And you know how and where he and everyone would use it? A lot of people would use skype and/or FaceTime at home where they can plug it in or maybe people will have easy access to a charger via their car, work computer, etc. We don't all use things as you - we are individuals.
I was talking in a context of completely substituting iPhone (voice+data) with iPod-3g(VOIP).
If a would-be 3g-iPod has a terrible battery life (like the old generations) and you are away from home, your battery ran out of juice, you can't call and can't be reached at a time when you need it most, it is not usable.
It can happen with any mobile phone (especially smartphones) of course, but they are made to last at least a day in stand-by mode. I doubt the 3g-iPod would be made like this.
Then dump your texting plan and use Google Voice and iMessage.
That's what I did. iMessage won't help with non-iOS users. Some people don't want to use Google Voice for privacy reasons. I'm more than happy to use it to save $20 per month. I hear what you're saying. But using the built in-app over AT&T would be preferable. Other apps can access it. It can MMS. It's a better interface.
PS: Google Voice is one of the worst, if not THE WORST, apps on my iPhone. It wins for freezing. WeatherBug wins for crashing.
No, you weren't. Sorry, that was just a pre-emptive strike (against an argument you did not make).
Quote:
You realize that law won't ever happen, right? It's not an "all it takes" scenario, it's a "hey, you telecoms. You're all forcibly disbanded. All your higher-ups are fired. You're split into constituent companies. And now we'll create this law."
Which is just as likely to happen as the law on its own.
Why can these laws banning SIM-locks happen in some (admittedly few) countries but not the US? Sometimes believing in US exceptionalism can lead to an overly pessimistic outlook.
I wonder if this might account for the rumours of two iPhone models. Maybe it's one new iPhone and a 3G iPod Touch that is being misread as two iPhone models. Might take some work to convince the carriers to offer data only plans as good or better than their iPad specific plans, but maybe that also partly explains the later launch this year. Apple might also have to concede some functionality, like a built in mic and/or ear speaker to allay carrier fears of it being a VOIP targeted device (which it obviously would be).
With an iPod touch that is as portable as an iPhone, really taking advantage of iCloud services would almost necessitate an always on data connection. In essence, you really do end up with 2 distinct iPhone models, just one is not natively voice ready without VOIP. Similar to iPad data plans being prepaid, this could be a prepaid iPhone that is data only. That would also explain the rumours of a low-cost prepaid targeted iPhone.
Doesn't matter. The carriers don't allow any plan but the iPhone's plan on an iPhone.
If you have an AT&T SIM card that has been independently activated for prepaid service (and it doesn't have any 6-month promotional strings attached such as an initial activation bonus), and you insert that SIM card into any AT&T-locked iPhone 4, the two of them will play together nicely.
And since such prepaid customers haven't signed a long-term contract with AT&T, those customers are not bound by that contract's requirements to opt into any of the otherwise mandatory iPhone data plans etc...
If you have an AT&T SIM card that has been independently activated for prepaid service (and it doesn't have any 6-month promotional strings attached such as an initial activation bonus), and you insert that SIM card into any AT&T-locked iPhone 4, the two of them will play together nicely.
And since such prepaid customers haven't signed a long-term contract with AT&T, those customers are not bound by that contract's requirements to opt into any of the otherwise mandatory iPhone data plans etc...
Sure, they'll physically work; I'm not contesting that. But AT&T will call you and sign you up for a plan. They're whores. And there's not much you can do about it.
I think this has been the plan all along. Everyone focuses on the iPhone but really the iPhone is Apple's compromised vision to get in with the carriers. The real deal will be when you buy the device unsubsidised from the Apple store and select a 3G plan (or just pay as you go) from the device (no SIM). This is another step in that direction. "Phone" will be just another app on your mobile device.
Sure, they'll physically work; I'm not contesting that. But AT&T will call you and sign you up for a plan. They're whores. And there's not much you can do about it.
But in prepaid, they don't have your signature on a piece of paper (or even the digital equivalent thereof) saying that they you have granted them the right to preemptively switch you over to a postpaid account. And as long as you remain under a prepaid account, none of the approved postpaid service plans are available. And none of the prepaid plans currently fit the bill.
