What is Digg?467 Comments
- stealthboy, on 10/12/2007, -26/+445I'm the target demographic for the iPhone. I'm a Mac user already, I have some money to buy an iPhone, I am an iPod user, I'm ready to get rid of my current cell phone. Seems simple, right? Well, I won't be buying one, and to me this is the number one and only real failing of the iPhone: Cingular. I simply cannot use the Cingular network because here in D.C. they have the worst coverage of all carriers. I am really, really upset the iPhone is not a more open device so I can choose the carrier. I mean, seriously Apple: I *want* to give you $600! Why did you do this exclusive deal with Cingular?!??!
- bitterg, on 10/12/2007, -21/+204I agree. Cingular is not an option for me, because of coverage. The lack of 3G is a little surprising too, especially when Apple's now rolling out 802.11n support. I wish they were that agressive with the iPhone.
But I bet in 6 months, you'll be able to get this at T-Mobile, and 3G is just a matter of time. - bowiestyle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+126@bitterg
sorry it won't be at t-mobile until at least 2009. Cingular is the exclusive carrier until 2009. - Barr08, on 10/12/2007, -17/+118It won't be apple's killer app because it isn't an app.
- privateice, on 10/12/2007, -6/+102Wow, i WROTE this article and if this headline is what you got out of the article, you need to take some reading comprehension classes!
- superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -11/+105Apple went with GSM because it's more of an international standard.
Apple went with Cingular because they were the most willing to let Apple build whatever cellphone they liked.
Apple with with Edge because it has the best reach of any even moderately fast data network at the moment - even in the keynote Jobs said 3G support was planned for later. So if 3G is important enough for you, wait for your current plan to run out and by then perhaps the 3G iPhone will be on the way, when the reach of 3G expands.
I plan to buy one as soon as I can, because I think it it almost more of a PDA than anything - and most of the time I'd think about using it I'm near a WiFi connection anyway, it'll be nice if it works outside such zones but not essential.
I still am thinking there has got to be some way you can load your own widgets on the device, reports to the contrary notwithstanding... that would not exactly count as software. - drlha, on 10/12/2007, -9/+93I guarantee that if the iPhone wasn't being sold with a 2 year Cingular contract it would cost more that $499/$599. Yes, lack of choice sucks, but at the end of the day the business model for selling mobiles is to have carriers sell them to you subsidized. The fact is also that to get some of the features that Apple wants for the iPhone, they've had to get carriers to change how things work (e.g. like the visual voicemail, which I can't believe hasn't be implemented by carriers before, its such an obvious idea). My guess is that Cingular agreed to make their network changes to support the iPhone, based on a deal that gave them exclusivity.
- alarchy, on 10/12/2007, -19/+101The thing that kills it for me is the price tag compared to it's storage capacity and features. Cingular? Ick. 2G? Ick.
How do you justify spending 600 dollars on a phone/mini-tablet PC/limited capacity iPOD? 400 bucks I could palate, but 600 bucks is a lot of lap dances... - Applemacmad, on 10/12/2007, -9/+88What we really need, is an iPhone Nano
- cl0r0x70, on 10/12/2007, -2/+48The reason why I had to switch FROM Verizon TO Cingular a couple of years ago was easy: Verizon's phones suck.
Verizon, and to a slightly lesser degree Sprint, DON'T WANT phones on their network with advanced features because it cuts into their revenue streams for downloadable music, ringtones, desktops, etc. They want to charge you x cents to send a picture to yourself instead of simply being able to bluetooth it over to your machine.
Furthermore, they are tied to CDMA standard, where GSM is a more globally compatible standard. Again, they don't want you to be able to just take a SIM card from one phone and plug it into another.
Verizon's restrictions on their phones are horrible, despite the fact that their signal is much stronger across most of the country, and their hi speed network is truly 5x faster than Cingular's EDGE. - Red_Eye, on 10/12/2007, -9/+47While a lot of folks complain about Cingular they do have 58 Million customers.
- chicagobiker, on 10/12/2007, -8/+38I can't believe people are so wowed by the visual voicemail feature and how it seems so innovative and how another commenter said Cingular will have to re-work their network to make it work.
WE'RE ALL BRAINWASHED INTO THINKING THE CRAP THESE CELL CARRIES GIVE US IS GREAT!
