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Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal

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SigmundTheSeaMonster
06/18/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
I would like to know why Kerry isn't asking the FCC (or FTC) in that Verizon "is" allowed to cripple phone features for profit, yet other carriers do not.

And how about all the packages to "save the con'dsumer" money with messaging, yet gouge those one-time users.

I smell something else in Senator "heinz catsup" Kerry's intentions...
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
06/18/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
Kerry, you had your chance to be relevant. Go home and chase kids off your lawn...
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Samifumi
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
The consumer should have choices, and should not be restricted in any way to make that choice based on financial kick backs one company pays to the other. If I buy a Honda, I shouldn't be restricted to using only Texaco gas because Honda gets a share of the prices. If I visit one physician, I shouldn't HAVE to go to his recommended specialist (because he gets a kickback).

There is no incentive to produce the best device in this circumstance. We are limiting the technology because AT&T and Apple are financially in bed together. And the consumer is suffering as a result.
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Jesus Diaz
06/17/09

@Samifumi: If Honda did that, I will buy another car. Here, the consumer has plenty of choices: Buy another phone.

If I was Apple and decided to sell a phone exclusively for people with blonde hair just because I want to, how is that abusing in any way? It's their own business and they can shoot themselves if they want to. They can cancel the iPhone tomorrow too. Or are you going to make them keep doing it because you think it is your right to buy it?

Buying and selling are not rights.

Apple doesn't have the right to make you buy a product. You don't have the right to buy a product from Apple or in your own terms. This has nothing to do with consumers "rights". Consumer rights are preserved from the moment there are hundreds of alternatives to the iPhone out there. Period.

The rest is just whining to have it your way.
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EBone
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
Hey Kerry - I hear there's some "Razor" phone you can only get on a carrier called "Cingular." You better look into that!
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chucklebuck
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
There's plenty of phone & carrier choice. There's just no iPhone choice. But damn, if you don't want AT&T then don't get an iPhone. It's like we've forgotten how to vote with our wallets. Just don't buy one if you hate the terms.
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Jesus Diaz
06/17/09

@chucklebuck: Exactly. These are the rules of the economy. Vote with your wallet.

This is just Verizon and the rest of corporations trying to take the advantage of the competition.
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FiddlingWhileJimRomeBurns
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
Jesus Christ, doesn't this asshat have something better to whine about? The economy is going down the shitter and he's worried about exclusivity agreements.

Have a cup of clam chowdah and shut the hell up.
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FiddlingWhileJimRomeBurns
06/17/09

@FiddlingWhileJimRomeBurns: A couple of follow-up thoughts:
1. What's his take on paying full price for a phone rather than the subsidized price? I'm sure his moron constituents aren't going to be happy paying $600-700 for a new phone.
2. As others have mentioned, would someone on Kerry's staff please explain to him the difference between GMS and CDMA? Wasn't he an officer in the Navy at one point? Does he not understand frequencies and encoding at all?
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Kaiser-Machead
06/17/09

@FiddlingWhileJimRomeBurns: Despite thorough technical training in the military, you'd be surprised how many people turn into non-techies, or even Luddites, after a good few years of not actually applying their training. My uncle was in the navy, and was a damn good technician and radioman. He can still decipher Morse code though with difficulty, but doesn't know dick about configuring a VCR.

A VCR
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Kaiser-Machead
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
I imagine when Kerry first learned of this, he stomped his platform shoes in frustration in the AT&T store.
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EBone
06/17/09

@Kaiser-Machead: EEERRRR!!!! Fire bad! Exclusivity Bad! EEERRRRR!!!!
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Ryan Shell
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
I agree with him though. 2 years after the fact, the iPhone should be with other carriers. If it were just simply a computer and not a phone then I'd agree to let be, but because it's a phone that's in high demand, it should be with other carriers too. The multi-year exclusivity deals are blatant anti-competitive behavior. I just want my iPhone on my verizon.
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Jesus Diaz
06/17/09

@Ryan Shell: Sorry, but that's not how the market works. You don't have any right to have an iPhone. You dont' have a right to buy anything. Read the bill of rights or the UN declaration of rights. No sign of iPhone rights.
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wkm001
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
They should start worrying about something that effects everyone. Like the ridiculous gas prices. There is no way in hell gas should be over $2.
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Saboth
06/17/09

@wkm001:

Actually I'm with you. Due to speculators, gas can go as high or low as they want. Actual supply and demand seems to have less of an influence on gas prices as investors. IMO the government should regulate oil investors to a higher degree than normal. The oil speculating was causing a bubble on gas prices that helped lead to the recession and higher prices that we all pay.
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Hello Mister Walrus
06/17/09

@Saboth: Speculation only causes short term volatility. Supply and demand generally work in the long term. That's why for as long as we can remember, gas in the UK is more expensive than gas in the US, which is more expensive than gas in China, etc.
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not_a_virus.exe.vbs
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
As cool as the iPhone is, it is just a phone. You can get it unlocked and run it on T-Mobile. Just like you can get the G-1 and run it on ATT. The T-Mobile rep crapped her pants when I showed her my G-1 running on ATT's network, because "It couldn't be done". And why is this a concern of anyone, I think there are way more important issues to be discussed, like healthcare.
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Dr Durdon
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
I knew Kerry was a T-Mobile user. I fancy him as the type to be all over Catherine Zeta Jones.

