Apple iPhone on AT&T for five years?

There are carrier exclusivity agreements, and there are carrier exclusivity agreements -- and Apple's iPhone deal must have been pretty sweet for Cupertino to guarantee their new hotness to AT&T and AT&T alone for five friggin years. USA Today reports the supposed half-decade deal precludes Apple from developing a CDMA handset in that time (duh), meaning that if you live in the US and don't want to move to AT&T, it's going to be 2012 before you even have a chance at an iPhone. Better still, Today reports that Cingular's arch-nemesis Verizon is claiming to have an iPhone-killer in the wings. According to Denny Strigl, Verizon CEO, "We do have a very good response in the mill. You'll see that from us in the late summer." It's war, people, make no mistake about it.

[Thanks, Eric]

[Sam @ May 22nd 2007 1:59PM]

if it has a few of the same key features ill consider not switching from VZw over to AT&T...

[Spencer Fogler @ May 22nd 2007 1:59PM]

I love it, this means that we all get to sit by and watch technology get better and better at a rapid rate. I dont even care if the iPhone is the best of them all, I'm just glad that these companies trying to 1-up eachother will lead to really awesome cell phones

[David @ May 22nd 2007 3:12PM]

which is exactly what Apple intended on doing with the iPhone. they said it was a revolution and that they were re-inventing the phone. they never said anything about taking over or dominating the market. Apple saw that the phones on the market now are kinda shitty, and made an awesome one. if various factors make the iPhone a flop it doesnt matter because they already changed the market by waking up dumb, rich, lazy, SOB CEOs.

[Frankenstein Black @ May 22nd 2007 3:55PM]

Spence, you are sooo right! And as probably the only one in this thread that has see, touched and use an iPhone (don't ask me how ;^), trust me when I say it WILL SELL LIKE "HOT CAKES"! This indeed bodes well for near future cell phone tech!

Now bring on the EFC devices!
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/efc_device.jpg

[Nabil @ May 22nd 2007 2:00PM]

who gives a sh**

It's too expensive, and will probably fail.

[A_Hood @ May 22nd 2007 2:09PM]

I totally agree.
People act like this is the end all of phones.
It's just a smartphone/PDA/Pocket PC for the average Joe.
I bet everything the iPhone can do, a Treo can do without all the glitz and glamour.

[BandB @ May 24th 2007 11:20AM]

Try to understand the signifigance, and look past the sticker shock or other egocentric reason not to get it.

Apple coming into the phone market is like Toyota and their Hybrid. Apple has the oppertunity to leap past the competitors which sets standards and forces companies to inovate, to catch-up (OSX & Vista).

It's not just about another phone. And if any other company where to try, I would probably say meh, but since it's someone who is going from 0% market share, they'll have a bigger need to inovate. Motorola or Nokia could have done this, no problem, but they would hold out for years untill they had to because the models they have are already making oodles of $. This will force them to compete.

[Robbie L. @ May 24th 2007 12:17PM]

I have a treo, and NO a treo can't do 1/3 of the stuff the iPhone can. The iPhone is not for everyone, people. Don't forget that. People went crazy for the RZR so imagine what it will be for the iPhone which is 10 times better.

[theattack @ May 22nd 2007 2:00PM]

well either its apple or its not. I mean whatever they come up with, it won't have an ipod in it, and it won't run OS X or any form thereof, so its not comparable. The Ipod is the entire reason Cingular got into bed with Apple in the first place, and why Verizon could have made a huge mistake in passing it up.

[tcc3 @ May 22nd 2007 2:03PM]

High price, limited utility, and carrier-choice-limiting exclusivity??!?! How can iPhone go wrong?

[Ryan Block @ May 22nd 2007 2:04PM]

Ha!!

[AaronS @ May 22nd 2007 2:10PM]

tcc3: The exact same thing (except for carrier exclusivity) was said about the iPod 6 years ago...I'm sure Apple is hoping for the same type of failure.

[xbit @ May 22nd 2007 2:07PM]

I wonder what Verizon's response will be? The Zune phone?

