the Informer

In 2007 when Apple first released their revolutionary iPhone, people were skeptical of the company’s decision to have an exclusive contract with carrier AT&T.

Despite the negative thoughts towards the wireless carrier, people came out in massive numbers to purchase the phone.

Now, over three years later, Apple has released three different iPhones. The original, the 3G and the 3GS. Each phone improved on the one before it, adding speed, functionality and fixing usability issues (such as an improved battery life).

Last week, Apple introduced another product they hope will revolutionize another industry. Print newspapers and magazines, hope that the iPad will bring loyal readers back and keep them reading while on the go.

Once again, people were skeptical to learn that the new product would be supported exclusively (in the United States) by AT&T. The problem I have with the carrier in this situation has nothing to do with their coverage map.

Living in the northeast, I’m hard pressed to find a location in which I don’t have 3G coverage. The problems I have are that the network is slow and holding the iPhone (and soon, the iPad) back from working to their fullest.
International iPhone users, living in countries outside the U.S. have enjoyed features that have never been publicly released in this country. The feature that I want the most; tethering. Tethering would allow customers to connect their computer to their iPhone’s 3G data service.

AT&T has held Apple from releasing this functionality on its iPhone because of the intense strain it would cause on their wireless 3G networks. It’s simple examples like this that show Apple needs to move on to another company in this country.

Leading up to the event that introduced the iPad last week, many speculated that Apple would announce Verizon as a new carrier for both products (iPad, iPhone).

The exclusive contract with AT&T is rumored to expire this June, three years after the initial iPhone was released. I’m a generally brand loyal person. Overall I’ve been satisfied with AT&T and their service over the past year. Recently however, their 3G networks has become slower, especially in highly populated areas such as New York City and Boston.

A move to Verizon would do a few things for Apple. First, it would allow the most technologically advanced phone ever made to fully shine. Apple could unlock all of its key features and it could be better than ever.

Second, taking away the idea of exclusivity would allow iPhone users to use which ever network was faster in their area, helping to alleviate the strain on both companies networks.

What is clear from the relationship between Apple and AT&T is that the iPhone has become the world’s most complete Smartphone.

In the future, an iPhone that supports both AT&T and Verizon would allow for customers to access all of the features Apple had originally intended the world to use.

To read more from Harris Decker, visit his blog, The Truth About Music!!