The Inquisitr » AT&T

AT&T Makes HP iPaq Glisten 3G Worldwide Phone Official

James Allen Johnson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:03:33 +0000

AT&T has just announced their newest “world phone” with the HP iPaq Glisten 3G, a qwerty keyboard equipped Smartphone with WinMo 6.5 and plenty of other features that business users should find convenient and fun.

The iPAQ Glisten includes an AMOLED touchscreen display alongside a 3.1MP camera and built-in GPS. It also features, as the name would suggest, 3G data bands and a WiFi adapter for added web surfing and data transfers.

The Glisten also features Windows Marketplace for Mobile, IE Mobile 6 and the official Facebook app so you can stay connected to all of your friends on the go. AT&T users can also use the dedicated WiFi control button found on the phone to access over 20,000 WiFi hotspots provided by the cellular company.

The HP Glisten will be available “in the coming weeks” for $229.99 with a $50 mail-in rebate and your name on the dotted two year contract line. [SlashGear]

AT&T To Get Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Hopefully Cheaper Than “Unlocked” Pricing.

James Allen Johnson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:48:14 +0000

If you search the web right now for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, you’ll quickly find prices up to $999 for an unlocked version of the Smartphone, plus an “unknown release date” tagging along on those product pages, however if you don’t mind waiting past the initial unlocked date, you may find the device at much cheaper AT&T contract pricing.

A recent rumor at Engadget is leading us to believe that AT&T will pick up the North American version of the device upon it’s release and will offer 3G data support in the U.S.

The device is expected to ship with two flavors, an international version and a North American version. The AT&T model would offer the following calling bands: 800/850/1900/2100mhz.

Unfortunately if the phone is anything like the Xperia X1 it may not be worth its weight in contract negotiated pricing. Stay Tuned for more info as it arrives…

HP Mini 110 Arrives At AT&T, Gets Subsidized, Offers Same Specs As Verizon Model

James Allen Johnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:57:51 +0000

Verizon Wireless is October added the HP Mini 110 netbook to their lineup of offered devices and proceeded to subsidize the device to any data seeking users who came their way. Now AT&T is following suit, offering the same exact Netbook with built in AT&T 3G data connectivity, opposed to Verizon EV-DO service.

The netbook arrives on November 22nd for a price of $199 after a mail-in-rebate, 2 year contract and minimum monthly data plans.

The Mini 110 features Windows 7, a 10.1 inch LED backlit display with anti-glare and 1GB RAM, plus the already mentioned 3G service and a 160GB hard drive. Everything is pretty standardk netboo fare right down to the Intel Atom processor.

You’ll need to sign up for at least an AT&T DataConnect plan which provides 200MB of data per month for $35 or you can grab their $60 plan that provides 5GB monthly transfer rates.

Then again you could just go drop $300 on a decent netbook with the same or even better pricing and specs over Black Friday and not have to worry about shoddy 3G service you’ll experience in many 3G areas or for that matter a 2 year contract.

Big Fail: AT&T Online Chat Representatives Apparently Can’t Do Anything

James Allen Johnson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:49:18 +0000

A recent screenshot from an AT&T online chat has been posted and the conversation is actually quite entertaining with the customer service representative basically telling the customer that they don’t have access to anything.

Here’s the conversations screenshot (Gizmodo):

I’m not sure if the screenshot is real, but given some of the conversations I’ve had with AT&T customer service in the past I wouldn’t put it beyond them to offer a service that they don’t really support.

Either way it’s good for a laugh and the rep in the screenshot sure seemed laid back and by that I mean they may have been a bot. Again I’m not sure if the screen is real but its definitely plausible.

AT&T Shows Off Sierra Wireless 7.2Mbps USBConnect Lightning

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:33:32 +0000

With AT&T rolling out 7.2Mbps 3G services it was only a matter of time before they begun showing off the devices that will power those connections, one of the first being the AT&T USBConnect Lightning designed by Sierra Wireless.

The USBConnect Lightning offers 7.2Mbps downlink capabilities but outside of that fact it’s nothing more than a standard USB stick, although it does offer a “swivel usb port” that makes connecting the unit to your gadgets a whole lot easier.

