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
I will not buy any phone that runs on ATT. this applies equially to iphone, android or wp7.
But since WP7 has broad manufacturer support, I doubt ATT will the the exclusive carrier. "premier" carrier is just ATT PR spin.
Yea I really hope Sprint jumps on this. I read originally read that WP7 was going to be picked up by all carriers but if they are exclusive to AT&T I might as well get an iPhone.
AT&T a premier career? That is total bullshit. I get shitty signal and dropped calls all the time. I wish AT&T would just implode! I'm going back to verizon and getting the droid x. And if vzw gets windows mobile 7 phones then I may get one eventually. I HATE YOU AT&T just as much as I hate Steve Jobs!
@das boot
Don't blame AT&T. They were the best in the past. Blame the iPhone. Now that the iPhone is gonna be away from AT&T, now their network will be strong again.
@das boot I honestly dont get all the "AT&T has horrible service stuff". I've had them for years and the only spot I get a dropped call around here is the same spot every other carrier does
NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo!!! -Darth Vader
@Radar11c
http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/
I dont see any window phones that I like. I wont even buy the the Windows 7 OS for the pc's. I see android is hot ticket and more open source platform. I wont even consider AT&T service----->>>or even buying the iphone------->>>
As far as service I use sprint and tmobile and I dont have any problems with there services.
@nyc911 no one has seen any "real" windows phones yet...
Yes, because goodness knows trying to put a ton of WP7 phones onto a network that already can't handle the traffic it has from the iPhone is going to improve service.
If AT&T is going to be an exclusive or even the primary provider for WP7 devices, that doesn't seem like a prudent move on Microsoft's part.
I feel pretty confident that the business community will likely buy up a ton of these phones regardless of what carrier its on. Though it would be nice to see a mass release on ALL carriers, either way, RIM should definitely be shaking in their boots.
Sucks. I'm not going to a different carrier just for the phone. Even if it's a Windows 7 phone - even if it's my coveted Dell Lightning. I like my service. I'll wait and see what Verizon gets, if anything. If they get nothing, or nothing good, I'll go with a Droid X or Palm Pre Plus and carry my zune separately.
@digibal235
Zune FTW.
We're on the same boat.
Well, I already have a Moto Droid, but I was looking forward to WP7 to see what it offered. I guess my Zune Pass will stay confined to my Zune for now.
Windows operating system for the mobile phone is the ugliest os i have ever seen! Android and apple are the only ways to go.
Um, no. I'd rather have Sprint with my Win 7 phone thank you very much.
A 4G HTC Win 7 Phone to be specific.
Premiere doesn't necessarily mean ONLY. It could be that they will have the most advanced handsets and the best deals (possibly subsidized by MS?) giving them an edge that other carries don't have.
It's also possible they're looking for something to help carry them after the iPhone agreement expires so maybe they're attempting to garner an agreement with MS in some form or another.
Am i the only one that remembers att being the biggest joke of a carrier with barely any sibscribers until cingular bought them out. And then main att corp just ponied up some cash to get the whole thing. Basically, att wireless is what it is today because of a large check and a reacharound for steve jobs.
Shitty phone on a shitty network. That fits well.
Ugh crap. I like to get the phone but please no more AT &T
Better not have timed exclusivity on AT&T. I'm not going back to them for years, at least.
If you wanna be one of those crazies who gets all super speculative, maybe they're just prepping for the day their iPhone exclusivity ends.
Or maybe this is just more PR bullshit.
Sorry ATT, but my premier carrier will be the one that gives me unlimited data, whether it be Verizon, Sprint, TMobile, or Boost Mobile.
@unf2011
Cricket
AT&T only?! FAIL.
Wow, this is a letdown...
Oh well, I guess I won't have to decide whether to stick with Android when my contract is up.
att customers don`t want a windows phone. att needs more android devices. nobody wants a windows phone. att thinks that the only goodphone they need is the iPhone. almost every att phone has symbian. more android please!
WP7 phones are gonna end up on all the major US carriers. At&t will just be first. Samsung, LG, & HTC all have at least 2 devices in the works. It`s unlikely that at&t will sell all 6 at the same time. I want a 4G or LTE device so I don`t have to buy a new phone next year. I also want sprint to offer a 4G wp7 phone by december. I wouldn`t worry about at&t being the exclusive carrier though. I hate my android phone because the games are so 5 years ago and so is the UI. It`s annoying having to wait for updates because the stupid phone has been skinned to cover up the lack of design. Email sucks and copy & paste is so "hit or miss" it may as well not be on the phone. Multitasking is a battery killer and I need to eun task killers because the phone doesn`t time out apps well at all. At least MS is focused on the experience they deliver and not how to make your phone outdated two weeks after you buy it.
AT&T ruined it for me as well. Fuck at&t and everything about them.
8 million phones? heh...