Comments on: AT&T won’t offer Android-powered handsets any time soon

By: likeabite

likeabite — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:39:31 +0000

IHateU…now what the hell does what you just said have to do with AT&T not offering Android…matter of fact what the hell does Microsoft or Steve Balmer have to do with it?!?

By: Truman

Truman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:45:20 +0000

Um, Tmobile is fuckin HUGE. Expand the scope of your awareness from being US-centric.

Apple and android are too similar to sell at the same place, and why would ATT or apple want to risk giving people a cheaper, open source phone?

Apple’s shit is buggy when it first comes out too. So its not that their waiting for Tmo to fix it. They all make their first run more like beta testing.

Anyway, why would google particularly care? Their code is available – works on anything compatible… HTC probably cares more.

By: IHateIt

IHateIt — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:37:49 +0000

If you thing Apple or AT&T is restrictive, try doing anything with a VZW stripped phone. No WiFi and full of VZW branding. They only allow one network, one music store, one map, please be fair in your assessments.

The G1 is not restrictive. Simple Gmail or Google account and all is easy. Probably the most open device there is. Probably Why MS Steve Ballmer is now dissing it.

In 2006 Ballmer said that RIM would never beat Windows Mobile and he said in 2007 that Apple had no chance of any market share. We can all see how that turned out! Android will eventually kick Windows Mobile butt.

By: Maciek

Maciek — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:33:53 +0000

You may not pay for the incoming calls but you sure as hell pay twice as much or more when you call a mobile phone from land line. And on top of that shall we compare the plans with the ones in the US???? I think not.
I’m originally from Poland. In the US I have 1000 min with free night and weekends for $39.00. In Poland I’d have to pay about $250 to get the equivalent amount of minutes. I won’t mention the text allowance… $15.00 for an unlimited and no different charges whether you text Verizon, at&t, Sprint or any other network. In Europe in general most on most plans you pay a different price depending on the network you’re calling. Plus as a last note – it the US it doesn’t matter whether you’re calling a mobile phone or a land line – always the same cost. What I’m jealous of though is the 1 second increments Europe has for the time calculation where here we go in 1 Minute increments.

By: Maciek

Maciek — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:26:13 +0000

Ok…so you say the Android is too Google centric. What about iPhone??? I don’t see any at&t specific apps on it…it’s all about Apple. And on top of that it’s locked up beyond imagination and at&t has nothing to say about it.
Let’s take another example…Blackberry – all tied to RIM’s email. Sure..other POP/Imap services work but it’s RIM’s service first and then everyone else. Al least with the Android you really are free to do anything you want to. Also at&t with all its wealth is plain stupid for not developing an at&t flavor of Android…they could easily remove Google apps requirement and substitute it with their own. That’s the beauty of an open os but they’re freaking out that the subscribers will be removing those blocks and make the device their own. At&t is simply shitting their pants at the idea that they would give the user control over the device they own.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:20:44 +0000

@Dtest54 “And the point about it is too google centric is correct, thats been the biggest complaint with the G1 (that and the lack of headphone jack).”

I had the G1 for 8 days and played with it for many hours. I have read many forums. Being too google-centric is NOT an issue. Where are you getting this idea?

I signed in to my gmail account one time and then I texted, browsed the internet, and played with games and applications. What’s that got to do with google?

By: Közjegyző

Közjegyző — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:10:57 +0000

Haha this comment from AT&T is just the other way around I think. Android is too open for them, and I have to agree with the other above that AT&T is afraid that all those services provided by them for money would simply not be used because Android handsets have or will have applications that are freely doing the same or even more. It’s plain to see why AT&T is in bed with Apple the control freak, because they can just kill those apps that are not to their liking, or pose competition.
The problem here is that the US costumers have little choice when it comes to handsets. They have to buy what’s available, and that’s usually something branded by one of the carriers. In Europe the carriers have maybe 1-2 of their devices branded, but the rest are just normal devices locked to their network, with the original manufacturers brand. All devices can be bought locked and unlocked from any carrier (it’s the law).
So what they do is compete with prices and packages, because the exclusivity of the devices are not available to them. This is how it should be on your side of the pond too. Oh yeah and we don’t pay for incoming calls, that’s outrageous in its self…

By: LOL

LOL — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:08:26 +0000

I love how people still think the G1 competes with the iPhone.