The only recourse they would have, if they so chose, would be to shut off the account entirely.
Comments
And you know how and where he and everyone would use it? A lot of people would use skype and/or FaceTime at home where they can plug it in or maybe people will have easy access to a charger via their car, work computer, etc. We don't all use things as you - we are individuals.
I was talking in a context of completely substituting iPhone (voice+data) with iPod-3g(VOIP).
If a would-be 3g-iPod has a terrible battery life (like the old generations) and you are away from home, your battery ran out of juice, you can't call and can't be reached at a time when you need it most, it is not usable.
It can happen with any mobile phone (especially smartphones) of course, but they are made to last at least a day in stand-by mode. I doubt the 3g-iPod would be made like this.
Then dump your texting plan and use Google Voice and iMessage.
That's what I did. iMessage won't help with non-iOS users. Some people don't want to use Google Voice for privacy reasons. I'm more than happy to use it to save $20 per month. I hear what you're saying. But using the built in-app over AT&T would be preferable. Other apps can access it. It can MMS. It's a better interface.
PS: Google Voice is one of the worst, if not THE WORST, apps on my iPhone. It wins for freezing. WeatherBug wins for crashing.
And I was somehow implying it was?
No, you weren't. Sorry, that was just a pre-emptive strike (against an argument you did not make).
You realize that law won't ever happen, right? It's not an "all it takes" scenario, it's a "hey, you telecoms. You're all forcibly disbanded. All your higher-ups are fired. You're split into constituent companies. And now we'll create this law."
Which is just as likely to happen as the law on its own.
Why can these laws banning SIM-locks happen in some (admittedly few) countries but not the US? Sometimes believing in US exceptionalism can lead to an overly pessimistic outlook.
No, you weren't. Sorry, that was just a pre-emptive strike (against an argument you did not make).
No problem.
Why can these laws banning SIM-locks happen in some (admittedly few) countries but not the US?
Because the telecoms have the government in their pocket. And the ISPs. And the corn lobby.
Sometimes believing in US exceptionalism can lead to an overly pessimistic outlook.
When pessimism is the truth?
With an iPod touch that is as portable as an iPhone, really taking advantage of iCloud services would almost necessitate an always on data connection. In essence, you really do end up with 2 distinct iPhone models, just one is not natively voice ready without VOIP. Similar to iPad data plans being prepaid, this could be a prepaid iPhone that is data only. That would also explain the rumours of a low-cost prepaid targeted iPhone.
Doesn't matter. The carriers don't allow any plan but the iPhone's plan on an iPhone.
If you have an AT&T SIM card that has been independently activated for prepaid service (and it doesn't have any 6-month promotional strings attached such as an initial activation bonus), and you insert that SIM card into any AT&T-locked iPhone 4, the two of them will play together nicely.
And since such prepaid customers haven't signed a long-term contract with AT&T, those customers are not bound by that contract's requirements to opt into any of the otherwise mandatory iPhone data plans etc...
If you have an AT&T SIM card that has been independently activated for prepaid service (and it doesn't have any 6-month promotional strings attached such as an initial activation bonus), and you insert that SIM card into any AT&T-locked iPhone 4, the two of them will play together nicely.
And since such prepaid customers haven't signed a long-term contract with AT&T, those customers are not bound by that contract's requirements to opt into any of the otherwise mandatory iPhone data plans etc...
Sure, they'll physically work; I'm not contesting that. But AT&T will call you and sign you up for a plan. They're whores. And there's not much you can do about it.
Sure, they'll physically work; I'm not contesting that. But AT&T will call you and sign you up for a plan. They're whores. And there's not much you can do about it.
But in prepaid, they don't have your signature on a piece of paper (or even the digital equivalent thereof) saying that they you have granted them the right to preemptively switch you over to a postpaid account. And as long as you remain under a prepaid account, none of the approved postpaid service plans are available. And none of the prepaid plans currently fit the bill.
The only recourse they would have, if they so chose, would be to shut off the account entirely.