The device rolls out officially on November 22nd and can be snatched up for free with a two year data plan agreement.

The original launch is set for Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami and Los Angeles, all of which will go live by the end of the year. [AT&T]

AT&T Under Fire For “Faking” Net Neutrality Opposition

AHN — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:41:41 +0000

Washington, D.C. (AHN) – One of the nation’s largest telecommunications company has come under fire for encouraging its employees to protest net neutrality regulations being considered by the Federal Communications Commission.

The recommendation by AT&T’s top lobbyist comes just days ahead of a Thursday meeting of the commission at which rules will be proposed regarding an “open Internet.”

Jim Cicconi on Sunday issued a memo to the company’s 300,000 employees asking them to “join the voices telling the FCC not to regulate the Internet.”

“Those who seek to impose extreme regulations on the network are flooding the site to influence the FCC. It’s now time for you to voice your opinion,” Cicconi wrote.

The memo suggests that workers use “a personal e-mail account” to e-mail their comments to www.openinternet.gov and offers five talking points for possible inclusion.

By not using their company e-mail accounts, a pro-neutrality organization accused AT&T of asking employees to “fake it.”

“Coming from one of the company’s most senior executives, it’s hard to imagine AT&T employees thinking the memo was merely a suggestion,” wrote Tim Karr of SaveTheInternet.com.

Karr questioned the truthfulness of the AT&T talking points.

“For example: Cicconi suggests that employees write that Net Neutrality will ‘jeopardize efforts to deliver high-speed Internet services to every American,’” Karr said. “Yet he’s unable to provide any rationale for this claim, other than saying that universal access is a goal that ‘can’t be met with rules that halt private investment in broadband infrastructure.’”

In the memo, Cicconi charges that adoption of net-neutrality regulations would “drive up consumer prices, and burden companies like ours while exempting companies like Google.”

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is an advocate of an open Internet that would prohibit Internet service providers from blocking applications and content, particularly those of competitors.

Executives from Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter and other Internet-based companies have all expressed support of net neutrality. However, 76 Congressmen wrote a letter to Genachowski last month saying that neutrality could endanger corporate investment in the Internet.

AT&T Tilt 2 Set For October 18th Release

James Allen Johnson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:50:26 +0000

AT&T wasn’t very helpful in their recent Tilt 2 press release, stating that the device would arriving in the “coming weeks” now an official Windows Mobile 6.5 PR blast is helping shed some light on the devices actual release date.

According to the Microsoft press release the Tilt 2 will officially launch on October 18th of this month. Which fits into that “coming weeks” statement.

No word yet on what the WinMo 6.5 device will cost, but given past pricing on HTC devices for AT&T I’m willing to bet the device will sell for well over the $199 starting price for base model iPhone 3Gs units.

AT&T Delivers “Pure” Windows Mobile 6.5 Experience. Tilt 2 Will Soon Follow

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:48:19 +0000

The HTC Pure (AT&T Pure) and the HTC Tilt 2 (AT&T Tilt 2) are the first devices in North America to feature the much anticipated Windows Mobile 6.5 platform. The Pure is available now with the Tilt 2 “arriving in the coming weeks.”

The AT&T Pure is a close remake of the HTC Diamond2 with a new industrial look that serves as a contrast to the original devices metal accented look, instead relying on a black plastic design. The Pure also features a 3.2 inch WVGA display and a 5MP camera with autofocus. Under a 2 year contract the Pure will cost you $149.99 with a $50 mail in rebate.

The AT&T Tilt 2 will also be arriving in the coming weeks and features a larger 3.6 inch WVGA display, full QWERTY keyboard and full duplex speakerphone. It also features a 3.2 megapixel camera and of course Windows Mobile 6.5. The Tilt 2 will also feature $299.99 with a two year contract and a $50 rebate.

Both AT&T devices also feature the Microsoft Marketplace, a direct competitor for the Apple, Android, Blackberry and Ovi App stores.

