I'm not about to get an iPhone JUST because I want an iPod with a mobile broadband service plan. Notice my choice of terminology. BTW, they offer the same thing in the Amazon Kindle. I wouldn't call THAT an iPhone if I valued my life. EVDO, 3G, WiMax or whatever is INEVITABLY going into just about every product Apple sells (or anybody for that matter).
This way, when you travel abroad, you can have it switch seamlessly. Different capabilities for different countries. It ain't brain surgery to find that this method is profitable.
Obviously you don't have Verizon or Sprint service. If you did, you'd see that in just about every place there is that little EV icon above the 1X symbol (if you have VZW, that is; I've no idea how Sprint does it). Besides, it's EVERYWHERE that I happen to be. Get over it.
Also, I think that the iPod Touch was woefully underfeatured compared to the iPhone, and even moreso now since the iPhone is now the iPhone 3G. Apple just hung the Touch out to wither and die IMHO and they continued to **** users over by forcing them to pay for updates. Let's not forget that MOST, if not ALL iPod Touch apps REQUIRE a constant data connection! NOT EVERYBODY IS WITHIN RANGE OF A WI-FI HOTSPOT ALL THE TIME!!! Stop feeling like the kings of the world because you happen to always be within Wi-Fi range. Remember the rest of us who aren't always within that sort of range (like if we have to travel to a BFE corner of the world, or at least a hotel with ****** Internet).
There's no question in my mind: Apple could take over the mobile device market (and steal everyone from RIM) if iPod Touch was a mobile broadband device. But (and this is a big but), if the iPod Touch could BECOME an iPhone with a way to pay a bit extra, maybe even a monthly fee as well, then I'd be in. However, as I've said before, Apple could own the market IF AND ONLY IF they came out with a prepaid phone that was MILES beyond everything else and prepaid SERVICE that was MILES beyond everything else. However, I feel as if Apple should do this themselves because I'd rather not have to go into an AT&T store and say I want an iPhone because that's the only way I can have one. I have no interest in paying $80 per month for what ATT was offering only a year ago for at least HALF that price, and NO added TXT messaging fees. I want to have the freedom to TXT all I want, I want to have the freedom to talk all I want to (within the limitations), and I want to use all the other features (like ringtones) and apps (like Facebook) and I want to not have to pay $80 a month for that priviledge.
AT&T can go **** themselves, I'm not about to buy an iPhone and be locked in to AT&T just because I want a better phone experience. I'm certain those of you who were pissed off at Rogers in Canada feel the same way. What about O2 in Ireland? What about T-Mobile Germany? What about every other service provider who decided that having an exclusivity deal on the iPhone gave them the license to **** consumers over? What do you say to them? That they have to live with what Apple provides them? That's a STUPID way to do business, and a SWIFT way to lose customers FAST.
I'm going to bed. I certainly hope that people think about this. People, THINK about those who still don't have iPhones and THINK about WHY that might be. In my case (yes, I have no iPhone), it's NOT price and it's NOT features. My reason for not buying an iPhone are the ****** exclusivity deals that Apple made with providers like AT&T, O2, etc. Apple breaks that, they have a customer. If not, then fine.
Make the iPhone nonexclusive. Sell the phone, not the service provider. THAT'S how you allow the iPhone to take over the world. Think about it.
BJ
