TiPb Speculates: What if AT&T Wants to Take Over iPhone Apps?
With all of these rumors about about AT&T interfering with Slingplayer getting into the App Store and changing their ToS to simply retract it the next day, it has to make a person think… What is AT&T up to?
Could the next iPhone be headed in the direction of some other smartphones by having AT&T bloatware thrust upon it? Would Apple even allow AT&T to restrict or replace 3rd party apps with their own carrier branded, white-label built-in options that perform similar functions at premium service prices?
Skype and Ustream are already not allowed on 3G, only WiFi. We’ve also heard rumors that AT&T was working on a U-Verse application for the iPhone. Features such as programming shows to record, using the iPhone as a wireless remote, ability to allow iPhone voicemails to be managed and controlled through the U-verse interface, etc… On top of all of those features it may be possible they want to add some sort of SlingPlayer-like capabilities such as streaming channels directly to your iPhone. Granted, you would have to be a subscriber of their U-Verse service but never-the-less, could it be a sign of things to come as carriers desperately try to avoid becoming “dumb pipes“?
AT&T’s Chief Technology Officer John Donovan had the following to say:
“We’re looking at the whole landscape, of what people use, and what’s out there in the home”
So what do you, our readers, think about all of this ? Is it possible that AT&T is trying to steal some control back from Apple? Trying to get their same-old bloatware onto our iPhones?
April 16th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
If the rumor that they’re trying to extend their exclusivity deal with Apple an extra year is true then they can try but it isn’t going to happen.
Consider that LTE is the network of the future for both AT&T and Verizon. Verizon is going to get there first so they’re going to want to keep iPhone users very happy to prevent switching. Making enemies now isn’t going to help their cause. Being innovative (and exclusive) will. So no chance they take anything back from Apple.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Don’t forget there are actually people outside of America who use providers other than AT&T.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
@Frazam, of course AT&T content would not end up on Rogers or anyone else’s network. This pertains only to AT&T here in the United States. And it’s us purely speculating.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
This would be plausible only if AT&T was the only carrier on the planet to support the iPhone, but since they started selling iPhones with no contract (or will start, I don’t know), that’s just a wrong move from Apple.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
@Wesley as long as AT&T is in the game here in the states, at launch a contract will be required. Down the road that may change but only time will tell.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
The day ATT starts to load their garbage and stops other software developers from giving us great apps–is the day I ditch them for another provider. I really hope ATT listens to its users. If Apple does open up to other carriers–I think ATT will make every effort to control what’s put on the phone.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Wouldn’t this require custom builds of the iPhone OS updates for each carrier? That sounds complicated. I would think it’s more likely AT&T would offer a U-Verse app in the App Store, possibly for free. It would be a great way to sell the iPhone to U-Verse customers and U-Verse to iPhone customers. I would much prefer them trying to compete with others like Slingplayer, rather than trying to outright ban them. That could lead to some legal issues for them.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
rubbish post
April 16th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I agree with dtyt: This is a rubbish article. Talk about grasping at straws for a basis for an article. AT&T trying to restrict a few data intensive applications provides no foundation for this sort of speculation and certainly not “news worthy” even as a rumor post.
It sucks that AT&T is trying to limit some of these apps, but it doesn’t seem a wise move on their part to allow applications that would severely tax their network or affect their business model. Allowing Skype to run over 3G is great until you realize that you are no longer selling cellular minutes. Or that your already overburdened network could crash on a large scale.
Sure, other devices are running Sling, but nowhere near the numbers of iPhone users. How many times have we seen AT&T service crash when large numbers of cellular users gather at conventions?
I don’t see Apple handing over control of a cash cow like the App Store to anyone, let alone a wireless carrier that wasn’t even their first choice. There are also over 25K apps in the App Store and AT&T has spoken out against only a few. How does this point to AT&T taking the reigns in any way, shape, or form.
I love this site but if this is what’s passing for news….
April 16th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
To all those quoting that the “number of iPhone users” that will crash the network due to sheer numbers: It is a forgone fact that iPhone owners will shell out money for new Sling hardware AND the sling media app? As a recent iPhone purchaser (from WM) I know I refuse to purchase new hardware to replace my Slingbox AV just to use it with the iPhone. Even if let’s say (and this is a big if) 50 percent of all iPhone users have what it takes to run sling, is that enough to bring down a network, considering that those numbers might already been in place from the WM, Symbian, Palm owners on the network already using Slingplayer?
