Hmmm... remember when the iPod was Mac only? Sure, it was great and all when they opened it up to other computers...I think you see where I'm going with this.
You can do that today. It's hard, but you can find a retailer that will sell you an unlocked iPhone, which you can then use with any carrier or on any data plan.
For you, this might be an economically-viable proposition. However, it isn't for me - since at least in the US, the AT&T 3G voice/data plan is the least expensive plan of its class out there. Perhaps if you want voice-only, or data-only, then the economics shift considerably.
I agree that Apple should offer the iphone on other networks, but I don't see how putting it on other networks is going to bring price plans down. If it's offered on VZW's network, I would think it would be treated like any other smartphone, and just be required to have a $30 unlimited data package on it. That's how every other smartphone is on their network. And with the exception of the iphone, VZW carries the other types of smartphones as other carriers. Granted, they may not be the exact same models of smartphones, but phones from the likes of HTC, RIM, Palm, etc. So I'm not too sure that pricing would be affected. If anything, people would just realize how awful the iphone is on AT&T and jump over to VZW to get great service on a great phone. Right now, with it being on AT&T you get a great media device with HORRIBLE reception/actual phone service!
The reason why is that the iPhone reaches all demographics. With the exception of RIM they are the #1 selling smartphone. The only reason RIM is #1 is that businesses buy them in bulk, for now. With the iPod touch also, you have people buying their apps which would keep them tied into the Apple ecosystem. This means more potential iPhone customers. This is the third iteration of the iPhone and still is getting as much word of mouth as the first. iPhone customers are going to be more likely than any other handset manufacturer to have people upgrading from one year to the next. This will add a year on to their contract and keep them tied to their carrier.
For these reasons there will be cost competition like you've never seen before unless there is collision between the carriers. They have already been sued for this before and it cost them a ton of money so it is unlikely it will happen again anytime soon.
I would just like to add that just a data card would be the best option. These carriers are just dumb pipes. The only ways for this to happen are:
1. We sue to have the data separated from the cellular to buy one without having to buy the other.
2. Congress has to introduce a bill to the same effect. The only way you'll get this is to find a Congressman who isn't in the pocket of the carriers and is willing to make it so public that others can't vote against it.
Seeing how I'm the type of person AT&T accidentally charges $4000 for a month of data on an unlimited plan, I will avoid them until the end of time. Unless other providers show up, I'm using my 3G without service (and it's a damn fine iPod touch).
BTW, after all the headache, no early cancellation fee waive for me.
The iPhone is only available on O2 in the UK and it is a big pain in the bum. O2 charge the earth for call plans and only offer massive call and text bundles, far more than most people are looking to sign up to.
What we need is another network to be able to offer iPhone and create some competition by offering smaller bundles and also the same bundles for cheaper.
Like the Verizon guy said, he doesn't see it happening this year. Maybe in 2011 after Verizon and AT&T and every one else has built the LTE towers we can see the iPhone on multiple carriers. But currently with the two being so different it would be best to wait it out.
Stick with AT&T for another year, and then lets see some T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T action.
PS Don't let Verizon force you to put their ugly black and red crap on the iPhone, geez their phones are ugly.
This is where I find ALL of you COMPLETELY retarded.
When has Apple, in it's existence, EVER made two versions of the -SAME- product!? (Black and White MacBooks don't count, they were different products.) They haven't.
Apple has NEVER been one to bend to customer will, and I like the fact that not everyone has it.
1) It's good for business, and forces everyone else to innovate.
2) I work for Apple and I do NOT want to have to learn another set of plans for a phone company, ugh.
3) To the person who said about the iPod on Mac only, well guess what? The iPhone is Mac and PC : P (I get where you were going with it though, but I don't like it)
I really hope they stay with AT&T for the existence of the iPhone. Forever. It's worked well for the past 2 years. Let it work for the next 10!
The problem is, that AT&T hasn't worked that well this far. i mean its good and everything, but verizon is better. most verizon phones load webpages faster and get less dropped calls. (the webpages thing might be because of hardware but idk) I think if apple let verizon be on the iPhone as well as AT&T, people like u would be able to choose AT&T because you love it so much. and others could use Verizon (or T-Mobile or Sprint or whatever.)
um.. actually, Apple makes 3 versions of the MacBook Pro, 2 versions of the Macbook air, 5 versions of the iPod, 3 versions of the iMac, and 2 versions of the AppleTV, and has made multiple versions of the iPhone. And that is just all I can think of right now.
