Not so fast: Android isn't coming to AT&T just yet

There's been a flurry of chatter over a rumor that AT&T's Ralph de la Vega, CEO of the company's Mobility and Consumer markets announced that the carrier would be releasing an Android-based phone in the near future. We'd love to be able to confirm that info, but according to an article just published on the San Francisco Chronicle's site, de la Vega has feelings that seem to run quite contrary to the sentiment. According to the paper:

"De la Vega said AT&T continues to look at Google's Android operating system but is not prepared to make any moves to carry any Android phones. He said the platform is still evolving and needs to open up even more to offer a wider array of non-Google applications."

As much as we want to see this thing happen, it looks like the boys at AT&T aren't feeling Google's insistence on intrinsically linking devices to its web apps. Haven't you heard guys? The future is in the cloud. Oh, and open.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[DudeManDude @ Nov 6th 2008 3:44PM]

BOOGERS!!

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 6th 2008 3:45PM]

"Not so fast: Android isn't coming to AT&T just yet" Says you! I'm seeing Androids pooping with AT&T all up in that piece. All be it with everything but 3G network access ;^(...

[BJ is Gooder @ Nov 6th 2008 4:00PM]

That's just rude. My iphone has never pooped anywhere but the toilet.

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 6th 2008 4:22PM]

popping up **stupid engadget no preview commenting system**

[Eric @ Nov 6th 2008 4:30PM]

More like stupid you not proof reading your comments before you hit submit. Ohhh owned I'm here all night.

[Reader @ Nov 6th 2008 5:58PM]

Hmm my preview system seems to work pretty well. I type the comment, then if I want, I read over it again and press "Add Comment". Crazy, I know.

[The Joker @ Nov 7th 2008 8:25AM]

I didn't think androids could poop. Is that like a data purge? Don't forget to do a memory wipe.

[rock99rock @ Nov 6th 2008 3:47PM]

"and needs to open up even more to offer a wider array of non-Google applications"

Meaning MediaNet, AT&T Mobile TV, Marketplace, and all other ATT BS apps have yet to be written for the google OS.

[kjb434 @ Nov 6th 2008 3:53PM]

It also means having the openess of a WinMo style phone!

Android will get there. It just needs a little more development.

Of course ATT want to put their apps on it too. It's part of the service whether you use it or not. I happen to just re-flash my phone with a cleaner version of WinMo so all of ATT's crap is gone.

[eldudarino @ Nov 6th 2008 3:48PM]

im very ignorant when it comes to cell phones but isn't android an open os, so you can use it on any phone regardless of carrier? please correct me if im wrong

[JCollum @ Nov 6th 2008 4:02PM]

Sort of, you can use it on any phone that it's been ported to. Meaning someone has to write something that converts bytecode to machine code for that particular processor. So for the moment it's just the G1, until a handset manufacturer decides they want it for their particular device. Just a matter of time. It could be the Windows of handsets.

[loosely_coupled @ Nov 7th 2008 12:05AM]

To the guy above: That is correct, however the vast majority of cellphones use basic ARM11 processors, for which Android is already running. It's a little bit more complex than that, with a few different ARM instruction sets depending on processor generation, but for the most part, just about every mainstream, modern cellphone should be capable of running android.

However I'm sure Android's OS stack requires specific drivers for different ARM-based system-on-a-chip processors from the different manufacturers (Samsung, TI, Qualcomm, Broadcom, etc)

[Anthony @ Nov 6th 2008 3:49PM]

ATT's one of the worst about blocking functionality (wifi anyone?) so this isn't a surprise. Saying it should open up more is laughable.

[kjb434 @ Nov 6th 2008 3:55PM]

Blocking what?

Use a WinMo phone on ATT and you can do pretty much whatever you want with it. Even Iphone isn't hindered (more by Apple than ATT).

[iofthestorm @ Nov 6th 2008 4:21PM]

Knowing from experience, Verizon is far worse than AT&T with regards to lockdown.

[Salsa Shark @ Nov 6th 2008 4:43PM]

Example: AT&T doesn't allow Yahoo Messenger...at least not on BlackBerries.

[Brian @ Nov 6th 2008 5:06PM]

probably the worst.......right after verizon wireless.....

[Nick @ Nov 6th 2008 3:50PM]

Shame on you AT&T. I bet this somehow apple is behind this.

[Brian @ Nov 6th 2008 7:23PM]

exactly! like the iPhone isn't "open" with lots of non-Apple apps. just like the podcasting OTA post earlier today.

[Fourth Stringer @ Nov 6th 2008 3:51PM]

Fourth!

[htd @ Nov 6th 2008 3:59PM]

they have re-write all their stuff on gJava for android. I dislike that gJava, they should open up the linux level and allow development not only on gJava

[Todd @ Nov 6th 2008 4:08PM]

In a follow-up statement De la Vega also said that AT&T will never issue an Android phone because "...It makes it impossible for us to bend our customers over a barrel and fuck them, repeatedly, until all their money falls out of their pockets and they are left with a feeling of being savagely violated while paying for the privilege."