[andres @ May 22nd 2007 2:08PM]

iPhone killer?? are those more lethal than the iPod killers such as Zune?

[ray @ May 22nd 2007 2:21PM]

I completely agree, the iphone is pretty much a nice looking fashion accessory and no way is it a proper smartphone.

[J @ May 22nd 2007 2:41PM]

You're right. Kinda like a Honda does the same things as a Ferarri, only without the 'glitz and glamour'. What was I thinking??? Who wants and iPhone when I can have a Razr? They do the same thing, right?

I'll go with iPhone.

[Chris @ May 22nd 2007 3:16PM]

I agree except that it is not for the average Joe. Average people don't spend $600 on phones.

[john Ahrends @ May 22nd 2007 6:37PM]

I have a treo and there is something it won't do that my treo does.
My TREO locks up all the dang time. I can't browse web pages worth a flip. I really don't care if nobody else gets one. I will be happy when I get my iPhone. I know the OS... it is rock solid. No more "Hold on while I reboot my phone."

[zoara @ May 23rd 2007 7:22AM]

They said all this about the iPod, though.

[rcappo @ May 22nd 2007 2:10PM]

I know I am impressed by the iPhone so far. I don't like either of those carriers right now though.

[Ozbone @ May 22nd 2007 2:12PM]

from Verizon ?!? C'mon you HAVE to be kidding! Verizon is the complete antithesis of Apple ... no friggin' way.

[Jamal @ May 22nd 2007 2:12PM]

There is no way the VZW could make an iPhone killer. Many people have tired to kill the iPod and failed, and VZW will be added to the list.

Plus it will be crippled and have the horrible VZW UI.

[engadget.com @ May 22nd 2007 2:17PM]

Actually, there are plenty of ipod killers, well not so much killer, but definately better devices. Iriver devices are superior to ipods. What Apple has going for it.. is its huge marketting machine, and with regards to the ipod, a huge head start over competitors where the ipod became a house hold name, it does not make the ipod better then the other devices available (although you do have to search for them). Where as the Iphone is a late comer to an already brutal market.. cell phones.. and while it is pretty, they will have some stiff compotition from the other handset makers, who know how to get a handset to market from concept to product in a very short amount of time.. where as it took apple 3 years to come up with the iphone...

[Michael Chastain @ May 22nd 2007 4:52PM]

Verizon's smartphones are neither crippled nor sport a Verizon UI. My two year old Samsung SCH-i730 is a 4GB media playing (via SD card), live TV/DVR streaming (via Sling), 3rd party application running, Skype running, full keyboard, 3G and wi-fi sporting, and replaceable battery masterpiece.

Ironically, it's actually LESS locked down than the iPhone.

[andy @ May 22nd 2007 2:12PM]

It's war and I declare myself, the consumer, the winner.

[dEEzNuts @ May 22nd 2007 2:13PM]

"arch-nemesis Verizon"? Wouldn't it be would be T-Mobile based on GSM handsets?

[Jamal @ May 22nd 2007 2:34PM]

That is true, the Nokia's N95 is a phone that does more then the iPhone, has a better camera, and has more 3rd party app's, plus 3G. I think Apple's implementation on the interface side is what i think will be hard to beat. (but because i have never used an iPhone i have no idea if it is worth it)

But I know that my mom could use the iPhone, I don't think she could do as well with the n95.

[andrew harrison @ May 22nd 2007 8:34PM]

I think you misunderstand the term "iPod Killer". The term does not refer to a device with more features etc. It refers to a device that will dethrone the iPod from most popular player.

[Christopher @ May 22nd 2007 2:20PM]

I have a feeling that Verizon will kill its iphone killer before it even has a chance. If not, badly cripple it. Seems like apple is doing exactly what it set out to do, which is the same thing it did for the mp3 player market, making others step their game up, challenging the status quo.

[Leonard Nimrod @ May 22nd 2007 2:35PM]

BTW, this Verison announcement is merely vaporware to keep current Verison customers from jumping to AT&T.

It will be years before a device that even begins to compare to the iPhone's OS comes to market.

