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Apple should be perfectly allowed to do this, but if they insist on continuing with such behavior, you can be sure that when my contract is up for renewal, an i

by zngtk4 17y ago

Apple should be perfectly allowed to do this, but if they insist on continuing with such behavior, you can be sure that when my contract is up for renewal, an iPhone will not be my next device.

pgebhard 17y ago
In many ways, it's unavoidable with any US carrier. The whole text messaging racket just bothers me so much. It's such an abuse of the customer, and all of the wireless companies seem to collude to keep those rates exorbitant. It also bothers me that I can look overseas and see such low rates, which INCLUDE tethering. When will we finally reach a better wireless marketplace? Five years, I bet. It's sad, too, because Google has really been trying to break up the death grip of these carriers (spectrum auction, open-source mobile OS, Google Voice), but they're up against multiple 1,000lb. gorillas.
- symesc 17y ago
  In this regard (fighting the gorillas) I really respect Google for its consistency: they're once again fighting for Net neutrality, this time wireless networks and not just the (my) traditional definition of the Internet. I have an iPhone with 50 voice minutes and a 6GB data plan (I live in Canada). Clearly I value data much more than voice. I understand why the carriers are anxious about customers like me, but their business model has to change. My 50 minutes cost $15/month. My 6GB cost $30. I have the voice because the contract stipulates I must. Why I should be prohibited from using a portion of data for voice remains a byproduct of history. The VP of Credit Cards in any bank hates the VP of Debit Cards for eroding his revenues (and thus his personal annual bonus). The VP of Voice in any wireless carrier hates the VP of Data for similar reasons. The winner, of course, will be Google and any wireless carriers who structure a business purely around data delivery.
  - pgebhard 17y ago
    Yikes, and I thought I had it bad. Only 50 minutes?! Granted, I only use about half of my 450 (lowest you can go with AT&T). I just wish the market would move more towards generic data access like an ISP. Voice, SMS, wireless Internet...it's all just a data pipe to me (and them), so charge me like an ISP (with speed and bandwidth caps, if necessary).
    - Periodic 17y ago
      I had 450 with AT&T. It cost $35/month or so (I can't remember the intro and long-term rates). I'd gladly take 50 for only $15.
      - symesc 17y ago
        Yes, I took 50 because that's the least I could take. Truth be told, I've constructed a plan I shouldn't have been sold. I should have had to buck up more than the combined $45 plan that I'm on. Rogers and Fido offer slight variations on the same theme: $60 and $75 plans containing 250 minutes and up to 6GB of data . . . plus other overpriced amenities like visual voicemail, texting, and caller ID. I was able to purchase what I have because their systems don't actually enforce their business rules. The iPhone is just another phone to the guy at the kiosk in the mall. This may have changed since December 08, but I've kept my paper copy of the contract :)
- jcromartie 17y ago
  It's like I keep saying: Carriers around the world compete on price, features, coverage, and high-tech phones. Carriers in the US compete on how much they can get away with. Even "small" carriers in the US still suck just as much as the big guys. They are just presenting a more friendly image.

by zngtk4 17y ago

Apple should be perfectly allowed to do this, but if they insist on continuing with such behavior, you can be sure that when my contract is up for renewal, an iPhone will not be my next device.

pgebhard 17y ago

In many ways, it's unavoidable with any US carrier. The whole text messaging racket just bothers me so much. It's such an abuse of the customer, and all of the wireless companies seem to collude to keep those rates exorbitant. It also bothers me that I can look overseas and see such low rates, which INCLUDE tethering. When will we finally reach a better wireless marketplace? Five years, I bet. It's sad, too, because Google has really been trying to break up the death grip of these carriers (spectrum auction, open-source mobile OS, Google Voice), but they're up against multiple 1,000lb. gorillas.

symesc 17y ago
In this regard (fighting the gorillas) I really respect Google for its consistency: they're once again fighting for Net neutrality, this time wireless networks and not just the (my) traditional definition of the Internet. I have an iPhone with 50 voice minutes and a 6GB data plan (I live in Canada). Clearly I value data much more than voice. I understand why the carriers are anxious about customers like me, but their business model has to change. My 50 minutes cost $15/month. My 6GB cost $30. I have the voice because the contract stipulates I must. Why I should be prohibited from using a portion of data for voice remains a byproduct of history. The VP of Credit Cards in any bank hates the VP of Debit Cards for eroding his revenues (and thus his personal annual bonus). The VP of Voice in any wireless carrier hates the VP of Data for similar reasons. The winner, of course, will be Google and any wireless carriers who structure a business purely around data delivery.
- pgebhard 17y ago
  Yikes, and I thought I had it bad. Only 50 minutes?! Granted, I only use about half of my 450 (lowest you can go with AT&T). I just wish the market would move more towards generic data access like an ISP. Voice, SMS, wireless Internet...it's all just a data pipe to me (and them), so charge me like an ISP (with speed and bandwidth caps, if necessary).
  - Periodic 17y ago
    I had 450 with AT&T. It cost $35/month or so (I can't remember the intro and long-term rates). I'd gladly take 50 for only $15.
    - symesc 17y ago
      Yes, I took 50 because that's the least I could take. Truth be told, I've constructed a plan I shouldn't have been sold. I should have had to buck up more than the combined $45 plan that I'm on. Rogers and Fido offer slight variations on the same theme: $60 and $75 plans containing 250 minutes and up to 6GB of data . . . plus other overpriced amenities like visual voicemail, texting, and caller ID. I was able to purchase what I have because their systems don't actually enforce their business rules. The iPhone is just another phone to the guy at the kiosk in the mall. This may have changed since December 08, but I've kept my paper copy of the contract :)
jcromartie 17y ago
It's like I keep saying: Carriers around the world compete on price, features, coverage, and high-tech phones. Carriers in the US compete on how much they can get away with. Even "small" carriers in the US still suck just as much as the big guys. They are just presenting a more friendly image.