AT&T Says: We're Open Too! Seriously!
Thu Dec 6, 2007 10:49AM EST
See Comments (9)
Say, folks, AT&T would like to remind you that Verizon isn't the only "open" game in town. It's got an open network, too! Er... never mind that it's been that way for years and AT&T hasn't changed a thing. It makes for a good press release, right? Attaboy, AT&T!
USA Today is typically breathless in its pronouncement that "AT&T flings cellphone network wide open" while trying to tie this latest reminder from AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega to Google's upcoming Android mobile phone OS, though Android is months off at best. Of course, Verizon's recent change of heart on nonapproved devices is the real reason for de la Vega's reminder, who says, "You can use any handset on our network you want."
That, of course, has long been the case: Just grab your AT&T SIM card and pop it in any GSM phone. I've been doing this for two years, with dozens of handsets, foreign and domestic, and have never had the slightest of problems. (You see, unlike with a CDMA network like Verizon, unlocked GSM phones actually exist.)
Of course, de la Vega is careful to note that the Apple iPhone is a "very special" case, but that's really more an issue of a locked handset, not a locked network.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, T-Mobile, as the other GSM game in town, has one of these superopen networks too. Expect a reminder... er, announcement... from the company soon.
And Sprint? It's your turn to jump in the pool now!
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2 Posted by robeko1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse
You think so sus731 ? I could'n use any of my 3 T-Mobile phones after terminating their service when my two-year contract expired. Those phones were all GSM. Awful company, by the way. Never want to deal with them again...
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3 Posted by robeko1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse
I think that lots of people "know" that AT&T is "open".... It is just that because of their horrible customer service record and high charges..... NOBODY CARES. LOL
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4 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Their phones are not open however. Nor are their networks totally open. Try running a video application using a non-AT&T phone. Your service will be terminated immediately.
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5 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
They aren't open open. Not like European networks anyway. I'll never use AT&T if I have the option not to. I just think that sticking with one carrier your happy with should be enough, right?
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1 Posted by sus731 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:49PM EDT Report Abuse
i don't understand why everyone thinks verizon is revolutionary in what they are doing... there are tons of articles in quality publications like WSJ, Business Week, etc. that state verizon's move is innovative.. and progressive, but GSM by nature has always been this way... what am i missing?