ParisLemon

My main problem with the overly-long political-speak from AT&T regarding FaceTime over cellular is that it’s bullshit. Bob Quinn:

We are broadening our customers’ ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience. 

Come on, we all know that’s not really why they’re doing it. They’re doing it in an effort to try to get everyone to switch over to their “newly developed” (do you really have to develop a plan?) data plans. Plans which will undoubtedly make AT&T more money.

The network itself isn’t any different — it’s still the same old shitty AT&T network you’re used to. This is a stick thinly disguised as a carrot.

I have no idea how Apple allowed AT&T to get the leverage to do this. You know they can’t be happy about it. I suspect any LTE-enabled iPhone will have been pre-negotiated not to have any such restriction (though I also wonder if users will have to upgrade to the “newly developed” AT&T Mobile Share bullshit).

Think of it this way: If Apple were to release FaceTime as a stand-alone app, AT&T would not be able to restrict it.

Can you imagine any AT&T customer reading this letter and being happy that this is their carrier? Check the comment section of the post for your answer.