MS has been using this unethical tactic for years.

This mythical device will probably never even become a working prototype.

[Sapo @ May 22nd 2007 2:22PM]

Engadget, more about colorblindmac.com please

[Joe @ May 22nd 2007 2:22PM]

Anyone who doesn't think the iPhone blows away a Treo and will change the world either:

1. Can't afford one and is justifying it to themselves
2. Hasn't seen the demo/keynote which will blow you away

[Nando @ May 22nd 2007 2:22PM]

I'm with T-Mobile and I really like them so I'm not planning on changing companies. So, I can't wait to see what T-Mobile will come up to compete with Apple/AT&T's iPhone.

[Robbie L. @ May 24th 2007 12:17PM]

T-mobile did come up with a "response" it's called the wing. Look it up.

[Todd @ May 22nd 2007 2:24PM]

I have too much faith in all the OS X people out there to believe that an iPhone will stay unhacked for five years - more like 5 days.

I am still of the opinion that the individual Cingular ( ...err AT&T ) will resemble downtown Los Angeles after the Rodney King trial on the iPhone's launch day. Is this 5 year announcement thing an attempt to diffuse the immanent rioting?

"...PS3 was the 'Fall of Man'?Ha! Wait til the iPhone launch."

[A_Hood @ May 22nd 2007 2:24PM]

In reference to Joe.

1. I can afford one. If I can afford a Treo what makes you think I can't afford a iPhone

2. Name one thing it does better than a Treo. I am not talking about interface wise either.
I will give it you, interface and looks wise it blows the Treo away.
But what is so revolutionary about it. (Other than aesthetically)

Can it cook, clean, do my laundry? No, than its just another smartphone.

How much is Steve Jobs paying you to post.

[zoara @ May 23rd 2007 7:36AM]

A_Hood wrote: "2. Name one thing it does better than a Treo. I am not talking about interface wise either."

Well, that's like saying "name one thing your million-dollar salary does better than my minimum wage job... apart from make you richer". The selling point of the iPhone (and of almost every single Apple product) is not that it has a longer spec list, but that it does what it does better than the alternatives.

Interface is not just about aesthetics. In many ways, they are diametrically opposed, since often things that look 'flashy' are less easy to use. The iPhone is intended to be aesthetically pleasing (so it will have enough appeal to sell) and to have a decent interface (so it has continued appeal, so people are likely to recommend it).

So yeah, it doesn't have the spec list of this or that product. Neither does the iPod, and last I heard, that was doing okay in the marketplace. Remember that the average consumer doesn't do a spec list comparison before purchase; they buy what looks pretty or what their friends recommend. That, to me, implies that the iPhone will do pretty well for itself; just maybe not as well in the kind of market that reads Engadget.

[Leonard Nimrod @ May 22nd 2007 2:28PM]

I love these -killer comments for competitors. Not one of them compete with Apple on the same playing field.

All the iPod-killers have tried to out spec sheet the iPod and they've all failed. The one that has the most marketshare and is actually gaining in marketshare is Sandisk with their low cost digital players.

I'm sure whatever Version has in the works will out-spec the iPhone, but it still won't have a full-featured OS with well-tested and used frameworks. No manufacturer or carrier will be able to match the ease of use of tried and true frameworks.

I've stated this before: Regardless of the carrier of phone manufacturer you use, we will all benefit by the existence of Apple's iPhone in the cell market.

It seems it's finally coming true.

[RandomThoughts @ May 22nd 2007 2:31PM]

The big shock here is that AT&T is able to lock Apple down for 5 years. You have to remember that I don%u2019t think the iPhone is out there for business people. Without a keyboard or Exchange Server, not many will buy the iPhone for work purposes. No one would want to type out an email without a keyboard. I have not heard if the iPhone will run Outlook yet, but it probably will sooner or later.

