Version: 2008

Comments on: Democrats criticize AT&T's exclusive iPhone deal

AT&T's deal to sell the iPhone drew criticism from Democrats, and a defense from Republicans. The arrangement might lead to an open access requirement for a 700 MHz spectrum auction next year.

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What the Dem's really meant
by mikeburek July 11, 2007 5:52 PM PDT
I think the democrats had an idea and to promote their idea, they picked ATT and iPhone.

The problem: American cellular networks are behind the rest of the world.

The Solution: To get America to have full coverage with GSM and have our network compatible with the world's network so American phones can be used anywhere in the world and phones from other countries can be used in America.

Bad evidence: ATT & iPhone (probably picked because it is only sold in the US and can only be used in the US).

An alternate bad evidence: Cell phone wall chargers use 110 Volts, not 220 like some (maybe all) of Europe.

A better argument: Competing cell phone technolgies split the capital investment for phones in half compared to one common technology and reduce market competition because the technologies are separate.

So if you remove ATT and iPhone from the story completely, I think they wanted America to be able to compete with the world instead of being at the bottom of all these ranking lists (less cell phone features, less cell phone coverage percentage, less cell phone data speed...).
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If you want a political
by Lindy01 July 11, 2007 6:54 PM PDT
party that can ***** about everything and offer NOTHING of worth....the Democrat party is your party.

And yes they get paid A LOT to do NOTHING.
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Smells like FUD
by cyclelogicpress.com July 11, 2007 7:01 PM PDT
Sounds like someone has a locked-in contract with another carrier.
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Why all the complaints all of a sudden
by mjuar002 July 11, 2007 8:53 PM PDT
Everyone excepts recent article souces supposedly never knew
that to get out of almost any cell contract there was a
cancellation fee, and I just happen to know that Verizons is $175
because I just paid it, and it was a pleasure. And what is my
RAZR good for now? Well nothing as a matter of fact unless I
care to figure out how to unlock it. So the arguements that
these guys make could have been made years ago. And let us
not be fooled into thinking that Verizon or any of the other
companies have customers at all in mind. They run the
monopoly on cell access in America, and access to cell phones at
the same time, so why should they sell you a good phone when
they know their networks cant support them, its shameless , but
not anymore. The iphone has changed the game and they know
it. I mean why should I buy any kind of data service from a cell
provider if I have wifi, which turns my phone into a mini-
computer with speeds a fraction of a second slower than my
hookup at home? I believe this is why ATT gave unlimited
access for cheap. I imagine a day when we will be able to goto a
cell phone store and get any phone we like, go to a service
provider and get access but keep control of our phone, and have
no 2 year agreements but straight month to month, free to go
without penalty and take our phone to another provider if we so
choose. It's absolute madness that in this way we are years
behind most modern countries.
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Free the iPhone!
by Xenu7-214951314497503184010868 July 11, 2007 11:16 PM PDT
Nothing would be better than being able to use an iPhone on a different carrier than AT&T.
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Is there a reason ? Yeah !! And more than just one.
by How Goes It July 11, 2007 11:50 PM PDT
Markey says -- "Is there any reason why, if technical questions
can be addressed, that consumers ought not have the ability to
determine the devices they're going to have on the network?" he
asked.

Apple approached another carrier --- Verizon.
Verizon wasn't willing to share in their monthly revenue.
Verizon didn't trust that Apple would make it worth their while.
Verizon wasn't willing to take a risk on working with Apple.
So, why should Apple be forced to work with them now ?!!!!
Can you imagine being forced to work with a company that has
no faith in your company !!!

So there is a couple of GREAT reasons Markey.
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That's Not a Reason!
by markdoiron July 12, 2007 5:02 AM PDT
What you state is correct, but it not a reason that consumers can't chose their own gear. Consumers can't chose their own gear because the cell carriers want consumers locked into their product line at outrageous prices. The same thing existed in the days of the AT&T wireline monopoly. You couldn't buy your own phone and hook it up in your home--you were forced to rent one of a very limited types from Ma Bell. That's improved some, but why shouldn't a consumer be allowed to buy an unlocked phone (locked phones would be banned), then chose which carrier with which to use it? That's what Markey is talking about.

--mark d.
I Couldn't Care Less About iPhone, But ...
by markdoiron July 12, 2007 4:57 AM PDT
I couldn't care less about the iPhone, but, the cell carriers should be treated as pipes only, just as the wireline carriers were during the pre-cell era (but post-AT&T monopoly). All the cell carriers carry are 0s and 1s. And what features a phone has, or the phone's owner uses, should be exempt by law from any special charges by the cell carrier. Charge for time only--not for text messaging, sending/receiving images, browsing the web, installing new ring tones (though the owner of the ring tone has a right to charge for it), etc. It's all only 0s and 1s.

