Almost bit on an iPhone...for T-Mobile use

[Tofer]

After all the hype about unlocking, and with my plans to purchase an iPhone when my T-Mobile contract runs out in February anyway, I went to the Apple Store yesterday and drooled over the iPhone some more. I almost bought one (esp. after I realized I had been browsing with edge instead of wifi--I thought it was slow for wifi, but it was definitely usable with edge, contrary to what I had imagined). I stopped short when I put together the following facts:

1. If I do get the phone and unlock it, my warranty is gone.
2. If I unlock it today, what are the odds Apple lets the phones remain unlocked in future firmware upgrades?
3. Maybe there will be upgrades by Febtober (I mean, February!)

Here are my arguments for why Apple will / will not let the phones remain unlocked:

Apple will let the phones remain unlocked because:
- they are selling a gazillion phones that will be used on non-AT&T networks
- they know it is a loosing battle, with the hackers working as hard as they are to unlock
- they get out of warranty support for unlocked phones

Apple will re-block the unlocked phones in future firmware upgrades because:
- their agreement with AT&T forces their hand and they have to do what they can to keep a closed network.
- they will make more money with the AT&T contracts then they would selling non-contract phones
- they don't want people messing with their phone!

Comments?

-Tofer

[comaplate]

If you're looking for Feburary, you'll have the benefit of 7-8 months of iPhones out there, plus a MacWorld Expo during that time.

Who knows what a Rev.B phone might offer...

[Chupa Chupa]

I'm sure Apple is looking at the unlock programs right now trying to figure out how to disrupt them. I'm sure this will be a cat and mouse game for a long time. As you note, Apple loses money on unlocked phones that would far exceed any warranty costs. Apple estimates 10m iPhones by the end of next year. If even 10% of those are unlocked on other networks that is $240M in uncaptured revenue for Apple. Surely that is worth Apple's time to staff a team to disrupt unlocking s/w as it comes out.

[wurm]

Wouldn't it be nice if they signed only a one year agreement with AT&T and that next year T-Mobile (or any other GSM provider) will legitimately be able to use the iPhone?




I said wouldn't it be nice...not that it was likely.

[Tofer]

[quote wurm]Wouldn't it be nice if they signed only a one year agreement with AT&T and that next year T-Mobile (or any other GSM provider) will legitimately be able to use the iPhone?
I said wouldn't it be nice...not that it was likely.
Yeah...that would be nice. The apple store employee I talked with yesterday said he hates AT&T and wished me the best of luck with the unlock. I do think it would be nice to stay with T-Mobile, but at the same time I like the visual voicemail...we'll see, but I'll probably wait until Feb. and then jump ship to AT&T.

-Tofer

[Chupa Chupa]

It would be even nicer if Apple just sold the phone unlocked and let you go to whatever provider you wanted to go to. But I'm guess they wouldn't have sold as many phones that way as they'd have to price them higher to compesate for not getting a bite of each contract.

In the short time I've been w/ ATT though I can't really complain. Service has been great everwhere I go (even in my house where my Sprint phones were a little shy). I have no love for any cell phone co. The iPhone rates are pretty reasonable. A tad higher than Sprint, but a boat load cheaper than Verizon.

[jdc]

as a long time cingular/att user i can only say "thanks chupa"

its about time everyone stopped badmouthing att without ever even actually *trying* them

im not saying that they are the best in the world or anything, but it gets really annoying to see "att sux" from people who have never used them, or its been 10 years since they have

reminds me of peecee people who say "macs suck!" without ever even using one...which im sure gets all of here pissy =)

[space-time]

does ATT offer a pre-paid plan as cheap as T-Mobile? $100 bucks for 1000 minutes, good for one year. And I got it on sale at Target for $88, and they threw in a cheap phone too.

I don't use the cell phone a lot, so a prepaid plan makes most sense for me. If I could get than a small amount of data for like 10-15 bucks a month (in addition to prepaid minutes) that would be awesome. But I guess I am dreaming...

[RAMd®d]

My at&t experience *exatly* mirrors Chupa;s s do my sentiments.

I've called 611 a few times and have had great customer service. I asked around at three or four places i tend to be about who ws using what service and at&t was doing well at all of them, so I bit.

While VZW also had very good Customer Service in my several years with them, I didn't like the phones and coverage was spotty in three of the four places I often need to be.

I will say that on a recent trip across the south and to the mid-West, the VZW coverage was seemless and strong.

Coupled with the "Phone, I'm ready to forgive some of at&t's transgressions and shortcomings- if they ever happen.

[Bill in NC]

No.

Using 3rd party ink carts in your printer doesn't void the warranty either.

>1. If I do get the phone and unlock it, my warranty is gone.