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Did AT&T's Bad Week Kill Their iPhone Exclusivity Extension?
Carrier takes a severe iPhone-related beating

You can't say it's been a very enjoyable week for AT&T's wireless division. The carrier was booed this week at Apple's developer conference for the news that -- unlike dozens of other Apple wireless partners -- AT&T wasn't yet ready to support iPhone tethering or MMS support. They were then lambasted for the subsidized price of the new iPhone 3GS and the penalty incurred by current iPhone users still under contract. This is after a few months of criticism for the crippling of applications like Skype or Slingbox at AT&T's request.

Today finds AT&T being boxed on the ears once again for ongoing service quality issues, including frequent dropped calls and inconsistent service coverage. The Street.com notes how AT&T cut $2.5 billion from their 2009 capital spending budget, and will spend 15% less on network maintenance and upgrades than the $20 billion spent last year. According to one analyst, there's internal discord surrounding how that money should be spent -- and whether AT&T should continue to milk HSPA or just fully embrace LTE (like Verizon):

quote:
"Money isn't the only problem, there's also a lot of indecision" says Telecom Pragmatics analyst Sam Greenholtz, who talks to the technology decision makers at all the major phone companies. "They don't know what to do with the money they been given to spend," says Greenholtz. "They are doing upgrades here and there, but overall they are split with some wanting more 3G spending and others saying a quicker move to 4G should be the priority."
AT&T denies to the website that the AT&T wireless network is anything less than "first class," but connectivity issues have plagued AT&T since the initial launch of the first iPhone on AT&T's then-outmatched EDGE network. The iPhone 3G was subsequently launched with full HSDPA wireless broadband support, though even AT&T sort of admits they weren't ready for the bandwidth demand and at time suffered congestion outages. Here we are again, with AT&T's HSPA 7.2Mbps upgrades seemingly lagging behind Apple.

This latest scuff up is occurring while Apple and AT&T are in negotiations to extend AT&T's exclusive iPhone contract -- which expires next year. Verizon, who recently took some shots at AT&T's wireless network, would love to pair the iPhone with the launch of their LTE wireless broadband network next year. With the heat that AT&T has been taking of late -- it seems less and less likely that Apple would want to extend their exclusive arrangement with AT&T, but it all depends on just how wide AT&T is willing to open the checkbook.

Ditching AT&T for Verizon assumes Verizon would make things better. While there's a marked difference in quality between the networks (at least from this author's experience in New York), Verizon isn't any friendlier when it comes to open applications on open networks -- despite the sound and fury to the contrary. Remember too that Apple came to Verizon first, and Verizon thought Apple's asking price was simply too high.

Clearly this is hippie crazy talk to wireless industry executives and free market fanatics, but perhaps the answer is the elimination of exclusive handset agreements (at least of any more than six months). That truly gives consumers the ability to choose the handset they want on the network that suits them best -- or performs the best in their geographical area -- without chaining the customer to one carrier for the benefit of Apple's wallet.
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me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

I hope so.

That would mean more competition which is a good thing. And if sprint got the iphone I would get it, maybe even verizon.

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

Uncle Paul

Member

Re: I hope so.

Do we know when the negotiations are due to be over?

baineschile
2600 ways to live
Premium Member
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

baineschile

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by Uncle Paul:

Do we know when the negotiations are due to be over?
Officially, July 2010. We should know more about any agreements in the months before that.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3 to me1212

Premium Member

to me1212
said by me1212:

That would mean more competition which is a good thing. And if sprint got the iphone I would get it, maybe even verizon.
I also think the AT&T exclusivity agreement should be scrapped. AT&T has done a piss poor job of supporting the device and Apple would open the door to 100 million or so new untapped customers on the Verizon/Sprint network.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

Re: I hope so.

Yup I would get it on ether. That said, I would like verizon more because I have been up on wimax vs LTE and right now wimax can do speeds up to 3m, but LTE can do 100m/50m with pings as low as 10ms.
ender7074
join:2006-11-21
Saint Louis, MO

ender7074

Member

Re: I hope so.

