iPhone to be exclusive to ATT/Cingular for 5 years

[MagicConch]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: jpeyton
This shouldn't surprise anyone. Apple simply committed their product to the company with the largest network and largest subscriber base, which is smart.

Actually they wanted to go with Verizon, but Verizon wouldn't budge on giving Apple complete control over the phone. AT&T is a 2nd choice Verizon's not far behind AT&T in subscriber base and the largest network thing means nothing when one of the largest markets in the country, Los Angeles has people with AT&T complaining. Hell I know a few who had Cingular and switched to T MOBILE! that's when you know the service is bad.

I switched from Cingular to T-Mobile and I should have done it way sooner.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: MagicConch

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: jpeyton
This shouldn't surprise anyone. Apple simply committed their product to the company with the largest network and largest subscriber base, which is smart.

Actually they wanted to go with Verizon, but Verizon wouldn't budge on giving Apple complete control over the phone. AT&T is a 2nd choice Verizon's not far behind AT&T in subscriber base and the largest network thing means nothing when one of the largest markets in the country, Los Angeles has people with AT&T complaining. Hell I know a few who had Cingular and switched to T MOBILE! that's when you know the service is bad.

I switched from Cingular to T-Mobile and I should have done it way sooner.

I was with T-Mobile for three years and switched to Cingular because of the 8525 (TyTn) and their 3G network.

I switched back less than six weeks later because about every third call dropped.

:thumbsup: for T-Mobile.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
I'm hoping the second version of this phone is much better than this. Until then, I'm sticking to Windows Mobile 6.

Check back in 5 years.

:roll:

 

[LtPage1]

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
I have a feeling this is going to one apple product that is going to fail...

I'm not sure which way to take this, but either way it's ridiculous.

 

[intogamer]

Is the price still around $500?

I'm ordering the Two T-Mobile Wing for $100AR (new contract) $5.99 T-mobile Wap FTW

These will sell like hotcakes $500 each on ebay anyways.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
what would keep someone from unlocking this puppy for other gsm networks?

unless they changed the stance, you'll have to sign up for a 2 year contract to get this phone - and still not get a discounted price. My guess is if somebody wants to pay full retail + a contract and still wants to unlock it and use it on TMobile or some other GSM network they could. But it would be pointless seeing how you'll be in a contract.

Breaking a contract is not that cost-prohibitive.

isn't it $200 bucks if you do it within the first 6 months? That would make buying the phone to unlock on another network over $700 + tax. I'm sure some people will do it, but that is a lot of money to spend if you're not going to use it on Cingular. I want this phone, but I won't switch to GSM for anything, so I guess I'll stick with whatever Verizon decides to put out to combat the iPhone. My guess something from either Samsumg or LG will be out by the end of this year.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: oogabooga

Originally posted by: JC86
I have a lot of friends with Verizon and I am with Cingular/ATT, I've borrowed their phones on occasion and do not notice any noticeable difference in network coverage. The reason I'm with Cingular is because GSM, I go to Asia a lot and GSM is the standard out there.

Where I live the quality of Verizon is much higher then cingular/ATT (socal). Not to say socal is terrible, but there is a reason I moved from ATT->Verizon and have been getting ass rap-err paying for it.

If you need the GSM verizon does kinda leave you high and dry

Ugh, tell me about it. I live just outside of Hartford and Cingular is terrible. However, Verizon is so good that I was able to ditch my house phone a couple years ago. I'm a big fan of Apple goodies but there's no way I'm switching to Cingular unless the service gets better. Hopefully the AT&T merge brings some quality improvements to their system. Plus this will give us a chance to wait out the version 1.0 bugs

Umm okay, dont get your hopes up with the merger. It wasnt a merger, it was merely a name change.

Heres how it went down, Cingular was co-owned by SBC and Bell South. SBC bought AT&T. Later SBC and Bell South merged. The company lead mostly by SBC decided AT&T was a better brand name and renamed the entire company AT&T. Since Cingular is now owned wholely be one company, they changed its name to AT&T too.

Basically what Im saying the name change wont have an effect on the Cingular network, it is the same network as it was before.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
I'm hoping the second version of this phone is much better than this. Until then, I'm sticking to Windows Mobile 6.

Check back in 5 years.

:roll:

:roll:

AT&T has exclusive U.S. distribution rights for five years ? an eternity in the go-go cellphone world. And Apple is barred for that time from developing a version of the iPhone for CDMA wireless networks.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: bababooey

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
1. AT&T customer service is worse than hell itself.
2. $500 price tag
3. Non 3G

I'm hoping the second version of this phone is much better than this. Until then, I'm sticking to Windows Mobile 6.

QFT

The two year contract requirement is enough to kill the deal for me by itself. Even if the phone was $300 with a one year contract, I still wouldn't want to buy a media player with only 8 GB of storage.

 

[puffpio]

Originally posted by: JC86
I have a lot of friends with Verizon and I am with Cingular/ATT, I've borrowed their phones on occasion and do not notice any noticeable difference in network coverage. The reason I'm with Cingular is because GSM, I go to Asia a lot and GSM is the standard out there.

When I visited Taiwan last winter, my Verizon phone got full bars of reception...of course it was roaming...but....