3
Already talked about this.... 😱
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/5810865/
AT&T will do everything to keep being the EXCLUSIVE provider of Apple cell phones... 😡
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/5810865/
AT&T will do everything to keep being the EXCLUSIVE provider of Apple cell phones... 😡
QCassidy352
macrumors G5
you can't use an iphone on a CMDA network (verizon and sprint), jailbroken or not. It's simply different technology.
I don't know that "Jailbreaking" is unethical. You paid for the phone and AT&T is still getting their monthly check, so whats the problem?
I could possibly see "Unlocking" the phone as being considered an unethical act, but I would probably consider it more of a gray area since you would have to cancel your AT&T service and therefore cough up the early termination fee and more or less reimbursing them for the subsidy.
I don't really see the problem.
Hear me now, believe me later. Verizon would collect more iPhone customers than ATT, including me. I'll stick with my iTouch and Verizon plan until Verizon gets the iPhone, or until ATT gets better coverage in Albuquerque. We have no coverage at my workplace. Can you hear me now?
Whatevz!
I'm proud to have a 1st Gen iphone running 1.1.4. No complaints except for the fact that Apple will not observe the Warranty because I'm T-Mobile. Which should be an issue that can be taken down in court. Someone will do it. If a phone goes down, it has nothing to do with which network your on.
Other than that silly clause, T-Mobile and the Original iPhone? Awesome!
I'm proud to have a 1st Gen iphone running 1.1.4. No complaints except for the fact that Apple will not observe the Warranty because I'm T-Mobile. Which should be an issue that can be taken down in court. Someone will do it. If a phone goes down, it has nothing to do with which network your on.
Other than that silly clause, T-Mobile and the Original iPhone? Awesome!
AT&T Service is Regrettably Awful....
Man.. this is bad news for me.. I would (along with my iPhone) switch back in a heartbeat. I live in central NJ, on the shore.. not exactly east bum-fart, and I cant use my iPhone in my house. It's a joke. I had Verizon for god knows how many years, living in NY and NJ and never had any reception issues... numerous "smart" phones.. Kyocera's (the big one and the 7135), Palm treos (600, 650 and 700). I'll tell you hand down Verizon's service (customer service and general issues of reception, etc etc); is completely in another league from AT&T.
I bought three iPhones on launch, June '07, and have consistently had the same feeling... if Apple really gave a rats A** about the end-user experience they would have NEVER gone with AT&T-Cingular. Apple's biggest concern was money first, their hardware second (all well and good, mind you); and finally I think they could care less what network it's on.
C'mon, in the US, who would in their right mind have taken Cingular's network over Verizon's (with money not being considered).
I'll be on the record as an early adopter to most new things Apple makes.. I bought 'em, I paid handsomely to break my Verizon contract... I would pay handsomely again right this second if they announced the iPhone for Verizon....
Ohh/.. and I wont be purchasing anything 3g from AT&T, because as you can imagine, even though I live in an incredibly populated area.... the 3G around where I live is barely existent.
B
Man.. this is bad news for me.. I would (along with my iPhone) switch back in a heartbeat. I live in central NJ, on the shore.. not exactly east bum-fart, and I cant use my iPhone in my house. It's a joke. I had Verizon for god knows how many years, living in NY and NJ and never had any reception issues... numerous "smart" phones.. Kyocera's (the big one and the 7135), Palm treos (600, 650 and 700). I'll tell you hand down Verizon's service (customer service and general issues of reception, etc etc); is completely in another league from AT&T.
I bought three iPhones on launch, June '07, and have consistently had the same feeling... if Apple really gave a rats A** about the end-user experience they would have NEVER gone with AT&T-Cingular. Apple's biggest concern was money first, their hardware second (all well and good, mind you); and finally I think they could care less what network it's on.
C'mon, in the US, who would in their right mind have taken Cingular's network over Verizon's (with money not being considered).
I'll be on the record as an early adopter to most new things Apple makes.. I bought 'em, I paid handsomely to break my Verizon contract... I would pay handsomely again right this second if they announced the iPhone for Verizon....
Ohh/.. and I wont be purchasing anything 3g from AT&T, because as you can imagine, even though I live in an incredibly populated area.... the 3G around where I live is barely existent.
B
megfilmworks
macrumors 68020
I think most will agree that all cell phone companies have issues.
But I have to agree with several posters who mention Verizon as being more controlling and restrictive with what phones on their network are allowed to do. Not to mention them trying to sell you junk content at every turn.
Is the iPhone perfect? Is Att the second coming? No, but...
Apple has given us the most demanding and unrestricted mobile platform
ever.
The exact opposite of Verizon's business model which is control and charge.
At least Att stepped up to the plate.
But I have to agree with several posters who mention Verizon as being more controlling and restrictive with what phones on their network are allowed to do. Not to mention them trying to sell you junk content at every turn.
Is the iPhone perfect? Is Att the second coming? No, but...
Apple has given us the most demanding and unrestricted mobile platform
ever.
The exact opposite of Verizon's business model which is control and charge.
At least Att stepped up to the plate.