Windows Marketplace Shows Up One Day Early For AT&T Pure Users

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:08:17 +0000

Tuesday October 6th is suppose to be the official launch date for the new Windows Marketplace, now users of the new AT&T Pure are reporting that their Windows Mobile 6.5 devices are already receiving Microsoft new app store.

No word yet on how many apps are available via the new store, however multiple users have reported that their AT&T Pure smartphones are receiving the market.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Microsoft Marketplace, it’s the companies answer to the Apple, Android and Blackberry app stores and has been fairly well received by early testers. You can see a quick glimpse of the marketplace in the picture on this page.

AT&T getting snarky with Google – file complaint with FCC

Steven Hodson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:22:09 +0000

The idea that AT&T would file a complaint with the FCC over Google Voice, Google’s service that let’s users unify all their phone numbers under one common number, almost seems like a case of the kettle calling the pot black.

However AT&T’s argument is that because Google is in violation of telecommunication rules because Google Voice is blocking some calls to rural areas to cut down on network access expenses. This goes against the laws that require phone operators to offer unrestricted access says AT&T.

Google argues that Google Voice isn’t a traditional phone service and therefore the FCC shouldn’t be treating it as such. The FCC says they have received the letter and are reviewing it.

Interestingly enough AT&T says that even if the FCC takes Google’s side in the matter the search giant would be breaching the FCC’s own net neutrality rules as they stand today.

AT&T said in the letter that even if the FCC agreed with Google and defined Google Voice as a Internet service, the search giant’s practices would be a breach of net-neutrality principles already in effect at the agency and a violation of broader net-neutrality rules proposed Monday by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. AT&T has said it does not support the adoption of additional net-neutrality rules, which Google has backed.

"By openly flouting the call blocking prohibition that applies to its competitors, Google is acting in a manner inconsistent with the spirit, if not the letter, of the FCC’s fourth principle contained in its Internet Policy Statement," Quinn said. "Ironically, Google is also flouting the so-called ‘fifth principle of non-discrimination’ for which Google has so fervently advocated."

Source: Washington Post – AT&T Accuses Google of Violating Telecom Laws

AT&T To Roll Out Faster Data Network For 6 Major Cities

AHN — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:45:10 +0000

Telecom giant AT&T will roll out High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology in several new cities by the end of the year.

AT&T, which enjoys a stranglehold contract on Apple’s popular iPhone, has come under fire for slower than expected data speeds in many metropolitan areas where the popular media player and mobile phone hybrid has been adopted en mass.

But now AT&T will roll out 7.2 technology in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami. Overall, AT&T claims 7.2 data speeds will reach 25 of the 30 largest U.S. mobile phone markets by 2011.

“Our deployment of HSPA 7.2 and supporting backhaul connectivity will enable our customers to continue to ride the leading edge of emerging devices and thousands of mobile applications,” said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations. “Our network is based on the predominant technology platform used by operators worldwide and has been tested by today’s most popular devices. That experience gives us an important advantage in developing and deploying new technologies to meet customers’ future needs.”

Telecom giant AT&T will roll out High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology in several new cities by the end of the year.

Apple: More smoke and mirrors, Google: [Redacted], AT&T: Told ya.

Steven Hodson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:30:00 +0000

So the heavy weight of lawyer cleared papers hit the desk of the FCC in response to a request by the FCC to Apple, Google and AT&A to cut the bullshit and start giving some straight answers; starting first with the debacle over the Google Voice app for the iPhone. We wrote about the beginnings of this previously.

One of the first things that was apparent is the fact that AT&T was not to blame for Google Voice getting killed off from the AppStore. This is contrary to John Gruber’s of Daring Fireball fame who said in a recent post that a reliable birdie that it was indeed AT&T’s fault

[Update 1:40 pm: Well, so much for my speculation. A reliable little birdie has informed me that it was indeed AT&T that objected to Google Voice apps for the iPhone. It’s that simple.]

Guess it wasn’t that simple eh John (funny how I haven’t seen a correction coming from Daring Fireball on this yet – I thought that’s what bloggers did – you know that whole honesty and transparency thing).

