Without question,
AT&T's wireless growth these past few years has been largely based on
iPhone -- and with apparently good reason, if you
look at the numbers. As far as other platforms go, however, it's not been as rosy.
Android's relation with the carrier, for example, is a story woven with years of
hesitation, some
questionable releases, and
a rival that's fully embraced it to
notable success (releases like the
Captivate and
Streak suggest a stronger future). So with all that in mind, what we're hearing from AT&T in the wake of
Windows Phone 7 is decidedly more committal. Here's what a spokesperson told PC World this week: "We'll be
the premier carrier for Windows Phone 7" (emphasis ours). Strong words, but we still haven't heard concrete plans from anyone, including Microsoft, on what's going on with the release. Whispers care of our friend Michael Gartenberg suggest AT&T has "signed up for 8 million" phones and our own eyes have
espied some launch materials, but we'll just have to see. Your move, Ma Bell. Assuage our doubts, k?
P.S. It's also worth noting that,
after the Kin debacle, Microsoft and Verizon aren't exactly BFF, meaning rival AT&T's "premier" claim isn't likely to be contested by the one carrier with more subscribers.
posted July 27th 2010 10:28PM
Sprint better get on this. They screwed up webOS, better not screw this up.
@Schmid7y Sprint Did not screw WebOS, Palm Screwed WebOS by locking it down with Sprint for 1/2 and with crappy hardware... I thought Windows Phone 7 was launching on all carriers in November?
@angelusp How so? The only thing I can think of that Sprint coulda done better is no $10 premium data & no $30 fee for tethering. Its still unlimited as opposed to 2GB, and to get the same features on a plan on both networks, Sprint is cheaper.
HTC coulda screwed it up more, but thats a different story.
I still hope that Sprint picks up a WP7 device before the year end, and I know HTC has (or at least had) 2 CDMA WP7 devices in the works, one of which was expected for Sprint, the other for Bell & VZW.
@Schmid7y
AT&T only = killed it for me.
Sprint plz.
@angelusp
They did NOT screw up the Evo. Unless you'd like to make more stuff up.
@Schmid7y
"We'll be the premier carrier for Windows Phone 7"
Translation: "We will neuter Windows Phone 7 and add our bloatware to any phone that has the misfortune of being used on our network."
@liftedngifted1
It is launching on different carriers. It's upto the manufacturer to decide which one.
@Schmid7y
Tell me about it. This is not good fur us Sprint subscribers. After the Dell Lighting leak I'm sure ATT has big plans for WP7. The good news is that WP7 will be backed by one of the strongest carriers in the US. I feel that will help WP7 as the DRIOD DOES campaign helped Android on all carriers because people got to learn about it's power. Bitter sweet I guess.
"AT&T's wireless growth these past few years has been largely based on iPhone"
Am I the only one that remembers that AT&T was number one before the iPhone and before Verizon bought alltel?
Sprint did not screw on anything. People just prefer AT&T and Verizon even if they have ginormous plans. People are just stupid.
@geniusdog254
Funny thing is, even with the $10 fee, it's still cheaper than the competition with more features and less restrictions.
@liftedngifted1
MS had a fall out with Verizon because MS was 2 years late with the Kin and Verizon no longer wanted to honor an initial pricing agreement ..
@Wiizer, no need to "neuter WP7" , it doesn't look very appealing by itself. Limited features and "innovations" for the sake of innovations in its counter-intuitive UI.
@Schmid7y
The resolution of Windows Phones suck. I won't be buying.
@vkelman
Can you be more specific? The UI is awesome! It's new, refreshing, dynamic, all of the things other OSs aren't.
Copy/paste and multitasking leaves me questioning... but hopefully they'll add that later. I won't be buying until they do however.
But be specific in your criticism.
@Schmid7y
microsoft called at&t the premier carrier for windows phone 7 during the unveiling in february.
welcome to old news.
@Schmid7y
The more I think about it, the better I feel. I'm sure we'll get a phone at Sprint, but AT&T will be spending a ton of money in marketting letting the world know how great WP7 is. Which means, WP7 will be more sucessful and thus, more apps, more hacks and more everything for everyone. Whatever, bring it on!
Stop joking AT&T...... worst..... joke.... ever.
@Schmid7y
"AT&T's wireless growth these past few years has been largely based on iPhone"
at&t was growing before iphone. youre a fanboy
Anyone who doesn't understand the difference between "Premier" and "Exclusive", please stop posting.
@Androidsugly It never said their growth was based entirely on the iPhone, just largely on the iPhone, which can be interpreted a few different ways I *suppose* but you can't deny it's got some merit.
@Mike10010100 How exactly is the UI awesome? I'm a proponent of minimalism as well, but there's minimalism done right, and then there's the shrill and almost randomly colored rectangles of WP7. I tried really hard to find some aesthetic pleasure in any of it, but I just don't feel the love, sorry! I even prefer the minimalism of the latest BB GUI over what WP7 offers. Incidentally, I'm also a huge Android fan (on my third device right now, Samsung Vibrant), and while individual apps can certainly stray, the basic OS is not overly cluttered and has a definite sense of purpose.
@jon
Everyone who can't take a joke/ is an AT&T fanboy please stop posting.
Premier = first. Which means they'll be trying out all the neutering methods, and then passing the benefits of what the users can stand before getting outraged onto other carriers.
"Hey, the users don't care when you can't do x, and it saves us money."
Hopefully the carriers won't take plan pricing and/or restriction cues from AT&T.
@angelusp uh...how?