I would like to see it come to Verizon but Verizon would have to get a much better data plan. 60 bucks for 5 gig is a joke. I wanted data on my new enV Touch until I saw the price... Even the lower tier is pretty lame. 40 bucks for 250mb. I'll pass thanks.
chilibball
join:2008-11-20
Albany

chilibball

Member

Re: I hope so.

This is not true. My brother has the env touch and he has the unlimited vcast vpack for 20 a month. 60 a month is for pc data card plans. if you would like a link, just reply.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by chilibball:

This is not true. My brother has the env touch and he has the unlimited vcast vpack for 20 a month. 60 a month is for pc data card plans. if you would like a link, just reply.
Smartphones require a $45 a month plan. It's an extra $15 for tethering.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by Matt3:
said by chilibball:

This is not true. My brother has the env touch and he has the unlimited vcast vpack for 20 a month. 60 a month is for pc data card plans. if you would like a link, just reply.
Smartphones require a $45 a month plan. It's an extra $15 for tethering.
But they at least do specifically allow tethering.

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

OSUGoose to Matt3

Member

to Matt3
And the enV Touch ISENT a smartphone

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by OSUGoose:

And the enV Touch ISENT a smartphone
No. It's not.

»news.cnet.com/8301-17938 ··· 7-1.html

From the first paragraph:The recently released LG enV Touch is no smartphone like the iPhone or Palm Pre

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

OSUGoose

Member

Re: I hope so.

like i said it ISENT a smatphone, you need to re-read what i post

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by OSUGoose:

like i said it ISENT a smatphone, you need to re-read what i post
I'm trying!

john4056
@comcast.net

john4056

Anon

Re: I hope so.

hey guys, just wanna clear some things up. for the envtouch..the unlimited web (v-cast) is $15, if you want to use it as a mobile broad band modem it would be $49.99 per month..yes that's right its 59.99 5gb or 39.99 250mb for cards or usb/mifi device..but only $49.99 5gb for tethering on a handheld. as for smart-phones, you have some choices, $29.99 for personal or $44.99 for corporate email, tethering on these are $30 for personal and $15 for corp. so IF and when the iphone comes the verizon you can do $29.99 or the $44.99 and tether for $30 or $15. hope this helps out.
john

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102 to Matt3

Member

to Matt3
I agree.
I still think that manufacturing (chipset) would have to kick it up a notch, as there is no CDMA based iPhone anywhere.

T-Mobile 'could' get an iPhone if Apple has a flexible radio for AWS 3G, otherwise its just a 2G version

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

1 edit

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by en102:

I agree.
I still think that manufacturing (chipset) would have to kick it up a notch, as there is no CDMA based iPhone anywhere.

T-Mobile 'could' get an iPhone if Apple has a flexible radio for AWS 3G, otherwise its just a 2G version
I don't think they'll release a CDMA version. I fully expect Apple to bend AT&T over right now and then stab them in the back on the exclusivity agreement when Verizon and AT&T migrate to LTE. Verizon is saying 2010 for LTE to become available, that's only 6 to 18 months away ...

(EDIT)

Another 12-18 months would be a perfect time to release a new iPhone that has been designed for GSM/LTE. Just in time for the Christmas season but plenty of time for the 3GS to make money -- it's not like the 3GS is THAT different from the 3G, so I doubt there was a huge R&D cost.

gdm
MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL

gdm

MVM

Re: I hope so.

That's my thinking as well and reason for not upgrading to 3GS yet. If Verizon can get a LTE iPhone they would win back many customers on AT&T.

Just me chillin
@sprintlink.net

Just me chillin to Matt3

Anon

to Matt3
But LTE doesn't carry voice it only carries data. It's a pure data play right now just like Wimax is. If Apple made an LTE iPhone for Verizon it would need to include a CDMA radio as well for voice.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

Re: I hope so.