So now that we’ve got AT&T out of the way, on the iPhone and Google Voice thing anyway, we are left with the fact that this whole mess was caused by Apple because it didn’t like the way that Google Voice supplanted it’s proprietary Visual Voicemail phone app with the Google Voice user interface. Gawd forbid anything should take away from the visual delight that one gets when using the iPhone phone app.

It doesn’t matter that Google Voice can say users bucket loads of money. Nope, the Jobsian vision of how things must look and behave on his creation is the only thing of importance. Then how come other phone type apps are still available in the AppStore as was pointed out recently by the Gizmodo team.

One of the things I found interesting when reading the submission for Apple to the FCC is when Apple answered the first question, about the rejection of Google Voice. The opening preamble goes like this

Contrary to published reports, Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it. The application has not been approved because, as submitted for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail. Apple spent a lot of time and effort developing this distinct and innovative way to seamlessly deliver core functionality of the iPhone.

Yet when they are asked by the FCC to explain any differences between Google Voice iPhone app and any Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) that has already been approved for the AppStore Apple’s reply would suggest that for all the studying of Google Voice they don’t seem to have much of a clue about its innards.

Question 4. Please explain any differences between the Google Voice iPhone application and any Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications that Apple has approved for the iPhone. Are any of the approved VoIP applications allowed to operate on AT&T’s 3G network?

Apple does not know if there is a VoIP element in the way the Google Voice application routes calls and messages, and whether VoIP technology is used over the 3G network by the application. Apple has approved numerous standard VoIP applications (such as Skype, Nimbuzz and iCall) for use over WiFi, but not over AT&T’s 3G network.

So which is it Apple? Are you really looking at how Google Voice works or have you just said screw ya and hope this whole FCC will blow over with all the hot air you are blowing up their ass. Either you know how the program works and you are accepting it or you are rejecting it – you can’t have it both ways.

Now after all this confusion we are left with Google’s response to the FCC but unfortunately there is next to zilch to tell you because what has been released to the press has been severely redacted. Which as John Paczkowski notes is more than a little curious in itself

Now that’s a little odd, isn’t it? Why would Google ask the FCC to redact portions of its statement? Says Google, “[because the redacted] information relates specifically to private business discussions between Apple and Google and, as such, it constitutes commercial data ‘which would customarily be guarded from competitors’.”

That satisfy your curiosity? Doesn’t satisfy mine, either.

Me neither John, me neither.

AT&T says Mitnick is too hot for them

Steven Hodson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:03:52 +0000

It sucks being a computer security guy at the best of times but it’s got to be doubly so if you are someone of Kevin Mitnick’s stature especially when not even your webhost or cellphone provider want anything to do with you. Granted one can get use to having one’s website being attacked on a regular basis or having one’s cellphone information show up in all different corners of the web but it seems the people providing those services can get tired of all of the attention.

For Mitnick everything it seems has come to a head in the past month as both his longtime webhost, HostedHere.net, and AT&T, his cell phone provider, has told him to take his business elsewhere. While the walking human honeypot suggests that companies need to take responsibility for a security system that still leaves ways into the networks the companies involved are just as happy to show him the door.

“Kevin is a high-profile target," said David Wykofka, IT director at HostedHere. "When vulnerabilities come out in third-party vendor software, he is one of the first targets on their list. This is just one of the perils of being Kevin Mitnick. If you’re Barack Obama, you don’t get webhosting at GoDaddy."

Source: The Register :: Besieged by attacks, AT&T dumps celebrity hacker

Okay I get that companies have every right to pick who they might want as their ideal ~~suckers~~ customers but isn’t just tossing someone like Kevin Mitnick to the curb like throwing the baby out with the bath water? After all what better way to have your systems constantly tested for free (you ever seen the prices that security pros charge for intrusion assessment?) than to have someone like Mitnick as a customer. Not to mention the free PR value of being able to say your network is secure enough to protect someone like Kevin.

This is just short-sighted and dumb.

