http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 11:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 24th 2009 4:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
Mr. de la Vega, you are full of shit. What about the iPhone that you were so happy to sell? For the first few months, Apple didn't even have an OPTION to let people create apps for it...unless you jailbroke your phone, violated the license agreement, and voided your warranty. Android has been an open system since the beginning. Why are you applying a double standard to Android?]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
But scootinger is right; he totally fell flat on this one (Ralph, not Chris). Lame double standard Ralph. You're using this as an excuse because you don't want to anger Apple by giving your customers the opportunity to try the competition's OS without paying for a new contract, number port, and all the associated headaches. Being locked into a carrier = pain, and that's all that the carriers have left.

WebOS, Android, iPhone OS (OS X), and WM 6.5 (?) are the competition now. A truly forward thinking carrier would offer all 4 and let the market decide which is best. Apple has (frustratingly) guaranteed that only AT&T has this unique position.

As much as Ralph doesn't appear to be a faceless corporate type based on this interview, they're still the company with the freakin' death star for a logo.]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
Yes, because as we all know, Google is all about shunning interoperability while Apple graciously extends the olive branch of love, support and interoperability to any and all kind souls.

Great stuff!

You know, sometimes I think I am a pretty funny guy, and then I am humbled when reading things like this. Truly, the comedic prowess of one Ralph de la Vega is second to none.



]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Not just Vega but the company as a whole. I fully believe they dont want Android because they lose control over the appliance.]]>Feb 23rd 2009 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 4:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/I do not see one.
Will he unlock my iphone now ?
$100 monthly for 24 month ?!!
What he smokes ?
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Approved by Apple, yes. But they are not from Apple.

The point about Android I think he was getting at was that there has to be a way for lots of developers to produce apps, not just a handful from Google. And he was also, I suspect, talking about how the openness does not lead to malware and security risks. So it's a balancing act between allowing developers to produce good apps, while at the same time not throwing the door open for the crackers to get in. Like Windows.]]>Feb 23rd 2009 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
vega was blowin smoke. he didnt want to upset mom and dad or they might take away his allowance!!]]>Feb 23rd 2009 11:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
P0rnstar.]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 24th 2009 8:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/How the hell does that make any sense?]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
Not that I care what AT&T says anyway - I'm with Sprint - but it sure was a comedic treat to see this guy stumble and bumble every 5 words, like, y'know, like this n stuff.]]>Feb 23rd 2009 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
My girlfriend's iPhone 3G drops calls like a champ, even when she's at home calling a friend at their home (in other words, both people stationary). Her place is big, but not "larger than a cell tower diameter" big!

I don't doubt that hand-offs can be problematic, but that obviously is not the whole issue.

Drop the state of denial and excuses and fix your network, AT&T.

]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/At my house, I get dropped calls on my Tilt, but I also notice the signal switches constantly from HSDPA to EDGE. Based on Google Maps' location awareness, I can figure out which tower I am on, and it looks like I happen to live right on the edge of the coverage area of a 3G tower, while just inside the area of a 2G tower. The phone tries to stick on the 3G signal, and loses it sometimes, causing constant switchoffs despite my not moving farther than a few meters. I dont always get dropped calls, but I get them often enough that I think I know the reason why.

With that said, I still think the iPhone's dropped calls are a hardware/firmware issue on Apple's side of things, not really AT&T's fault.]]>Feb 24th 2009 8:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
"It's all about providing great value to our customers in these troubled times! $30 a month for something that costs us nothing is a big part of that value."]]>Feb 23rd 2009 1:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
]]>Feb 23rd 2009 3:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
Ralph: There are phones that have higher dropped call rates and there are phones that have lower


...........ok.......?


Chris: So you're basically waiting for Android to be de-branded, so to speak?

Ralph: Well, to be open. (Laughter.) Right? I mean, the whole idea behind Android is that it's gonna be an open OS, and so I don't wanna roll an open OS to market that has primarily Google apps on it, and I think that's gonna happen. I mean, I see a lot of activity, I think it's got a good future, and I think it makes a lot of sense that the OS is open-source, separate from Google apps that are also very good.


.......wow......]]>Feb 23rd 2009 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
Talk about the tail wagging the dog here...]]>Feb 23rd 2009 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/Feb 23rd 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/the-engadget-interview-ralph-de-la-vega-ceo-of-atandt-mobility/
Anyone know if such a thing exists? I assume it must, esp with all the tools sight-impaired people have at their disposal now. But just a light-weight plugin, not a whole software suite. Anyone?

]]>Feb 23rd 2009 5:10PM