They may be able to use VoIP. LTE has ping times of like as low as 10ms, and is capable of 100/50.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: I hope so.

Verizon is saying 8-12 Mbps down on LTE. 100/50 is in labs. Just like WiMAX is 70 Mbps...in labs n 20MHz channels.

Still, heckuva lot better than 1-2 Mbps on HSPA. EvDO can work just as quickly as the iPhone's current HSPA setup FWIW, so i wouldn't mind a CDMA EvDO iPhone without the LTE...
Sniper3142
Slapsho3142
join:2002-01-25
Tustin, CA

Sniper3142

Member

Re: I hope so.

First things first...

Verizon's LTE implementation will have speeds up to 100Mb/s. That will be in the field, not just a lab.

Secondly, while LTE will be for carrying Data, there will be voice running on it. Voice will become "just another service" running over data.

iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: I hope so.

10 Mbps might be aggregate over a whole tower, which with 700 MHz will cover a lot of territory. Also, lower modulations will be needed to get the signal out to all areas just like any other wireless technollogy. Verizon has been quoted as saying 8-12 Mbps is a realistic estimate for the speeds people will see with LTE gear on their network. Which still isn't bad...that's faster than 99.9% of the areas that don't have cable/DSL but will have LTE.
VansHSI
join:2005-01-29
America

VansHSI to me1212

Member

to me1212
They may yeah but Verizon won't. The anonymous poster above is correct.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102 to Just me chillin

Member

to Just me chillin
They'd have to deploy 1x/EVDO/LTE. for voice and coverage.
EVDO Rev A / LTE would actually be possible (VoIP all the way), but I don't suspect that everything is quite mature enough yet. 18 months from now - it may be.

It is in Apple's best interest to play the game, and tease AT&T until they have another carrier that works with Apple's chipset. Since Apple doesn't have CDMA or UMTS on AWS, AT&T is the only carrier in the country that 'can' use the iPhone.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3 to Just me chillin

Premium Member

to Just me chillin
said by Just me chillin :

But LTE doesn't carry voice it only carries data. It's a pure data play right now just like Wimax is. If Apple made an LTE iPhone for Verizon it would need to include a CDMA radio as well for voice.
LTE was designed to be an AIPN or All IP Network. They'd simply utilize VoIP or some derivative.

insomniac84
join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN

insomniac84

Member

Re: I hope so.

Well I would say they would probably just make a phone that supports it all, but making two hardware versions only increases the chance of selling more devices.

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

NOCMan to Just me chillin

Premium Member

to Just me chillin
said by Just me chillin :

But LTE doesn't carry voice it only carries data. It's a pure data play right now just like Wimax is. If Apple made an LTE iPhone for Verizon it would need to include a CDMA radio as well for voice.
Wrong, the voice is VOIP basically over the data portion..

bemis
Premium Member
join:2008-07-18
united state

bemis to Matt3

Premium Member

to Matt3
said by Matt3:

Another 12-18 months would be a perfect time to release a new iPhone that has been designed for GSM/LTE.
I'm not completely familiar w/ LTE--is it an evolutionary step to 1x/EVDO, meaning that an LTE device can fall back to those earlier modes?

If not, then it doesn't seem like a GSM/LTE hybrid would be a magic bullet for VZ as it would require them to switch on LTE networks in a massive number of territories within a very short amount of time--or else be seen as offering only a tiny footprint for iPhone 4G users to operate within.

GSM/LTE makes more sense for AT&T however as when 4G is not available the device could at the very worst fall back to 2G.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: I hope so.

LTE is a totally new tech. It isn't backward compatible with anything unless you put another "old" radio in the phone.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

1 recommendation

fiberguy2 to Matt3

Premium Member

to Matt3
You know, "say" they are not going to do a CDMA version, yet Apple was recruiting CDMA people about 6 months back... why would they be if they had no plans?