AT&T un-bans 4chan

Paul Short — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:04:00 +0000

AT&T has lifted the ban on the infamous 4chan image boards, stating that a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack connected with 4chan’s IP addresses was affecting one of their customers.

In an official statement from AT&T:

“Beginning Friday, an AT&T customer was impacted by a denial-of-service attack stemming from IP addresses connected to img.4chan.org. To prevent this attack from disrupting service for the impacted AT&T customer, and to prevent the attack from spreading to impact our other customers, AT&T temporarily blocked access to the IP addresses in question for our customers. This action was in no way related to the content at img.4chan.org; our focus was on protecting our customers from malicious traffic.

Overnight Sunday, after we determined the denial-of-service threat no longer existed, AT&T removed the block on the IP addresses in question. We will continue to monitor for denial-of-service activity and any malicious traffic to protect our customers.”

Source: BNO News

Censorship comes to America: AT&T blocks 4chan /b/

Duncan Riley — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:54:15 +0000

The global internet censorship debate landed in the home of the free Sunday with news that AT&T has censored the popular 4chan /b/ image board.

The censorship was first reported on Reddit, where users confirmed with AT&T that the site had indeed been censored, and was not being blocked due to a technical issue. 4chan owner Moot later confirmed the news, saying that the /r9k/ was also blocked and that AT&T users should “call or write [to] customer support and [AT&T] corporate immediately.”

The censorship at this time extended only to AT&T DSL customers, with wireless (3G) customers believed to be unaffected. Erling Løken Andersen notes that 15.5% of all US internet users use AT&T DSL, meaning that /b/ is now blocked somewhere around 40-60 million people in the United States.

There is no official word from AT&T on the decision yet, and given that it’s Sunday still in the US none is likely until business hours Monday. 4chan users though aren’t particularly happy about the decision, with /b/tards currently discussing ways to fight back against the imposition of censorship.

The decision by AT&T to censor /b/ may also further spark further debate around net neutrality; love or hate 4chan, the decision by a provider to start censoring sites is the beginning of a slippery slope to unaccountable corporate imposed draconian censorship that should have no place in allegedly free democratic societies.

There is also the question of why censor /b/ now and not previously? Could a third party such as Scientology have lobbied for the decision?

Adam Savage mobilizes Twitter against AT&T

Kim LaCapria — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:00:05 +0000

AT&T has been trending heavily on Twitter of late, and not because of its friendship with the iPhone.

Adam Savage has invoked the wrath of 50,000 Twitter followers in the general direction of telecommunications giant AT&T due to a $11,000 phone bill incurred while Savage was in Canada. Savage says he surfed the web on a mobile modem for “a few hours,” inadvertently cha-chinging up a bill that could keep any sane person in hookers and blow for at least a month.

This series of tweets explains the pricey lappity-toppity session and the ensuing massive bill:

Sorry, bit of explanation: device in question wasn’t my phone, it was the AT&T usb connect Mercury modem.

And I got the “data is charged at .015 cents, or a penny and a half, per kb”. About to try to explain the difference to them. Sigh.

They’re claiming I uploaded/downloaded 9 million kilobytes (9 gigs) while in Canada. Frakking impossible.

@sleepingbri you read it right. $11,000.00

Did I mention they’ve turned off my phone until I pay? #attsucks

Almost forgot: Hey AT&T! I will fight this bullshit.

Text messaging fees are stupid robbery? (they are), AT&T is attempting to charge me 11k for a few hours of web surfing in Canada. Pls RT!

Savage soon updated that AT&T was quick to quash the spurious charges after the fast and furious backlash:

Today the tweeps became twoops. Just got off the phone with AT&T and they’ve taken care of everything to my great satisfaction.#twitterrules

But would any of us have received the same quick and painless resolution? On that, Savage says:

I agree with everyone: it shouldn’t just work for me. The data carriers MUST stop thinking in kilobytes and start thinking in customers.

Hey Apple and AT&T, does a jar of Vaseline come with that iPhone 3GS?

