[opendtv] Re: IEEE Ericsson article on use of LTE for TV

  • From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:56:08 -0500

Craig Birkmaier wrote:

>>> Apparently Verizon refused to take the deal Apple was offering, in
>>> large part because of the cost and the loss of control. AT&T took
>>> the deal.
>>
>> I don't think it's quite like that.

>> http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/
>
> Sorry Bert, but it was exactly like that.
>
> Apple offered the same deal to both carriers - the exclusivity was the
> "plum" that made the deal palatable to AT&T. Here is a succinct analysis

http://betanews.com/2011/01/08/why-verizon-won-t-let-apple-announce-iphone/

Wow, you do have a way of losing all objectivity when it comes to Apple. Your 
article even confirms my point that the wireless carriers have all the control, 
and you managed to miss that.

First off, that article is from last year, and it talks about the introduction 
of the iPhone 4. Its focus is not on the initial deal with the then newly 
branded AT&T wireless, which took over Cingular.

But specifically on the initial deal, here's what your article said:

"AT&T is different, **or was when Apple launched the original iPhone** in June 
2007. AT&T made lots of concessions to get iPhone, such as granting Apple 
control over the software and updates."

It doesn't say that Verizon got the same offers. All it says is that AT&T, **at 
that time** but no longer, had LESS bargaining power, and that therefore Apple 
could make a sweetheart deal with them. Exclusivity for AT&T, and Apple gets to 
behave more like the sucker of lemmings that is usually the role of the MVPDs 
and wireless carriers.

And then comes the most important part of the article. It goes on to say:

"Perhaps 18 months ago, Verizon would have ceded more to Apple. After all, AT&T 
was stealing away customers who wanted iPhone, and Verizon had nothing even 
remotely comparable to offer. But then in autumn 2009, Verizon launched the 
Droid -- a cool, Android 2.0 handset supported by a $100-million marketing 
campaign. Other hot-in-demand Droids followed."

So importantly, the iPhone is no longer such a big deal draw. And the carriers 
*have* the control. Apple tried to get that control, but they now have much 
less leverage than they used to. Even today, on the Diane Rehm Show, they had 
some guys on who talked about all manner of wireless comms topics. And they too 
confirmed that just because 4G will be going to LTE, the carriers are not going 
to allow compatibility among their nets. (Which by extension also applies to 
any broadcaster-owned LTE network, of course.)

I also wonder why anyone would take sides on this sorry state of affairs (for 
consumers). Why would anyone prefer a vertically oriented, walled-in Apple 
empire, to the much more open alternatives, given that they have to deal with 
individual wireless carriers either way? It's like jumping from the frying pan 
to the fire. How do you keep missing that?

Bert

 
 
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