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AT&T Plays Buzzkill At Apple Developer's Conference
MMS? later. Tethering? Sometime. Maybe.
by Karl Bode Monday 08-Jun-2009 tags: business · wireless · hardware
At today's ongoing blogged, streamed, Twittered and smoke signaled Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference, most people are awaiting the announcement of a new iPhone, but are having to tide themselves over with (sort of) new information on the iPhone 3.0 software update. As expected, Apple says the update will deliver MMS functionality -- though while 29 global carriers will have this functionality at launch, AT&T customers get to wait until the end of the summer for AT&T to work out the kinks. As for long-awaited official tethering support, Apple says it will be available across 22 partners in 44 countries at launch -- but not yet for AT&T, who's traditionally been terrified by the related bandwidth worries. So far, AT&T's continuing its role as the weaker link in the Apple/AT&T marriage -- fueling greater desire for an Apple/Verizon love affair.

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Elite

join:2002-10-03
Orange, CT

Thanks ATT!

I love how every other carrier gets MMS at launch but ATT will need "until the end of summer" to figure it out.
--
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11

Re: Thanks ATT!

I don't know why anyone is surprised. They know full well that they'll sell a jillion of these things even without MMS and tethering and might turn that on once sales starts to slow down. Why give it away when you can sell it twice?

Meanwhile, us non-iPhone AT&T users continue merrily multimedia messaging and tethering along...

NOCMan
MacChatter
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Colorado Springs, CO

Re: Thanks ATT!

Not particularly true. Current 3G owners face a steep bill to upgrade. Come Janurary Verizon could be carrying the phone and there could be a mass exodus if Verizon subsidizes it.
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11

Re: Thanks ATT!

Neither Apple nor AT&T care about existing users...in fact they are counting on the foamers to go ahead and pay full price for the "upgrade". By the time the exclusivity runs out AT&T will have made their money and Apple gets paid regardless of who the carrier is. Let VZW see if they can handle it.

DaveDude
No Fear

join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1
This is the reason i never got the Iphone, MMS i use all the time, i tether all the time.

Cthen

join:2004-08-01
Detroit, MI
Reviews:
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1 edit

Re: Thanks ATT!

I never really understood myself either why people are willing to pay so much for such a limited product.

I was truly exited when the first Iphone was released. That was until I found out that it couldn't do the basic things my current phone could do on the network. (Hell not even the current Iphone can)

See ya I phone users, I'll continue blowing by you all on the network while you wait for Apple and AT&T to bring you what I have had for years now.
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hayabusa3303
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Re: Thanks ATT!

said by Cthen:

I never really understood myself either why people are willing to pay so much for such a limited product.
what is disposable income.

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL

Re: Thanks ATT!

said by hayabusa3303:

said by Cthen:

I never really understood myself either why people are willing to pay so much for such a limited product.
what is disposable income.
said by "Alex Trebek" :

You are correct, sir!
Ooh, ooh! Can I play Jeapordy too?!
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Matt
All noise, no signal.
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12
said by Elite:

I love how every other carrier gets MMS at launch but ATT will need "until the end of summer" to figure it out.
I think they are terrified that MMS and tethering will bring an already overloaded network to its knees. Especially when you consider that push alerting will be supported in 3.0.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: Thanks ATT!

I think AT&T needs to get its backhaul/7.2Mbps in check before they can support a lot of things.
Similarly, since Sprint has deployed 200k Palm Pre, I don't suspect any huge impact to them performance wise. I'd be curious if they had a few million of them deployed what kind of performance hit (if any) they would have.

Voyager2K2

join:2001-10-04
Wayne, PA

Re: Thanks ATT!

said by en102:

I think AT&T needs to get its backhaul/7.2Mbps in check before they can support a lot of things.
Similarly, since Sprint has deployed 200k Palm Pre, I don't suspect any huge impact to them performance wise. I'd be curious if they had a few million of them deployed what kind of performance hit (if any) they would have.
I have found out what impact AT&T problems has had on mid-North Jersey deployments.
Not good.
I have 10X the number of Sprint USB modems deployed in the surrounding areas.
Holding my breath on Pre penetration in these areas.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Verizon Better?

