Apple vs. AT&T

By Daniel Miessler on December 2nd, 2007: Tagged as Business | iPhone | Technology

iphone

As you may have heard, AT&T’s chief executive disclosed last week that the second version of the iPhone will be coming next year. And most importantly, he said it’ll be 3G.

Think of what that does to sales of the current version of the device — and right before the most important sales period for consumer electronics. How could this not have been deliberate? It obviously hurts AT&T as well, but not nearly as much as it hurts Apple.

I agree with others that there is some sort of major rift forming between these companies. I am happy to see such a separation, and I hope it plays out sooner rather than later.

I want the iPhone on another carrier. I’m tired of AT&T, and I think Apple will do much better with the iPhone once they are able to explore other options. So, sure, HSDPA will be nice on AT&T next year, but I’d rather have it riding Sprint’s EVDO.

And I hope Apple and Google do team up and buy a crapload of the 700Mhz range. These are the two companies producing the most excitement in technology today.

Just think — iPhone riding the GNet making free VOIP calls. It think it’s obvious why AT&T might not like that picture so much.:

  • http://weblog.ceicher.com/ Charles

    For the 99.9999% of us who don’t live in the Bay Area, 3G coverage is almost nonexistent. We will continue to enjoy our EDGE iPhones, it works almost everywhere.

  • http://weblog.ceicher.com Charles

    For the 99.9999% of us who don’t live in the Bay Area, 3G coverage is almost nonexistent. We will continue to enjoy our EDGE iPhones, it works almost everywhere.

  • http://dmiessler.com/ Daniel Miessler

    Actually, there’s 3G all over the country. Check out the maps online at AT&T’s site.

  • http://dmiessler.com Daniel Miessler

    Actually, there’s 3G all over the country. Check out the maps online at AT&T’s site.

  • http://weblog.ceicher.com/ Charles

    I did check before commenting. AT&T 3G services are extremely limited. About the only major metro area that has nearly 100% coverage is San Francisco, because that is their test bed.

    Even at its best, 3G can be spotty, giving an inconsistent, poorly performing user experience. For example, go to this page:

    http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.html

    Locate the link to Los Angeles, then click it. Look at the map of 3G coverage, it’s quite spotty, 3G users would fall back to EDGE coverage in many areas. And this is in a GOOD market for 3G, not like out here in the Midwest where the nearest 3G coverage is over 300 miles away.

  • http://weblog.ceicher.com Charles

    I did check before commenting. AT&T 3G services are extremely limited. About the only major metro area that has nearly 100% coverage is San Francisco, because that is their test bed.

    Even at its best, 3G can be spotty, giving an inconsistent, poorly performing user experience. For example, go to this page:

    http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.html

    Locate the link to Los Angeles, then click it. Look at the map of 3G coverage, it’s quite spotty, 3G users would fall back to EDGE coverage in many areas. And this is in a GOOD market for 3G, not like out here in the Midwest where the nearest 3G coverage is over 300 miles away.

  • http://dmiessler.com/ Daniel Miessler

    I guess our definitions are different. I’ve used it in NYC, Tallahassee, Atlanta, and know of close friends using it in Nashville and other areas, and it seemed pretty decent. Of course I was only sampling it for a couple of days, so it wasn’t the best test. I can definitely see it dropping off for people in areas as you say, but it’s not as if SF is the only place you can get decent coverage.

    I guess the bottom line is that I agree it’s nowhere where it needs to be, but I’d much rather have it than just EDGE.

  • http://dmiessler.com Daniel Miessler

    I guess our definitions are different. I’ve used it in NYC, Tallahassee, Atlanta, and know of close friends using it in Nashville and other areas, and it seemed pretty decent. Of course I was only sampling it for a couple of days, so it wasn’t the best test. I can definitely see it dropping off for people in areas as you say, but it’s not as if SF is the only place you can get decent coverage.

    I guess the bottom line is that I agree it’s nowhere where it needs to be, but I’d much rather have it than just EDGE.

  • http://blog.gomobi.org/ gomobi

    AT&T will block the VoIP port like T-Mobile did

  • http://blog.gomobi.org gomobi

    AT&T will block the VoIP port like T-Mobile did


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