Want An iPhone But Don't Want AT&T?

http://www.kirotv.com/news/19780742/detail.html ^

[MNDude]

WASHINGTON -- Do exclusive relationships between handset makers and cell phone carriers, like AT&T has with Apple's iPhone, help or hurt consumers? Senators grilled AT&T executive Paul Roth about the issue on Wednesday after hearing constituents' complaints about lack of competition.

Roth said the exclusive deal drives innovation and his company's subsidies make the iPhone more affordable.

[MNDude]

Basically the democrats are saying Apple should be able to make the iPhone available to other carriers despite what their contract says.

I'm sure Apple is afraid after Palm just released their new impressive PRE 2 weeks ago and is lobbying Washington to get them out of their contract.

[Mr. K]

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TELL US WHAT KIND OF CELL PHONES WE CAN BUY THAT WILL FIX IT!!

(this adminsistration is wearing out my capslock key...)

[edcoil]

In this case AT&T helped Apple pay for the development so it has a right to recover its cost and make a profit.

“Do exclusive relationships between handset makers and cell phone carriers, like AT&T has with Apple’s iPhone, help or hurt consumers?”

It does neither.

[Cagey]

What this country needs is a Cell Phone Czar. And maybe, a CAP KEY Czar.

[DennisR]

“I don’t want to be stuck with one kind of service because I want a certain phone and I think that’s how a lot of consumers feel,” said Sen. Amy Klobauchar; D, Minn.

Note to the Senator: “Waaaaaaaa” - or however you spell what babies do when they are not happy. It is pathetic that Congress (”you”) would waste my tax dollars on such trivial matters as this. Next thing you know government will be trying to take over the medical industry. /s

[DennisR]

Better yet, people in Congress should resign and start their own cell phone businesses where they can offer anything they want.

[abishai]

I want to live in the United States, but I don't want to live in the same country as these useless jackasses and their democrat representatives.

Fix that.

[ICE-FLYER]

Democrats want choice to authroize many abortions and choice in who services their phones but not in schools for children....no, they have to own that to indoctrinate

[SJSAMPLE]

They’re simply trying to kill innovation at the request of other telecom providers.

I thought Apple bought off Washington after the anti-trust fiasco?

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Do exclusive relationships between handset makers and cell phone carriers, like AT&T has with Apple's iPhone, help or hurt consumers?

There's no way it helps consumers. But it's a private arrangement between Apple and AT&T - hopefully government isn't going to say companies can't enter into exclusive business deals if they please.

[steve-b]

I take the Metro a lot and Verizon is really the only carrier you can use on the Metro

Now there is an exclusivity deal that is an appropriate subject for investigation. Public utilities should not be making sweetheart deals (e.g. exclusive rights to install signal repeaters in Metro tunnels) with politically connected corporations.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I want OnStar in my Ford.

I want a GSM Palm Pre.

John F’n Kerry can help...

[Zeddicus]

I am so sick and tired of this culture’s obsession with &^%!@! cellphones! I mean, WTF? Kids these days will literally spend HOURS fumbling with an itty-bitty keypad to text irrelevant abbreviated messages to each other, rather than just picking up the phone and having a real conversation.

Unless, of course, they’re driving a frickin car, in which case they will chat incessantly until they crash.

To me, a cellphone is something I throw in my motorcycle’s tank bag, like a screwdriver or allen wrench set, never to get used unless I have some sort of emergency.

But that’s fine. Everybody just go ahead and keep worrying about what service supports whatever absurd new trinket is all the rage this week, while our malevolent government slowly enslaves us all.

This has become a nation of vapid idiots.

/rant

[M203M4]

I want to eat a big mac and play with a particular cheap plastic $0.13 Disney toy, but I don’t want to buy them from McDonald’s! Why the exclusivity - where is the anti-trust case? Where is my justice? I demand my RIGHTS!!!1

I want to buy Circo brand foodstuffs, but I don’t want to shop at Target - when will the government force Circo product manufacturers to sell their goods at Wal*Mart? Where is my justice? I demand my RIGHTS!!!1

I want to buy a Toyota, but I want to be able to take it for warranty-covered servicing at the Nissan dealership, which is closer to my house! Why the exclusivity for warranty-covered work? Where is my justice? I demand my RIGHTS!!!1

[Terabitten]

Don’t like the iPhone with ATT? Get a Blackberry Storm on Verizon.

I can’t believe that our elected representatives are wasting their time with crap like this.

[MichiganConservative]

I want to see competitors for Congress.

[Zeddicus]

I can’t believe that our elected representatives are wasting their time with crap like this.

Oh, I can believe it: bread and circuses.

[Phantom Lord]

No person in America needs an iPhone. It is 100% a luxury purchase. If you don’t like the terms of the deal, get a phone and service that is more to your liking.

[Wuli]

Does an automobile manufacturer have a right to sell its cars ONLY through new-car dealers it signs exclusive contracts with? Yes.

So then naturally, a cell-phone maker, a furniture manufacturer, a gasoline refinery, a baker, a candlestick maker have the right to ONLY offer their goods through outlets they chose.

We need an investigation of Congress, asking where in the Constitution they find the right to ask many of their stupid questions.

[mouse_35]

If people don’t want contracts they better get used to paying full price for phones.