Apple is good at one thing, and that is keeping people confused and guessing. So, it's really hard to say WHAT exactly their plans are.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

said by fiberguy2:

You know, "say" they are not going to do a CDMA version, yet Apple was recruiting CDMA people about 6 months back... why would they be if they had no plans?

Apple is good at one thing, and that is keeping people confused and guessing. So, it's really hard to say WHAT exactly their plans are.
That's a good point. I forgot they were advertising for engineers and developers with CDMA experience.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru to en102

MVM

to en102
said by en102:

I agree.
I still think that manufacturing (chipset) would have to kick it up a notch, as there is no CDMA based iPhone anywhere.
I can think of 86.6 million reasons why it would be absolutely no problem for Apple to design a CDMA version of the phone in short order if the need be.

jonnyz
Premium Member
join:2003-03-20
Canfield, OH

1 recommendation

jonnyz

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

I guarantee they have working CDMA iPhone prototypes - probably even LTE. Apple also once said that they could but wouldn't switch to Intel processors - fast forward a few years, and their new OS, 10.6 Snow Leopard, will be Intel-only.

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

N3OGH

Premium Member

Re: I hope so.

I totally agree and expressed the same viewpoint here

»MMS AT&T, Verizon & the iPhone

Apple is one of the nimblest and broad thinking companies in the technology business. They don't think one or 2 steps ahead of their current plans, but 3 or 4 and a few off to the side as well.

You don't stay ahead of the pack for so long by staying in one spot. Say what you will about Apple, but they sure as shit make their shareholders a nice chunk of change....
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx to Matt3

Member

to Matt3
Correction: 130 million customers. Verizon is HUGE, and Sprint isn't too small either.

But yes, I'd LOVE to see someone other than AT&T carrying the iPhone.

Though my unlocked first-gen iPhone seems to perform decently on the voice/text side (less than stellar with data at the moment) on a local carrier's EDGE network (Five Star Wireless). Five bars...everywhere.

ATT lover
@sbcglobal.net

ATT lover to Matt3

Anon

to Matt3
No.. No no../ iPhone needs to remain with att... Just seeing customers getting frustrated that the can't choose their service provider tickles me ( is like showing a juicy steak to a starving kid)... And as a AT&T stockholder I need their money

baineschile
2600 ways to live
Premium Member
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

baineschile to me1212

Premium Member

to me1212
How is it possible at all that apple would make more money with one carrier? Look at BB, they are with everyone, and extremely popular.

Apple should be ashamed that they signed an exclucivity deal; its completely unlike the company to let the people that want their product, not have it

RadioDoc

join:2000-05-11
La Grange, IL

RadioDoc

Re: I hope so.

Apple got greedy and VZW told them to take a hike. Pretty typical for them, actually.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez

Member

Apple doesnt care about all this....

Apple is a business, and as such will go where the $ is. If ATT offers them a nice package to stay exclusive, then thats what will happen. I know its shocking, but Apple wants to make as much profit as possible. Anyone ever heard of the "Apple Tax"?

•••••••••••••••

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

I wasn't eligible for an upgrade...

Last year when I wanted the 3G so I paid retail price. It is what it is, you are either within the time or not. I think that argument is a bit weak. It is the price you pay for wanting new toys earlier than you are "allowed" to get them at the cheaper price.

••••••••••
mlundin
join:2001-03-27
Lawrence, KS

mlundin

Member

Speculate any?

A whole article about the potential loss of AT&T's iPhone exclusivity and not a shred of evidence to back it up. I see plenty of reasons for allowing the contract to expire, but since when has either AT&T or Apple made a logical business decision or listened to frustrated, unhappy (potential) customers?

So no, AT&T's bad week has in no way killed the iPhone exclusivity extension. Unless, of course, there are unmentioned details that I'm missing.

••••••

Hookem99
Deep In The Heart
join:2007-07-18
Pflugerville, TX

1 edit

Hookem99

Member

Just want to make calls....

