U.S. rep slams iPhone, AT&T over restrictions
By Associated Press
Thursday, July 12, 2007 - Updated: 10:04 AM EST
WASHINGTON - The Apple iPhone has enjoyed favorable reviews since its recent debut, but it came in for some rare criticism on Capitol Hill yesterday.
The phones, which cost between $500 and $600 - are usable only on AT&T Inc.’s wireless network and will remain that way until 2012.
Even though the phones become expensive paperweights if customers quit AT&T’s wireless plan, the company will still charge a $175 early termination fee, said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), chairman of a House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet.
Markey described the phone as a “Hotel California service. You can check out any time you like, but yo...
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Thursday, July 12, 2007 - Updated: 10:04 AM EST
WASHINGTON - The Apple iPhone has enjoyed favorable reviews since its recent debut, but it came in for some rare criticism on Capitol Hill yesterday.
The phones, which cost between $500 and $600 - are usable only on AT&T Inc.’s wireless network and will remain that way until 2012.
Even though the phones become expensive paperweights if customers quit AT&T’s wireless plan, the company will still charge a $175 early termination fee, said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), chairman of a House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet.
Markey described the phone as a “Hotel California service. You can check out any time you like, but yo...
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I think it's funny that people are getting upset about the iPhone being locked in to one provider when Verizon has been doing the same thing for years.
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robtheman said:
I think it's funny that people are getting upset about the iPhone being locked in to one provider when Verizon has been doing the same thing for years.
Actually, ALL of the carriers have been trying it for years. Now that people are really paying $600 for a cell phone that is married to one carrier, it is finally becoming a hotter topic.
Verizon used to be in the hot seat, now it is AT&T's turn.
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Well i think the main complaint here is the fact that they do not discount you the phone. So you pay full reatil, sign a contract then they charge you if you cancel. The whole concept of the early term is for the carrier to recoup the disocunt they gave on the equipment at sign up, but you get no discount, so they charge you a couple hundred over cost for phone, then charge you a couple hundred more if you cancel...doesn't seem right to me
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It is a little different though. It's a whole lot different to have a handset locked when you receive a subsidy, but there is none on the iphone.
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This guy is ridiculous. Practically all carriers lock phones, just because the iphone is expensive doesn't mean it should be held to a different standard.
Verizon, Sprint, ATT, have all had $500 dollar smart phones, this iphone rant is just insane. It's ATT right to do it if they want to.
I wish our government would start worrying about things that matter like schools, social security, the iraq war, and 100's of other topics that are more important than a rich kid who gets an iphone hooked up to the ATT network.
Verizon, Sprint, ATT, have all had $500 dollar smart phones, this iphone rant is just insane. It's ATT right to do it if they want to.
I wish our government would start worrying about things that matter like schools, social security, the iraq war, and 100's of other topics that are more important than a rich kid who gets an iphone hooked up to the ATT network.
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cwcanty said:
Verizon, Sprint, ATT, have all had $500 dollar smart phones, this iphone rant is just insane. It's ATT right to do it if they want to.
I wish our government would start worrying about things that matter like schools, social security, the iraq war, and 100's of other topics that are more important than a rich kid who gets an iphone hooked up to the ATT network.
No, iPods and cell phones aren't just for 'rich kids'. Ten year olds have both these days.
Carriers in general have to quit pressing to get total control over expensive equipment. Users shouldn't have to wait until Back to School day to learn that their new $600 phone is useless garbage without portability to another carrier.
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i only said iphones were for rich kids, i made no mention of ipods (which are reasonably priced for what you get). And unless your mortaged your life to get an iphone, you prolly have some money if your throwing down for a $600 phone and $80/month for service.
My point wasn't really about the price, its just the point that there are more important things to worry about than the iphone. Our government can't ever tackle important issue, but this guy wants to rant about the iphone...gimme a break 🙄
My point wasn't really about the price, its just the point that there are more important things to worry about than the iphone. Our government can't ever tackle important issue, but this guy wants to rant about the iphone...gimme a break 🙄
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cwcanty said:
My point wasn't really about the price, its just the point that there are more important things to worry about than the iphone. Our government can't ever tackle important issue, but this guy wants to rant about the iphone...gimme a break 🙄
I agree. The iPhone isn't the problem, the result, or the cure. It is a symptom of carrier control. 24% of iPhone users dumped Verizon to get the phone. All together 51% of iPhone users broke contracts to get the phone (USAToday).
Nobody should have had to change carriers to get that phone.
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I dont have a problem with ATT having the iphone exclusively...once again, why should all carriers have the iphone, but a less popular phone like the LG 8300? You are holding Apple and ATT to an unfair standard. If we want cheap phones, then we are going to have to sign two year deals.
Plus, until America is standardized on one type of network, a free flow of cell customers will be difficult. Cell companies have to make money to, and they aren't the only people on earth that make you sign up for a contract to get a service.
If people don't want to be locked in...then pay full retail and leave as you please.
Chris
Plus, until America is standardized on one type of network, a free flow of cell customers will be difficult. Cell companies have to make money to, and they aren't the only people on earth that make you sign up for a contract to get a service.
If people don't want to be locked in...then pay full retail and leave as you please.
Chris
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cwcanty said:
If people don't want to be locked in...then pay full retail and leave as you please.
There are no subsidies for the iPhone. You pay full retail, and just use it as a media player if you go to school in an area not covered by AT&T.
Then wait until Christmas to use it again.
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Hey, did you hear that we're at war with Iraq? I got so caught up in the hype about the iPhone that I completely lost touch with everything else going on in the world.
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yeah apparently we destroyed a country over false pretenses and now we have no idea what the F to do...crazyness...but anyways, how bout that dynamic touch screen on the iphone!
Chris
Chris
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Is THAT what's going on? I thought we were giving candy corn and Bibles to all the underpriveledged people in the Middle East!
Have you figured out how to use your iPhone as a teleporter yet? I brought a terminator-type cyborg from the future and made him wash my car!! It's awesome! Oh man, what were we talking about? I love this phone!
Have you figured out how to use your iPhone as a teleporter yet? I brought a terminator-type cyborg from the future and made him wash my car!! It's awesome! Oh man, what were we talking about? I love this phone!
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robtheman said:
I love this phone!
Then you're on AT&T, which has a 5 year exclusive in the iPhone. Maybe verizon will get an Apple VPhone before then.
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