Visual voicemail can work now on any carrier, requires no changes and could have been offered as far back as CallerID was offered.
It isn't offered because with visual voicemail YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO EVERY MESSAGE AND EAT UP YOUR MINUTES which you're being nickled and dimed for.
The purpose of not letting you preview your voicemail was to make you eat up minutes. Now, you may have 7 minutes of messages waiting, but you can see 2 of them you don't even want to listen to so you just delete them. The carrier looses money with this new system. - williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -15/+443G gives you shorter battery life and higher cost. I loooove shorter battery life, and I'm willing to pay to get it!
Seriously, 3G is a technology wet fart. What the telecom people didn't realize is that the mobile network is for making phone calls, and 3G does not make phone calls better.
The public - and stock market - reaction to the iPhone shows that telecom people have been fooling themselves, making technologies, and spending tens of billions on them, for reasons customers don't care about.
Apple is ignoring the mobile network for the purposes of selling music. The iPhone is a device that lets you buy music on the go. But not on the mobile network. The browser is great, but it's better, and a HELL of a lot cheaper to use when not on the mobile network.
It is easy to see what's next: iChat. Video calls. NOT on the mobile network though.
Eventually, the mobile network will be just a backstop for places where you can't access the Internet via WiFi.
Here is another prediction: A WiMax iPhone, with iChat as the communications interface. - monkeybutler, on 10/12/2007, -6/+35It is a bit scary how many people are going to switch to Cingular just for this. Apple has always been a company that earned its customers trust and loyalty, but they partnered with a company that has earned a reputation of being unreliable jerks. Just because Apple is great doesnt mean Cingular will match them. Cingular still has problems so making the iPhone a Cingular exclusive really was a bad choice.
Also, from reading alot of posts by people planning to switch, its amazing how few people realize they won't get all the features unless they sign up for their EDGE service (which is expensive, outdated and slow). Good luck. - cglive99, on 10/12/2007, -5/+33@BassCadet
Cingular does have 3G. Have a 3G phone in my pocket.
I have Cingular and never have a problem with them. I'm sure that just depends on the area you live. Around here, people have more problems with Sprint. Also look at it this way. With Apple bring this really high end phone into the market it'll make the other companies step it up with their new phones. You know someone will make something almost identical to the iPhone just like with the iPod. - Petronski, on 10/12/2007, -7/+32The price point is too high (much like the original Mac, it's probably been inflated needlessly), and Cingular is a deal breaker for some (who have a negative experience or just crappy coverage), and there should be a flash slot for upgrading.
Use this interface with a hard drive and the cellular service optional and you will not be able to manufacture them fast enough. - theblackgecko, on 10/12/2007, -7/+31I'll one up your worst coverage of any carrier.
Cingular has zero coverage in my state (Montana).
Now, I know I live in a state which has more cows than people. But, there's plenty of cell phone towers around. It's just that Cingular can't be bothered to sign proper agreements to use them. There was a time (not that long ago) when Cingular had no coverage in the entire Mountain time zone. - Casedot, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24yeah with a SIM card I can switch between phones no problem and my number and contacts follow me. With Verizon you have to go through a huge hassle to use a different phone. Apple was smart to go with Cingular at first. People were going to complain about whatever carrier they went with, so they went with the carrier that has the most subscribers. Makes sense to me. Also, a quad-band GSM phone can be used internationally. I think that is their main reason for using Cingular. It will be easy for them to release the phone in Europe and Asia, not to mention they can do it soon rather than having to wait for it to support the network.
The U.S. is a great country but some people need to get over themselves realize that there is a huge market overseas too. Apple is in it to make money, not cater to just their zealous nerdy fanboys. - jtjenn, on 10/12/2007, -5/+24The price, Cingular and the 2 year contract sucked the excitement out of me, although the phone is nice, but it's not worth it.
- FearlessFreep, on 10/12/2007, -14/+31*shrug* I bought my cellphone from Cingular in Silver Springs, Maryland and only ever had coverage problems in a couple of hilly arease
- wokavan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Uhm, there's a notes widget viewable on almost every picture of the iPhone. It's a widget like everything else.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -13/+30@stealthboy:
I'm right there with you. I had Cingular service before, and it ***** sucked. Worst carrier ever, rated dead last in customer service of any US cellphone carrier last year for a reason.