I love my iPhone. I would have a hard time without it. I am disappointed that MMS support will not be ready next week, but will be glad when it is ready. However, I am almost ready to give it all up just to have a phone on a network that I can a) make a call without it first failing, and b) once that call has been connected, hold a conversation for 5 minutes with out the call dropping. This happens to 3 out of 5 calls and at&t cant tell me why. I'm sure at&t may be great in some areas, but they suck in Austin..... remember SXSW?

gdm
MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL

gdm

MVM

Re: Just want to make calls....

I agree with that. In the city of chicago 3G is hit or miss if I go to E it works fine no problem. Same thing in my house 3G is all over the place but E works fine.

The 3G data in the city just sucks. I can be in my office next to window clear view of other buildings and nothing right next to me. If the iPhone is in 3G (this happened with other AT&T phones as well) I can have full bars but calls won't come in and data won't work. It may for a bit but not generally. If I go to E it works no problem. This is literally sitting next to the window, I even put the phone on the window ledge. I opened up a bunch of tickets with AT&T all come back saying it's fixed.

I am not eligible for the 3GS and at this point I may wait till my contract is up to see if VZ gets the iPhone. I may move to VZ if they do go LTE.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx to Hookem99

Member

to Hookem99
My first-gen iPhone works just fine...on other carriers.

Haven't tested T-Mobile's data system out around here, but they've gotta be better than 70 kbps I'm getting with AT&T. Or 20 kbps I'm getting with the local carrier. OTOH the local carrier is freaking awesome for voice. 3-5 bars everywhere.

formeriphoneuser

Anon

att awful

someone as dumb as ed whitacre (soon to be ceo of GM) is running this at&t (into the ground)

atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium Member
join:2004-02-14
EC/SETX SWLA

atuarre

Premium Member

Re: att awful

said by formeriphoneuser :

someone as dumb as ed whitacre (soon to be ceo of GM) is running this at&t (into the ground)
Ed Whitacre is not running AT&T, and when he was at the helm, AT&T performed well.

The fact of the matter is, Apple is a company, like any other company. They do not really care about bad press. People want to blame AT&T for having to pay full price because AT&T will not subsidize the phone. Perhaps the people should blame Apple for charging upwards of $700 for a device that costs only $199-$250 to manufacture. That is the problem with Apple fan boys though. In their eyes, Apple can do no wrong. People are all pissy because they just bought a phone from AT&T (3G) two or three months ago, and are upset now cause the new one is coming out. That is Apple, not AT&T.

Apple is going to go where the money is. Who is to say that if they went to any other carrier, that the carriers network wouldn't be faced with the same issues that AT&T is facing, because of this iPhone.

Blame Apple's greed. Apple went to Verizon first (not Verizon to Apple) and talked about devices and a chunk of the wireless revenue and Verizon balked. It's greed. It always has been greed. It always will be greed with Apple.

I seriously doubt that the other carriers may be so willing to give up a chunk of their wireless revenue for the iPhone. I know I wouldn't. I think when the exclusive thing ends, they may have to give up the whole (we want a piece of the revenue) as some carriers may not be willing to make that sacrifice.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: att awful

I'm pretty sure the iPhone no longer has the revenue chunk thing. But the price to AT&T probably got hiked by $150-$200. I seriously doubt that Apple is charging AT&T $700 for a 32GB iphone 3Gs (an iTouch 32GB is $400) though.

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

ATT SUCKS

att is the ''GM'' of the phone industry.

I hope thousands of people vote with there wallet, and show att they mean F'ing business.

gattaca
Premium Member
join:2003-05-28
USA

gattaca

Premium Member

I'll wait for Verizon next time...

At first I thought my inelligbility to upgrade from an iPhone 3G to the 3GS was unfortunate; however, by having to wait, maybe the next iPhone I buy will be with Verizon.

At least in my area (western Massachusetts) Verizon seems to have MUCH better coverage than AT&T. I actually switched from Verizon to AT&T to have the iPhone, but maybe this time next year I'll be able to switch back. The world's best phone (IMHO) on the worlds best network.

