CIngular and Apple - Leggo My Eggo

What happens when two innovative companies release news of an excellent revolution? Well, good on Cingular for landing the iPhone exclusive until 2009. Good on Apple for stepping up to the plate and not releasing the iPhone before it was ready. Below is an article from Apple Insider. It's a little disappointing, however, that they plan to work together to stop "bad guys" (their words, not mine) from unlocking the iPhone for use with other carriers. I wonder if it will also be released in a different version in Europe, usually far ahead of the US in cell phones. I also wonder, if it can't be unlocked, then what happens when you want to travel to other GSM countries? It seems silly to lock a phone for use only with Cingular, incurring high international roaming rates, when this phone will appeal to many traveling execs. Just my humble opin.

A little hacker once told me, if someone wants in, they will get in. Years ago, Apple released a hacker challenge of a cool million to any hacker who could get into a certain Apple machine. No one won, touting Apple's high security ever since. Do I smell another challenge in the air?


Apple, Cingular claim victory over each other, say more iPhones in queue

By Aidan Malley
Published: 07:50 PM EST
Apple, Inc. and iPhone partner Cingular last week engaged in a brief war of words over which company forced the other to change its business model, but nevertheless have both promised to collaborate on many more Apple-branded cellphones in the future.



While creating an impression of harmony on the surface, Apple and Cingular executives fueled a minor spat following the launch of iPhone last Tuesday, hinting that at a power struggle ensued before the two came to terms on the project.

Igniting the controversy was Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who told TIME editor Lev Grossman that he had earned "special treatment" from Cingular, forcing a change in the cellular service provider's voicemail system to allow for iPhone's random-access voice message interface. In the same interview, Apple's iPod division headman Tony Fadell added that Cingular "broke all [its] typical process rules" to implement Apple's requests.

Jobs also claimed to have ducked around the arrogance prevalent amongst carriers, which regularly include proprietary applications or force feature changes upon users in order to protect their services. "There's some hubris, where they think they know better," Jobs said. "They dictate what's on the phone. That just wouldn't work for us."

The comments from Jobs triggered a surprisingly sharp rebuttal from Cingular national distribution president Glenn Lurie, who flatly denied that any concessions were made and implied that Jobs' assertions were little more than posturing. "I'm not sure we gave anything," Lurie stated. "I think they bent a lot."

Lurie similarly drew attention to the necessarily exclusive multi-year contract Apple signed with the American cell service that gives iPhone customers the "luxury" of requiring a Cingular subscription. Apple, he added, also agreed to help stop the "bad guys" who would unofficially unlock the iPhone or its SIM card for use on competing networks.

In spite of the apparent rift between the two companies, the Cingular exec was quick to make amends and hinted that the depth of the Apple-Cingular partnership would become clear soon. Several new Apple-branded phones may be "coming out very quickly," he said.

That allusion may help address complaints that iPhone's current limitation to EDGE mobile broadband would curb its appeal in the face of much faster HSDPA (or 3G) access, which Cingular already offers in a few key cities and through rival smartphones such as Samsung's BlackJack.

Jobs himself was already pointing towards future models in his keynote speech at Macworld San Francisco. He mentioned in passing that the company's choice of GSM network support via EDGE would allow it to produce a 3G wireless phone and "many other amazing things" in the near future.

Cingular Exclusive Carrier for Apple's iPhone!

You have got to check out the keynote iPhone demo. It takes you step by step through this truly revolutionary phone!

Macworld Expo, San Francisco, January 9, 2007

Apple and Cingular announced that Cingular will be Apple's exclusive U.S. carrier partner for Apple's revolutionary iPhone unveiled today. As part of this multi-year partnership, Apple and Cingular are working together to provide innovative new features to mobile phone users, such as iPhone's pioneering and unique Visual Voice Mail, a first on any mobile phone in the world.

“Apple chose Cingular because they are the best and most popular carrier in the U.S.," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. “We are thrilled to be offering our revolutionary new iPhone exclusively with Cingular, and look forward to working together with them to create some wonderful new features for our customers."

"By partnering with Apple, we are continuing our commitment to raising the bar for customers," said Stan Sigman, Cingular's president and CEO. "We think the iPhone is one of the most innovative devices ever created, and we look forward to letting our customers be the first in the world to experience the future of mobile phones."

iPhone's unique Visual Voice Mail was co-developed by Apple and Cingular. Visual Voice Mail makes voicemail as fast and convenient as email by allowing users to go directly to any of their voice messages without listening to any of the prior messages.

iPhone will be available in the U.S. beginning in June 2007 in a 4GB model for $499 and an 8GB model for $599, and will work in combination with Apple's iTunes running on either a PC or Mac.

iPhone will be sold in the U.S. through Apple's retail and online stores (www.apple.com), and through Cingular's retail and online stores (www.cingular.com).

Apple's iPhone Unveiled

What's this I see on Apple's home page? FINALLY, news, officially from Apple, on the iPhone. And do I see a Cingular signal indicator? That would make sense, since talks with TMobile fell through and they both work on GSM.

The iPhone is sure to be spendy, but worth it. I am a Mac Geek at heart, and love the simplicity, the ease of use and the steadfast reliability that Apple offers in all their devices. Since this has gone back to the drawing board several times, there is no doubt that the iPhone will be held to a higher standard as well.

Revolutionary Phone

iPhone