The main point of the original lawsuit, as I read it, was that T-Mobile was restricting the customers options by limiting the iPhone to 1 of 3 plans, and preventing customers from buying an unlocked phone for use on another network. They went on to say that this *could* cause a precedence in that future phones may be locked to specific carriers and plans.
Now, we all know that there are exclusive phones on all networks, including Vodafone, but these phones upto now have been available on all plans, and when bought for full price (as the iPhone is), or as part of a contract then they are also unlocked.
My original point was that had the iPhone been made available to all operators, even on the current markup system and locked down, then the competition between the operators would have caused a selection of comparative tariffs available to choose from, probably at lower prices or including more minutes/data.
The main point of the Vodafone lawsuit is this is just a nuisance lawsuit withoiut a leg to stand on. If T-Mobile Germany or Apple had even a faint feeling that they are standing on shaky ground --- then they would have crafted complex tariff plans like in the French iphone.
Blackberries and Danger Sidekicks have specialized plans --- even in Germany.
iPhone exclusivity has nothing to do with high tariff plans in Europe. AT&T manages to put together a iphone specific plan that is just regular price voice plan plus regular $20 data plan. AT&T didn't charge a single cent in premium for their iphone plans --- why? Because there are enough competition in the US mobile service market. The German mobile service market is not competitive to begin with --- the iphone has nothing to do with it.
Why on earth would anybody defend Apple's strategy of locking down the phone, creating a large black market and generally making using an iphone seamlessly internationally hideously expensive and awkward (like the caller id issue)? It just doesn't make any sense to me that people would side against their own interests.
Because you are blaming the wrong people.
If international carriers charge insane amounts in roaming fees --- then blame the international carriers, don't blame apple. What we are talking about is Vodafone UK subscribers travelling to Germany and roaming on Vodafone Germany --- and got charged insane roaming fees.
...and what about those of us living in a country that has already got iPhone..but, they picked the wrong carrier? In the UK O2 coverage sucks. I'd have an iPhone in a heartbeat but where I live there is no EDGE coverage, WIFI is useless for me. The shame is that Orange has superb coverage. How come Orange are good enough for Apple to deal with in France but not UK? Deffo not the best deal for the customer here, Apple grabbing the best deal for them. I reckon it'll tank in the UK (seems to have so far)
Only a weak carrier would pay a king's ransom for the iphone --- so by definition, you ain't going to get the best network.