To be fair, how would Verizon have fared data-wise if it was selling the iPhone? Could it have handled the unlimited data aspect?

Don't forget that Verizon told Apple to beat it when Apple was looking for an iPhone vendor.
--
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Big Dawg 23

join:2002-03-27
Northfield, MN

Re: Verizon Better?

Verizon has MMS on ALL Phones and Ability to Tether on all Smartphones. Like most carries when tethering the 5GB cap comes into play. Verizon has the Network to support the tethering and MMS.

As for Verizon telling Apple to beat it that was because of the cost Apple wanted. AT&T took the deal and now regrets it as they make no money on the device and struggle with covering on the Data(at least that is what the news says). Now AT&T has added a lot of Subs because of the Iphone.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Re: Verizon Better?

said by Big Dawg 23:

Verizon has MMS on ALL Phones and Ability to Tether on all Smartphones. Like most carries when tethering the 5GB cap comes into play. Verizon has the Network to support the tethering and MMS.
So does AT&T.
said by Big Dawg 23:

As for Verizon telling Apple to beat it that was because of the cost Apple wanted. AT&T took the deal and now regrets it as they make no money on the device and struggle with covering on the Data(at least that is what the news says). Now AT&T has added a lot of Subs because of the Iphone.
Doubtful. If the iPhone was a money loser for AT&T they would have stopped selling it long ago.
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DaSneaky1D
one wall to block them all
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou
Reviews:
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1 edit

Is AT&T's network really that lacking?

I know users rave about their call coverage, but is the G3 capacity really that constrained?

To be transparent, I'm (now) a Pre user, and the iPhone updates I've read on other websites are inline with what Sprint released with this unit. I'm just really surprised that Apple would let such a large market share of their product be undercut by a carrier that can't match a big weekend release of a close rival.

From my experience using others' iPhones, they are incredible devices, well worthy of the praise heaped upon it. However, one of the most anticipated devices that was released just before the WWDC would be the direct comparison to any release/update to the iPhone and AT&T seemed to have dropped the ball.
--
:: my trivial ramblings ::

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: Is AT&T's network really that lacking?

I think it varies from market/location.
In SoCal, AT&T was poor when there was a single 5MHz 3G carrier channel. (leaving 17.5MHz on 2G). Since then, they've 'balanced' it a bit better, giving 10MHz of 3G, and 12.5MHz of 2G, and I haven't had any issues since. I'm not using an iPhone, but an HTC Tilt.

DaSneaky1D
one wall to block them all
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou

Re: Is AT&T's network really that lacking?

Thanks for explaining it a bit more!

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1

MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

It's clear as the nose on everyones face, AT&T is the "bitch" of this relationship.

There's no reason US iPhones don't have tethering and MMS other than AT&T's anemic data backbone. It's documented fact that Apple went to Verizon first and when they heard Steve's terms they told him to go screw.

»www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-···ne_x.htm

I have no doubt that Apple has developed a CDMA version of the iPhone with every subsequent generation of the product. They did the same thing with OS X when they used the Next Step operating system as a base. Every version of OS X had an Intel version developed and tested right along side, just in case the day came they decided to switch. Smart move.

When a Verizon iPhone comes (and it will) AT&T may as well pass that pillow they're bighting to Apple. Verzon is not going to take Apple's crap just to have the iPhone, especially since the iPhone has been around for so long now.

'Cause from what I've seen Verizon is a ruthless unwaivering unstoppable force of never ending evil that will devour anyone that stands in their way.

But, they happen to offer good service, so I stick with them...
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power…
jvanbrecht

join:2007-01-08
Bowie, MD

Re: MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

The primary reason to stick with ATT regardless is world compatibility, and while we can only guess as to whether the CDMA version will also have a GSM radio in it (my guess is not if they want to keep a small form factor) to maintain that ability.

Now ATT is not exactly forthcoming with any ability to use prepaid carriers in said countries (I had to hack my phone to use it in South Africa), but from a hardware aspect, the GSM iphone is great, now if only the asshats at ATT would be a little less money grubbing (yes I know its a business, but come on, $2.60 a min roaming, and an ungodly charge per kb for data (I forgot the exact amount))... people might hate them less.

