Unlocked GSM iPhones Show Why T-Mobile Sale to AT&T Should Not Go Through

Despite ATT saying that T-Mobile is good for competition, I just don't see it.  I'm not sure AT&T even tries to justify or explain that statement.  But if there is one example right now that shows we should be against this merger is the unlocked iPhone.
 
If you go out there and buy the unlocked iPhone, you can use it only with AT&T.  With a bit of an effort, you can get it work with T-Mobile by trimming your SIM card into a microsim card. 
 
However, you cannot enjoy the HPSA+ network that T-Mobile is calling 4G which theoretically is faster than AT&T"s on "4G" network.  While ATT is at 7.2Mbps, T-Mobile is moving towards 42Mbps.  Having said that, if you manage to get it working with T-Mobile, you are stuck on EDGE because of the difference in frequencies on which the two HSPA networks run on.
 
Now, here's the part you're waiting for.  Even if you decided against signing up for a two-year commitment with AT&T and get the unlocked iPhone 4 from Apple, ATT does not offer a lower and comparable voice and data plan.  AT&T reminds us that their high rates are because of the subsidies they pay Apple so that post-paid users won't have to pay for the $650 or $750 upfront for the 16 GB or 32 GB respectively.
 
By that reasoning, shouldn't AT&T offer a plan that costs less because an unlocked iPhone paid for it in full? 
 
The answer is no.  Which really puts the high costs AT&T charges users unnecessarily higher.  And that's okay.  That's just business. 
 
With an independent T-Mobile as it is now, a future iPhone that supports its HSPA+ network puts it in direct competition with AT&T.  And traditionally, T-Mobile offers better rates than either AT&T or Verizon.  In fact, T-Mobile does have better pre-paid deals than AT&T. 
 
A lot of us think that Apple is about to release an iPhone for T-Mobile this year.  I think once that happens, we'll see a lot of defections from AT&T to T-Mobile.  And you know what?  When that happens, I can't see how AT&T can explain why eliminating T-Mobile is a good deal for the average mobile warrior. 
 
What going to be the kicker is that if the number of iPhone users defecting from AT&T to T-Mobile is such a huge number that AT&T's immediate bottom-line is affected and is forced to provide better deals to stem the loss of subscribers, it will really put a galactic size hole in AT&T's arguments, whatever they are, that the merger is good for competition.

Jailbreaking Has Been Important To Android and Even More so For iPhone

Android isn't open.  Let's put that issue to bed.  What is awesome about Android is that programmers have access to the various builds that allow the community to build on top of it or, in some instances, stripping away skins that are for the most part, unwanted and give users something to rail about on their blogs or in forums. 

 

Once stripped, the native OS became more useful, faster, and took up smaller amounts of foot print.  Take my G1, it's running a customized Android 2.2.  This is a device that was left for dead by Google and T-Mobile.  This is the maiden device that introduced the world to all that is cool and great about Android.

 

And take HTC Desire which HTC on Monday said it was abandoning.  I wager my year's salary that through the community of Android programmers, the Desire will be a couple more Android updates long after HTC has moved on. 

 

And jailbreaking or rooting isn't just Android.  iPhone unlocking and jailbreaking is fast becoming an American geek past-time and, for a while, turned into a must-see cat-and-mouse game between Apple and a few determined hackers that are determined to pry open the walled garden.

 

And though Apple would never admit it, I think more than a few at Apple are happy that the home team lost.  This is especially evident in the iOS 5 where a couple of keep features like notifications came through as a JB feature. 

 

And then take WhiteD00r. Those are zeros, no "o".  After Apple has abandoned the iPhone 2G and iPhone 3G, this group of hardworking folks has found a way to give these older but still awesome iPhones new life – multitasking and folders quickly comes to mind but with also many missing features enjoyed by only by the latest and greatest, the iPhone 4.

 

If I'm Apple, I would hire this group of programmers in a heart beat. 

 

So as much as the carriers and device makers want to pretend these under-the-radar don't exist, they cannot ignore the impact that they have had on their mobile platforms.  And, I cannot wait until Honeycomb and iOS 5 gets their turn.

Apple's New Wi-Fi Routers Coming, Possibly With More Power And Functions Than Before

Wi-Fi routers are nothing we typical give a second thought about.  We get it up and working and pretty much forget about it.  Some people don't even change the admin password.  In the current models, Apple even stick in a hard drive for backup and file storage.  Now, Apple could be giving them the same insides as a typical iPhone or iPad.  

What would this kind of power be used for?  One possibility is iCloud.  It isn't a bit of a stretch here.  iCloud is the link that Apple hopes will propel us from beyond the desktop or laptop and relegate the PC to just another accessory from which we are linked to the iCloud.  And new powerful routers like the ones that Apple is working will enable that vision.

On a smaller scale, I would like to see these routers work as Apple TV as well.  It would go a long way in help iOS enter the living.  Imagine having a router, media streaming device, and a home cloud storage system all in one neat little box.  

And with my iOS devices, I would be able to access all that information remotely from iCloud wherever I am.