I'll wait for an unlock and put this bad boy on Tmobile where it belongs. - zweben, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Seriously. The entire article is basically taking complaints and explaining (for most of them) why they AREN'T things to be worried about yet.
Either the poster read only the first sentence of each paragraph, or he's a troll. - solidus23, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Regarding the lack of 3G support..
I work at Motorola on the 3GSM team, so I know that 3G hardware is very expensive. To add 3G support to a device like this would likely tack on at least another $100 retail. Since 3G coverage in the US is effectively non-existent, it doesn't make sense to add it if it's going to jack up the price, but will be useless for 90% of users. - drthipp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17can someone tell me precisely what's so bad about cingular? whatever it is, is it that much worse than the problems other networks have? would there have been a similar outcry if t-moblie or us cellular or whoever was announced instead? are people upset because the iphone doesn't work on every network?
it seems to me that apple had to lock down a single carrier early in the process in order to 1) have total control over design 2) keep leaks to a minimum. - ddcrandall, on 10/12/2007, -4/+18i agree. jesus christ. the original poster needs to rtfa, not just the bold print in it.
- totorototoro, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Cannibalize the iPod? It IS an iPod.
edit: Damn you Frozo and your quicker typing skillz! - caldroun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13There is a big icon on the front of the screen that says "Notes".
However I agree...I would love to get this sans the Phone part with an 80g drive....yumm. - radiofrequency, on 10/12/2007, -0/+123 certainties for future iPhone's:
1- it will be possible to purchase an unlocked version, or one utilizing different carriers
2- it will have 3G
3- it will have more storage, better battery life and more functions at a lower pricepoint
But you gotta admit, even in its initial offering the iPhone is pretty sweet. - ThePikey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I'm waiting for the the iPhone Shuffle. It's much smaller, has a couple buttons and calls people randomly from your contact list.
- spadin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12I believe they plainly stated it will not be available on any other network. Hence the term "exclusive contract."
- drjones78, on 10/12/2007, -10/+21I cant beleive people are still complaining about the storages space/price issue.
Have any of you priced out a current phone with 8gigs of storage? Not cheap, and more expensive than the iPhone (granted unlocked). Your going to pay betweek $800 and $900 for the Nokia n91 harddrive phone with 8 gigs of memory (harddrive, not flash and no sd slot). And you'll have to deal with the obtuse, clunky, nightmarish symbian interface.
Even if the hardware is lacking in the 3g department, the interface on this phone looks like it may finally make the damn things usable. That was the biggest accomplishment, because not one phone manufacturer or carrier has gotten it right. There is are tiny usability improvements here and there, but nothing that will turn phones into internet devices for the masses. Not like this. Getting 3g is as easy as adding a chip and drivers. Apple will catch up. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14this will not cannibalize the ipod for two main reasons.
1) it starts out at $500, roughly twice as much as the Nano
2) it requires a 2 year contract commitment (to the tune of $50+/month) to a whole different company/service that many people aren't willing to switch to as opposed to just buying an ipod and paying for music as you go
If anyone is silly enough to actually replace their dedicated mp3 player with this phone, they will more than likely regret it. - Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9"Where does it say its a smaller simpler version of OSX ?"
It says that on my Macbook where the system folder is 1.8Gb - rcran, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9They do have months to add anything and everything to it. Also, once it is released, it is not forever stuck in that state. This device will evolve and expand. Just you watch.
Plus there already is a notes widget... - kikkomang, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9it's kinda funny that you said "your stupid".
- clintology, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11Cripes. Mrbabyman really screwed the pooch on this one.
- jgreene777, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11it's not really the phones that aren't "open enough" it's the phone companies. There is no standard protocol so each service offers its own. Then you end up with the country that has the most disposable income in the world with one of the worst phone systems in the world. North Koreans (in NK, natch) have more and better phone options than the US.
- FUElitists, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13How do you know he had more than 8gb? He had video clips, not the full movies. Your just stupid.
- 022A, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_app
It's a useful term that has been around a long time.
I'm all for making fun of dorky ***** but you picked a bad target here. - oneiroi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Everyone I know who uses data, uses cingular.