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse

Re: MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

World compatibility?

How so? So AT&T can charge outrageous data roaming prices?

No unlock codes given out at all by AT&T, unlike T-Mobile who supply unlock codes for all phones.

If you ask me, T-Mobile seems the most free and the 2nd party to the new Apple phones, especially since they're already sold under the T-Mobile European name plates.
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tigers

join:2001-01-14
Irmo, SC

Re: MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

No CDMA in Europe for one. As for TMO, they hardly have any 3G coverage to speak of and they had none when the iPhone was launched.
bartolo5

join:2001-12-03
San Carlos, CA
said by Gbcue:

World compatibility?
World compatibility so Apple doesn't have design multiple iPhones for the different carriers. One iPhone for everybody. A lot easier to support and maintain and a very Applesque thing to do.

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8
Reviews:
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Re: MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

said by bartolo5:

said by Gbcue:

World compatibility?
a very Applesque thing to do.
You mean like all other GSM phones in the world?
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N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1
I'm not going to get into a my phone your phone pissing match. I've played with the iPhone, and I have a BlackBerry Storm, which I think it probably the perfect world phone, if you play your cards right with Verizon.

After you've had your Storm for 60 days, you call Verizon and tell them you're taking a trip overseas. I told them Germany. You tell them you want to be able to drop a local SIM card in to have a local phone number while in country.

If your bill is up to date (like that goes without saying when it comes to Verizon), most often they will give you the unlock code for FREE.

I got mine in about 5 min. and it worked perfectly. Then I went to an AT&T store and told them I have a friend coming home from deployment over seas, and I needed a SIM card for an unlocked GSM phone. Dropped $15 on a fun experiment. Put the AT&T SIM card in my Storm an Viola! Two phones in one. You don't even need a re boot to change carriers, you can do it on the fly with the software all ready in the phone.

So, I have a touch screen phone that I can put a local SIM card in when I travel, and remove the battery for extended range if need be.

No doubt the iPhone is a much more polished and developed phone than the Storm. The OS is incredible and smooth as oil.

But if I was out of country more often than not, the Storm would be my first choice.
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power…
bartolo5

join:2001-12-03
San Carlos, CA
said by N3OGH:

I have no doubt that Apple has developed a CDMA version of the iPhone with every subsequent generation of the product. They did the same thing with OS X when they used the Next Step operating system as a base.
I doubt Apple ever designed a CDMA version of the iPhone and I doubt it will ever do such a thing. Apple has always wanted to simplify their product lines because it makes at lot easier for them to develop and maintain things. Having CDMA and GSM versions of the same phone sounds very unlikely, even more so if you consider the marginal market that CDMA has worldwide and the fact that CDMA is a dying standard.

This doesn't mean there won't be a Verizon iPhone, there sure will be one, but will most likely be LTE based which again is a worldwide standard and will make it easy for Apple to produce a phone that works with Verizon, at&t and the other carriers in the rest of the world.
Markie

join:2003-07-26
Kalispell, MT

Re: MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

LTE is data only. Verizon intends on CS fallback to provide voice (that is use their CDMA 1x network for voice), at least in the short term. No one is planning to use IMS for a few years...

Thus, any LTE iPhone still needs to support CDMA for Verizon or GSM/UMTS for AT&T...

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1
I disagree.

Somewhere deep in the darkest basement of 1 Infinite Loop, hidden behind such forgotten progeny of Job's mind as the Lisa, and the neXt Cube lies a CDMA iPhone.

Every now and again Jobs goes down there, and prank calls Bill Gates from it.

"Hey Bill, what's up?"

"Screw you, Steve, I'm hanging up."

-User account control stops unauthorized changes to your phone call, If you really wanted to end this call, click continue.

GODDAMMIT!!!!!

Cue the footage of Steve Jobs' evil laugh back lit a la Sideshow Bob from the Simpson's, kind of evil looking....
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power…

HarleyYac
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ
kudos:1

Sprint just..........

Let out a nice sigh!! LOL
Lee

Telco_Tech

join:2009-05-18
Toledo, OH

HAHAHA!

AT&T is such a wretched company. Not just their wireless division -- everything that bears their name is manure. I can't stand dealing with their HiCap circuit division for work (I cringe any time I find out I have to call them for anything).

