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IF AT&T looses its exclusiveness....

nateo200

nateo200

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Feb 4, 2009
2,918
51
Upstate NY
IF AT&T looses its exclusiveness here in the USA where is it gona go on other carriers? By "Other carriers" I mean T-Mobile. I mean how well is an "iPhone 3G" going to market on a carrier that can't currently provide 3G bands that the iPhone supports? Look at it this way the only frequency's T-Mobile has allocated are 1900MHz and 2100MHz (US type so 2100 for download and 1700 for up) 1900 is for there EDGE and GPRS services and 2100MHz is for there UMTS services (3G). The iPhone currently does NOT support 1700MHz which is why the iPhone 3G can't get 3G service on T-Mobile at least in the US. This leads me to believe that its not too likely that the iPhone will be a big deal on T-Mobile and will probably not be encouraged by the carrier. I mean unless apple throws in a 1700MHz radio into there design it just seams like something that won't happen. Of course once AT&T looses its exclusiveness they might just sell unlocked phones and you could pop in a T-Mobile sim but still...Discuss I want to hear some thoughts..
 
I came from Verizon for the iPhone. Even though Verizon's service is better in my area, I gave up better service for a better phone.

I don't know if Verizon will ever get the iPhone, but I'd be worried they would modify it to eliminate WiFi, which would be a dealbreaker for me.

I'm content with AT&T now, but it would be interesting to see the iPhone offered on other carriers.
 
I personally don't think the iPhone will go anywhere else. Not because of internet or network issues or any of that stuff. It's because AT&T will never give it up. Without the iPhone, nobody would put up with AT&T's spotty network. I would probably have still gotten the iPhone if it came out on another carrier, but AT&T was probably my third choice for the network I would have wanted.


and yes I know, that last sentence didn't make a whole lot of sense, but you get my point
 
Apple is already creating an iPhone for China Mobile. It isn't much of a stretch to think about a CDMA model for Verizon, Sprint, and others.

Unfortunately an LTE iPhone without CDMA capability would be virtually useless on Verizon as it wouldn't work outside small areas in a handful of cities.

We'll see what happens. Should be interesting.
 
LinMac said:
Apple is already creating an iPhone for China Mobile. It isn't much of a stretch to think about a CDMA model for Verizon, Sprint, and others.

Unfortunately an LTE iPhone without CDMA capability would be virtually useless on Verizon as it wouldn't work outside small areas in a handful of cities.

We'll see what happens. Should be interesting.
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure but I thought China Mobile used WCDMA which is another term for UMTS (Or "3G" as advertisements are obsessesd with using these days).
 
Exclusivity.

If AT&T loses it I'll have more friends with iPhones. I have several that avoid AT&T like the plague.
 
nateo200 said:
I'm not quite sure but I thought China Mobile used WCDMA which is another term for UMTS (Or "3G" as advertisements are obsessesd with using these days).
Click to expand...

This is absolutely correct. WCDMA is just what China Mobile calls their 3G GSM service, which is no different than what we have on AT&T technology-wise. Though, it wouldn't be a stretch to think that Apple may create a CDMA version to compete here in the US because eventhough it's a dying technology in most of the world, it's still pretty prominent here in the US which is where Apple is located. I know Apple would love to see a competitive environment here in the US, though Verizon and Sprint love to cripple their phones which Apple would never go for. I could actually see a CDMA version going to Sprint more seeing the dire position they are rapidly approaching they would most likely be more willing to give Apple all the freedom they want just to get the device on their network.

Apple has had CDMA engineer positions posted on their career website within the past year, but that could also be for a netbook or the Tablet. So who knows, let's just sit back and watch ... I guarantee Apple will never cease to surprise.
 
nateo200 said:
IF AT&T looses its exclusiveness here in the USA where is it gona go on other carriers? By "Other carriers" I mean T-Mobile. I mean how well is an "iPhone 3G" going to market on a carrier that can't currently provide 3G bands that the iPhone supports? Look at it this way the only frequency's T-Mobile has allocated are 1900MHz and 2100MHz (US type so 2100 for download and 1700 for up) 1900 is for there EDGE and GPRS services and 2100MHz is for there UMTS services (3G). The iPhone currently does NOT support 1700MHz which is why the iPhone 3G can't get 3G service on T-Mobile at least in the US. This leads me to believe that its not too likely that the iPhone will be a big deal on T-Mobile and will probably not be encouraged by the carrier. I mean unless apple throws in a 1700MHz radio into there design it just seams like something that won't happen. Of course once AT&T looses its exclusiveness they might just sell unlocked phones and you could pop in a T-Mobile sim but still...Discuss I want to hear some thoughts..
Click to expand...

There will be a T-Mobile iPhone with some difference to let people know, this one works with T-Mobile's network only. Some sort of sign (like a iPhone 3GS with different model number or the Carrier's signature :T: )

Either way, I doubt the iPhone will make it to Verizon.
 
Think of it this way, suppose you're the manager of pretty much any retail store, you have many employees but you have that one that always seems to convince customers to buy items or is very helpful. This employee really helps your business... And one day they tell you he/she is going to a different retailer and quitting. You would offer more money to keep them around. And this is exactly what AT&T will do but on a much more massive scale. If apple wants to run away, they will just give them millions more to keep that jewel around.

Same goes for the NFL, NBA, etc.

It just won't happen until AT&T runs out of money which won't be anytime soon.
 
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