Steven Hodson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:45:00 +0000

So it’s the day after every Apple fanboy’s moment of tech nirvana and we get to start hearing the realistic version of what was said to all those adulating attendees of Apple’s keynote speech. Central to all the news of course was the announcement that the iPhone 3GS would be shipping on June 19th and that it would have a bunch of new goodies to go along with the new ~~shafting~~ prices.

While there were no fluffy bunnies they did tack on that letter ‘S’ to the 3G which apparently is suppose to stand for Speed. Mind you I could think of a few other words the ‘S’ could stand for (stupid, sucker) given AT&T’s small print when you buy the new iPhone.

It is the price point that is starting to piss off even the most loyal iPhone users looking to upgrade their ~~crack~~ older version of the phone. They might have had prices like $199 and $299 in nice large print up on the screen but that dastardly small print on the apple iPhone sales pitch page told a different story. As they tell it over at the iPong blog

It started when someone spotted the fine print at the bottom of Apple’s iPhone sales pitch page about “unqualified” iPhone 3G customers having to pay $499, $599, or even $699 for the new iPhone 3GS. But what initially appeared to be an absurd typo was quickly confirmed – sort of – when customers started looking up the upgrade pricing for their individual accounts and found that a 32 GB iPhone 3GS would indeed cost them $699, according to wireless.att.com. Or perhaps $499, if you believe apple.com. No matter. Word simply spread that existing iPhone 3G users were about to fall victim to the screw job of the decade, and those 3G users who’d been following the day’s news on Twitter suddenly shifted their tone from an excited “I can’t wait to upgrade to an iPhone 3GS!” to a cynical “nah, I can live with my iPhone 3G just fine” along with an outraged “when did Apple suddenly decide to let AT&T rape half the iPhone user base?”

While Apple might have priced the rebooted 3G at $99 in order some think to deal some sort of death blow to the good press that the Palm Pre was getting, the news about things like tethering and MMS coming to everywhere that the iPhone is sold – except the US – only proved the failing of AT&T as a iPhone ‘partner’.

This comes at a time that AT&T is also getting slapped around by a growing number of reports about how its service is degrading rather than getting better.

People like Louis Gray might be willing to give AT&T a bit of break but the fact is that a lot of diehard Apple iPhone users are more than just a little mad and for them it isn’t just a matter of AT&T being the culprit here as Apple – in the case of the iPhone – has the stronger hand and should have been able to cut some awesome deals with AT&T. Like the gang at iPong said in their post today

So just what was Apple thinking when they agreed to this nonsense? It’s been widely documented that AT&T is a mess overall and that its iPhone exclusivity in the U.S. is the only thing that’s been propping it up. And even the least capable of businesspeople knows that when you’re in a position of strength, when you’re the one propping up your sagging partner, when your partner needs you a lot more than you need them, you either leave things they way they are out of benevolence and future goodwill or else you renegotiate things so they’re more slanted in your favor. But Apple has instead managed to end up with the shorter end of the stick this time, left with significantly lower sales of the iPhone 3GS and an upcoming public relations nightmare that will overshadow the half a dozen positive things Apple rolled out this week, wiping out the untold millions in free advertising that the company is typically able to milk the media for in a cycle like this one.

As for the people who either don’t read the fine print or decide that they just can’t do without that newest Apple bauble I can only say – I sure hope you got a smoke to puff on after signing on the dotted line because you are getting shafted royally but both companies.

AT&T: Working hard to ruin your iPhone experience

Kim LaCapria — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:30:05 +0000

The iPhone- is there anything it can’t do? A whole hell of a lot, thanks to AT&T.

Swiftly following WWDC coverage, particularly surrounding the iPhone 3gS, came an outpouring of unfettered rage in the blogosphere. The iPhone seems poised to remain the most buzzed about, sought after phone on the market, even with the Palm Pre’s attempts to cut in on market share. But will AT&T ever stop holding the iPhone back?

First up in a laundry list of grievances is cost-related. AT&T noobs can buy in on a 3G at $99. 3GS phones will set new customers and upgrade eligible customers back $199-299. Already sprung for an iPhone? Expect to be rewarded for your loyalty with an additional $200 penalty to get your grubby mitts on the shiny new models. Did I mention they’re faster and have slightly improved battery life?

