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Apple Can't Afford iPhone's Carrier Exclusivity
WirePosted writes with an ITWire article about the problems that Apple's AT&T exclusivity deal could pose in the coming years. Initially the company needed AT&T's commitment to the project, to ensure features like visual voicemail would work. With the iPhone a hit even at its current high price that no longer seems to be the case. Can Apple afford to stick to an exclusive carrier in the future? If for no other reason than consumer choice? "iPhones are being sold unlocked in the markets of Asia where you can't get them with a carrier plan, but they're also being bought and unlocked in the US and Europe. The message is that many and probably most iPhone buyers would like to be given a choice of carrier when they buy their iPhone. Some would be prepared to pay more as they do with other smartphones and buy their iPhone unattached to any subsidized carrier contract. The point is many consumers feel no loyalty to carriers and resent being forced to choose one."
Wait, so in order to use the friggin' *PHONE* I am forced to have a computer??
O. My. God. After reading the first half of this post I could go on no more. It makes me want to throw up that your fanboyism is so incredibly strong.
Wow.
The other day i was passing through Waterloo station and noticed in the waiting area for the trains that there was a fat bodied chap swaying back and forth, semi-rhythmically but with real energy. You guessed it, he had a iPhone and an macbook in front of him, and he was making dammed sure that everyone knew it.
Truth is, its is not about bashing, it's more a case of pointing out that apple owners are silly mugs, as a number of posters have observed.
However much they try to hide the fact that they're limited to macs mostly because they're not able to handle a more technical and advanced machine (usually behind a pompous and elitist devotion to their shiny toys) they're getting thoroughly ripped off and they know it.
Attempt to express yourself and your high octane lifestyle with an iphone or similar product if you really like, but it won't impress the likes of me. I'll always view such efforts for what they are, sad and pointless, like the chubby kid waiting for his train.
The point with the car is that lots of cars don't start. Or they have lots of mechanical issues.
,gasp, real keyboard and not a virtualized one.
Yes, I've used more mobile browsers than most geeks and am aware of the limitations. Most of them 'just work.' Apple's browser has real limitations too, but a fanboy on your level wouldnt be able to admit to them.
>or you have a very unusual sense of what constitutes decent user interface.
This is the other canard I'm tired of. Interfaces are not that difficult anymore. We're not teaching people DOS. Just because Apple takes the "show them less" approach doesnt make them better. I always feel like my hands are tied when using OSX until I can open a terminal window. Joe Sixpack isnt opening a terminal window. Perhaps you mean that I have an unusual idea of not worshiping OSX and Apple and revealing the real limitations they have. Not to mention I have the "unusual idea" that little UI changes arent revoltionary, they're barely evolutionary. Or I have the "unsual idea" that showing me less isnt better for me. Or that the brushed aluminum look isnt the paragon of design. Or that I prefer a
By "just work" you are saying "works the apple way which is the superior way and if you cant recognize that then youre unusual." Heh, sorry buddy, but youre assumptions and apple ass-kissing are far from convincing. In the meantime I click Start > Internet Explorer and magically my treo brings up a browser. It shouldnt be more simple than that and if you cant figure that out then you have no business owning a pda phone.