Posted by: Michael Disabato
Fake Steve Jobs has called for all iPhone users to run data intensive programs starting at Noon Pacific Standard time on Friday, 18 Dec 09 in an effort to show AT&T just how bad their network is. I have news for him, they already know. Anytime a mobile operator sends out and application (Mark the Spot) that allows you to use GPS to pinpoint the problems you are having, they know they have a problem.
What will be accomplished by this? I'm not sure. AT&T (remember, this is the old SBC) was unbelievably stupid in thinking iPhone would have negligible impact on their network. Let's see... iPhone comes with YouTube (and you can't delete that application), which streams video and consumes bandwidth. iPhone comes with Maps, which uses GPS and consumes bandwidth. iPhone comes with Mail that... you get the idea. What were they thinking? That we would mount our shinies on the wall and stare at them? Yeah. Right.
This day was long in coming, but I think Fake Steve has stirred up a hornet nest. The FCC and Justice department are trying to determine if he is generating a denial of service attack on AT&T. Got news for them, AT&T did that when they agreed to sell the iPhone. Still, in this day and age, there is no telling what Big Brother will do with the call detail records they collect during that time. Same with AT&T.
AT&T is now guilty of poor PR in their response accusing anyone of participating in Chokehold of interfering with "legitimate users." Just a second here, what am I? I paid for the device, I paid for the service. If I need to use it at 12:06 PST to get my email, am I part of Chokehold by virtue of bad timing or a legitimate user? I'm not trying to steal services, just use what I've contracted and paid for. Nice choice of words AT&T.
Yes, Iphoners, we have a problem. But a better way of addressing this is to force Congress and the FCC to mandate unlocked phones in the future. Google Nexus may be the first in a wave of these devices. I plan to get one and switch my SIM into it to see what it's like. If I can't get good response on AT&T, I'll contract with T-Mobile. Let consumers vote with their wallet and stop the walled gardens created by subsidized handsets.
Michael
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