Apple to Become Wireless Provider? 286
nonsuchworks writes "Forbes reports on the possibility of Apple becoming a 'mobile virtual network operator,' or MVNO, in order to extend the iTunes and iPod brands into the cellular phone market. This would allow Apple to circumvent the cellular carriers who have so far balked at carrying the iTunes-enabled mobile phone." From the article: "It might sound far-fetched, but the pieces are in place for it to happen later this summer. Apple is already developing a hybrid iPod/cell phone with handset maker Motorola. And companies ranging from the Virgin Group to The Walt Disney Co. are proving that a new network model can allow all kinds of businesses to easily enter the mobile market."
It's about time. (Score:5, Interesting)
Simple. Team up with Walmart. (Score:3, Interesting)
An interestesting pulled from the ass idea (Score:5, Interesting)
But if nothing else, it's a very interesting one. Several commentators, including Bill Gates, have stated that they believe that the cell phone will overtake the iPod. You're more likely to carry around a cell, it has an established system of purchasing music (among other things), and so on.
Granted, I still take that with a heavy grain of salt, considering that my own PDA/phone (Treo 650) tends to go about a full day on the charge, and that's from a heavy user who uses it for email, AIM, speech, ebook reading, notes, calendar, and so on. I have to make sure I plug it in before I go to bed. My iPod lasts a bit longer (though if I used it as much as the Treo, it would probably die as quickly, if not faster). The iPod is just a better interface for music, and crappy for all else.
So the concept that Apple could go after the wireless market isn't so far fetched. Would anyone have thought of them a major player in the music industry? They have a brand name that's good (if not growing), and it would be a good way to suppliment the PC business. And it would remove some problems. Right now, according to the rumors, most wireless carriers don't want to carry the iTunes Mobile Phone because it would cut into their business.
So, fine: Apple makes their own service and gives the finger to the phone companies. How many iPod users (and Mac heads) would switch?
For it to work, they would need:
Capital - check, they still have a few billion left in the bank.
Manufacturing - check, not a major problem
Engineers - check, though they'd probably need to hire some
Wireless access points - Hm.... That may be a reach, but as the article points out (yes, I did RTFA) if Disney can do it, so can Apple. Whether that means they go out and buy someone, or just buy up/rent the wireless access points, they certainly have the means and the business acumen. Jobs has demonstrated the ability to negotiate in the past, if done right (say like the current Sprint model I'm using, where $40 gives 500 minutes, and an extra $15 gets me unlimited Internet access), they could make it work. Make the phones a combo phone/802.11 device for Skype/Gizmo like communications, and those Airports become all the more useful to their business model. Or start installing WiMax stations around the country for the same effect.
So, points to the author for coming up with a possibly viable idea. Will Apple do it? Probably not now - they have enough risk on their hands with the shift to the Intel processors and dealing with a potential loss of sales over the next 18-24 months. But if the wireless companies continue to play hardball with Jobs's (note to the picky: his name is Steve Jobs, the plural then becomes Jobs's, thank you) music domination plans, he might just do an end around.
We'll see. Most of this I'm pulling out of my ass, so of course I could be wrong.
How about... (Score:5, Interesting)
Starting their own company gives them more control, but they also have all these other big companies that are going to try to run them out of business. However, if Apple sticks to its $.99 per song and allows people to use a full song for a ringtone rather than selling crappy midi files for $2.50 that play 10 bars of some obscure part of the song, they might put a dent in the other company.
I understand that Apple is trying to expand and stay one step ahead of the competition (especially with Microsoft wanting to get in on the market), but it seems like Apple is starting to wander out of its realm a little bit, which makes me think of another company that tries to do everything and usually ends up with a subpar product that is beaten by a company that focuses on that area.
Then again, if the other big phone companies aren't willing to play ball (which they probably aren't. Would you want to stop charging ridiculous amounts for a ringtone?) what choice does Apple have other than this one?
Hopefully they'll make a product that's fair to the consumer. Basically, I'd want good coverage, the ability to upload songs I've already purchased, and the same $.99 to purchase a song on my phone. Capacity for 100+ songs would be nice as well. Price doesn't matter since you can give it away for a lot less than it costs when you make someone sign a service plan for a few years.
If it met those conditions, I might consider getting one.
Don't they already exist? (Score:3, Interesting)
Odd statement, considering that phones which interoperate with iTunes have already been spotted in the wild. [appleinsider.com]
Earbuds + a hands-free mic (Score:4, Interesting)
One device on the belt and one device for the ears.
Re:Apparently we have exhausted all the good TLAs (Score:3, Interesting)
In this day and age isn't it just as easy to say (or type) Public Service Announcement as it is PSA? I'm telling you, its UCN. And if you can figure that one out I'll give you 75p and a packet of Rolos.
