iPhone Politics

by: Matt Stoller

Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 13:25


I was going to head over to an Apple store and get a new iphone today, since my current blackberry is clearly dying and the new iphone is out.  I called up the store and apparently the lines are three hours long, not because of demand but because the servers that activate the phones are down.  And unlike the initial release of the iphone, which let you sign in through itunes, you must activate your phone in-store.   My guess is that this is because the control freaks at Apple and AT&T did not like all the hacking of iphones, but regardless, the lines are moving verrrry slowllly.

... for more on the politics of the iphone, check out this video I did with Ben Scott of Free Press discussing the iPhone and its iron chains to AT&T and a closed mobile web.

Matt Stoller :: iPhone Politics

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iPhone Politics | 28 comments
Nokia N810 and a Sony Ericcson 800 or 900 series phone.... (0.00 / 0)
...a lot more freedom.

Just sayin'.  ;-)

it's cool (0.00 / 0)
to blog from my iphone. I've done it several times now and always feel like I'm more technologically hip than I really am.
Seems kind of strange (4.00 / 1)
that a person so concerned with freedom of information would consider buying from the two most closed info cos. in the country.
not really (0.00 / 0)
It's the optimal choice for phones.  Without a large collective action effort, there is no point in setting myself up for a competitive disadvantage.

Tim Wu feels similarly.

[ Parent ]
Right now only ATT has 3G data service... (0.00 / 0)
but T-Mobile will be adding 2100mhz service soon, which will be far superior to AT&T's 1900mhz. Not to mention the fact that most 3G unlocked worldphones are 2100 frequency so you will be able to use all of those neato unlocked import phones with the new T-Mobile 3G data system.

You can then of course then use your phone as a modem to allow yourself a (theoretical) 7.2mbit wireless HSDPA service through any 3G compatible worldphone!

End this war. Stop John McCain. Cindy McCain is filthy rich.

[ Parent ]
And come to think... (0.00 / 0)
the fact that AT&T uses their own private 1900mhz spectrum for 3G hacking one of these new iphones would be pretty damn pointless because it would have no greater functionality on any other network besides At&T than would one of the last models of iPhones did.

End this war. Stop John McCain. Cindy McCain is filthy rich.
[ Parent ]
competitive disadvantage... really? (0.00 / 0)
what can you do on an iphone that you can't do on the latest blackberry that would actually qualify as a real disadvantage?

i'm not trying to be a troll, i'm really just curious. i grappled with this decision myself and imho, iphone 3G vs blackberry curve/bold with the new os upgrade coming soon is a wash, especially with the blackberry's quicker typing, and mozilla for mobile coming soon as well.

end the blurring--vote steve novick for u.s. senate in oregon

[ Parent ]
Yea the only difference right now would be the iphone has a MORE complete browser... (0.00 / 0)
although personally I prefer the Blackberry GUI

End this war. Stop John McCain. Cindy McCain is filthy rich.
[ Parent ]
Apple is the best innovator in the country (0.00 / 0)
Their operating system, OS X, is build on the open source UNIX. It's not the Wikipedia of operating systems, they need to keep it proprietary to maintain quality, but it is clearly the best OS out there. Vista is a joke, everyone knows that.

Have you compared using a Blackberry to using the iPhone? Not even close. Unless you need a dedicated keypad for whatever reason, the iPhone is just light years ahead.

I think the in-store activation is not a result of seeking more control, but instead because AT&T is now subsidizing the first $200 of the phone's cost. You get a 2 year phone plan, they knock $200 off the price. They were supposed to have the activation time down to 15 minutes max, but it's a madhouse today so it's crazy. Wait another few days until the madness dies down and the bugs are worked out, that's what I'm doing.

[ Parent ]
Well, best designers, anyhow. (0.00 / 0)
I admire how their products look, and having an all-closed system does make for more reliability if you're willing to pay for it and sacrifice some freedom in choosing apps.

OS X is another story however. It is indeed based on open-source, from which Apple has profited greatly and given almost nothing back. It is far from being an ally of open-source even compared with companies like IBM, Sun, AMD, and even Adobe.

For those not willing or able to make the effort to use real open-source, the Mac may be the lesser of two evils. You're certainly right about Vista: I just installed Linux on my sister's new laptop and now she thinks I'm some kind of minor deity because she can actually use the thing, finally.

As to phones, I'll be holding out for Android or one of the other upcoming open-source, unlocked platforms. For those who need a phone now, maybe the choice is harder.

[ Parent ]
I´m looking at the HTC Diamond (0.00 / 0)
I don´t like Apple´s policies.
Have 1st gen iPhone... (0.00 / 0)
And love it, and now with applications it's even better (although would still love a bit more openness with Apps, but there are still lots of free apps that are pretty cool).

