AT&T Welcomes Programmers for All Phones Except the iPhone

An anonymous reader writes "Apple's reasoning for keeping the iPhone a closed platform is that they don't want to 'potentially gum up the provider's network'. An article in the New York Times, though, points out that there are hundreds of phones out there working on open platforms that don't seem to be causing network interference. AT&T and Palm, in fact, welcome experimentation on their platforms. In AT&T's case ... on every phone but the iPhone. 'Hackers who have explored the workings of the phone say it uses the frameworks and structures that Apple uses on its other platforms to enable development; it just hasn't been documented. So if Apple is going to allow applications later, is there any reason -- other than vindictiveness or obsessive interest in control -- that it would want to cut off those developed by the pioneers who figured things out ahead of the official launch?'"

Comments

Re:Is there? Yes....

[hxnwix]

I actually didn't expect quite so cynical a rip-off of early adopters. Are you saying you did? You must be referring to the $100 rebate for all early adopters, and the $200 rebate for not-so-early adopters. Man oh man, what a ripoff that was! It sure made Apple liars to drop prices while taking care of their customers! If every company acted that way, imagine the consequences... Zune owners would be able to play old tracks that they bought from Microsoft rather than being screwed and abused and Chevy owners would get a check in the mail every time the dealer knocked down prices.

God! That would really damage their credibility! /snark