Next on the list comes tethering- using your iPhone as a modem. Expect to see this feature delayed indefinitely until AT&T decides just how much they can wring out of us for it before we decide driving around for an open-WiFi connection at 2:30am is worth the hassle.

Another sore spot- MMS messaging. iPhone users have been deprived the privilege- nay, right- to ping-pong drunken kegstand pics about the airwaves as iPhones don’t support the ultra-basic function of picture messaging. AT&T gave users a target date of “sometime in late summer” but no solid information on when this will be available.

In a statement, AT&T said:

Based on independent market research, twice as many smartphone users have chosen AT&T over any other U.S. carrier.

I’m no business advisor, but I think they might want to look into ways to keep that whole momentum thing going.

Broadband lies and increased profits

Steven Hodson — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:41:30 +0000

Broadband providers are always crying the blues and how they need to institute things like caps in order to provide fair service to all along with how expensive all this stuff takes. Every time they do though very smart people who have a solid understanding of the business, and the business of numbers, point out how much FUD is being spread around.

Nate Anderson at Ars Technica has just done that with an excellent post that breaks down the money being made by these self-same companies that are crying the blues. In the post Nate takes each of the major players and takes a look at how they are in fact making a lot of money while at the same time some are even cutting back on investment in broadband. It is well worth taking the time to read the whole post but here’s a short breakdown of some of his points.

Comcast

Revenues for Internet access is up, jumping from $1.57 billion in the first quarter of 2007 to $1.75 billion in the first quarter of 2008 to $1.91 billion in the first quarter of 2009.
Expenses for “High-speed Internet” have consistently fallen from 2007. It cost $142 million to deliver Internet access in the first quarter of 2007, $138 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $120 million in the first quarter of 2009.
Comcast had an operating cash flow margin of 39 percent in the first quarter of 2009, up from 37.8 percent a year earlier and 37.4 percent in the first quarter of 2007.

Time Warner

also posted very good number for the first quarter
Overall revenues were up five percent from a year before.
When broken down by category their Internet business did much better – 11 percent higher.
Time Warner indicated that its Internet expenses had dropped by about 12 percent, even as revenues increased.
By the first quarter of 2009 Time Warner substantially cut its capital expenditures, from $846 million a year ago to $769 million for the last three months.

Cablevision

Internet revenues are up
The company has already spent most of its money for its DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades.
Cable television (includes data, voice, and TV packages) was 29.5 percent higher in 2008 than it was in 2007.
Its business Internet service, Optimum Lightpath, operating income was up by 129.8%

AT&T / Verizon

Both companies have reported healthy growth in their broadband business, especially among the U-Verse and FiOS services.
AT&T’s wireline business increased by $300 million in broadband revenue

The end line

When it comes down to it all these broadband providers hare making a lot of money providing sub-par services when compared to the rest of the world. When they do decide to allow us to have comparable services they charge completely outrageous fees. Users are being treated as nothing better than a trough where these dollar flush pigs can constantly gorge themselves.

Unfortunately about all we can do is howl at the moon because they don’t give a shit past doing only what they have to in order to keep questionable government regulators happy.

New AT&T service good for kids not so good for husbands

Steven Hodson — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:53:28 +0000

Sunshine over at Liveside has news of a new service from AT&T called FamilyMap that aims to help parents keep track of their kids in real time, as long as they have a cellphone that is. The only phone service that doesn’t support FamilyMap is the PrePaid or Go services.

The idea behind FamilyMap is that once you log onto the service’s web site, using a PC or mobile device, you will be able to see your child’s whereabouts via a Microsoft Virtual Earth map. As well there is a Bird’s Eye view the location of where your child is. Additionally you can sign up for alerts at specific times to let you know where your child is.

The service is free for the first 30 days but after that you can look to fork over $14.99 a month to keep using it. You can also locate up to 5 family members which could make for some rather interesting dinner time discussions.

“So honey where were you today at 5:46 PM? – and don’t lie to me because I know where you were!”

picture courtesy of Liveside