Wired4iPhone » Carriers

Give me some Face Time…

Mike — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:59:12 +0000

FaceTime: Video Calls reborn

It is interesting that when the wireless carriers created the 3G networks there was no mention of data, it was all about Video Calling. Now I had one of the early 3G Motorola V3 flip phones and I used video calling once. And then it failed.

But that was way back in time, and things have changed since then. Video Calling which was the big selling point of upgrading to 3G died a death and was replaced by WAP and Mobile Internet. So why has Apple re-introduced video calling in the guise of Face Time?

Well some of the social media and new generation communications platforms have done very well with text, voice, and video messaging. So maybe it is time for mobile video calling to make a comeback. As far as bandwidth is concerned there shouldn’t be a problem (unless you are in San Francisco and your name is Steve Jobs at WWDC) and of course I think that is will be great for families and friends who are apart.

The restriction though is that you can only call iPhone 4 to iPhone 4. Why not iPhone 4 to Mac? Or iPhone to anything? Is restricting it to iPhone 4 going to cause it to fail? Does the fact that Apple has developed FaceTime mean that they will block the far more useful Skype from releasing video calling in their app? I certainly hope not, but even so the wireless carriers will be reluctant to allow this video calling over their networks as they will be struggling to provide the bandwidth that they have difficulty obtaining extra revenue from.

Maybe the recent withdrawal of “unlimited” data tariffs is more to do with gaining extra revenue from users wanting to use their devices in new and innovative ways, than punishing the tiny minority who have taken the networks at their word and “abuse” the “unlimited data”.

Lets face it with the cost of data fixed and falling the wireless carriers have to find a way to get the finances they need to invest in newer and faster networks. They have missed out badly on controlling what connects to their network so now they need to capitalise on the only “real” asset they have: the network and it’s airtime.

I am all for paying a fair price for a product to enable further development and innovation, and indeed for the company to make money, but being draconian and restrictive may very well stifle mobile innovation and effectively restrict what we can do with our mobile devices to static WiFi networks.

FaceTime: Video Calls reborn

O2 Unlocking iPhone failed for me twice

Mike — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:13:58 +0000

I have been trying to unlock my 3GS for some time now. The first attempt failed completely. I had my confirmation email but then after nearly a month nothing had happened. I phoned O2 and after some time I got through to customer services representative who told me that for some reason my original form had not been sent through to the correct dept. He sorted that out and told me it may be up to 14 days before my phone would be unlocked.

I had a text from O2 which I thought was telling me I had been unlocked. Foolishly I upgraded my iPhone from its YellowSn0w jailbreak/unlock to OS 3.1.2. Then I found that my phone had not been unlocked… I checked the text from O2 again and realised it was not the unlock confirmation…

A few days later I phoned O2 to check on the status of the unlock and was told it would happen within the 14 days which has a few days left to go. On the 29th December nothing had happened. So I tried phoning O2 again and after a long wait I was cut off.

Today I finally got a text telling me I was unlocked and to put a new sim in the iPhone and connect to iTunes. I duly complied and iTunes told me the phone was not unlocked.

As I am off to the USA for a month I could not afford to go through the process again. Having upgraded the OS I had also upgraded the baseband which prevented me from Jailbreaking using YellowSn0w again. After a quick check I found that the Blackra1n and BlackSn0w jailbreak/unlock actually recommended using the OS/Baseband I had upgraded to. So a quick download and in less than 5 minutes my iPhone was jailbroken and unlocked. I can now put my US SIM in it and not be clobbered for stupid data roaming charges.

Now looking back on the O2 problem it may well be my fault as I have switched my 3G and 3GS sims. However if that is the cause then I would have thought that O2 might have picked this up and warned me rather than letting me try to go through the unlock process twice and fail…

O2 – 2 strikes over 6 weeks. BlackRa1n – Home run in 5 minutes…

Tesco announce tariffs for iPhone

MostDom — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:32:14 +0000

Tesco finally announces tariffs for for their iPhone offer due to go on sale on abouts 14th December. They are only currently offering three options, Pay as you go, 12 Month contracts and 18 Month contracts for the 3G, 3GS 16Gb, & 3GS 32Gb. These are £20 pm and £60 pm.

Downsides are having to buy the iPhone upfront, but the upside is only being tied into a 12 month contract. And if you compare this with the Orange offerings on a like for like basis the Tescos option looks to be the smart choice, although the draw of not having to buy the iPhone upfront may be a win for Orange.

Decide for yourself. Tesco – Orange

Tesco-iPhone. Let the wars begin

MostDom — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:59:01 +0000

Tesco is to sell iphone

Hot off the press is news that Tesco have joined in on the iPhone war here in the UK. On the Tesco Direct website confirmation of their move has already been made. It is suggested they will do both the 3G and the 3GS but nothing as yet on pricings.

It is also to be noted that this is a joint partnership with O2 so we could speculate that the rates will stay the same but if tesco history of price slashing is anything to go by we may see them set a president for Orange and Vodaphone to follow.

Let the wars begin?

Should be in before Christmas.