Everyone hates a carrier, it usually is different with each person. No one would be happy, but cingular was willing to work with apple. - washingtonydc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9um, I do just fine with cingular here in dc. we just can't use it in the metro because of wmata's ridiculous contract with verizon.
I'd much rather stick with a GSM network, so that leaves pretty much just cingular or t-mobile. - merr, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13Well, considering that Cingular has to make some big changes to their network to support the Visual Voicemail feature, it doesn't really surprise me that there aren't more carriers on-board with the iPhone. Maybe Cingular was the only carrier willing to support it.
- Lou3000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I agree with a lot of these points. I just bought a Blackjack. In light of this here is what the iPhone needs to do for me.
- 3G: This is number 1, I still can't believe that Apple announced a phone that really won't be in a lot of consumers hands until 2008 and it will already be outdate by then. However, I use 3G mainly for browsing and streaming audio/video. Maybe this was a tactical decision since they don't want you using it to listen to Cingular's XM service, instead it should be used as an iPod.
- Standard Cell Phone Issues: It has to be a decent cell phone above all else. It will be cool, but it will also be my primary phone. Call quality, battery life, screen scratching, OS speed, etc. these have to be good to great for $600.
- 3rd Party Software: If this is truly OS X on a phone, it should be easy to develop for. Also, it just looks like it is made to have extra icons on that screen, otherwise Apple would have changed the icon size and fit them to the screen. Even Apple has more widgets than that.
Remember, anything is better than Windows Mobile Smartphone. This will be a better "smartphone" but it isn't going to be a PDA/Palm/Treo killer unless they have an office suite or at LEAST an document viewer like the Blackjack. - lukeamotion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6As I said before:
"My HATE for Cingular overpowers my LOVE for Apple. Sorry Apple won't be buying an iPhone until it's available elsewhere." - matthewhemby, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9You realize, of course, that if they were shipping the iPhone as an open platform you wouldn't be "giving Apple $600", right? You'd most likely be giving them something more like $900 to $1000, if current discount rates on comparable phones apply.
The iPhone is $600 *with a contract*. The technology itself costs a significant margin above that list price. Apple had to partner to bring the price down to a market acceptable level without compromising on the quality of the tech in the phone, which we all know is lightyears beyond any of the smart phones on the market.
Does Cingular suck? Absolutely. I loathe them as much as the next guy. But don't kid yourself -- the iPhone will be cracked to carrier independence approximately 10 minutes after it hits the street, just like any other handset. The question then is if you're going to still be so vehement about "giving Apple your money" when buying it without a contract runs you close to a grand.
Also consider that in this scenario you'll be loosing all of the carrier-specific features like visual voicemail, EDGE support, and everything else. :) - hordak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7> can someone tell me precisely what's so bad about cingular?
For me, it's not quite so bad, but what it's not as good as. Here's why I prefer T-Mobile over Cingular:
* Great customer service. I can get someone on the line REALLY quick.
* Unlimited internet for $6.99. When I was with Cingular, I had to pay $5.99 for just 1MB.
* Better signal. T-Mobile is in most places that Cingular is, and I've gotten better signal (same phone!) When I went to Mexico, I was able to get voice and data signals -- other people around me (Cingular and Verizon) could not.
* 1yr contracts.
* 3000 minutes a month for $50 (that's including the internet access.)
I was hesitant at first to make the switch, but I can tell you now that as long as T-Mobile offers all of this, I have no reason to leave T-Mobile.
Hordak - underthewether, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5the author is an idiot
- "Cingular bought AT&T Wireless because AT&T had such awful customer service that business was crappy. When Cingular actually did well, AT&T bought Cingular back."
AT&T Wireless was a separate entity from AT&T. Cingular was originally a joint venture between AT&T and Bell South. Then Cingular bought AT&T Wireless and AT&T merged with SBC. The new AT&T (AT&T + SBC) then bought Bell South to allow total control over Cingular. - spiderland, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9That's Tricorder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricorder - kesin, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Lets face it all Us Wireless providers are bad. Its up to your personal choices to get you the best of the worst. Ive been through Tmobile, Cingular, Verizon, Sprint, back to Verizon and I just gave up and stuck with them. But I will be getting an Iphone and switching to cingular. Its not like anyone had any cool phones to pick from...now cingular does. And you could make this argument about the Ipod yet it still sells.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 469 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is