I was considering upgrading to the iPhone 3G, but after they announced details of the activation procedure (must buy and activate in-store) as well as the new pricing plans (data plans go up $10 AND remove text messages completely... have to pay another $5 minimum for some texts, meaning I would have to pay $15 extra a month just for faster data service and better GPS), I decided against it.  I figure that in a couple months they may just let me transfer my current service over to a new phone without any issue (as just about every other GSM phone allows you to do), so I'll just wait until then, or perhaps another generation of iPhone, which may bring stuff like video conferencing, a better camera, and probably updated internals.

You can activate from home..... (0.00 / 0)
it doesn't need to be done instore...
not any more (0.00 / 0)
Matt is right.  

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.
[ Parent ]
NYT is saying that the phones can, in theory, be activated from home, (0.00 / 0)
but the servers are inaccessible from wherever you are:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin...  
[ Parent ]
Can't buy online any more... (0.00 / 0)
I think you might need to activate in store if you want the discount... If you buy it sans contract, perhaps you can activate it home still?
[ Parent ]
Apple (0.00 / 0)
I hope Apple and their proprietary bullcrap burn in hell. Hard to imagine being for net neutrality and for Apple products. Philosophically, their entire ethos is built around reducing consumer freedom and restricting media usage.

They were wrong when they made the Mac, they were wrong with the iPod, and they are wrong with the iPhone. There are a million other products out there that are actually cheaper, better and more compatible than anything Apple has ever made in their propriety-obsessed history. Of course, none of those products are as cool.  

"Don't hate the media, become the media" -Jello Biafra

Of course... (0.00 / 0)
"There are a million other products out there that are actually cheaper, better and more compatible than anything Apple has ever made in their propriety-obsessed history."

That's obviously a matter of opinion.

I agree that Apple is a genuinely annoying and frustrating company.  However, many of their products ARE genuinely pretty damn good.  My first gen iPhone is the best phone I've ever owned, even if there are some annoyances with it that I absolutely hate.  The addition of apps today mostly counters one of those annoyances (only "mostly" since you need to download the apps only from iTunes).  

The new plans, however, add another major annoyance, which is why I'm not upgrading, but that's not really Apple's fault this time (basically on AT&T as their subsidizing the phones now, they decided they could charge $15 extra for the same service, just faster).

[ Parent ]
Absurd (0.00 / 0)
"Philosophically, their entire ethos is built around reducing consumer freedom and restricting media usage."

This statement only makes sense if your definition of "consumer freedom" means having to choose which brand of muffler goes on your car or what kind of buttons are sewed on your shirt. Apple's philosophy is built around making computers that a person can use. Contrary to nerd opinion, the average person doesn't care if their CPU is 2.4, 2.6 or 2.8 GHz or if their web browser can pass Acid3. They care if they can surf the web and share their photos with family and friends. And, it just so happens, Safari, Apple's web browser, is based on Apple's open source WebKit (also in use by Nokia and others) and is the most standards-compliant major browser in existence (Opera does a great job as well).

As a matter of fact, iPod/iPhone can and will play MP3 or AAC audio, h264 video, JPEG photos, etc., none of which are under Apple's control. There is zero lock-in if you don't purchase media from the iTunes Store, whose policies ARE DICTATED BY THE MEDIA COMPANIES. I hate DRM as much as everybody at /., but I am interested in using my phone, not tinkering with it.

Unfortunately, when Apple took a big risk selling unsubsidized phones, which would help destroy the cell carrier stranglehold, people moaned and groaned about the "high" price. Neglecting, of course, the subsidy you get when agreeing to a two-year contract. Every phone in the iPhone's category actually costs $5-600, but they are not normally offered without a subsidy and so the true cost is invisible to people.

As for "cheaper, better and more compatible" ... Cheaper than what? Better for whom? More compatible with what?

[ Parent ]
Epic failure, Matt (0.00 / 0)
Think about what it says to supporters of net neutrality and open access that one of the leading voices on the issue is getting himself hitched to a two-year contract with the company that not only positioned itself as a staunch foe of net neutrality, but also spies on people illegally and got itself a "Get Out Of Jail Free Card" this week.

Seriously--will you really need every last cool, shiny doodad that the iPhone provides? Will you use that network to its absolute optimum? And is it worth voluntarily handing over money each month to a company that is absolutely opposed to your aims?

If you really want something that combines the iPhone's touch-screen aesthetic with less prohibitive terms, go for the Samsung Instinct. You'll still sign a contract, but Sprint's weakness in the market gives you more negotiating power to waive fees, and they (unlike AT&T and Apple) are not committed to tiered Internet service, DRM, and illegal spying.  

yes (4.00 / 1)
Think about what it says to supporters of net neutrality and open access that one of the leading voices on the issue is getting himself hitched to a two-year contract with the company that not only positioned itself as a staunch foe of net neutrality, but also spies on people illegally and got itself a "Get Out Of Jail Free Card" this week.

I pay my taxes, but that doesn't mean I support the war even though my taxes go in part to that war.  The system is rigged against us, but I'm not going to hurt my own ability to act because the system is messed up.