I think the market for the iPhone is the hardcore Apple fan that will just have to have it. Limiting it to the AT&T network is pretty good on AT&Ts part, not so good on Apple%u2019s part. Verizon looked at the iPhone and took a pass, so that has to tell you something. Verizon and all the other carriers basically do have an answer to the iPhone, they are called Pocket PC%u2019s. I guess maybe some folks at AT&T knew that going from Cingular to AT&T would hurt them in the cool factor, getting the iPhone is a pretty good way to strike back.

The iPhone is good for consumers though, because it will drive other carriers to improve.

[Bryan @ May 22nd 2007 4:31PM]

Actually, VZW didn't look at the iPhone and pass... They were offered, presumably sight unseen, the chance to get in on the iPhone, and passed. Now they want to design an iPhone "killer" before the iPhone is even released? Sounds like somebody is regretting their decision, to me...

[foo @ May 22nd 2007 2:35PM]

from what ive been told, the iphone needs "fine EDGE" to operate at its fullest capacity. apparently ATT's network isnt even ready for this as it's been trying to rollout UMTS. So 15 million units ordered by ATT and there's going to be some irate customers that cant use their phone to the fullest.

[rock99rock @ May 22nd 2007 2:36PM]

aren't carriers required by law to unlock their "carrier-locked" devices? so wouldnt this phone, in the end, work on most GSM carriers?

[otsego @ May 22nd 2007 2:38PM]

in short? nope. sorry. That doesnt mean you cant get it unlocked by other means.

[engadget.com @ May 22nd 2007 2:45PM]

There is a current law suit, but I do not believe there is a final outcome yet. I know Verizon and Sprint are involved in a lawsuit about locking and disabling features (BT for example), but I do not believe its about locking the handset to the carrier. When a handset is subsidized, they can lock it into the carrier for the duration of the contract, beyond that they have to unlock it, that of course does not mean they have to enable another carriers handset on their network (currently only sprint and verizon since they use cdma)

[Otsego_Undead @ May 22nd 2007 2:36PM]

no one wants a zune phone. verizon will start charging M$ points instead of cash so it seems like a better deal.
LOOK THE NEW ZUNE PHONE! ONLY 1200 M$ POINTS! (somehow = $243.84)

[CK @ May 22nd 2007 2:39PM]

It doesn't matter what phones Verizon comes up with. As long as they mess up the UI of all the phones, a Verizon phone will always SUCK. I wish they just allow people to bring the phones from Korea or Japan and use all features. I just bought the pantech IM-R260 but all I can do with it make calls and send text messages.

[JOBU @ Jun 27th 2007 12:43AM]

I have seen and watched the demo for the I-phone, I must admit that the iphone is phenominal to look at and the interface simplicity is awesome as well. I love ipods as much as the next guy. With that said, I am very ocnfident in Verizon to find a phone maker that is willing to produce a similar product. Regardless of Apple's interface if VZ can find that manufacturere who can at least mimic the user friendliness that he iphone shows they should be fine. Verizon was smart is the way I see it. They chose not to sell their soul (profits) to some outside company that has never made a cellular phone. No one knows the durablity of the phone the hangups the OS might have etc etc. Verizon wouldn't allow an agreement to take place where Apple was taking a portion of the money for every phone sold, and a portion of the reacurring revenue that this phone will undoubtedly create. While ATT might sell a flippin ton of these phones and sign up even more on new agreements they are still splitting these profits with a company that has no background in the industry until now. That is a ballsy move.

[A_Hood @ May 22nd 2007 2:48PM]

Wrong,
The Razr is a regular cell phone.
The iPhone is a smartphone type device.
Your trying to compare apples and oranges.

In regards to your comment about cars.
Try comparing the Ferrari to a Corvette.
Something that's (almost)equally matched.

Disclaimer: I don't dislike the iPhone. I am just tired of people acting like it's the messiah of phones.
Same way people treat the iPod.

[RandomThoughts @ May 22nd 2007 3:19PM]

Try comparing the Ferrari to a Corvette? Something that's (almost) equally matched?

Oh my, Tom Selleck is rolling over in his grave, to say nothing of Europe.

[thejedipunk @ May 22nd 2007 2:43PM]

Seriously, can't you people reserve your praise and disdain until you actually use the phone?