Wanna be free of A, T, and that other T? It’ll cost you.
Many of our readers, such as Randal, have been wondering the same thing:
Do I need to pay AT&T to get Internet and email through there system when I can get it for free elsewhere? What am I missing here outside of the fact that if I want to have Internet everywhere, which I wouldn’t anyway due to service availability, why should I want this option and can I get an iPhone without it?Alas, Randal, you must remember that the key part of the iPhone’s name is that pesky “phone” thing. Despite our sincerest wishes, the iPhone is not merely a wireless Internet device or a widescreen iPod, but a cell phone with those other features included. Or, to couch it in Apple’s own “fineprintspeak”:
Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod [emphasis added]While we won’t know for sure until the first units are on their way home, odds are that when you turn on the iPhone for the first time, it’ll prompt you to activate right away, meaning that if you want to be free of the long arm of AT&T, you’ll have to pay whatever the early termination fee is (unless you’re willing to fake your death). And we have no idea what will and won’t continue to work should you do so.
The day may yet come when Apple releases an iPhone without the phone (whatever shall they call it…something generic…how about an iPod?), but that day is not likely to be anytime soon, methinks.
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Comments (2)
Now, Dan, I do believe you totally misunderstood the question. I believe he was simply asking if he can save $20/month and get a voice-only plan (notice his complaint is that he doesn't need or want ubiquitous internet, he's not complaining about voice service). Watching the video released today, I see no voice-only options or buttons to "other plans we'd rather you didn't consider." This is disappointing to me as the only universal criticism in all the glowing reviews is EDGE is slllooooow. Why should I pay for an unlimited data plan over an EDGE network? I'm happy using the internet features when connected to wifi networks (which are more common the 3G at this point anyway).
I'd also like to go on record as saying the iPhone w/o the phone won't happen. You might get a touch screen iPod (the iPhone w/o the phone, camera, or internet), but not an iPhone minus the phone. Even if at&t had no say on the matter, I wouldn't expect Apple to offer it.
Posted by Dave-O | June 26, 2007 11:20 PM
Hi,
it appears that USA today made comments about the security of the e-mail function. This might be indeed a problem with corporate mail access. Being an IT security professional I have two questions: Does it support the encrypted IMAP protocol (aka imaps) for receiving mail? Does it support encrypted sending of e-mail (SMTP with STARTTLS and authentication)? Apple's mail client on MacOS X supports it. So far I have not found an information on Apple's website.
Kind regards,
Uli
Posted by Uli | June 27, 2007 1:57 AM