Please.

By: Sean76

Sean76 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:10:15 +0000

Let Tmobile keep the G1. Like someone said earlier, there desperate, and need some spunk right now. To me, the G1 is a sidekick for adults.at&t is fine with what they got, the iphone for all the apple fans out there, and Blackberry for all the corporate heads.No need to throw something else into the mix, especially with it being so raw and new.

By: Superguy

Superguy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:46:21 +0000

The irony is so thick you can cut it with a knife.

Android isn’t open enough yet AT&T’s in bed with one of the most restrictive vendors for any of its products: Apple. It doesn’t seem to have an issue with Apple locking down and restricting apps … why should it with Google?

I agree that Android’s pretty immature and I wouldn’t touch it as it’s new and very few apps out there for it. However, I think Google would be more open than Apple would be.

By: Me

Me — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:33:06 +0000

Apple-T&T is complaining about openness…Ha!

By: Jdslim

Jdslim — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:21:29 +0000

@ Maikel

You are complaining about android being google-centric. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s made by google look at any microsoft product they are all MS-centric and how does one activate an Iphone yeah itunes. If the Iphone couldn’t use itunes or be able to sync with a Mac it wouldn’t be called an Iphone. Once Android gets more establish with it being an open it will be able to work with multipal other platforms.

By: TRV$

TRV$ — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:15:11 +0000

Yes, it is all about the money with att. It has to be, it’s a BUSINESS. Don’t pull that propaganda about customer service, every company has underpaid and overstressed monkeys answering the phones. I’ve had great care reps and bad. Just like anyone else on any carrier.

att is smart because they can let Tmo goof with Google and work the bugs out of the OS before they buy into it. If att is going to get into bed with Goooooooogle, then of course att needs to make money on it with their data-centric apps(att navigator, yellowpages.com, etc…) so they can make some residual profit beyond the initial sale of the device.

Also, with apple and RIM surging on att, there’s no rush for att to divest money into a new handset/OS combo. They can use that money to continue to increase their 3G footy.

By: Da Ereeser

Da Ereeser — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:47:18 +0000

As with every company, it all comes down to money first. The thing about AT&T is that they don’t care about the customer. Android is open so it can be customized to have carrier related crap on it. But Android gives the user the tools and the power to do what they want with their phone without paying for it (right now). And since Google loves to do things for free, AT&T doesn’t wanna get in bed with them right now until they can figure out a way to lock down the OS so they can be the only ones that Android users on their network can buy apps or services from. I have a N95-4 and was using it on T-Mobile. I could have switched to AT&T for the bigger 3G footprint but I switched to the G1 because T-Mobile is simply the best. For the 2 years that I have been with them, I have never been on hold more than 2 minutes and I always end the call happy for some reason. They actually CARE about their customers beyond the bill. I think Google and T-Mobile are the perfect team and I hope they remain exclusive here in the US. And to all the users here, who can complain about a company who gives their stuff away and takes care of yours for free?

By the way, I was with AT&T (Cingular) before T-Mobile and I had nothing but problems. Dropped calls, missed messages and horible customer service. Ask anyone who switched from AT&T to T-Mobile how the 2 compare. Night and Day.

By: librapaj

librapaj — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:46:35 +0000

@alikeabite

Thanks pretty soon I will be charging admission for those jokes so get them while they are free.

@Dtest54
Them being the #1 sellers of Blackberry’s might have something to do with the fact that they are the #1 carrier in the land. Naturally they are going to sell more Blackberry’s than anyone else. As mentioned by another poster, they bowed down to the iPhone, yet royally clusterfucked the Bold launch.

You know they are also the #1 sellers of iPhones too…Just in case you didn’t notice, that was sarcasm

By: JR

JR — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:33:00 +0000

I think the issue is two fold.

First: AT&T will not offer Android until the Apple exclusivity contract it over. That is because they are similar and viewed as cometitors.