Selenia
Gentoo Convert
Premium Member
join:2006-09-22
Fort Smith, AR

Selenia

Premium Member

Re: I'll wait for Verizon next time...

said by gattaca:

At first I thought my inelligbility to upgrade from an iPhone 3G to the 3GS was unfortunate; however, by having to wait, maybe the next iPhone I buy will be with Verizon.

At least in my area (western Massachusetts) Verizon seems to have MUCH better coverage than AT&T. I actually switched from Verizon to AT&T to have the iPhone, but maybe this time next year I'll be able to switch back. The world's best phone (IMHO) on the worlds best network.
In Western MA? I disagree(and yes, I live here). My AT&T phone has better coverage than most my friends' phones, including Verizon(though VZ is better in select regions of VT). Of course, it is not an iphone, which are known for reception issues(Google it, besides the fact I did try one out and confirmed what I read). AT&T can be short of data bandwidth for brief periods(and I agree they do need to fix this), but the important parts(calls and text) are 100% for me to this day. Of course, Apple can't be to blame for at least some of the issues, now can it fanbois(not referring to the person quoted)?

gattaca
Premium Member
join:2003-05-28
USA

gattaca

Premium Member

Re: I'll wait for Verizon next time...

said by Selenia:
said by gattaca:

At first I thought my inelligbility to upgrade from an iPhone 3G to the 3GS was unfortunate; however, by having to wait, maybe the next iPhone I buy will be with Verizon.

At least in my area (western Massachusetts) Verizon seems to have MUCH better coverage than AT&T. I actually switched from Verizon to AT&T to have the iPhone, but maybe this time next year I'll be able to switch back. The world's best phone (IMHO) on the worlds best network.
In Western MA? I disagree(and yes, I live here). My AT&T phone has better coverage than most my friends' phones, including Verizon(though VZ is better in select regions of VT). Of course, it is not an iphone, which are known for reception issues(Google it, besides the fact I did try one out and confirmed what I read). AT&T can be short of data bandwidth for brief periods(and I agree they do need to fix this), but the important parts(calls and text) are 100% for me to this day. Of course, Apple can't be to blame for at least some of the issues, now can it fanbois(not referring to the person quoted)?
Different experiences in different areas. At least in my town, I rarely am able to get much signal inside of buildings with AT&T. My father also has an LG phone on AT&T's network and our reception seem to be pretty much in line.

My brother's Verizon phone, on the other hand, gets signal everywhere.

Most people in my very local area (my town) have the same experience with AT&T vs. Verizon on a wide variety of handsets.

I'm not discrediting your post in any way - I'm sure what you said is the case in your area. By in mine, Verizon has undoubtedly better coverage in my experience.

And even as an Apple "fanboy" (I know you did not call me that), I have to admit that I am very impressed by what Palm has done with the Pre. I'll be looking around when my contract expires with the iPhone. The Pre's ability to sync with iTunes means it would work seamlessly on my Mac... but we'll have to wait to see if it attracts app developers to create a third-party app store as compelling as that on the iPhone.

Mchart
First There.
join:2004-01-21
Kaneohe, HI

Mchart

Member

Never have had any issues

I haven't had any issues with at&t wireless. Nor do I care about no MMS or tethering on my iPhone. Whatever, and so the wind blows on.
majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029

Member

hmm

Here on long island i have att with an att fuze. I get 2down/1up on my phone wich is not bad for att.

Maybe i am lucky since there is very few places to put up towers on long island and all the towers have all four carriers on them anyway.

GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
Premium Member
join:2001-10-29
Indianapolis, IN

GlobalMind

Premium Member

Going back to networks...

Being one who's at the point of looking for a new device it really stinks to have to choose a network vendor I don't like just because they've got exclusive on the device I want, and that we've got such a screwed up system here that all the mobile carriers aren't using the same technology.