Media sources later confirmed that "fucking customers over a barrel" is in fact written into AT&T's corporate charter.

[Anthony @ Nov 6th 2008 4:27PM]

I wondered what was keeping the barrel market alive now that I stopped keeping my fish in one.

[Anthony @ Nov 6th 2008 5:10PM]

in other news...

reports of a former AT&T Employee did in fact confirm AT&Ts closed door policy of bending there customers over a barrel but said," it wasn't all that bad, they seemed to like it because it was apart of the '2 year agreement'..."

[The Joker @ Nov 7th 2008 8:34AM]

... De la Vega also added; "... due to cost restrictions, we will also be phasing out the common courtesy of a reach-around."

[Deus Innomen @ Nov 6th 2008 4:31PM]

Man, this is gonna disappoint my wife. She's been really looking forward to having an Android device on the AT&T network. I wonder if the delay is gonna be longer than her patience.

[Nal @ Nov 6th 2008 4:40PM]

I was going to make a comment about how stupid Sprint is compared to AT&T, but it seems as if AT&T is doing the same thing, they just worded it more pleasantly than Sprint did with "not good enough yet". Phew. I was worried I was going to switch to the very expensive AT&T for a second. I'd rather stick with Sprint.

[Johnny @ Nov 6th 2008 4:44PM]

"He said the platform is still evolving and needs to open up even more to offer a wider array of non-Google applications."

Huh? AT&T carries tons of closed platforms. What about most Motorola and Nokia phones? They're not open at all. Nor was the iPhone at first. The iPhone still doesn't have all that AT&T media crap, etc. if that's what he's talking about.

Otherwise, I don't blame them for waiting a while to hop on the wagon. It's probably a smart move from AT&Ts perspective.

[dj-kenpo @ Nov 6th 2008 8:53PM]

thats EXACTLY what crossed my mind.

good thing the iphone wasn't just running apple apps like safari at the beginning and good thing ther'es no issue with apple not allowing mobile opera on the iphone.

phew..

this seems really sketchy.

[Clark @ Nov 6th 2008 4:46PM]

Joshua Topolsky = Lee Corso?

"Not so fast, my friend!"

[jake @ Nov 6th 2008 5:13PM]

PWEEZ????????

[scootinger @ Nov 6th 2008 5:43PM]

I'm sorry but that's a shitty excuse. Then why did AT&T carry the iPhone? AT&T was more than happy to sell it when Apple didn't even allow for third-party apps on the phone.

[paul @ Nov 6th 2008 5:45PM]

AT&T will make its decision to offer Android-based phones based on the popularity of Android-based phones. I.e., when they start loosing too many customers to T-Mobile (like they lost me, for instance) they will eventually be forced to offer them. In the meantime they no doubt hope to continue the bending-the-customer-over-a-barrel policy for as long as possible.

[Jeff @ Nov 6th 2008 6:12PM]

Once again, I'm reminded that my carrier totally eats.

Fucking two year contract...Oh well. By the time the contract is up, the cool phones that I want might have come down in price.

[Konst @ Nov 6th 2008 6:23PM]

What phone is that? Where can I buy it? I really like it.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 7th 2008 7:14AM]

It's the on-screen skin for the QVGA mode in the official Android SDK Emulator. It exists only in Google's imagination.

[odemata @ Nov 6th 2008 6:37PM]

I wish that phone shown was the G1 for Tmobile....after while reaching in over to type starts to be a bother

[simple phone @ Nov 6th 2008 6:56PM]

any word if a HTC Android Prototype styled phone is going to be available for purchase? the G1is a bit too thick for my pocket.

[bigcheif @ Nov 6th 2008 7:35PM]

why the hell do some poeple feel the need to say "Fourth!"? What idiots man. Plus he isnt even fourth. What a dipshit.

[g1user @ Nov 6th 2008 8:19PM]

Maybe they can't limit you to 10MB transfers on Android... yet...

[Smib @ Nov 7th 2008 6:21AM]

Well, if they don't start carrying good Android phones by next January, I'll be switching. Damn barrel policy, I knew it didn't seem right.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 7th 2008 7:10AM]

AT&T happily carries the iPhone, which is permanently locked with Apple's own applications to the point where Apple blocks the release of competing apps even if they are written and ready to go.

Android, on the other hand, has absolutely no requirement whatsoever to contain Google applications. AT&T could easily order an Android handset that has all of Google's applications removed and replaced with crippled and worthless AT&T versions.

AT&T's real issue, much like Sprint's, is that Android is exclusive to T-Mobile for this holiday season and admitting that it's decent would just be advertising for their competitor. Expect the Android hate to continue from all other carriers until they are ready to announce something of their own.

[thegeniusfiles @ Nov 29th 2008 7:38PM]

Hah! I loved the "over a barrel" comment! That's true of every wireless carrier, though. Has anyone had any success with unlocking the T-mo G1? It would be nice to use that on ATT.

[thegeniusfiles @ Nov 29th 2008 7:51PM]

Actually, looks like unlocking the G1 is old news! http://androidcentral.com/unlock-tmobile-g1/