Secondly, Android is not proven yet and they are waiting for T-Mobile and Google to work all the bugs out first. This is actually a smart move on their part.

I think the potential of Android is well known but all are waiting to see how things turn out first before they jump in. Although Sprint is just stupid for not picking this up now. They are going under yet they say that it isn’t up to Sprints standards, well I’ll like to hear you say that when you are closing your doors.
If Sprint were smart they would offer Android on a sexier platform and they would sell like hot cakes. Sprint. Wake up.

By: likeabite

likeabite — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:22:19 +0000

@Dtest54 That Blackberry relationship is suffering as indicated by the Bold launch and Librapaj that was very funny.

I think T-Mobile only got this exclusive because no one else wanted it. When it matures they’ll all adopt it though.

By: Land Of The Trill

Land Of The Trill — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:59:59 +0000

Tmo isn’t desperate if some of you can’t see where the OS is going then wow. I’m not a fanboy of the iphone or G1 although I will be picking up the G1 soon and I had the 1st Gen iphone unlocked on T-Mobile it was great but I do love the G1 although it has some flaws as of now but its getting fixed

By: Dtest54

Dtest54 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:38:33 +0000

I love how every on put the blame on AT&T’s relationship with Apple yet they are the #1 seller of Blackberries as well. Its likely that they have the approach that until Android shows itself as a big seller then why make a push with it when you already have Apple and RIM in your ranks.

And the point about it is too google centric is correct, thats been the biggest complaint with the G1 (that and the lack of headphone jack).

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:37:39 +0000

It may have been a different story if the Google/T-Mobile/HTC endeavor produced a better introductory product than the G1.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:35:05 +0000

“Google is all about Google. ATT is right here, Android is useless for anyone who isn’t Google-centric.”

Seriously that is not true. I had the G1 – you can log into the phone with a gmail account right when turn it on for the first time and after that you don’t have to do anything with Google.

By: -bwg

-bwg — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:26:03 +0000

Android and open handsets in general go against the big cell phone companies’ closed business models. If they dont control it, then it’s “not good enough” for them. They’ll need to be dragged kicking and screaming to sell open handsets. How to drag them?

By: Bunbury

Bunbury — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:23:57 +0000

Google is all about Google. ATT is right here, Android is useless for anyone who isn’t Google-centric. It’s also very raw from what I can tell. Sure ATT wants ATT apps…as Verizon does, and Sprint as well. That’s the price of admission. T-Mo is desperate, so they’re going all-in.

By: White Gryphon

White Gryphon — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:05:04 +0000

Shouldn’t that be:
“until we can _control_it_all_and_sell_only_ at&t-branded apps on Android-based handsets, we’re not interested.””

By: maikel

maikel — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:00:14 +0000

Not totally agree but I do understand though.
Right now, the G1 is too centered around the Google apps specially for emails and contacts.

By: Chris B.

Chris B. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:50:26 +0000

I think what at&t means by ‘open up more,’ is, “until we can sell at&t-branded apps on Android-based handsets, we’re not interested.”

By: librapaj

librapaj — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:48:35 +0000

I think the headline should read something like this…

AT&T won’t offer Android-powered handsets until after the iPhone exclusivity is over.

Footnote…
or else feel the wrath of Apple.

By: jr

jr — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:47:08 +0000

Of course they trash the other carriers phones.

By: mr. Hi-Definition

mr. Hi-Definition — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:42:25 +0000

Sprint should just get bought out by Verizon already. And Android will come to AT&T when the time is right. Until then, T-Mobile users can enjoy their exclusive period with the Android platform, or AT&T users can just buy a G1, and unlock it.

By: Roger A

Roger A — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:38:19 +0000

AT&T has iPhone
T-Mobile has Android
Verizon has ummm…. LG Menu
Sprint has ONEClick

I dont really see anyone budging except the company thats smallest, soon to surpass Sprint if Sprint keeps fucking up..

Point is… Android is unproven, and T-Mobile is willing to do all it takes to move that shit forward, and needs to for the sake of it becoming the next new OS!