I quit the iPhone

[w1z4rd]

It looks as if the FCC won't let them be...

FCC Takes On Apple And AT&T Over Google Voice Rejection

Dammit.. you beat me to it. More news on the FCC and the Google App/Iphone/AT&T story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101074.html

Again some very interesting arguments that us as South Africans will soon have to face.

I just want a dumb pipe as well

Now I understand why skype app has the "wont work in your area" message when you want to make a call. Seems like some countries are on top of their telecoms companies and others are being shafted underneath by the telecoms companies.

LOL@ what AT&T have to say... so I wonder what Apples excuse will be?

Update: AT&T responded to this post with the following statements:

AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store. We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it.Customers can use any compatible GSM phone on our network, not just the ones we?ve approved and sell. And they also can use apps we don?t approve. We don?t approve iPhone applications.

 

[w1z4rd]

WTF is this guy complaining about on a South African Website?

*It's very good you allow retard to discuss with you in the same forum*

Im guessing issues that completely fly over your head. No worries, grab some popcorn and enjoy the inflight movie.

 

[VertigoZA]

It looks as if the FCC won't let them be...

FCC Takes On Apple And AT&T Over Google Voice Rejection

"...or let me be me, so let me see
They try to shut me down on MTV..."
- Without Me, Eminem

i couldn't resist.

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

WTF is this guy complaining about on a South African Website?

*It's very good you allow retard to discuss with you in the same forum*

This topic is interesting for some and it does have relevance for us. Google Voice (or the like) has potential to revolutionise tel-communications, especially in Africa. If Apple & AT&T win the upper hand, it potentially has far reaching consequences.

 

[bwana]

It seems to me at least that the availability of the Skype iPhone app shows that Apple isnt against VOIP apps.

Granted, it is limited to wifi, however I dont see why Apple would wanted to have blocked voip via 3G without a request from AT&T.

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

I dont see why Apple would wanted to have blocked voip via 3G without a request from AT&T.

It takes two to tango, AT&T is taking the lead

 

[bwana]

It takes two to tango, AT&T is taking the lead

And if Apple is contractually obligated by it's exclusivity agreement with ATT?

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

And if Apple is contractually obligated by it's exclusivity agreement with ATT?

It's their own fault for jumping into bed with them.

 

[bwana]

It's their own fault for jumping into bed with them.

As opposed to who? T-Mobile? Please - their network is even worse than ATT. Keep in mind exclusivity arrangements are commonplace in the US.

 

[SlinkyMike]

It seems to me at least that the availability of the Skype iPhone app shows that Apple isnt against VOIP apps.

Granted, it is limited to wifi, however I dont see why Apple would wanted to have blocked voip via 3G without a request from AT&T.

It takes two to tango, AT&T is taking the lead

And if Apple is contractually obligated by it's exclusivity agreement with ATT?

Apple may be suffering fallout from their recent moves to ban jailbreaking in the form of inordinate amounts of blame for the Google Voice fiasco.

It aint' right but it is cause for pause...

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

As opposed to who? T-Mobile? Please - their network is even worse than ATT. Keep in mind exclusivity arrangements are commonplace in the US.

I'm not sure exactly what you are trying to dispute, but AFAIK exclusivity arrangements are made in every country the iPhone is available (my 'two to tango' analogy is referring to this type of arrangement) T-Mobile certainly wont be happy when Google Voice comes to town either. The outcome of FCC's investigation will surely have influence in this regard.

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

And the plot thickens with ugliness...

Yesterday, AT&T responded to press questions about this by sending a P.R. email.

"AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the App Store. We have received the letter and will, of course, respond to it."

You betcha. The problem is that AT&T already publicly copped to keeping the Slingbox software off the Apple iPhone, while letting other bandwidth eaters like YouTube and MLB At Bat live video run without interference. And of course the Google Voice app and the Slingbox app are running fine on BlackBerry phones on the AT&T network. Slingbox is also running on Windows Mobile Smartphones. In conversations with one of the Slingbox developers, I was told Apple was fine with the app until AT&T got involved.

Of course, looking at the statement, it is carefully worded. AT&T does not manage or approve applications. Correct enough. In the case of the Slingbox software, they told Apple to knife it. I don't think the FCC will be amused by that particular dodge.

One wonders about the deteriorating state of friendship between Apple and AT&T. Recently, AT&T hinted that they don't expect to be the exclusive iPhone distributor forever, and Apple certainly held them up to a bit of ridicule at the June developer conference on MMS and tethering.

It must be fun on those Apple/AT&T conference calls as they prepare their responses to the FCC.

 

[w1z4rd]

LOL @ your nick Moklet Kcuf

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

LOL @ your nick Moklet Kcuf

 

[dequadin]

This is getting interesting now Eric Schmidt is off the Apple board.

Eric Schmidt leaves Apple's board amid Google Voice, Chrome OS conflicts

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

This is getting interesting now Eric Schmidt is off the Apple board.

Ha, WTF! If there was anything to signify the current tensions , this is it.
Now we just have to wait and see how long Arthur Levinson hangs around, also being on both Apple and Google boards.

 

[Zen.Macs]

As in my post in the other Mac thread, whatever else you might say about the iPhone, it has no match as far as build/design quality is concerned. I got a 16gb iPod Touch when it first came out, and then the 8gb iPhone as soon as that came out (imported from the states) and it ended up being a white elephant. I preferred my HTC as a phone and my Touch as a media device.

As far as I'm concerned, smartphones simply are not, and will never be, successful media devices. And that's not even mentioning the battery issue with the iPhone acting as an iPod, a GPS and a phone.

 

[remybfg10k]

More like an everyonePhone these days

 

[Moklet Kcuf]

As far as I'm concerned, smartphones simply are not, and will never be, successful media devices.

yeah i agree, well at least for the foreseeable future. That's why I'm sticking to my 250 Rand Nokia.

Why people want to spend tonnes of money on a frivolous product that typically will be obsolete, broken or lost in a very short amount of time. has got me.

 

[Moklet Kcuf]