@patsy
I see what you're saying. It's definitely unusual, that's for sure. However, that's part of what makes it so alluring. The fact that icons AREN'T static and that new content from the cloud can intermix with your phone is kind of interesting. Some may interpret it as annoying, but I think it might be awesome.
Again, I'm reserving judgment till I can try one out, but these videos I've seen leave me very hopeful. Transitions are smooth like butter, things look bubbly and futuristic. The oversize text is also unusual. I think the interface can be pretty intuitive.
Just add in a couple things and we might have a winner here.
I'm certain you agree that the UI can't possibly be compared to anything else out there, right?
@Mike10010100
"AT&T only = killed it for me.
Sprint plz."
That's a joke? You're either not too bright, or not funny.
@jon
Excellent. We get that I made a mistake. Thanks for continuing to harp on it instead of reading the new post which clarifies. You feel better now?
@Schmid7y
Web definitions for premier
be performed for the first time
We already knew AT&T is getting Windows 7 first. That was announced the first time Microsoft showed off Windows 7. This is nothing new, it doesn't mean they're going to push it hard like Verizon pushes Android, it just means they'll have it first like T-Mobile with Android.
@Mike10010100
The EVO is a nice phone, I tried one out at Bestbuy... The thing is I only get one bar throughout my entire city when I had Sprint... Their coverage isn't that great... Plus, 4G is very limited, and when using 4G the EVO apparently has a very low battery life...
It may be the first, that doesn't mean it's perfect, it does need updates. Essentially like any other phone.
AT&T is the best network in my area, no other network has as strong a signal that I get with AT&T... Just because a select few blogs and such like to post all the time how miserable AT&T is as a provider, doesn't mean it is true. If I tried I could probably find many blogs hating Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc... I guess AT&T is just the most popular because it has the iPhone.
@Schmid7y I don't care if sprint is not the "premiere" network as long as they get a good wp7 device..... my pre had a good run but its time to move to something better.
@Mike10010100
Premier actually means first in rank (i.e. best) not first first place in line.
While I think the idea of ATT being the best at anything is laughable, I already have an HD2 on T-mob, and a decent WP7 handset would be a nice replacement for my Pure.
@Wiizer http://nooooooooooooooo.com/
@APV
Oh yeah, of course it needs updates. Every gen 1 product (like 4g) isn't perfect. However, some even more awesome phones (dual core proc, 512mb of ram, etc) will be out by next year.
I haven't really visited anywhere where I haven't gotten awesome Sprint service... AT&T is horrible where I live. I guess your mileage may vary. I still prefer it just for the sheer sake of no restrictions, nice benefits, and being the cheapest deal on the block.
@jon
It could mean either, but both imply bad things for consumers. Having the most WP7 presence/ having the best handsets = similar situation to the iPhone, being locked into AT&T's crazy restrictions. They already know how much they can get away with in regards to the customer due to the iPhone restrictions. I only hope that Sprint can get a powerful WP7 device and that AT&T won't get the pick of the litter.
@vplusv
Only after Cingular bought AT&T's wireless services and then rebranded the carrier from Cingular back to AT&T.
@vplusv
AT&T: So easy to use, no wonder it's number one!
Wait, no, that was something else...
@Mike10010100
"Thanks for continuing to harp on it instead of reading the new post which clarifies. You feel better now?"
Well, considering that your "clarifying" post; claims that your mistake was a joke, calls me a fanboy, and provides a inaccurate definition of premier, I felt it merited a response.
To your question. Yes, I do feel better now.
@jon
Excellent. I wasn't singling out you as a fanboy, just as you didn't single out me. Isn't passive-aggressiveness fun?
Moving on....
@Schmid7y
The resolution on Windows Phones will be a sucky WVGA and they won't offer anything compelling. WP7 is where iPhone was in mid 2008. No Copy Paste. No multi tasking. You can downrank me, but it's the truth.
At least they could have come out with higher resolution phones than WVGA .. how about 720p or XGA phones?
@mikmik111
Agree. Well said.
@Schmid7
Everyone knows if Alltel were around Chad would be waving his exclusive Windows Phone 7 in the rest of the carriers faces.
/s
@JS
Obviously there can never be any more features installed. Also, the resolution can never get better over time. EVER. Nothing will ever change.
Oh...wait....no....
@Mike10010100
Not so sure it will be carrier specific, more then AT&T getting a head start, VZW with its constant barrage (sp) if Droid ads (which I have nothing against and really don;t blame them,) Leaves them with one other large carrier. Always follow the money trail.
@Schmid7y Yawn. This OS already looks old and it's not even out yet.
Society welcomes AT&T about as fondly as mother welcomed breast cancer.
Society welcomes AT&T about as fondly as mother welcomed breast cancer.
@Wiizer in case you missed it, MS is limited the number of programs that can be preinstalled by both manufacturers and carriers.
@Schmid7y
Sprint is tiny. Who cares.
@Androidsugly Have fun with your brain that isnt fully functional.
Deleting the icon doesn't prevent the program from "loading in the background". It actually doesn't work like that anyway but, just for arguments sake.
But what you said just sounds silly. If the program has been removed, how the hell can it continue to load anything? That does not make sense. Does it just creep back into my phone while I sleep? Is it magic?
Or are you just a uninformed troll?
@Mike10010100 Ummmm.... you know they can't actually neuter WP7, right? There's no way they can touch the core functionality of the OS. That's the rule. They can include "Value-adding" software and add their own accent color and wallpapers, but that's it.
@slipdisc
Uninformed troll. They're the same ones who say "ROFL Android has a huge clock so it's ugly!", are told that the clock can be removed, and then make a completely illogical argument about how the "default setting should be the best one, right?".