All the same, I dont mind the 1 carrier thing. I use mine unlocked on T-Mobile, which is much cheaper, although it is a little annoying to have to unlock each new firmware.
I read this comment last night. However I did not comment. It really annoyed me however.
Apple has never bent to customer will, but they haven't been in the phone business very long. The iphone depends on a service provider. Other apple products don't depend on a third party to function, so it's a completely different ball game. They have never made needed to make 2 versions of any product because they have never needed to.
For such a great product, At&T just lets it down.
And p.s., seriously, one of the reasons you give for apple not to expand, is because YOU don't want to learn some new stuff? Lol, why should apple even make new products, you'd have to remember the new specifications. Dam, life must be hard for you.
I read this comment last night. However I did not comment. It really annoyed me however.
Apple has never bent to customer will, but they haven't been in the phone business very long. The iphone depends on a service provider. Other apple products don't depend on a third party to function, so it's a completely different ball game. They have never made needed to make 2 versions of any product because they have never needed to.
For such a great product, At&T just lets it down.
And p.s., seriously, one of the reasons you give for apple not to expand, is because YOU don't want to learn some new stuff? Lol, why should apple even make new products, you'd have to remember the new specifications. Dam, life must be hard for you.
I read this comment last night. However I did not comment. It really annoyed me however.
Apple has never bent to customer will, but they haven't been in the phone business very long. The iphone depends on a service provider. Other apple products don't depend on a third party to function, so it's a completely different ball game. They have never made needed to make 2 versions of any product because they have never needed to.
For such a great product, At&T just lets it down.
And p.s., seriously, one of the reasons you give for apple not to expand, is because YOU don't want to learn some new stuff? Lol, why should apple even make new products, you'd have to remember the new specifications. Dam, life must be hard for you.
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Why would a phone need a data
Why would a phone need a data card?
Hmmm... remember when the
Hmmm... remember when the iPod was Mac only? Sure, it was great and all when they opened it up to other computers...I think you see where I'm going with this.
I want an iPhone that I can
I want an iPhone that I can buy as if I was buying an iPod, and choose my network, plan, and not have to sign any contracts when buying the phone.
You can do that today. It's
You can do that today. It's hard, but you can find a retailer that will sell you an unlocked iPhone, which you can then use with any carrier or on any data plan.
For you, this might be an economically-viable proposition. However, it isn't for me - since at least in the US, the AT&T 3G voice/data plan is the least expensive plan of its class out there. Perhaps if you want voice-only, or data-only, then the economics shift considerably.
I agree that Apple should
I agree that Apple should offer the iphone on other networks, but I don't see how putting it on other networks is going to bring price plans down. If it's offered on VZW's network, I would think it would be treated like any other smartphone, and just be required to have a $30 unlimited data package on it. That's how every other smartphone is on their network. And with the exception of the iphone, VZW carries the other types of smartphones as other carriers. Granted, they may not be the exact same models of smartphones, but phones from the likes of HTC, RIM, Palm, etc. So I'm not too sure that pricing would be affected. If anything, people would just realize how awful the iphone is on AT&T and jump over to VZW to get great service on a great phone. Right now, with it being on AT&T you get a great media device with HORRIBLE reception/actual phone service!
The reason why is that the
The reason why is that the iPhone reaches all demographics. With the exception of RIM they are the #1 selling smartphone. The only reason RIM is #1 is that businesses buy them in bulk, for now. With the iPod touch also, you have people buying their apps which would keep them tied into the Apple ecosystem. This means more potential iPhone customers. This is the third iteration of the iPhone and still is getting as much word of mouth as the first. iPhone customers are going to be more likely than any other handset manufacturer to have people upgrading from one year to the next. This will add a year on to their contract and keep them tied to their carrier.
For these reasons there will be cost competition like you've never seen before unless there is collision between the carriers. They have already been sued for this before and it cost them a ton of money so it is unlikely it will happen again anytime soon.
I would just like to add that just a data card would be the best option. These carriers are just dumb pipes. The only ways for this to happen are:
1. We sue to have the data separated from the cellular to buy one without having to buy the other.
2. Congress has to introduce a bill to the same effect. The only way you'll get this is to find a Congressman who isn't in the pocket of the carriers and is willing to make it so public that others can't vote against it.
Seeing how I'm the type of
Seeing how I'm the type of person AT&T accidentally charges $4000 for a month of data on an unlimited plan, I will avoid them until the end of time. Unless other providers show up, I'm using my 3G without service (and it's a damn fine iPod touch).
BTW, after all the headache, no early cancellation fee waive for me.