April 16th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
@dtyt and evilhomer, There have been other hints this may happen. Carriers put their own bloatware on all sorts of phones while unlocked ones have none, so how is that far fetched? Simply because it’s an iPhone? Please… anything is possible.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/03/23/att-new-iphone-will-be-hot-son/
In regards to the new iPhone “AT&T is said to be working with Apple to create a unified product with an unparalleled experience across all their products and services.”
Pure rubbish eh?
April 16th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
It’s only made my decision easier to dump the iphone and go back to Sprint and get the Pre.
As much as Sprint gets bashed for terrible CS..why would you want to go to AT&T that either can’t supply sufficient bandwidth or won’t allow apps that may contradict what they have planned?
Don’t think that Apple isn’t losing sleep over Slingbox. They do have an Itunes store to run that sells media. In other words, if Apple wanted it to happen, it’d happen. This is a partnership between apple and at&t.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@Jeremy: Are you serious? The title of your article includes “take over iPhone apps”.
In the BGR article, the only two references of AT&T applications are:
U-Verse iPhone application; will allow control of your home DVR (play, pause, rewind, etc.)
and
AT&T is said to be working with Apple to create a unified product with an unparalleled experience across all their products and services.
Neither of those statements would lead a sane person to think that AT&T is “taking over iPhone Apps”. At best, the first statement points to an APP. Plain and simple. An app that you will likely download, by choice, from the App Store. Mostly it discusses new hardware and beefed up network but certainly does not point to AT&T’s control of the iPhone apps or OS.
And the second statement could mean anything. Sure AT&T is working with Apple for a unparalleled experience. They are working with them on more widespread and faster coverage. They are working with them to bring MMS. They may be working with them to bring iChat. AT&T would have to be involved because they are providing the network that all these services run on.
It is true that carriers have alway put their bloatware on subsidized phones. However, you can’t say the iPhone is exempt from carrier bloatware just because it’s an iPhone because it has been from day one. In TWO launches of the device not one piece of carrier bloatware has shown up and nothing about the statement you quoted points to that happing. Everyone knows that the iPhone has played by different rules with AT&T than any other manufactures device.
Will AT&T’s offer apps for the iPhone? It’s possible. Does that mean that AT&T will control iPhone apps? Not even with the wildest stretch of the imagination.
You can’t write “anything is possible” as you did in your response. That’s no journalism even at an editorial level. Sure, anything and everything is always “possible” but a good news article is based on at least some facts and the “probable”.
Pointing us to BGR’s post did nothing to add any legitimacy to yours. Nothing in his backs up any of your theories. So yeah…. Pure rubbish.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
@Cardfan: Really? Apple nor AT&T has rejected Slingplayer and this is ZERO fact that AT&T will install bloatware on the iPhone or that Apple would even let them. So with nothing but wild conjecture on the part of this blogger, you are ready to dump the iPhone, or the iPhone 3.0 for that matter, for a device that hasn’t even hit the market yet on a sinking network? Even early users of the Pre are stating that they “aren’t impressed” and many blogs, even this one I think, are pointing to it being an over-hyped device.
@Jeremy: Do you see how seriously people will take this conjecture you call news?
April 16th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Well, yes, pure rubbish, if you take that quote to mean anything more than AT&T will be making applications that work across multiple devices, including the iPhone. I am sure AT&T and Apple are also working in concert on leveraging synergies while focusing on their fundamentals to provide win-win synergies to delight every customer and the planet. The quote is meaningless PR speak.
Apple’s entire existence is based on providing a better design and better user experience than the competition. They know it, too — Apple has been maniacally focused since their inception, since, they also know, without a compelling one, they die. A big partner may have be able to pressure Apple about app store policies, but not the core product. Apple would have to change their entire corporate culture, and sacrifice both their market “cool” and their product differentiating factor, in order to give AT&T that type of input. AT&T has nowhere near that amount of leverage. Not even close. Jeez, it was just two days ago you guys linked to articles suggesting AT&T needs Apple a lot more than Apple needs AT&T. So yes, either pure rubbish, or a great troll.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Evilhomer, you are taking the title a bit too seriously. This was done to spark conversation, and indeed it has done so. Have a nice day!
April 16th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
everyone who thinks the iphone is untouchable and that bloatware being put on the iphone from at&t needs to wake up. dont know why some of you think it cant happen. i even understand this was posted as a question to get conversation. would not say its “rubbish”.
