[rawhide]

I believe that this 5-yr exclusive deal between ATT and Apple will hurt Apple badly. The other cell phone service carriers will be seeking to bring out similar products and other cell phone manufacturers will deliver the product. Apple has defined the goal and it should not be much trouble for these other manufacturers to come up with a comparable product, even a better product.

And Apple cannot get in their door to sell the iPhones to other cell phone service providers for the next 5yrs, because ATT has prevented that from happening with their exclusive deal. And after 5yrs, the other cell phone manufacturers will have set up a business relationship with these cell phone service providers, Apple will have a hard time selling their products.

ATT will still have the right to use other cell phone manufacturers products during the next 5yrs, and market them with their service, so this deal should not hurt them too much.

[whatexit]

Perhaps Jobs does know who his friends are. His buddies could relieve him of the exclusive deal with AT&T, and he’ll be blameless.

Perhaps he’ll changes his name to cryptic symbol, and be referred to as “the innovator formerly known as Jobs”

[herMANroberts]

Better for the consumers (read me) if we can buy any phone and take it to any service provider or transfer and take my phone with me. This tying the phone to the service is like buying a car and having to subscribe to one gas company.

Don't know how this would happen without government regulation.