The only way I'd ever purchase an iPhone is when it comes to another carrier, which as I understand it will most likely be VZ once they start deploying LTE next year.

AT&T... always good for a laugh.

- Tate

--
IP is the future... down with TDM!

weeksben1
Premium
join:2004-02-26
Clarkston, MI

Re: HAHAHA!

Their HiCap department can be a real PITA. Especially when the T-1 carrying your voice PRI is down and they don't see that as being a major problem.

Telco_Tech

join:2009-05-18
Toledo, OH

Re: HAHAHA!

said by weeksben1:

Their HiCap department can be a real PITA. Especially when the T-1 carrying your voice PRI is down and they don't see that as being a major problem.

Exactly!

The best part is that it always ends up being something on their end. Here's a fun chronic issue that I enjoy dealing with: we have to open a ticket with their SS7 department all the damn time because our SS7 links to their Wayne Tandem go down, and their "fix" is to simply fail the circuits over to their backup cards in their Wayne DCS. Then when those eventually fail, they just move the circuits back home to the original DCS card and the cycle continues. Mind you, we're constantly asking them to re-engineer the circuits or at least replace the DCS but apparently that's too much to ask for something as mission critical as an SS7 link.

Just an awful, awful company.

- Tate

--
IP is the future... down with TDM!

Whoah whoah whoah

WTF, why does the iphone, the apparent flagship of the entire mobile phone business, coupled with all its glory and extremely high prices, totally unable to receive picture messages?

I realize MMS is a toll-bridge network, but it's relatively convenient to send a picture to a 10 digit phone number instead of inputting a lengthy email address.

Why would ATT or Apple have left that feature out? Sending dirty picture messages is one of the many enjoyable things one can do with a phone and their significant other.
blips

join:2001-04-17
Addison, IL

Re: Whoah whoah whoah

said by Christopher89379 :

I realize MMS is a toll-bridge network, but it's relatively convenient to send a picture to a 10 digit phone number instead of inputting a lengthy email address.

Really? Both are stored in my address book and take the same amount of time to look up.
RadioDoc
58ef2c0
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Re: Whoah whoah whoah

One button dialing > address book.

swintec
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said by Christopher89379 :

Sending dirty picture messages is one of the many enjoyable things one can do with a phone and their significant other.
You are right there...photos from your significant other to my phone are very enjoyable, all the guys at the office love them!
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NOCMan
MacChatter
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Colorado Springs, CO

I Call BS on the lack of MMS Support

They're not working out any kinks. Their systems lack the capacity of X million phones suddenly being able to support MMS.

Instead of investing in their network's they've been raping the funds to help them flesh out their Uverse.

Thanks Apple for working with a crappy carrier.
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11

Re: I Call BS on the lack of MMS Support

Suddenly? My LG has been able to do this for two years...

FastiBook

join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

1 edit

Out west.

Att's network out west is very congested. On the east coast & a little to the west of that, the network is VERY fast with lots of coverage from many well placed towers (for the most part). On the train from trenton to newark i get 5 bars 2G and 3G, and GPS is accurate enough to calculate the train's speed to within 1-2 mph. In my house, i get 1-4 bars depending where i am, and GPS is confused a bit by the foliage that looms over much of the street. Last night it pinpointed me to within a foot out on the street, but it took some finagling to figure out where the best reception is.

Out west you got some serious hills & mountains with fewer options for tower sites, with everyone and their mother using email and MMS.

I was actually angry at first about this, till i realized how lopsided the traffic load is in the country. In fact ATT's coverage is so good that t-mobile (in this area) piggybacks on their network again with no issue.

They have been upgrading the towers (received an email saying so actually) in this area, i think the delay has completely to do with upgrading tower equipment, and absolutely nothing to do with anything else. I think they want to test the crap out of it, make sure all the new equipment is deployed and new towers are complete before tackling the ENORMOUS load of the iPhone doing tethering & MMS.

Strangely, i feel somewhat sympathetic to one company basically bearing the burden of advancing the entire way mobile devices are utilized. Apple had the innovation since forever, they had to wait for the cell providers to catch up.