Source:  Appleinsider.

Here We Go Again: Retina-Like Display For the Next iPad - Not!

Months ago, there was rumors that Apple could be looking to release iPad 3 later this fall.  That was even before the iPad 2 was even out.  Various factors were in play that contributed to that rumor.  After Steve Jobs called 2011 the year of the iPad 2, those rumors, which were burning like wild fire, was quickly doused.  Now, it's back.

Hidden within iOS 5 was indication that the next iPad will have 2048x1536 resolution, essentially four times the resolution of the current iPad and the one before that.  Really?!  

Look, I want this to be true as much as the next Apple fan but has it occurred to anyone that if it's in there, it could simply be Apple preparing for the future?  After all, Retina display for the iPhone 4 and future iPhones.  Retina display for the iPod touch and future touches.  So it is simply a matter of connecting the dots that Apple will also be increasing the resolution of the iPad.

But will it be for iPad 3?  Or perhaps iPad 4?  Maybe, not until iPad 6?  

Apple is known for preparing for the future.  According to the initial report, this resolutions was indicated in one part of iOS 5.  Twitter framework.  And so far, it has not been found anywhere else in the upcoming iOS upgrade.  What does this mean?

It likely means that the 2048x1536 display information should not have been there but it was left behind or inserted by accident.  And what it also means is that we simply saw evidence of Apple's foresight, to prepare for the future when they will upgrade the iPad screen with higher resolutions.  

Maybe I'm being overtly cautious about this new development.  And this is now a fact, not a rumor.  And there is definitely a large part of me that want to make the leap Techunwrapped, the site that first reported this Twitter frame where where large images were found, took - that the iPad 3 release will coincide with the iOS 5 release.  So how did they made this connection when only one small part, albeit a new and important one, of iOS 5 has information regarding a potential display with four times the resolution?

I don't know.  I believe Steve Jobs when he said iPad 2 will be the only tablet released by Apple this year.  Apple can barely keep up with demand as it is.  Why made matters worse with an even better iPad?  And like I said at the top, anything found in the iOS 5 could be just about Apple preparing for the future.  A future that doesn't mean next year but the year after that or further.  

Still, this is confirmation that at some point, we will have an iPad with a 2048x1536 resolution.  So, anyone care to speculate on the kind of hardware that'll be needed to power this awesome display?

More at Macrumors, Techunwrapped.

Did Apple Lose To Nokia On Purpose So More Lawsuits Can Be Launched Against Android Foes?

When the International Trace Commission rules that you haven't violated someone's patents, that's usually a good step forward.  That is the case with the patent spat between Apple and Nokia - the preliminary ruling was in Apple's favor.  So why did Apple settle with Nokia and possibly paid them hundreds of millions and also future royalty payments?

Could Apple have simply "threw the game" so to speak to open the door for Nokia to go after the Android makers, an indirect shot at Google?  You know that "the enemy of my enemy" thing.  

We'll see in the coming months just how Nokia takes this victory.

Source:  Gigaom.

T-Mobile Should Take Advantage Of Opportunity Unlocked iPhones Present

Should the deal between T-Mobile not go through, it would need to be in a position to once again find a way to find to get back all those customers that they've lost.

Unlocked iPhones might be the ticket here. A great number of unlocked iPhone users remained with T-Mobile through the years because of the customer service and the fact that AT&T was unreliable.

T-Mobile should give anyone who uses an unlocked iPhone 4 on its network credit that will go towards a contract.

For three reasons. One, there users are going out there to buy their own devices, unsubsidized. Second, these iPhones will not run on T-Mobile's 3G network. And lastly, it'll help stem losses.

In fact, T-Mobile should offer an EDGE only data plan for anyone who uses an unlocked iPhone with a voice plan.

These are subscribers any way you put it. And right now, T-Mobile needs them more than ever, merger with AT&T not withstanding.

Note: I stream Netflix on my iPhone over T-Mobile's EDGE now and for a hiccup here and there, it works great for the most part.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

And so it has begun. Apple started selling unlocked GSM iPhones in both black and white and in both 16 and 32 GB configurations. Regardless of the color, the 16 GB and 32 GB models are going for $650 and $750 respectively.










Everyone is asking why...just because they can now? After all, we are so close to Apple releasing their next iPhone update.

Here's my theory Right about now is when Apple usually introduces new iPhones. So perhaps their contract with AT&T is up. That's the reason.

Apple's multi-year deal with AT&T was probably more complicated than just giving Ma Bell the right to BR the exclusive iPhone carrier until Verizon started selling the CDMA version earlier this year.

Once June rolled around, it freed Apple to start selling unlocked iPhones in the US. Now, we have to see what happens when the new iPhones are on the market. Will Apple continue to offer the new updated iPhone unlocked or is there a deal in place with AT&T to lock them down for a period of time?

By the way, it appears that Apple is only selling this through their online store so far and maybe even through the Apple stores but not through other retail outlets. So I think the chances of AT&T offering a lower mobile plan for unsubsidized unlocked iPhone users isn't likely to happen. Figures.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch