Technology Liberation Front - Latest Comments in iPhone: Innovation to Slavery in 13 Days

Re: iPhone: Innovation to Slavery in 13 Days

LarsG — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:50:55 -0000

While Markey didn't argue his point very well, Carterphone for wireless carriers is high overdue.

Re: iPhone: Innovation to Slavery in 13 Days

Solveig — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:33:56 -0000

Next call will be for iPhone universal service. Just wait.

-SS

Re: iPhone: Innovation to Slavery in 13 Days

Luis Villa — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:08:19 -0000

I don't see why it can't be both. The phone is obviously brilliant and innovative, and also obviously crippled by AT&T; and AT&T;'s oligopolist business model, where all the participants have clearly agreed that they can compete on intangibles like call quality but conveniently refuse to compete on tangibles like contract length and free SMSs. As only one example, iPhone doesn't have iChat, when even the simplest child can see that that would be a desirable. There isn't any good reason why the phone can't do it, except that it would threaten the business model of the phone carriers.

Re: iPhone: Innovation to Slavery in 13 Days

David McElroy — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:02:37 -0000

If you want to avoid a contract with AT&T;, you can still buy prepaid minutes. The option is hidden, but here's how to do it if you're interested:

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/02/iphone-prepay-th...

Re: iPhone: Innovation to Slavery in 13 Days

jimharper — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:32:49 -0000

For those who haven't yet taken the time, the video is a wonderful example of rhetorical jousting. I really like the Big Mac/Burger King analogy. I'm willing to ignore it's weaknesses because, by gosh, you just sounded so reasonable, Gattuso! The other guy not only gave up credibility with the "slavery" comment, he was too aggressive to win people over.