IronWil Blog » AT&T

Are we getting 700MHz screwed?

Iron Wil — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:15:19 +0000

Two recent articles on Ars Technica, Small wireless carriers: always stuck with crappy phones? and No iPhone for Alaska? Rural cell phone group asks FCC to act, highlight the problems that are facing the spreading of powerful hand-held devices like the iPhone, Android handsets, and other Smartphones. Before I have talked about my excitement to see Smartphones capable of moving between carriers, like in Europe, and the power that would give the consumer. I have highlighted the openness that Google pushed for with the 700MHz bandwidth sale. The question comes down to whether we will actually see it happen or not.

The small wireless carriers are prohibited from getting the better devices because the mobile providers lock the manufacturer into contracts that prevent them from selling to everyone. Verizon and AT&T said that they would open their services so that customers would be able to bring the device they wanted to their network or move to another. However, we are still locked into contracts and carriers because of incompatible hardware and exclusivity contracts.

Despite the promises, we currently don’t see a change on the horizon.

In the other article the small or rural carriers ask the FCC to intervene and disrupt the exclusivity contracts. These issues affect all those that want to take their iPhone to Verizon or another carrier. This has a larger implementation that just the little guys that want to bring the latest bling to their networks.

The next change in hardware and services should, I hope, see the creation of a 700MHz chipset that will allow the owner of the hardware to migrate to the best provider for the area they live in. I believe, eventually, that the carriers will become like the internet providers today and who you have won’t matter as much as the quality of service and the device you have.

Who wouldn’t like to have the iPhone in Alaska or Vermont?

iron wil

Where can Nexus One Go?!?

Iron Wil — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:59:34 +0000

I was listening to MacBreak Weekly #174 and I listened to them discuss the Nexus One, Google, where the phone can be used, and Verizon’s closed network.

As I thought about it, I remembered that Verizon & AT&T both said they would open up their networks by the end of 2008. Well, it is the beginning of 2010 and Verizon & AT&T, from what I know, are still clam-shelled. They are not allowing users [us] to bring the device that we want to their service.

I am disappointed in this, very disappointed.

I believe that one day the mobile providers will have to open up because hardware manufactures & users will stick it to them and they will change. The beginning of the end for their selecting of hardware we can use was started when Apple released the iPhone. Since then, Google has released the Android software package and now the Nexus One phone. Other hardware manufactures are jumping in and building handsets and devices that access mobile providers networks.

Times are changing. The hardware manufactures are tightening the thumb screws and things will change for users and the carriers that provide our services. I have to say that my prediction for 3 to 5 years is looking dismal; however, I am hopeful that it will happen. That soon handsets and NetBooks will be open to provider transfer. I know there are people that would like to take their iPhone to Verizon or T-Mobile and have the ability to move around per their need.

Time will tell, I am hopeful that it will happen soon.

iron wil

New TWiT NetCasts – 2009.12.21

Iron Wil — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:20:16 +0000

TWiT 225: Schmidt Happens

Hosts: Leo Laporte, John C. Dvorak, Jason Calacanis, Brian Brushwood, Robert Heron, and Jason Howell

The Google phone spotted in the wild, Facebook’s privacy blunder, and a visit with Leo’s mom…

IronWil Blog » AT&T

Are we getting 700MHz screwed?

Where can Nexus One Go?!?

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