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Are Euro operators having an iPhone backlash..?

F

Fotek2001

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 16, 2005
106
0
London, England
Over at NeoWin, they're saying that some European carriers don't want to deal with Apple and the iPhone anymore because of what's cited as 'arrogance' on Apple's part:

http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=40930

This seems highly likely to me but what do you think the outcome will be? I somehow suspect the issues are going to be:

1) Changes to the network to support visual voice mail listings
2) Carriers wanting all their own apps loaded on instead of Apple's
 
Fotek2001 said:
This seems highly likely to me but what do you think the outcome will be? I somehow suspect the issues are going to be:

1) Changes to the network to support visual voice mail listings
2) Carriers wanting all their own apps loaded on instead of Apple's
Click to expand...

My impression is that were just the beginning of Apple's demands of Cingular (AT&T). Apple also insisted that the iPhone price not be subsidized, and Apple is going to receive a bounty for each new customer that joins AT&T's network buying an iPhone.
 
With all the problems Apple had with iTunes and the EU, I wouldn´t be surprised if there were a backlash with the iPhone. I think it would be very possible that all the carriers will, like you said, want their own applications ran other than Apple's in order to defend the consumer's rights here in the EU. (Something that becomes less and less important in the States as money gets more important and companies greedier;) ) Hopefully this would make Apple a little less arrogant over here and actually make them produce a higher quality phone that's up to European standards.
 
Fotek2001 said:
1) Changes to the network to support visual voice mail listings
2) Carriers wanting all their own apps loaded on instead of Apple's
Click to expand...

I guess if you want to tout visual voice mail as a feature, then you have to do the backend for the iPhone, and in the long run, it's probably a good idea as that's what customers will start wanting out of all phones soon enough. Of course I know that most voice mail's cost money to listen to, so how do you deal with tht now when you can choose which message to listen to ?

As for the carriers applications, nobody will want them, they should start listening to their customers...

In relation to Apple receiving a bounty on every customer, I don't think they should get that privilege, if they are making the hardware and software, they are making their money. They shouldn't be trying to bankrupt the phone companies too...
 
Lets hope so, I love Apple and their products but these "special" deals with carriers seem to only benefit Apple and the carrier at the cost of screwing over their customers.

2 years contract and no subsidies for a locked phone coupled with potentially very expensive monthly contract fees is a little too much for something that will potentially be replaced with a even better improved version a year or less from now.

Of course if they just sold them at the Apple stores fully unlocked for the same price it would totally be worth every penny.
 
samh004 said:
In relation to Apple receiving a bounty on every customer, I don't think they should get that privilege, if they are making the hardware and software, they are making their money. They shouldn't be trying to bankrupt the phone companies too...
Click to expand...

Do we need to start refering to Apple as Appl€ ?:D
 
OllyW said:
So, if there are no subsidies on the cost of the phone do you expect the operators to reduce the cost of their call plans?
Click to expand...

you are repaying those subsidies (with interest) in the price of the service. That is a fact. Without those subsidies, the prices could go down. Of course if they could keep the prices down, they will do it. And that's why you need effective competition. Multi-year contracts are an effective way to kill that competition. Why should they compete since you are stuck with them for years to come in any case?
 
Wirelessly posted (HTCP4350-Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC))

but I doubt at&t is going to give any discounts at all on the voice or data plan, so you're getting screwed.

and the point of sim locking a phone is so you stay with that carrier to repay that subsidy, so why will the iphone be locked?

everything about the iphone screams "subsiduzed" except the price itself
 
yg17 said:
Wirelessly posted (HTCP4350-Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC))

but I doubt at&t is going to give any discounts at all on the voice or data plan, so you're getting screwed.

and the point of sim locking a phone is so you stay with that carrier to repay that subsidy, so why will the iphone be locked?

everything about the iphone screams "subsiduzed" except the price itself
Click to expand...

The price screams "subsidy" to me as well. No way the blackberry curve has a higher retail price than a more featured apple product. The FULL retail without any kind of subsidy on the curve is $749. No way apple is charging $250 less than that for the iPhone. I bet there is a HUGE subsidy, part of which is the chunk of change ATT is handing over for every iPhone customer they get.

Don't know where this no subsidy thing came from. There's no way. Apple has never undercharged for a product in their lifetime.

I am really tempted to call someone I know on the list of execs at apple and get a real answer on this, but even if he'll tell me, I am sure I won't be permitted to repeat it. But something in me REALLY wants to put this idea to rest.
 
yg17 said:
Since 3G is so prevalent in Europe, those carriers won't touch the iPhone with a barge pole.
Click to expand...

as i understand it only orange in the UK has EDGE at all. so there will have to be a different model for here.
 
feelthefire said:
I am really tempted to call someone I know on the list of execs at apple and get a real answer on this, but even if he'll tell me, I am sure I won't be permitted to repeat it. But something in me REALLY wants to put this idea to rest.
Click to expand...

(IN A YODA VOICE) Do or do not, there is no "I am really tempted to call someone I know on the list of execs at Apple" young Skywalker.

Let us know if you get an answer. I'm curious. I want to know
 
sananda said:
as i understand it only orange in the UK has EDGE at all. so there will have to be a different model for here.
Click to expand...

Yep, I agree. Also, I'll bet the euro carriers are waiting to commit until they see how successful the iphone is in the US. Not a bad move really, who wants to commit to a dud?
 
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