Don't get me started on vz mobile. I will sing the praises of fios, but i'll be damned if i EVER use vz mobile till i'm dead. Sprint's network would not be able to handle the iPhone 3G. That's why they got the skimpy lil pre (& only 6 months of exclusivity).

So, those of you who think att is being a bunch of curmudgeons, realize the massive undertaking that is still taking place to get this upgrade complete to handle the iPhone 3G (both versions).

- A
--
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DarnellP

join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV

Re: Out west.

said by FastiBook:

Sprint's network would not be able to handle the iPhone 3G. That's why they got the skimpy lil pre (& only 6 months of exclusivity).
I'd wager that Sprint's network would handle the iPhone 3G better than at&t's has.

FastiBook

join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

Re: Out west.

Honestly i think it varies by state.

- A
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Chaldo

join:2008-03-18
West Bloomfield, MI

1 edit

Give att some time...

Well Honestly guys you need to look at this a bit more then OMG THATS IT I HATE THEM. AT&T is upgrading there network to something Verizon hasen't even done yet. Do you know how many Iphones are on the AT&T network? A lot more then those other carriers so maybe they want to do something before they let those operations go on. I bet you it will be pretty quick for the MMS because a lot of bad news going around, tethering will be available shortly, and with the 7.2mbps upgrade they have, it will work more efficient then any other carrier. Just give them some time, they are not spending 17-18 BIL on there network this year alone for nothing.

also, id rather them do that upgrade before if there scared about MMS on the iphone, psh I have a blackberry bold it takes me like 10 seconds to send a MMS thats fast, I don't want that to change unless it's getting faster lol.

FastiBook

join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

Re: Give att some time...

According to my sources 1/5th of accounts have at least one iPhone.

New customers are allowed a single iPhone. Those looking to get a family plan, can get one iPhone & 1-4 other phones on the same plan. To get additional iPhones on new customer family plan you must wait 1 year to establish credit. Existing customers have no limit on how many iPhones per plan, but you gotta make sure your contract allows the discounted upgrade or you will pay full price.

Existing & new customers can get discounts on refurbished iPhones, both 8 gig and 16 gig. They are rebuilt phones, so they are not sold at new prices.

Also according to my sources, MMS will go live the last week of august, tethering by thanksgiving if MMS doesn't have any issues.

The information i get from "my sources" is pretty reliable, but don't bet the house on it because it is tech & tech = murphy's law.

If i get more juicy tidbits i will share.

I'd like to add something else. Texts take a moment to send, while apps like yahoo messenger are absolutely instant, it's incredible. It allows you to send files i believe, will tinker with it before i sleep.

Also i agree with the above post abut cutting att some slack, at first i was furious, but this is no small undertaking.

- A
--
LETS GO METS!

thcmagik

join:2007-09-24
Hartford, CT
what does verizon not do ? they invest 5 billion a year in the network and have over 80 million people using there network allready let alone sprint roams off of them aswell....
old_wiz_60

join:2005-06-03
Bedford, MA
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Verizon would be no better

Verizon may have better coverage, but they'd never allow iPhones if they couldn't control the phones. They cripple every phone they sell; no matter what great features are available in a great phone, Verizon will block a lot of them. Can you picture that happening with iPhone? Verizon would hate the iTunes/app store unless they got a cut on the purchases.

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL

iTouch with BT?

Honestly for me though, the only reason I'd want the iPhone over the iPod touch right now is simply one reason: Bluetooth support. Since i can't find a BT adapter that will work with the iTouch, I'd need an iPhone so I can use bluetooth headphones.

Now, you might say "well, what about the stock earpieces?" Well, the problem with that is twofold:
•Stuff that goes in my ear inevitably becomes very, very painful for long-term use. I should know, considering I'd had to return every single BT earpiece I had for my current phone because it simply became too painful to put up with a single conversation on it.
•Wired headphones and stuff simply just don't hold up in my usage. The relative comfort and lightness of a wireless solution is worth the cost premium.

So unless someone around here knows where I can get a BT adapter that will interface with an iPod touch (so I can use my existing headphones) or even where I can get a set of wireless headphones that are compatible, that is why I would need an iPhone.
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