AfterDawn: News

Apple considered pulling iPhone from AT&T?

Wired has written a very interesting exposé this week on the relationship between AT&T and its star player in the smartphone market, Apple, with the site claiming Apple actively considered pulling the iPhone from the carrier at least five times.

In 2007, with the launch of the original iPhone, AT&T asked Apple to start limiting use of the YouTube app via 3G, asking them to limit it to only Wi-Fi. Apple refused, saying it would not "gimp" its device to help the overburdened network.



That fight was the first of many, and allegedly Apple CEO Steve Jobs began looking into a jump to Verizon at that point, very early into the relationship.

While the company looked into Verizon "seriously," the move would have required developers to build the smartphone "from scratch" all over again, moving from GSM to CDMA. There was also, of course, the exclusivity pact with AT&T.

Additionally, there were other battles, such as over tethering, where AT&T wanted to charge, and Apple wanted it included in the monthly data plan. The ability to tether now costs $20 extra per month.

There is a lot more to the story. Finish it here: Bad Connection: Inside the iPhone Network Meltdown

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Jul 2010 1:04

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• 5 comments

• KillerBug

  "In 2007, with the launch of the original iPhone, AT&T asked Apple to start limiting use of the YouTube app via 3G, asking them to limit it to only Wi-Fi. Apple refused, saying it would not "gimp" its device to help the overburdened network."
  
  -LOL...a few years later and the primary sales gimmick for the iPhone4 (video calling) is limited to WiFi; in addition to a bunch of apps that are limited to WiFi or limited to sub-3G speeds, others are completely unavailable because of bandwidth limitations.
  
  "Additionally, there were other battles, such as over tethering, where AT&T wanted to charge, and Apple wanted it included in the monthly data plan. The ability to tether now costs $20 extra per month."
  
  -Droid has no such issues; once you root, your phone belongs to you; not the company that sells you service.
  
  In the end, it is highly doubtful that the iPhone will move from AT&T. They have had the chance to move from AT&T several times, and they have not. Only AT&T offers the combination of high prices and low quality that Apple has built their name on.

  20.7.2010 02:11 #1

• Hyasuma

  At&T is p.o.s thats all i got to say. no wonder i jumped ship to Sprint

  20.7.2010 07:49 #2

• AndroidOS

  Verizon for the win
  

  20.7.2010 11:38 #3

• lissenup2

  Originally posted by Hyasuma: At&T is p.o.s thats all i got to say. no wonder i jumped ship to Sprint Now I know you're completely out of your mind and have no clue what's good/bad and what effectively works and doesn't. GOD help anyone looking to you for advice in technology.
  
  First, at&t is much better than Sprint regarding service, call quality, customer service, dropped calls, etc. And..............AND if you counter my statement about customer service then your head is truly up your................! Sprint has ranked lowest on customer service for over 5 years.
  
  Second, all the carriers are the same. Generally speaking, an equal percentage of customers on each experience the same, exact problems. It's contingent upon where you live and whether or not there is a cell site nearby. My neighbors have Verizon and dropped calls are brutal, call quality is decent and that's that. Near my mom's house T-Mobile has a super weak connection. Near my other friend's house, at&t has weak signals.
  
  In general, Sprint has the weakest signals per square mile. Don't BS us intelligent people here at Afterdawn nor yourself by saying that Verizon is the best or that "one company is the best" because it just ain't true. They're all the same.
  
  Some things remain consistently true. Verizon is a shady and arrogant company with rogue employees that will F with your account and not tell you. They don't listen to reason when something is their fault like billing, unapproved calls, etc. They do have (overall) the strongest service but the most naive and easily duped dummy customers whom believe everything they are told.
  
  At&t has the fastest internet (proven here on AD by a 3rd party site that tested the nation's major metropolitan areas) and allows for internet use while talking due to separation of the voice/data channels.
  
  Sprint has the worst customer service, poorest service over the largest area and some of the coolest phones.
  
  T-Mobile has the BEST customer service, most bang for your buck with minutes and monthly charge, cheapest overall service, worst phone selection (but getting better) and like at&t.........phones that are compatible with the most practical technology worldwide..........GSM, where Sprint and Verizon are not meant to be taken out of the country.

  21.7.2010 15:03 #4

• Notcow

  So it seems a lot of the blame, if not most of it, lies on AT&T here, right?
  
  If Apple were to have switched to Verizon, would the service be any better? Or any more reliable?
  
  Either way, it looks like joining up with Apple will really hurt your company's image if you're not ready for a massive influx of bandwidth use, and AT&T wasn't.
  

  21.7.2010 18:46 #5