Open Letter to Apple about iPhone OS 3 and AT&T
I just read in the New York times (June 8, AT&T: Tethering and MMS Coming to the iPhone) that customers are becoming increasingly frustrated with your exclusive partnership with AT&T. I thought to myself, hey, I am growing increasingly frustrated. I should say something.
AT&T’s failure to rollout MMS and Tethering along with your other partners is inexcusable, another in a long list of slights. Their failures are tarnishing Apple’s corporate image in my mind. I see Apple as the company that “just works”. More and more, AT&T seems to be the company that “just doesn’t”. So get them on board, guys.
When AT&T does roll out tethering in the US, if they try to add an additional cost for it, there will be a revolt. Pitchforks and torches at the gates. I promise.
(PS – I’m posting this on my blog)
June 17th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Nice one. I don’t actually use the ‘phone’ function on my iphone much so I’m generally pretty stoked all the way around… but I could be convinced to be pissed… depending on the answer to this: What is tethering?
June 18th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Tethering is the ability to use the phone as a “modem” to get internet connectivity to your laptop over the 3G network. This comes in useful for, say, blogging from events where there is no WiFi available. Apple added tethering support to iPhone pending carrier approval, and AT&T did not roll it out right away. Rumor has it they are thinking of charging $70 on top of their already outrageous data plan to enable tethering.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Samuel, why shouldn’t a company be able to charge a fee for an additional service they provide? I think it’s a case of supply and demand. If we all stick together and boycott services or refuse to pay, then maybe there will be a change. However, what I see as more likely is that people are willing to pay gobs of money for the latest greatest technology. And those of us who balk end up looking like dinosaurs and are left out in the cold.
I think it’s a conspiracy between all the technology/media companies anyway. It’s the way of the world these days. You grease my palm and I’ll grease yours.