If you would like to check it out go to this page;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLA [wikipedia.org]
Re:FINALLY! (Score:2, Interesting)
Another PDA cellphone? Unless it's very easy to use, I wouldn't think it would be popular. However, I can imagine a cellphone that was integrated with an iPod -- the two devices, in general, are similar in size, etc.
But I would not think integrating iTunes into a cellphone would be a great idea. Using iTunes on my computer is great (and I've stopped buying CDs since downloading iTunes), but that interface wouldn't translate well onto a cellphone-sized screen.
And don't get me started about watching TV on cellphones...
Re:hybrid iPod/cell phone (Score:5, Interesting)
And the fact that support for them is already in iTunes (yeah, I know it says iPod phone, but that's not the same as a "hybrid iPod/cell phone"):
http://appleinsider.com/image.php?i=itunesiphonep
There's no doubt that it's coming. But it won't be a hybrid iPod/cell phone.
Re:FINALLY! (Score:4, Interesting)
I want an iTunes capable phone, but I won't be buying it if Motorola makes it in a "candybar" form instead of the more popular "flip phone" style. From personal experience, I've received stronger signals from the flip phones. Motorola should bring out a RAZR 2.0 phone with more physical memory, an SD (or whatever) flash memory slot, and iTunes/AAC+Fairplay compatible phone. I might not want to buy tunes over the mobile network, but I certainly want to use my iTunes tracks as ringtones.
Issuing a "candybar" phone to the public at this point reminds me of Atari bringing the Falcon computer to the market in the old school 1040ST case when probably 90% of the interested buyers wanted the machine manufactured in a separate case/detached keyboard like the MegaST/STE & TT lines were. I'm sure the Amiga fanboys on here would also agree with the sentiment in relation to the Amiga 500 and 600 models... But I digress...
Re:In other words (Score:4, Interesting)
Kensington makes a Bluetooth iPod adapter. Bundle an Apple branded version with a Bluetooth enabled thumbpad keyboard. For future iPods, they could make the screen larger and offer a separate stylus if the screens were touch sensitive.
But there are also wired remotes for the iPod currently. A wired keyboard would also be doable.
Re:How about... (Score:3, Interesting)
From what I've read, iTunes Mobile is Java based. Apple could really piss off the mobile phone companies by offering it as a free download through the iTunes Music Store and then have links to the Apple store to sell the various cables for the different mobile phones so people could hook up their non-Bluetooth phones to their machines and start the downloading madness. And with that, it would be a one-two punch to the various mobile phone companies (that means you, Sprint and Verizon) that won't play nice with Jobs. Say goodbye to $2.50 ringtones.
Not nearly as cool as I thought.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Rather, they're talking about what amounts to "VARs (value added resellers)" in the world of computers.
Companies like ESPN, Disney or Apple just pay one of the existing cellular companies (like Sprint) for rights to use their infrastructure - and they resell customized phones that do some things the carrier doesn't wish to offer with the phones packaged on their regular plans.
Big deal!?! I grant that this might, indeed, be a way for Apple to get their way rolling out phones that play iTunes purchased music and still sync with PCs - but what else does it really offer anyone?
The cellular carriers are still going to call all the shots as far as prices to use their networks - so they're not likely to give Apple some sort of huge discount. Therefore, I'd say you can expect monthy pricing to be the same or higher than you pay now. And if you have issues such as poor reception, slow data xfer rates, or customer service hassles with your carrier, that won't change either.
Re:T-Mobile, next acquisition? (Score:5, Interesting)
There's yet another reason for Apple to be looking at T-Mobile USA, even if it is only for a 50% acquisition/partnership. The reason being the T-Mobile "Hot Spot" network. And who is the big corporation with thousands of locations partnered up with T-Mobile on this and proudly displaying their logo on their doors? Yep, you guess it, Starbucks.
Bet you thought I was going to say "Frank Stallone" in some weird homage to Norm Macdonald, weren't ya?
The other reason to do so is to have gorgeous Catherine Zeta Jones as a spokeswoman for Apple. Yep, that's something to bite into...
This is great, but wait to see what Nokia does (Score:3, Interesting)
The other thing I love about this is that a big company, Apple, is trying to do an end-around of the telcos and the cable internet providers. And sure, I know they're not taking them head-on, and this is just a rumor at this point, but we gotta turn up the competition if we're ever going to see a really dynamic internet. The promise of a digital commons just isn't playing out like we'd want, and I think the "owners" of the networks are largely to blame. So kudos to Apple for seeing this and taking some steps toward busting up that logjam.
Re:Yeah right (Score:2, Interesting)
My friends who run OSX all have Logitech 5+ button mice. They'll evangelize apple right up until it comes to buttons - then they stop.
What a cowinkydink (Score:3, Interesting)
Heh. Maybe Ford is next?
Re:How about... (Score:1, Interesting)
Beam me your song? (Score:2, Interesting)