Are you hoping Apple get rid of AT&T in 2010?

[Consultant]

Unlikely.

T-Mobile, the only major GSM competitor in the US, uses a different frequency than the normal GSM standard.

Only phones designed for US T-Mobile will work full speed on its 3g network, otherwise the standard GSM phone will just go to edge speed on T-Mobile.

Verizon is not GSM.

Thus iPhone is probably not going to be dropped from AT&T.

 

[0970373]

They won't get rid of AT&T but it would be nice if they opened it up to T-Mo. I'm fine w/ AT&T's service but I'd really like to be able to unlock my phone legally so I can take it overseas without having to JB/unlock. You can do that with all the other phones and you can do that w/ iPhones in other countries w/ multiple carriers. AT&T would fair much better if they would just loosen up a bit. It could add a little friendly price war also to benefit us.

 

[nateo200]

A) We have over 9000 of these type of threads, literally. Just use the Search feature next time.

B) Unlikely due to the current spat between AT&T and Verizon. Also Verizon is smacking the iPhone. So, highly doubt that SJ will be happy about that.

Nice use of over 9000 haha...

 

[thelatinist]

I hope they open it up to all carriers soon so that we can stop having these threads all the time.

 

[nateo200]

I hope they open it up to all carriers soon so that we can stop having these threads all the time.

Oh but there's plenty of controversy in your post! Verizon not being UMTS, T-Mobile frequency differences, the fun only begins with that.

 

[bigjnyc]

I could really care less but it would be nice to have some people jump to verizon and free up some network for those of us who stay on ATT. I would personally rather chew on broken glass while dipping my feet in lava before switching to verizon.

 

[skiman4602]

Att networks vastly improved in the Chicago market in which i reside, so for me personally...im happy overall with att service...price for that service on the other hand is very high...verizon doesnt seem to be too much better is this category either.

I dont think apple expands their distribution to other US carriers. keep in mind that they rest of the world uses GSM like att and tmobile in the US. also, apple has advertised specifically the functionality of using data and voice simultaneously on GSM/HSDPA networks, which is a functionality that is impossible with CDMA.

 

[TheSpaz]

Can't say I really give a crap.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I'm with AT&T either way (unless they stop providing service for my iPhone) so it really makes no difference to me.

But I will agree with the majority. Allowing multiple US carriers to sell the iPhone could really only benefit Apple, AT&T and the iPhone users of the US. More money for Apple, less strain on AT&T's network and more reliable service for AT&T customers because of the prior fact.

Are there really any disadvantages?

 

[aristotle]

Stop blaming AT&T. We don't even know if there still is an exclusivity deal with AT&T. It is entirely possible that they only reason why it is exclusive to AT&T is because other carriers in the US like Verizon sat on their fat asses and never bothered looking past the edge of their nose and decided that EVDO was good enough until LTE came out.

In Canada, Telus and Bell decided that it was not good enough and that they wanted to have a fall back mode when LTE did finally start coming out like 3G has with Edge.

Verizon is the one to blame for the iPhone being only on AT&T because they chose to not go HSPA like everyone else in the world is doing before going LTE.

 

[thetexan]

Stop blaming AT&T. We don't even know if there still is an exclusivity deal with AT&T. It is entirely possible that they only reason why it is exclusive to AT&T is because other carriers in the US like Verizon sat on their fat asses and never bothered looking past the edge of their nose and decided that EVDO was good enough until LTE came out.

In Canada, Telus and Bell decided that it was not good enough and that they wanted to have a fall back mode when LTE did finally start coming out like 3G has with Edge.

Verizon is the one to blame for the iPhone being only on AT&T because they chose to not go HSPA like everyone else in the world is doing before going LTE.

That makes sense, lets completely change from one dying standard (CDMA) to another dying standard (GSM/HSPA) only to have to change again to the next generation standard at the same time.

It'd be so much easier for Apple to make another iPhone with a different radio. You know, do something every other cell phone maker on the planet has been doing for about a decade now.

 

[aristotle]

That makes sense, lets completely change from one dying standard (CDMA) to another dying standard (GSM/HSPA) only to have to change again to the next generation standard at the same time.

It'd be so much easier for Apple to make another iPhone with a different radio. You know, do something every other cell phone maker on the planet has been doing for about a decade now.

Uh, yeah. HSPA+/HSDPA is several times faster than what AT&T is bragging about (7.2Mbps). HSPA is hardly dying. I feel bad for you that AT&T has screwed up the implementation but LTE is still a few years a way so HSPA will only be dying when LTE is actually rolled out.

In the mean time, Verizon could have made a nice amount of money over the next few years from selling iPhone and from tourists from all over the world who have *gasp* HSPA phones.

You might think that Verizon is the center of the universe but it is a small fish in a big pond compared to HSPA networks around the world especially in the smartphone sector. Most of Verizon's customers are probably on dumb phones for talking and texting.

CDMA is actually dying because CDMA providers in Canada and asia are abandoning it for 21Mbps HSDPA.

 

[AHDuke99]

Apple will never "drop" AT&T from being a carrier of the iPhone, but it's possible we'll see it on T-Mobile or Verizon. It seems less likely Verizon gets it because Apple entered the Verizon AT&T war recently, but sometimes those things rarely last (see Apple and Intel before the switch).

It may just mean that Apple allows T-Mobile USA to get the iPhone. Honestly, no one uses CDMA outside of Verizon in the US, and it would be easier for Apple to continue using GSM/HDPSA rather than 2 models of phones.

 

[scaredpoet]

If Steve Jobs refuses to do business with Verizon because he has a grudge over a few commercials, thus causing Apple to lose millions in additional revenue, his stockholders should encourage the Apple's board to fire him.

Uhh, yeah, been there done that. Company almost went bust if it weren't for Jobs coming back. Highly doubt they'll try that one again, considering he'll just take his marbles and his millions and invest it in a separate venture, taking along significant talent with him.... only to potentially force Apple to buy up his company and re-install him as CEO if they wish to survive. Again.

The board and investors are well aware of Jobs' idiosyncrasies. But those quirks help make Apple more profitable than any other PC maker, and phone revenue has been damned impressive too, down economy and carrier exclusivity be damned. So if Steve says NO to Verizon, then it's no to Verizon.

The stockholders are concerned about their stock price, and if the price is good then they don't care about intervening in the minutiae of things like carrier agreements. The stock price is pretty good right now. So they are unlikely to dabble in telling the CEO how to do his job.

I doubt he is that stupid.

No, I think he's smart enough to know that any US wireless carrier - including Verizon - needs him more than he needs them.

 

[jason221]

I just hope they don't leave AT&T. Switching carriers sucks.

 

[superstrikertwo]

If Verizon were getting the iPhone anytime soon they wouldn't be slamming it like they are now. That's an obvious clue it's not going anywhere.