Re: Just a simple question re the IPhone

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Charles Brown <cbrown () flyingcircuit com>
Date: February 5, 2009 3:18:43 PM EST
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Cc: Brown Charles <cbrown () flyingcircuit com>, victor () victormarks com
Subject: Re: Just a simple question re the IPhone

Dave,

The iPhone is a perfect example of a product that props-up the "old"  
telecom model.  It is therefore highly vulnerable to competitive  
forces over the ATT contract period IMO, which is five years since  
introduction.

I am a big fan of OS X and we have several Macs at our house, but I  
refuse to buy an iPhone (and I really want one) until I can use it on  
any network with a seamless and supported jailbreak.  iTunes is also  
an unwanted walled-garden but I like the iPod classic just the same  
and the garden is easier to get around than with the iPhone.

Someone showing me cool apps on the iPhone at dinner the other night  
recommended that I buy an iPod Touch instead.  I responded, "Have you  
noticed that the telco/cellco/cableco have been rolling-up the hotspot  
business lately?"  It seems hotspots are being positioned as loss- 
leaders to sell dual-mode (cellco/WiFi) smart phones, which generate  
higher ARPUs, or as a bundled service with their "quad-play" fare.

Significantly, for innovators in the wireless market, this has the  
undesired effect of undermining revenue models for alternative access  
using unlicensed spectrum and of controlling the market for access,  
their special expertise.  First, the unlicensed technology standards  
were adulterated through the regulatory process dating back to the  
late 80's (forced WiFi instead of scalable infrastructure) and now the  
existing infrastructure is through market forces.  The iPhone is  
hardly an innovative product in this regard.  Nice OS though.

Charlie

So I HAVE to use ATT or I have a brick. djf

Begin forwarded message:

From: Victor Marks <victor () victormarks com>
Date: February 5, 2009 11:59:50 AM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Just a simple question re the IPhone

Apple doesn't unlock the phone. You don't end up with a brick.

All that really changes is that you could cancel at any time without
an early termination fee.

So you aren't re-subbing, because you aren't agreeing to a contract
length - you're just paying the monthly amount from the old plan you
agreed to while the contract was in effect.

Victor

On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 9:38 AM, David Farber <dave () farber net> wrote:
> What happens to an iphone owner when their contract with ATT runs
> it's two
> years. Will Apple unlock the phone or will one end up with a brick
> or the
> necessity of re-subing with ATT (if your silly enough).
>
> Dave
>
>
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