We have the same in UK
The iPhone is only available on O2 in the UK and it is a big pain in the bum. O2 charge the earth for call plans and only offer massive call and text bundles, far more than most people are looking to sign up to.
What we need is another network to be able to offer iPhone and create some competition by offering smaller bundles and also the same bundles for cheaper.
http://www.gimmeitfree.co.uk
Like the Verizon guy said, he
Like the Verizon guy said, he doesn't see it happening this year. Maybe in 2011 after Verizon and AT&T and every one else has built the LTE towers we can see the iPhone on multiple carriers. But currently with the two being so different it would be best to wait it out.
Stick with AT&T for another year, and then lets see some T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T action.
PS Don't let Verizon force you to put their ugly black and red crap on the iPhone, geez their phones are ugly.
This is where I find ALL of
This is where I find ALL of you COMPLETELY retarded.
When has Apple, in it's existence, EVER made two versions of the -SAME- product!? (Black and White MacBooks don't count, they were different products.) They haven't.
Apple has NEVER been one to bend to customer will, and I like the fact that not everyone has it.
1) It's good for business, and forces everyone else to innovate.
2) I work for Apple and I do NOT want to have to learn another set of plans for a phone company, ugh.
3) To the person who said about the iPod on Mac only, well guess what? The iPhone is Mac and PC : P (I get where you were going with it though, but I don't like it)
I really hope they stay with AT&T for the existence of the iPhone. Forever. It's worked well for the past 2 years. Let it work for the next 10!
The problem is, that AT&T
The problem is, that AT&T hasn't worked that well this far. i mean its good and everything, but verizon is better. most verizon phones load webpages faster and get less dropped calls. (the webpages thing might be because of hardware but idk) I think if apple let verizon be on the iPhone as well as AT&T, people like u would be able to choose AT&T because you love it so much. and others could use Verizon (or T-Mobile or Sprint or whatever.)
um.. actually, Apple makes 3
um.. actually, Apple makes 3 versions of the MacBook Pro, 2 versions of the Macbook air, 5 versions of the iPod, 3 versions of the iMac, and 2 versions of the AppleTV, and has made multiple versions of the iPhone. And that is just all I can think of right now.
All the same, I dont mind the 1 carrier thing. I use mine unlocked on T-Mobile, which is much cheaper, although it is a little annoying to have to unlock each new firmware.
I read this comment last
I read this comment last night. However I did not comment. It really annoyed me however.
Apple has never bent to customer will, but they haven't been in the phone business very long. The iphone depends on a service provider. Other apple products don't depend on a third party to function, so it's a completely different ball game. They have never made needed to make 2 versions of any product because they have never needed to.
For such a great product, At&T just lets it down.
And p.s., seriously, one of the reasons you give for apple not to expand, is because YOU don't want to learn some new stuff? Lol, why should apple even make new products, you'd have to remember the new specifications. Dam, life must be hard for you.
I read this comment last
I read this comment last night. However I did not comment. It really annoyed me however.
Apple has never bent to customer will, but they haven't been in the phone business very long. The iphone depends on a service provider. Other apple products don't depend on a third party to function, so it's a completely different ball game. They have never made needed to make 2 versions of any product because they have never needed to.
For such a great product, At&T just lets it down.
And p.s., seriously, one of the reasons you give for apple not to expand, is because YOU don't want to learn some new stuff? Lol, why should apple even make new products, you'd have to remember the new specifications. Dam, life must be hard for you.
Argh
I read this comment last night. However I did not comment. It really annoyed me however.
Apple has never bent to customer will, but they haven't been in the phone business very long. The iphone depends on a service provider. Other apple products don't depend on a third party to function, so it's a completely different ball game. They have never made needed to make 2 versions of any product because they have never needed to.
For such a great product, At&T just lets it down.
And p.s., seriously, one of the reasons you give for apple not to expand, is because YOU don't want to learn some new stuff? Lol, why should apple even make new products, you'd have to remember the new specifications. Dam, life must be hard for you.
sorry for replying 3 times, i
sorry for replying 3 times, i didn't think it was posting... my apologies
@admin question
@admin
is this the big thing you hinted at in the comments earlier, the one that would be released within 1-2 weeks?
Ain't gonna happen till 4G
Face it. Its just not gonna happen until everyone goes 4G. Then you will see the iphone on verizon and other U.S. carriers.
And UK
They should do it in the UK as well... Why not have it on Orange as well?
well there was a rumor that a
well there was a rumor that a cdma version was being made for china. Now if that's true, could on of those be made to work on verizon's network?