Sprint's been good to me network wise but not being GSM I can't get the Bold or iPhone (the two most likely picks) and hence either stick with my Palm 755p or move to the Pre.

I'd like to see AT&T lose it's exclusivity deal just because of the pathetic way they've handled themselves, and heck I don't even have the iPhone.

More competition is a good thing, make them improve the service instead of getting the subs because of the device they offer.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: Going back to networks...

said by GlobalMind:

Being one who's at the point of looking for a new device it really stinks to have to choose a network vendor I don't like just because they've got exclusive on the device I want, and that we've got such a screwed up system here that all the mobile carriers aren't using the same technology.
What a lot of people forget is this.. Void of an exclusive agreement, there's nothing stopping apple from simply not making the device available to other networks.. would they do that with out an agreement? POSSIBLY! They'd have to develop a new phone for each carrier which costs money... apple also like their stuff to work a certain way and places high requirements on providers..

So even outside an exclusive contract with American Thieves & Thugs, there's still no guarantee that they'd have their phone available ont he CDMA carriers like Sprint and Verizon.

GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
Premium Member
join:2001-10-29
Indianapolis, IN

GlobalMind

Premium Member

Re: Going back to networks...

said by fiberguy2:

...even outside an exclusive contract with American Thieves & Thugs, there's still no guarantee that they'd have their phone available ont he CDMA carriers like Sprint and Verizon.
Oh I'm aware.

The issue is the carriers, not Apple per se.
babystars_13
join:2009-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

babystars_13

Member

Verizon

Verizon might be willing to negotiate with Apple for the following reasons 1) more customers 2) higher ROI per subscriber

Apple could want Verizon for 1) better coverage 2) better network 3) Verizon already has tethering & MMS support for just about every phone they offer.
rgarbin
join:2007-07-22
Jenkintown, PA

rgarbin

Member

Lucky one

I must be one of the lucky one's because all of this talk about how bad AT&T is completely escapes me. Granted, I'm fortunate in the sense that I have an AT&T tower about 300 yards away, but my experience here in the Northeast has been no better or worse than when I had Verizon or Sprint in years past.

I have an iPhone, and I can listen to streaming music all the way up the i-95 corridor with hardly any drop out. My experience with calls is also just fine.

S'up with that?

VerizonSucks
@optonline.net

VerizonSucks

Anon

Apple went to Verizon first

I dont think it was the price that was the problem. I think it was because Verizon wanted to cripple features. Like someone mentioned earlier, Verizon isn't so kind when it comes to apps and such. And I can totally picture Verizon doing something wicked such as crippling wi-fi.

Verizon is known for their socialist ways. Putting the same menu system on every phone, crippling features, etc.

Not really
@rr.com

Not really

Anon

Re: Apple went to Verizon first

The deal failed because Apple wanted a high price per device and a big chunk of data revenue going forward. Verizon balked because honestly, the company didn't need a high-cost product line to maintain growth. AT&T did, so they ponied-up. It is just business.

As to the other comments, there are already WiFi compatible Verizon smartphones. They required manufactures to unify the UI to make it much simpler for customers to adapt to a new handset and drastically cut training costs for employees. The key feature that everyone griped about them crippling was file sharing Bluetooth connectivity, but that wasn't really Verizon's fault. It was Qualcom who provides the Get It Now (Brew) application services and they hadn't figured out a way to keep people from copying applications from device to device through Bluetooh. They finally figured it out, and now the feature is available on all the phones. What is funny is that now that it is available, nobody uses it. People just griped over something they wouldn't have used anyway.

linicx
Caveat Emptor
Premium Member
join:2002-12-03
United State

linicx

Premium Member

I Hope So

Five years ago in rural America AT&T's promised connectivity was a joke, dropped calls were the norm, and Customer Support was abysmal at best, which isn't saying much. Judging from the chatter in the forums, it does not seem like much has improved but their quality of verbiage. Apple needs to rethink their future plans with this toothless tiger.
dan1431
join:2007-05-10
Winter Park, FL

dan1431

Member

Hard To Place On Any One Company

I tend to try and look at all side of a problem before placing blame directly on any one person or organization especially with something like cellular communications because of its inherent complexities.

