is AT&T Apple exclusivity almost done?

[PlatinumGold]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/08/...ngs-report-suggests-iphone-exclusivity-is-al/

also, http://gizmodo.com/5607508/those-verizon-iphone-4-rumors-could-finally-be-true

With Android sales increasingly steadily, is apple feeling the need to get another partner involved in the US?

Frankly, i'm not sure that Verizon doesn't have the upper hand in negotiations between apple and verizon now.

 

[zerocool84]

Yet again another month goes by and we hear another revelation. I always say I'll believe it when I see it.

Oh and: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2096234

 

[QueBert]

Apple will still survive comfortably without Verizon, remember they have the rest of the world buying iPhones. While Verizon would obviously be awesome, I don't see anything they have that they could hold over Apples head. With that said I think both Verizon & Apple want the iPhone on Verizon. We'll see it in 2011 some time.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Apple will still survive comfortably without Verizon, remember they have the rest of the world buying iPhones. While Verizon would obviously be awesome, I don't see anything they have that they could hold over Apples head. With that said I think both Verizon & Apple want the iPhone on Verizon. We'll see it in 2011 some time.

word. if anything Apple could open up to more carriers around the world and increase customers like no other.

VZW is nice, but remember its only 80 million customers in the face of a multi billion GSM world.

2012 is more like it no? 5 years right?

 

[Rottie]

Apple should stay with ATT because ATT has a FASTEST 3G network right?

 

[rudeguy]

not to flame my friend...but there are about 15 other threads where this topic is being debated.

However...I like the idea of having just one thread about it.

 

[cbn]

Apple should stay with ATT because ATT has a FASTEST 3G network right?

I'm not sure how the 3G compares, but I have read Verizon will have its 4G LTE network up before ATT.

 

[s44]

You all realize that LTE will be another excuse for the carriers to rape us all on data plans, right?

 

[gsaldivar]

You all realize that LTE will be another excuse for the carriers to rape us all on data plans, right?

Yup. That's why you sign for 3G now and get grandfathered with an unlimited data contract. Wait for all all the early-adopters to get milked for 4G, then jump on it when they do away with the surcharges and data caps to stay competitive...

 

[s44]

Yup. That's why you sign for 3G now and get grandfathered with an unlimited data contract. Wait for all all the early-adopters to get milked for 4G, then jump on it when they do away with the surcharges and data caps to stay competitive...

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they keep grandfathered plans off of LTE altogether.

 

[charrison]

I'm not sure how the 3G compares, but I have read Verizon will have its 4G LTE network up before ATT.

ATT has faster 3g. They have been upgrading their markets to the 7.2 standard. The GSM 3g could be competitive with LTE if they wished to make it so.

 

[Bateluer]

ATT has faster 3g. They have been upgrading their markets to the 7.2 standard. The GSM 3g could be competitive with LTE if they wished to make it so.

I don't think so. Even T Mobile's best speeds for HSPA+ are far short of the speeds LTE test networks and the few live networks are getting. Coverage would be a big factor, I would think though. Upgrading existing GSM networks would be a good stop gap solution while LTE ramps up and expands its coverage.

 

[charrison]

I don't think so. Even T Mobile's best speeds for HSPA+ are far short of the speeds LTE test networks and the few live networks are getting. Coverage would be a big factor, I would think though. Upgrading existing GSM networks would be a good stop gap solution while LTE ramps up and expands its coverage.

That is basically what I meant. GSM 3g is capable of more than 7.2, but it will give att enough breathing room to take its time LTE.

 

[gsaldivar]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they keep grandfathered plans off of LTE altogether.

I assume that will be the case.

Stick with unlimited 3G, until 4G is competitively priced. Worst case scenario, they make *both* 3G and 4G metered, and all new contracts will be capped (like AT&T). In that case, those that already signed for unlimited 3G should have no worries...

 

[cbn]

Even T Mobile's best speeds for HSPA+ are far short of the speeds LTE test networks and the few live networks are getting. Coverage would be a big factor, I would think though. Upgrading existing GSM networks would be a good stop gap solution while LTE ramps up and expands its coverage.

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=376

I don't have a clue when it comes to understanding networks, but according to this T-mobile HSPA+ is actually faster than Wimax (a 4G technology that I have read is slower than LTE).

 

[cbn]

ATT has faster 3g.

Thanks for the answer.

Do you happen to know how T-mobile compares to ATT on 3G?

 

[dguy6789]

ATT has faster 3g. They have been upgrading their markets to the 7.2 standard. The GSM 3g could be competitive with LTE if they wished to make it so.

It's a bit more complicated in my opinion when discussing the 3G of the carriers. When you're actually in 3G coverage and get a good signal, AT&T and T-Mobile will be a bit faster than Verizon.(AT&T and T-Mobile should give you 1-2.5~mbps usually in 3G) while Verizon will give you 1-1.6~mbps, sometimes a little more.

The important thing to note is that you'll pretty much never be outside of 3G coverage if you're on Verizon, you have a pretty much guaranteed 1mbps download anywhere you go. AT&T and T-Mobile on the other hand only have 3G coverage over maybe 10-20 perecent of the country tops. If you go outside of 3G area, you're down to 100-300kbps or(usually) less.

I'm sure everyone has seen this by now but the picture speaks for itself:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/VZ_vs_ATT_3G_coverage.jpg

If you're outside of the blue on AT&T, you get 100-300kbps or less. What's a little crazy is AT&T has more 3G coverage than Sprint and T-Mobile. The difference between Verizon and the other carriers for 3G data is huge.

 

[AnyMal]

Yup. That's why you sign for 3G now and get grandfathered with an unlimited data contract. Wait for all all the early-adopters to get milked for 4G, then jump on it when they do away with the surcharges and data caps to stay competitive...

Don't hold your breath. Sprint already charges $10.00 more for using 4G devices even if 4G coverage is not available. Previous customers are not grandfathered either.

 

[AnyMal]

Thanks for the answer.

Do you happen to know how T-mobile compares to ATT on 3G?

Real world performance of mobile data network depends on many variables, so a blanket statement like "AT&T is fastest" would be inaccurate to say the least. However, AT&T's 3G network has one clear advantage over Verizon; it allows for simultenious voice and data.

 

[notposting]

I just hope when/if they start using Verizon they have an ad similar to when they switched from PowerPC to Intel. They still had the old ad up knocking the Intel integrated graphics but the new ad touted how awesome they were