Consider that I took Verizon advertising against net neutrality and used that money to work against Verizon.  The choice matrix is tricky.

[ Parent ]
Tricky indeed! (0.00 / 0)
The site I work for regularly takes ads from companies we oppose, and uses that revenue to fund our efforts, just like many blogs do. That's one thing, and a tactic I heartily support.

It's one thing to take the resources of the opposition and use them to your benefit. It's another to voluntarily give your opponent resources that they can use against you.

In this agreement, you don't have the power. This is you openly saying, "The iPhone is the best phone out there, and I will submit to AT&T's draconian terms, support Apple's closed walled garden approach, and will add a new revenue stream to their efforts to shut down net neutrality." You would let them frame the terms of the debate, essentially, because you'd be sitting there with an iPhone talking about how AT&T sucks and is an enemy of what we want to build. That, as our friends might say, has bad optics.

How seriously is your blogging ability hampered by using a phone with a QWERTY keyboard or something that isn't 3G or faster? I've been moblogging on Treo phones since good ol' Normsoft's Hblogger. It's not that hard.

I ask you, since the stores are apparently still full of people dying to get their shiny new phones, to rethink this and consider another alternative. Like Obama and FISA, whatever competitive advantage you think you might gain will be washed out by how bad this would look.  

[ Parent ]
temporary boycott (0.00 / 0)
I would like an iPhone 3G.  But I'm going to wait till next fiscal q to get one.

Frankly, After all the money AT&T dumped into FISA lobbying, I'd like them to see a dip in revenues this quarter.  I'm not going to give them a butt-load of money the same week they beat us in Congress.  I would just feel... dirty.

However, I really put the blame for this squarely on Harry Reid.  He chose the intelligence committee bill over the judiciary version.  The House passed a version without immunity, Senate could have not had it in the original bill and it would have taken an amendment to put it in, which could have easily been filibustered.  Then the versions that made it to conference wouldn't have had it.

Sure, bush would have used his veto.  But he's the one who wanted the bill in the first place.  So with or without veto, we would have won.

So, I'll play some theater and not give AT&T any of my money for now.  But it's Congress and specifically Reid I'm angry with.  And in oct/nov, walking precincts with VAN in mobile Safari will save tons of time.

dont like it, dont buy it. (0.00 / 0)
just please stop with the free advertising.

the interface sucks anyway.

I have one, its very annoying. full REAL qwerty mini keyboard is the only way to go. the novelty factor will be over soon, and then the iphone will be redesigned with a real keyboard as texting continues to become more popular than talking.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

Horrible morning (0.00 / 0)
Got there at 6:52 AM, 48 people in line ahead, they announced at 10:30 AM they had run out of the FORTY phones because a shipment didn't come in. People almost punched the manager b/c he didn't, like, come outside to warn people that they would almost definitely run out, and we were standing in the heat. Also, fourty phones on hand and waiting for a second shipment on opening day is inexcusable.

My b/f got called to come back and get a 16G 10 minutes after he left, couldn't activate in store, couldn't activate at home because iTunes was down.

I was called and told to come back tomorrow morning and they would open an hour early from 9-10 am and have my phone. If I showed up at 10:01, I would have to get back in line.

Awesome.


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It's a great device, but it's not a great phone (0.00 / 0)
And email on Blackberry is faster, but not because of the network.  The iPhone has design elements that make it slower when you type, read, send, organize, etc.  And I got better coverage in Rome than in NYC (seriously).  By contrast, just as the blackberry is better for email, the iPhone is much better for quick-use programs that help you function in a city and day-to-day life.

With all that, after having it for just 6 months, anyone who tries to take mine away will have to pry it from my cold dead hand.  It's very hard to explain why it's so handy, but it has to do with how it extends the functionality of my Mac, thereby enabling me to do what I normally do, but away from the normal workspace--which means I am working better, faster, and healthier.  In a sense, the iPhone makes your Mac work better--and on top of that, they throw in a quirky little almost-works-well phone.

The politics are there, true.  But for my personal priorities, I didn't conclude that those politics warranted a boycott.  But obviously, people with different priorities may disagree.  

If you can afford it, and you're already a Mac user, I think you'll be glad you tried it out.  

well (0.00 / 0)
The politics are there, true.  But for my personal priorities, I didn't conclude that those politics warranted a boycott.  But obviously, people with different priorities may disagree.  

Right, but it doesn't matter that they disagree, because your choice to buy one makes their choice not to buy one less important.  In other words, you are choosing for them that their boycott won't work.

[ Parent ]
absolutely (0.00 / 0)
That's exactly what game theory predicts, so long as we are all relatively equal (e.g., one us is not Brad Pitt or Queen Elizabeth or Darth Vader).  And I agree, it's cool stuff; even for a flunkie like me who almost failed Econ...
[ Parent ]
iPhone Politics | 28 comments
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