I use a standard mobile phone (I guess in communications parlance a "dumb phone") and it works well on the at&t Mobility 3G network.

A good friend has an iPHONE and it works acceptable on the at&t Mobility network, not as good as my dumb phone nor as good as my work Berry, but it works.

Again, I am not sure where to place blame, it could be at&t Mobility, it could be Apple, it could be a blending of both, it is hard to tell. My good friend the iPHONE owner recently traveled to Switzerland and his iPHONE (is legally unlocked, he purchased it in Australia and they unlocked it for him after forking over some amount of money) and it performed well on SWISSCOM's network, maybe even a little better than at&t Mobility, but that may have more to do with Europe being light years ahead of the USA with regards to mobile networks than at&t Mobility's network being poorly engineered.

My hunch, at&t Mobility, while the largest GSM carrier in the USA was probably not the best fit for a device that according to a friend of mine (who works for T-Mobile) is more powerful than most cellular network are capable of handling adequately. He went on to say that in its present form, T-Mobile USA's mobile network would have fallen apart if they were the official iPHONE carrier.

Dan
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

ooo

bring the iphone to MetroPCS, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile!! hehe
rljensen3
join:2005-04-11
Placentia, CA

rljensen3

Member

Iphone to Verizon ? (VZW)

I am just waiting for the day it comes to Verizon. I will be buying one.

Telco_Tech
join:2009-05-18
Toledo, OH

Telco_Tech

Member

Having "Bars" doesn't mean anything folks.

Just because you have four out of five signal bars on your handset doesn't mean anything. You're overlooking the fact that that's simply an indication of your connection to the tower. The tower could (and probably does) only have a single 1.54 Mbps T1 circuit linking it back to the rest of the network. Translation: Lots of iPhones, or any phone for that matter, on a single tower = overload of that T1 circuit. You can only cram so much data over that antiquated T1 garbage. This is why all new towers should be engineered with ethernet over fiber and all older towers should be retrofitted the same way. So far, the only cell provider I've worked with that has gone the ether route is Verizon. Everyone else around here insists on sticking with antiquated T1 circuits, although I have seen a tower or two with full DS3 backhaul.

Such a waste of resources.

- Tate
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Re: Having "Bars" doesn't mean anything folks.

that's why FiOS + Verizon Wireless will wtf pwn everyone!!

AdrianFischer
@charter.com

AdrianFischer

Anon

Take the Chains off the iPhone. Create a Universal Chipset


RIM can do it. Motorola can do it. HTC can do it. Samsung can do it. Every device manufacturer out there is capable of making phones with any type of radio. Some even are capable of GSM/GRPS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA/1x/EV/ technologies on multiple frequencies.

I say to Apple: Sell your device to all four of major US wireless carriers. Let the iPhone users spread the load across the various networks so that not all of them are loading down one or the other.

Let the carriers compete on data pricing and hardware subsidies to entice customers just like they do with BlackBerry's and other Smartphones.

For a GSM phone, the iPhone sold here in the US is the most crippled locked down piece of hardware around. Goes against the very grain that the GSM industry stands for.

As a T-Mobile sub in an area with a well built out HSPA network, I'd love the opportunity to use one made for AWS spectrum. As long as MaBell has her death grips on Apple, it won't happen.

Like others said, we should have the choice to pick the network that works well for us. Apple doesn't only sell Mac notebooks to those who subscribe to ATT HSI or make them only compatible with DSL technology. The iPhone shouldn't be any different.

Steve Jobs: I love your products. I'm a Mac fan and have been from the start. But I do not want any part of AT&T's network or billing system. I own a MacBook Pro, iPod Touch, iPod Nano etc. I would buy an iPhone if I could use it on the wireless network I prefer. Can we work out a deal?
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