“On the eve of its wide launch tomorrow, everyone is buzzing with talk about how great the iPad is. Reviews have all been raves, hundreds of thousands have been pre-sold, and lines are forming at Apple Stores,” Uncle Bell writes for AT&T Critic. “It seems everyone is excited and can’t wait to get their hands on iPads.”
“Well, everyone except AT&T. You would think that given most of its profits are due to its exclusive deal on the iPhone, and it has first crack at iPad 3G users thanks to a new deal with Apple, AT&T would be gushing about the device,” Bell writes. “You would think they would be touting it in advertisements, on their webpages, and in their stores. But no, what you hear from AT&T about what is likely be the biggest tech launch of the decade is: silence and crickets.”
Bell writes, “The silence is a lack of iPad announcements (like new apps) or special deals for loyal AT&T customers. (Okay, I know there aren’t any of those.) The cricket chirping came from AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson who went out of his way to dismiss the iPad as be primarily a wi-fi device. This with hardly a ‘but it’s nice, too’ comment. In fact, he almost sounded like he was pouting about how the iPhone is better. Given the way AT&T is acting, you’d almost think they fear and hate the iPad. Well, they do. And they should. Here’s five reasons why:”
1. It’s Unlocked.
2. It’s Going to be a Traffic Monster.
3. It works better with Wi-Fi.
4. No contract.
5. It’s an iPhone Replacement.
Uncle Bell writes, “All an all, the iPad isn’t good news for AT&T. But it might be good news for it’s abused customers.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Give AT&T a break, Uncle Bell; they’re too busy to notice iPad because they’re fast asleep, er… hard at work on iPhone tethering (“coming soon” for the last two and a half years now).
All ipads will connect to a wifi signal.
There are other phones and devices on other carriers right now that provide a wifi signal for the purpose of sharing or tethering that signal to other devices.
The ipad, as a client, will therefore “tether” to anything that is hosting a wifi signal.
The ipad will not host a wifi signal for other clients and at this point an iPhone on AT&T;will not host a signal for other clients.
AT&T;is clearly the problem here and they are being a pain in the neck on this issue for iPhone customers while the competition are providing solutions.
AT&T;is holding apple and their customers back. I don’t think apple enjoys being in this position so I expect to see a change soon.
Either AT&T;offers iPhone tethering or apple sells iPhones on other carriers.
Tethering is a hot feature and the competition has blown past Apple and it’s customers due to AT&T;laziness greed whatever it may be.
It’s a damn shame too.
AT&T;doesn’t hate the iPad:
1. It’s Unlocked.
But for practical purposes, the iPad 3G is “locked to AT&T;” as that’s the only 3G carrier with the right frequencies.
2. It’s Going to be a Traffic Monster.
Define traffic. If it’s a 3G traffic monster, then AT&T;is going to be collecting $30 a month for a lot of people. And this device is probably going to be used more in home and in offices than the iPhone. The fact that 3G is an option is a good indication of the research Apple has put into how people are going to use it. Lots of 3G usage is good for AT&T;.
3. It works better with Wi-Fi.
So does the iPhone. The question is how many 3G subscribers does this give AT&T;as a net gain or net loss?
4. No contract.
True, but I’m wondering if this was even an Apple demand. It seems like AT&T;is better off (if they aren’t giving a subsidy) to not bound by contract…especially early in the adoption phase. Here’s a question for you…if you already own a phone and want AT&T;service, you don’t have to sign a contract. Why do you think that is? Do you think AT&T;hates you?
5. It’s an iPhone Replacement.
Only in the Stephen Colbert sense of, “like the iPhone (on AT&T;) it can’t make calls either”. I can see some degree of cannibalization of other markets…especially netbooks, to a lesser degree notebooks and even desktops, and of course iPods. The one market this won’t compete with is *phones*. Why would AT&T;be unhappy if someone got an iPad 3G and another phone on their network?
If AT&T;were smart, and they’re certainly not, they’d be bundling 3G plans for the iPhone, iPad, and tethering. Maybe they will when they can handle the capacity. For now though, it all comes down to the fact that the iPad is a 3G net gain for AT&T;.
ATT is the worst piece of junk-o-la ever. I hate the scums. Total ripoff. I can’t wait until Apple splits from them.
Apple is giving AT&T;a gift. When iPhone goes to other carriers, iPad 3G will pick up where the vacancies exist.
@ Ampar, VERY nice, so obvious yet everyone missed it.
@ bildad, great scene. Just what is a genital cuff?
Knee jerk alert:
This guy pulls a story out of his rear and you all react like Pavlov’s dog.
The whole article is hot air, nothing more. The president of Poland is also completely silent about the iPad. Maybe he’s full of fear and hate as well.
Are AT&T such dirty rotten scoundrels?
Yes Nobama they DRS!!!
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Waiting for conditioned reflex from Nobama.
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Will he bite?
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I’m salivating in anticipation.
Afraid the iPad will replace the iPhone…How is that?? The iPad is NOT a phone…Helloooo….I would’nt give up my iPhone for any other no matter what…
iPhone replacement? Trying to figure how that works.
BTW, ipads are flying offthe shelves on eBay. Check craig’s list too if you’ve gotta have one.
Thanks, Roberto.
Nice bitchslap, macslut. You made Uncle Bell look like an ass!
Typing this from an iPad wifi tethered to an iPhone 3G at the Apple store Boca Raton. I’ll cancel my 3G order and get wifi only now. Woohoo.
I agree with all 4 points except the last one; how is this thing an iPhone replacement?
Can you make phone calls with it? NO
Can you get GPS oriented maps with it? NO
Can you take pictures or video with it? NO
Does it fit in your pocket? NO
Can it easily be held in one hand to talk into it, even if you could use a 3rd party ap to make Wi-Fi assisted phone calls (even though you’d look ridiculous doing it? NO
Can you send text messages while talking via 3rd party ap? NO
What a joke. I swear people just make any $hit up they want and print it these days expecting people to guzzle the KOOL-AID.
@Msavwah
Let me get this straight.
In order for a device to “tether” to another, the device being tethered to has to share a wifi signal, right?
And, the iPad will not “tether” to an iPhone because the iPhone does not share a wifi signal, right?
If so, that seems like a technology issue, not a carrier one. Since Apple builds the iPhone and not AT&T;, I’d say it’s an Apple issue.
To PlayNice:
Do you have an iPad? NO
Fuck off, idiot.
@ Tethered
No you didn’t.
Just a test
AT&T
A T & amp ; T
AT&T;
If you are in uncomfortable position and have got no cash to go out from that point, you will have to receive the loan. Just because that would help you for sure. I get small business loan every single year and feel myself good just because of this.