AT&T Cripples Blackberry... to Keep Apple Happy?

Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:01PM EDT

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The wireless carrier everyone loves to hate just took things to a new low, according to the blog BlackBerry Cool: When the BlackBerry 8820 launches next month, AT&T will lockdown the 8820's GPS capability so that the TeleNav navigation software will be "the only functioning 3rd party software." (Officially rumor, the blog says the news comes from an inside source at AT&T.)

It could be worse. AT&T could have disabled GPS altogether (as some blogs are erroneously reporting). Wireless carriers have been known to do even more loathsome things to the devices they carry.

While BlackBerry Cool describes this move as a "crippling," in all honesty most users will use the GPS features of the 8820 only with TeleNav, and other third-party GPS apps are not really a big concern. But it is troubling that AT&T is taking such efforts to stifle development for the platform: The idea of a combined GPS/localized search system is enticing, but at least on AT&T this won't be happening.

In case you missed it, my review of the Blackberry 8800 can be found here. The new 8820 is basically the same GPS-enabled, device, plus the addition of Wi-Fi, which could make it a devastating competitor to the iPhone for some buyers.

And that's what conspiracy theorists are saying is happening here: AT&T is caving in to pressure from Apple to make the RIM device a less attractive alternative to the iPhone, all in order to preserve its relationship with Apple and keep moving those expensive gadgets. But since many business buyers don't really see the iPhone as an enterprise-class gadget (and, really, it isn't), this potential move has corporate customers steamed. Even though this one little thing is ultimately not that a big deal, it's still a step in a dangerous, distasteful direction, a sad day for AT&T, and a slap in the face of technological progress.

Want the 8820 but don't like what AT&T's doing? You can still snag it from T-Mobile and a few regional carriers when it launches next month. Vote with your wallet.

LINK: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone 

Comments on AT&T Cripples Blackberry... to Keep Apple Happy?

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  • 1 Posted by cidman882003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for the heads up! I am in the middle of trying to move 20 company phones to AT&T from another carrier and this Blackberry flap has given me reason to hold off until the smoke clears. The apple is cute but not a real business solution - in its current form - for my line of work. Kind of like Vista...

  • 2 Posted by mquinn94063 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Christopher, You stated that this was "Officially rumor", and yet all of the language of your article refers to this as fact concluding with, "Want the 8820 but don't like what AT&T's doing? You can still snag it from T-Mobile and a few regional carriers when it launches next month. Vote with your wallet." Well which one is it? Rumor or Fact. Sounds like this article is just spreading a rumor to me and you are just another chatty little gossip. You cant write with much credibility from both perspectives.

  • 3 Posted by jnagarsheth on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    thanks for the heads up i was going to buy the blackberry 8820 but now i am beginning to think to switch from at&t to some other carrier

  • 4 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I cant confirm or deny the rumor, but I am working on some AT&T branded Blackberry's to get some applications working on them, and even the AT&T techs have no clue about what is going on with the Blackberries - all they know is applications that SHOULD work no longer work on them at all. This may be an even wider issue than originally thought. Switch to T-Mobile instead and never have to worry about it again.

  • 5 Posted by etoohey on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am using the 8800 on the AT&T (ex-Cingular) network however I am on the enterprise server. Google maps with GPS works on it currently so I don't know what the article is talking about. I'm actually more frustrated with the fact that Yahoo Messenger doesn't work on the AT&T network.

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