April 16th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
@Mike — It could happen, if AT&T dropped a big enough sack of money on Cupertino to get Apple to change their entire corporate culture. They can’t. The price would be way too high for the benefit. It could happen without any payments if AT&T had a hammer over Apple big enough to force the issue. They don’t. All reports indicated that Apple holds the hammer now, and at least for the duration of the next contract to be negotiated.
Still, you are right — the iPhone is not untouchable. If by bribe or by hammer, carrier bloatware crept in, people will “wake up,” because I can think of nothing that would inspire people to jailbreak more.
April 16th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
@Jeremy: So, write an inflammatory title with very little relevance to the actual article, which is itself based on nothing but wild conjecture just to spark conversation? You don’t need to be writing here. You need to be writing for the National Enquirer.
@Mike N: Apple users are wide awake my friend. Unlike PC’s, Apple has never allowed “bloatware” on their hardware. This is just one of the benefits of owning them. It’s not unrealistic to think that they will stick with that business model and continue to control their own hardware and software as they’ve always done. (Which has been a MAJOR benefit in and of itself)
The fact that the article was written as a question doesn’t let it off the hook for being rubbish. Blogging “what if” scenarios is pointless without any real chance of it actually happening.
April 16th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
evilhomer must be steve jobs himself to be able to say there is no real chance of something like this happening. big apple insider you must be. get over it and move along.
April 16th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
@Evilhomer…Early users not impressed with the Pre? Surely you’re not talking about the couple of 15yr olds caught in the wild? lol
Sprint isn’t sinking, they’re getting re-energized and finally getting a phone worth writing home about. It’s a mature 3g network unlike AT&T’s ****. I like the iphone as much as the next guy, but AT&T sucks azz and always has. Sprint’s problem is simply bad perception of CS..easily cured..which AT&T has as well.
I posted when slingbox submitted the app that its a good litmus test to go by. There’s simply no good reason that i’m willing to accept for it not to be approved. And none of this wifi only ****. These are the cool apps people have been waiting for despite 25k of useless garbage apps. It’s not just sling but any app that they deem uses too much data. Forget it. Why would you support this?
April 16th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Seriously? **** all of you. If you have a problem with the content of this blog, don’t ******* read it. It’s a blog. It’s meant to get people talking and get your interest. And to all you ****** AT&T haters, AT&T has nothing but quality service and coverage here in new england. I too am pissed off that they might have blocked the sling app, and that is bullshit, but get the **** over it. **** happens. And **** all of you for wasting my time reading bullshit comments from dumbasses who think they know what apple will allow or not. Cause the fact is that you have no ****** clue. So have a good ****** night.
April 16th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Ugh, really? Really this post is hard to understand in terms of relevance? It’s clearly labeled “what if”. The iPhone isn’t going to Verizon and we’ve covered that. It’s not going exclusively unlocked and we’ve covered that. Carriers are known control-freaks, and AT&T has blocked NetShare and forced Skype and Ustream off 3G. White label MMS and TV apps have appeared in Europe.
This may be unlikely, may be remote at best, but sampling the user base to show the reaction to even unlikely, remote scenarios is not a bad thing. It’s, in point of fact, a good thing.
Good discussion is important, and we value any and every opinion on the subject, but please have the base courtesy not to insult the staff or the topic.
Act like we’re all hanging out, having a drink, shooting the breeze, and speak like we’re face to face.
Then we can concentrate on the conversation without personalization.
Kthxbai
April 16th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
@cardfan: Support what?? As of yet, Slingplayer has not been shot down by either Apple or AT&T. And AT&T is not alone with it’s bandwidth concerns with Slingplayer. Why do you think that there is no Slingplayer app, even beta, for Verizon Blackberry devices? And the carriers are capping what used to be unlimited bandwidth. And I’m sorry but continuing to loose over a million subscribers per quarter isn’t what I’d call “re-energizing”. Whether or not their coverage is good is subjective to your area. Period so arguing over who has a better network is futile. I like AT&T just fine but I’d take VZW over Sprint any day of the week.
And again. the Pre has not hit the market so it’s a bit premature to crown it as the Saviour of Sprint or even a good seller. Although they did a great job of steali… imitating the iPhone platform, this is still Palm we are talking about and Palm has mad one bad move after another for the last several years.
@MikeN: I’ve got nothing to get over. Apple has never allowed bloatware on their hardware and there is NOTHING indicating otherwise But hey, if you want to sweat about it based on the tripe written in this article, be my guest.
