Sprint PCS - Re: AT&T flings network wide open- don't have to sign a contract

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Re: AT&T flings network wide open- don't have to sign a contract

Jon

2007-12-09, 3:33 pm

4phun wrote:
> AT&T flings cellphone network wide open
> Updated 3d 5h ago
>
> By Leslie Cauley, USA TODAY
>
> NEW YORK -- Starting immediately, AT&T (T) customers can ditch their
> AT&T phones and use any wireless phone, device and software
> application from any maker -- think smartphones, e-mail and music
> downloading. And they don't have to sign a contract.
> "You can use any handset on our network you want," says Ralph de la
> Vega, CEO of AT&T's wireless business. "We don't prohibit it, or even
> police it."
>
> AT&T's push to give consumers maximum control of their wireless worlds
> is being driven, in part, by Google. The tech giant is a monster in
> the Internet search business for personal computers, and is hoping to
> replicate that success in the wireless market.
>
> Google (GOOG) recently announced plans to link arms with more than two
> dozen wireless companies, including Sprint (S), with the goal of
> developing an operating system that lets consumers use any application
> on mobile devices, much as they now do on PCs. Other partners include
> Japanese cellphone giant DoCoMo and handset maker Samsung.
>
> Everything that Google has promised to bring to the wireless market a
> year from now AT&T is doing today, de la Vega says. "We are the most
> open wireless company in the industry."
>
> FIND MORE STORIES IN: Google | AT | AT | Verizon | Ralph de la Vega
> AT&T for years kept quiet the fact that wireless customers had the
> option of using devices and applications other than those offered by
> AT&T. But now salespeople in AT&T phone stores will make sure that
> consumers "know all their options" before making a final purchase.
>
> The AT&T wireless chief won't say whether AT&T plans to launch a
> marketing campaign to push "open" platforms, but allows that might be
> a possibility.
>
> Despite its bear hug of "open" standards, one AT&T device, for now,
> will remain tightly closed: the Apple iPhone.
>
> AT&T has a deal with Apple to be the exclusive U.S. distributor for
> the next five years. To get the device, consumers must sign a two-year
> contract.
>
> AT&T has no plans to change that arrangement, de la Vega says. "The
> iPhone is a very special, innovative case."
>
> Google's siren call for openness has stuck a finger in the eye of the
> U.S. cellphone industry, which for years has kept consumers on a short
> leash. Until recently, contracts were standard, and applications were
> largely limited to those endorsed (sold) by carriers.
>
> That's changing. Verizon (VZ), regarded as one of the most restrictive
> carriers in terms of devices and applications, recently announced
> plans to let customers use any device and application they want. [As
> long as they sign a two year contract with Verizon and pay $1.99 per
> MB data or add a high dollar unlimited data plan.]
>
> The mobile Web is still considered an open -- and largely untapped --
> frontier. That's one reason companies such as Google, which has little
> traction there, are so nervous about getting left behind.
>
> --
>
> That is a bummer about the iPhone being the only exception to no
> contract required. At least AT&T will prorate the early termination
> fee. You could always set the iPhone up as a GO phone on AT&T which
> would be no contract.
>
> The rest is neat and compelling to finally switch to AT&T. I wonder
> how those who just signed a two year contract with SPRINT, VZN or T-MO
> must feel right now, mostly crap crippled phones and they still have
> to live with them for 24 months!
>
Lol AT&T is behind verizon again!

Dennis Ferguson

2007-12-09, 3:33 pm

Jon <Jon@Cebridge.net> wrote:
> 4phun wrote:
>
> Lol AT&T is behind verizon again!

I don't quite see how. AT&T has always allowed you to bring your
own phone to their network (I bought a plan without buying a phone
several years ago); Verizon says they'll allow the same thing sometime
next year.

What is new here is that if you bring your own phone to AT&T they
won't make you agree to a contract (and they're doing it now, so
it isn't just at the press-release-ware stage). Verizon hasn't said
anything about this yet, that I've noticed, so at this point we can only
hope that Verizon follows AT&T.

In fact, for Verizon to match AT&T's flexibility with equipment they'd
also need to move to phones with a SIM (okay, R-UIM) slot. I assume
they'll eventually want to do this anyway if they're going to deploy
LTE; maybe they'll follow AT&T on this sooner rather than later.

I'm actually quite happy to see the carriers getting all competitive
about this particular topic. I really hope they keep it up.

Dennis Ferguson

CozmicDebris

2007-12-09, 3:33 pm

4phun <vic.healey@gmail.com> wrote in news:6de3ddaf-8ce7-40f3-bb73-
d9d865c8e85d@e23g200
0prf.googlegroups.com:

>
> WRONG - Verizon still has contracts.

And AT&T will still have contracts, Oxtard.

>
> Verzion is not yet open, it is planned for 2008 and then it is only
> CDMA.

What other network do they have that you'd like them to open, retard?

>
> There are a hell of a lot more unlocked neat GSM phones then CDMA
> overpriced where the manufacturer has to pay the Qualcom royalty on
> each and ever CDMA set he produces.

You might want to look at some of the Asian carriers and the phones
available before you make that statement, Oxturd.

>

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