If you can’ beat ‘em, sue ‘em, right? That’s the general motto of the U.S. these days. Though in fairness, sometimes it is warranted. In the scope of the cellular world, something needs to be done across varying fronts as consumers often get the shaft. But justice does prevail from time to time as it did in the case — a pre-trial settlement that has AT&T giving customers something that they actually want. Unlock codes…
The settlement entitles each and every AT&T user (pre and post-paid customers) to receive if they so choose, an unlock code from AT&T providing they meet a few criteria. There’s a few strings of course. First, pre-paid customers provide proof of purchase of their locked handset while post-paid customers will be required to “have their accounts in good standing” and fulfilled at least 90 days of service. Doesn’t sound too hard does it?
And then there’s the biggest catch — iPhones are excluded…
Sweet Jesus, I am honestly sad. The length of AT&T iPhone exclusivity has been an on again/off again topic since it’s debut in 2007. But after some deep digging by Engadget, we now know the truth — AT&T as a solid 5-year exclusive period (Gasps!) Yes, if you want a shiny iPhone, you’ll have to deal with AT&T for another two years…
When you hear the words government, politcs, and technology, you often come to the conclusion that the tech related topics are going to take a backseat to more trivial things…as in reality the actually often do. However, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) are on a quest for “the little guy” (us techies). The good fight worth fighting – carrier and manufacturer exclusivity deals. The most recent examples of this sales strategy being iPhone/AT&T and Palm Pre/Sprint. The senators mentioned are pushing the FCC to investigate these alliances to determine just how much they undermine consumer choice. Finally! While I can understand from a business and money making perspective the benefits that exclusive devices and deals bring, they are not good for the consumer under any circumstances. The carriers and manufacturers can declare from the highest mountain how awesome their alliance is. However, just remember that no matter how awesome a carrier or manufacture claims their network/device is, they aren’t omnipresent and their device is not from the hand of god. There is always a worthy second choice. But when their are exclusive deals going on, that choice and consumer choice gets shot to you know where. Are you happy that someone in politics is finally stepping up to seriously contend this issue? I know I am.
Source: 9 to 5 Mac, Ars Technica
While Sprint probably hoped that the Pre was its saving grace in regards to stopping the bleeding of customers by bringing a new, exciting, and exclusive device to the once great carrier, it appears as one particular part of that equation, the ever important “exclusive” part, is simply a short stay. Matters took a turn for the worse when an AT&T sourced document leaked comparing a Palm Pre to an iPhone in more friendly, what-device-are-you form. Further stomping on Sprint’s face is now courtesy of Verizon as Lowell McAdam, the top executive for the venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone announced that Verizon too would be carrying the Palm-ified Jesus phone in as little as 6 months. I hope Sprint has some radical plan shuffling going on or at least a few sweet deals because I know a lot of people who would be more than happy to wait 6 months to get the Pre if it meant not having to deal with Sprint. Should we start picking a grave plot?
Update…According to a Sprint spokesmen (BG):
We have the Pre through 2009.
Do they really, or is it just a PR move to keep shares from tanking and to force anyone on any other carrier that was going to stay put for the Pre to come to them having to now do the moving themselves? The plot thickens.
Source: Engadget, Image Source
