Afraid of Google, AT&T Opens its Network
Filed in archive Mobile Technologies , Operators by leo on December 6, 2007
A few weeks after such bold statement that he is not afraid of Internet search giant Google, AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega
has a sudden change of heart. AT&T is now allowing their subscribers to use all kinds of handsets and mobile apps in their network without signing any contract.
"You can use any handset on our network you want. We don't prohibit it, or even police it," says de la Vega, in a news article.
It seems that the new buzzword in the entire industry is "OPEN". Thanks to Google's presence, major players like Verizon and AT&T are now filled with openness that I can't help but be disgusted.
Still, del a Vega's oozing arrogance constantly emanates as he hailed AT&T as the "most open wireless company in the industry." The timing is very questionable as well.
If they can open the network, why do it now instead of maybe 5 or 10 years ago? Why enslave customers on a short leash with its restrictions and 2-year contracts for many years?
The only motivation I can see now is to preempt the entry of Android but never about their customers. Without Google, do you believe they will be this magnanimous to open the network?
Another million dollar question now is this: will AT&T open iPhone too? Obviously, the answer is NO. Too much profit to share with anyone else.
has a sudden change of heart. AT&T is now allowing their subscribers to use all kinds of handsets and mobile apps in their network without signing any contract. "You can use any handset on our network you want. We don't prohibit it, or even police it," says de la Vega, in a news article.
It seems that the new buzzword in the entire industry is "OPEN". Thanks to Google's presence, major players like Verizon and AT&T are now filled with openness that I can't help but be disgusted.
Still, del a Vega's oozing arrogance constantly emanates as he hailed AT&T as the "most open wireless company in the industry." The timing is very questionable as well.
If they can open the network, why do it now instead of maybe 5 or 10 years ago? Why enslave customers on a short leash with its restrictions and 2-year contracts for many years?
The only motivation I can see now is to preempt the entry of Android but never about their customers. Without Google, do you believe they will be this magnanimous to open the network?
Another million dollar question now is this: will AT&T open iPhone too? Obviously, the answer is NO. Too much profit to share with anyone else.
Permalink: Afraid of Google, AT&T Opens its Network
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