But seriously, why is this worth the government's time? Don't they have better things to do, like, say, blame the video game industry for ruining our youth?
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philibuster
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
It was good that Kerry lost the election.
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Hello Mister Walrus
06/17/09

@philibuster: That election was pathetic.
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Gerald Manning
06/17/09

@philibuster: At the cost of more of Bush? Hmmm not so sure...
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
06/17/09

@Gerald Manning: Kerry's behavior after the election was pathetic, and has really only gotten worse over time. Even though I voted for him, I'm glad he lost at this time.
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Hello Mister Walrus
06/17/09

@Six Demon Bag: Lite: What really puzzles me is that in the entire 300 million population of the US, Bush and Kerry were the best candidates we could come up with. I mean, seriously, wtf?
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radikaled
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
I take this opportunity to say "fuck Verizon!". I cancelled all 3 of my lines for the iPhone. BWAHAHAHAHA! I love how the Verizon customer service people get pissy when you tell them it's because of the iPhone.
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hhkim515
06/17/09

@radikaled: Whaa? I'm pretty sure Kerry is asking for an investigation in all cell phone companies (i.e Verizon) with exclusivity contracts and not just AT&T. Plus what AT&T doesn't have are good Blackberries.

Once Apple decides to go with Verizon and fuck AT&T in the butt, I'll be happy. (According to the NYT: [www.usatoday.com] )

PS: I have an iPhone and have At&T so no flamers plz.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
06/17/09

@hhkim515: Which is pretty damn funny since Apple approached Verizon before AT&T about their phone...

I'm guessing AT&T will pay well to keep their iPhone "Monopoly" agreement intact considering how much business it has brought them.
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redkamel
06/17/09

@radikaled: just wait. I had verizon. Its the same as ATT, just with better coverage.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
06/17/09

@redkamel: better customer service, and by far the worst phone selection of any major US carrier.

There, fixed that one.
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Pazu
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
Where exactly can you buy the iPhone unlocked -- in USA?
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Sacha Cohen
06/17/09

@Pazu: eBay. Or unlock it yourself...
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not_a_virus.exe.vbs
06/17/09

@Pazu: [www.myworldphone.com] though it is hella expensive, better off to buy one on Craigslist or Ebay and get it unlocked.
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Gerald Manning
06/17/09

@d-_-b: Yeah and get attacked by the Craigslist Killer!!!
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mralmostpopular
06/17/09

@Pazu: Not only that, but where could you buy an unlocked CDMA device that would work on a US carrier? You couldn't. You kind of have a choice between AT&T or T-Mobile, but that's not really much of a choice. So to say you can choose whatever carrier you want like the old Ford saying, "you can have any color you want, as long as it's black".
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Xjep
06/17/09

@Sacha Cohen: where can you do it legally ?
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not_a_virus.exe.vbs
06/17/09

@Xjep: It isn't illegal to unlock phones, no matter what Apple or ATT will tell you.
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not_a_virus.exe.vbs
06/17/09

@darthsaber10: There is no technical reason you couldn't buy a Sprint CDMA phone and use it with Verizon. They just don't want you to.
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not_a_virus.exe.vbs
06/17/09

@Gerald Manning: Don't worry I won't kill you.
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PurpleMonkeyDishwasher:
06/17/09

In reply to Senator Kerry Doesn't Like Apple-AT&T Exclusive iPhone Deal
I understand monopolies are bad, but I don't think exclusivity agreements should be banned. If both companies agree to the terms, I don't see a problem. If the consumer feels like the exclusivity is treating them unfairly, they can just get another phone at another carrier.
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weatherman
06/17/09

@Purple Monkey Dishwasher: the problem comes from the companies colluding on price setting to the detriment of the consumers. It's classic anti-competitive practice.
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AmphetamineCrown
06/17/09

@weatherman: You are throwing out terms like you know what they mean, then misusing. First, price setting is OK. Price fixing is bad. But, AT&T and Apple do not compete, so they aren't colluding to fix prices. And, you have to have market power to fix prices. The iPhone is popular, but it is not the only phone.

@tmed: OK, this argument gets a little more creative--you are essentially arguing the iPhone *is* a market unto itself. Except that there is no evidence to suggest that the people who buy iPhone would not buy some other phone given an increase in price. The features of the iPhone, by and large, are available through other phones on other platforms. There is no iPhone monopoly, just a successful iPhone product in a highly competitive phone market (or even narrow it to smartphone market).
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weatherman
06/17/09

@AmphetamineCrown: I do know what I mean, I was just being a little fast and loose. Call it price fixing or whatever you want, I personally believe these sort of arrangements that include ridiculous contract provisions and replacement phone charges, are anti-competitive. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the iPhone is not an $800 device in any legitimately free market open to pure competition.
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