4 ms·

I hope Apple is getting fistfuls of cash from AT&T. From the failed WWDC demo (couldn't activate cell data) to the leaked iPad emails to the iPhone preorder, I

I hope Apple is getting fistfuls of cash from AT&T. From the failed WWDC demo (couldn't activate cell data) to the leaked iPad emails to the iPhone preorder, I can't imagine Jobs + co are too pleased with the negative brand impact AT&T is bringing to Apple.

tjarratt 16y ago
Alternatively, I hope Apple is furious, and working as hard as they can to get iphones on other carriers. While I'm sure the exclusivity made the initial release easier for Apple, a lot of customers are waiting to get an iphone on a different carrier.
- zweben 16y ago
  The way they have things set up, it's going to be hard for them to keep their generous deal with AT&T intact while opening the iPhone up to other carriers. The second the iPhone is available elsewhere, Apple loses a lot of the leverage that got AT&T to pay the iPhone's huge subsidy. You can bet that if Apple could negotiate terms with a second carrier that would increase their profits, they would be all over that. I suspect they're having a hard time finding a generous enough offer to compensate for a weakened deal with AT&T.
akmiller 16y ago
Apple shoulders significant blame in this colossal mess. They knew the iPhone 4 would be huge and obviously failed to do (potentially forcing AT&T's hand) sufficient integration and load testing for this order process. Apple should've known the limits beforehand and had measures in there to throttle the process. Better to get a "Try again later" than to get to random screens and error and keep trying for hours on end.
IgorPartola 16y ago
I thought the WWDC demo failed because they couldn't get on the WiFi, not on the 3G. I might be wrong though.
- malbiniak 16y ago
  No, you're right -- they were trying to use WiFi, but when he switched to the backup phone, there was an error displayed about not being able to activate the cellular data. The audience laughed, Jobs brushed it off, and the demo went on.
  - IgorPartola 16y ago
    Thanks for the clarification.

tjarratt 16y ago

Alternatively, I hope Apple is furious, and working as hard as they can to get iphones on other carriers. While I'm sure the exclusivity made the initial release easier for Apple, a lot of customers are waiting to get an iphone on a different carrier.

zweben 16y ago
The way they have things set up, it's going to be hard for them to keep their generous deal with AT&T intact while opening the iPhone up to other carriers. The second the iPhone is available elsewhere, Apple loses a lot of the leverage that got AT&T to pay the iPhone's huge subsidy. You can bet that if Apple could negotiate terms with a second carrier that would increase their profits, they would be all over that. I suspect they're having a hard time finding a generous enough offer to compensate for a weakened deal with AT&T.

akmiller 16y ago

Apple shoulders significant blame in this colossal mess. They knew the iPhone 4 would be huge and obviously failed to do (potentially forcing AT&T's hand) sufficient integration and load testing for this order process. Apple should've known the limits beforehand and had measures in there to throttle the process. Better to get a "Try again later" than to get to random screens and error and keep trying for hours on end.

IgorPartola 16y ago

I thought the WWDC demo failed because they couldn't get on the WiFi, not on the 3G. I might be wrong though.

malbiniak 16y ago
No, you're right -- they were trying to use WiFi, but when he switched to the backup phone, there was an error displayed about not being able to activate the cellular data. The audience laughed, Jobs brushed it off, and the demo went on.
- IgorPartola 16y ago
  Thanks for the clarification.