April 16th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
@Rene: If any of your comments are directed at me, anything that I said about Jeremy’s post I would have said to his face, over a beer. I have made the comments that I’ve made toward him because, for the most part, I like this blog.
However, I think posts that throw out conjecture, based on no little or no facts, and with no at least half way credible sources simply to get a rise out of readers, is cheap and lazy journalism. Personally, I’d like to see this site take a higher road than some. Post real news, based on real facts. Or even post write some good rumor posts as long as it is based on SOME sort of credible source. BGR is a good example of this. IMO, it’s was criminal of Jeremy to site BGR’s post on this subject as his basis in writing this article. The BGR post indicated nothing of the sort.
If they shoot down Sling, then by all means, lets rant about it. If they announce that AT&T will be loading up our next iPhone with it’s own bloatware, let’s write hate mail and sign petitions. I’d be the first signature. But why get everyone all pissed at AT&T and Apple when they are guilty of neither of these atrocities as of yet?
Ok. So It’s no really big deal. It’s just one article. I guess I should read it and blow by with no comment. But without feedback from the readers, good and bad, how will this site build on what it does right, and improve on what it does not? I assumed that since there is a way to post feedback, that it’s encouraged.
Like I said, I’d like to see this turn into the premier iPhone site. So far, blackberry has a great thing going with Crackberry but so far, I have really seen the definitive iPhone site. I would think it great if this were to be that site, but it has less of a chance if it’s “journalists” are just going to throw **** against the wall and see what sticks.
Peace.
April 16th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Ok, seriously, the word cr@p is censored? Is this site based in Salt Lake City?
April 16th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
@evilhomer: **** you. I don’t give a **** what you think and this is the premiere iPhone site to me and a lot of people, but if you’re too much of a stiff to enjoy a quality post, get the **** outta here. We don’t want your sorry ***.
I got your back jeremy
April 16th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Yes Jeremy. Corey has your back. Betcha feel a lot better now!
@Corey: Based your juvenile post, a coloring book is a premiere novel to you so I’m not impressed. And just because you learned some big boy cuss words doesn’t mean they have to be used in every sentence out of your mouth. You see, grown ups know how to use swearing selectively and know that it doesn’t really make us tough.
Now sign off and go to bed before I tell your Mommy you are playing on the ‘puter past your bedtime.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I appreciate everyones comments and opinions, that is something that makes this world go around. Evilhomer may disagree and that is his opinion and I have every right to toss mine out there as well. Fact is, this site covers facts, rumors, opinions, etc… We are not here just to spit facts out.
Again, I appreciate everyone who reads this site, whether they agree or disagree, lets just keep personal attacks out of the comments from here on out.
Thanks.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
While Apple may allow AT&T to place a few apps on the iphone, it certainly won’t allow them run the show. Make no mistake, Apple is in charge here. AT&T needs Apple, not the other way around.
April 17th, 2009 at 3:22 am
WOW
April 17th, 2009 at 9:11 am
@Evilhomer:
Swearing is a verb. Profanity would’ve been the proper choice of word for a “grown up” to use.
So, we’re not very impressed, either.
April 17th, 2009 at 9:29 am
It is always amusing when sombody trots out a grammatical argument without knowing the rules of grammar.
“Swearing” is not only the present participle, it is the gerund, or “Action Noun,” form of the verb. Gerunds are verb forms that take the place of nouns in sentences, and they have been part of English for as long as there has been English, and in other languages before that. If your high school seriously never taught you this concept, you could have at least checked wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerund
April 17th, 2009 at 10:15 am
@grammar alert:
Incorrect.
Wikipedia? Is that where you receive your education? That explains it. LMAO!
April 17th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Puh-lease. The Gerund exists, EvilHomer used it properly, and you had no idea what you were talking about. Apparently, the best you can do is to make fun of a source when you are clearly wrong.
Wikipedia was just a convenient link. If you want to give me your postal address so I can personally mail you photocopies from my old English textbook, feel free to leave it. It’s ok; not many people remember the Gerund is a valid part of the language after they leave high school — just most people do not act like an *** about grammar to other informal posters without checking the rules themselves.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Wow. B!tch fight! Evil Homer, the article was clearly labeled as speculation. Take it for what it’s worth. Why bash the poster? This is a blog. This not professional journalism. The moderators have day jobs and post in their spare time for their enjoyment and ours. If you want pure journalism, search elsewhere.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I’m having a little bit of trouble viewing your site in Firefox, but it may just be my computer. Apart from that, I love your site. I plan on surfing around and checking out some more posts!