--mark d.
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iPhone is an After Thought
by markdoiron July 12, 2007 5:12 AM PDT
This article is about open standards for consumer wireless gear. The fact that the iPhone is both limited to one carrier, and a hot button topic for discussion, caused cNet to create and headline and edit the article to make it appear about the iPhone. But, that's not what's at stake here. Unfortunately, based on the comments posted, many readers of cNet obviously miss that point.

--mark d.
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Dems neeed to get a life
by faust July 12, 2007 6:24 AM PDT
And I say that as a former Dem/current Ind.
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Not an iPhone hearing
by swift2--2008 July 12, 2007 12:42 PM PDT
Though this is all the CNet crowd can hear, apparently. The
point was, they've already sold a million of these puppies. People
really want it. However, what's the number one complaint in all
the reviews, and among responders here and everywhere? AT&T!

The question is, why do our networks get away with this? If you
want x phone, you can only get it with y network. We've seen the
most dramatic evidence possible that an open, standards-based
network, the Internet, is a huge success with the people, and
with the economy. Why are the wireless networks any different?

The best reason why Jobs went with AT&T is that they have the
widest coverage in the U.S. Edge stinks, but everybody in
Podunk can get AT&T. Of course, there are also areas where you
can't get the signal.

Why not apply standards-based rules to the wireless market, or
at least to the new frequencies coming our way after the analog
TV frequencies are auctioned off when analog TV shuts down.
Then you could have the phone market competing honestly --
based on phone features and price -- and the networks would
really just have to split up its revenue based on working like the
phone networks have had to do since 1968. Why aren't the
wireless networks the same as copper wires? Why the
discriminatory tolls? Why the ridiculous roaming charges?

Time to take a look at the wireless networks.

To those who just want to let the "market" decide, the big telcos
have bought the law, and it already is regulated so AT&T has
spent hundreds of billions putting back the AT&T monopoly that
was wisely broken up long ago.
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This is a real issue
by swift2--2008 July 12, 2007 12:43 PM PDT
Don't you think this is an issue of monopolism and the way it
retards development?
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Um, no.
by jointspecialist July 16, 2007 12:44 AM PDT
Let's see...
The iPhone has been out for what? 2 weeks? The wireless industry
has been operating in this manner for what? 2 decades? Where
have you been? You can go to any carrier and EVERY PHONE that
they sell can ONLY work on THEIR NETWORK. Go to Sprint and buy
a phone? Sprint Network. Verizon's phones? Verizon network.
Why is it now that there is an iPhone is it a monopoly?
View reply
Boo Hoo. I can't get an iPhone. Waaahh.
by jointspecialist July 16, 2007 12:49 AM PDT
This is all so ridiculous. I wonder, if Verizon would have signed the
agreement with Apple, would there be as much whining?
Reply to this comment
You just made my point.
by Hardrada July 23, 2007 6:39 PM PDT
That's exactly the problem.

It shouldn't be the job of Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint to give the users of their cell networks better phones.

It should be the job of handset manufacturers like Nokia, Treo, SE and Motorola.

The US seriously needs Carterphone for cell carriers. As long as the handset behaves properly, the carrier shouldn't care what phone you use.
Reply to this comment
by thelawnetwork June 21, 2009 8:11 PM PDT
This entire issue is a crock - this is the freedom of contract, plain and simple. Congress didn't bat an eye when Google bought Doubleclick and has antitrust exemptions for all the professional sports leagues.

Congress is, plain and simple, corrupt. Someone is using their friendship to push through an issue to break a contract that is 100% valid under the Constitution. What "innovation" is served through the NFL's exemption? The merger of Time Warner and AOL? Give it a rest. More lies and corruption going on behind the scenes here with big business the cause.
Reply to this comment
by LIBERTYBELL1 July 8, 2009 3:26 AM PDT
I bought an IPHONE because I wanted one. Sprint sells the Palm Pre and TMobile sells that Android Google Phone, Verizon has the touch screen Blackberry. BIG freaking deal. It's free enterprise. You should not force a company to sell it's product to every vendor because it's "not fair" if they don't. I am so sick of political correctness, of Dems trying to control everything and I mean EVERYTHING the people and businesses do. They want to rule by what THEY think is right, not what the population thinks. I don't want my decisions made for me...ie...the "BAILOUT"...nobody asked me. I don't recall voting on that. We need to take our country back from these control freak losers. Leave Apple alone. If they want to do business with AT&T so what. If you don't want an Iphone, or don't like AT&T then get a "Jail Broken" Iphone and go to another network. Please, aren't there more important issues on America's plate..uh..the economy, illegal issues...screwing up our healthcare system even more maybe??
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