RSSDeclaring AT&T's GSM network 'open' could be premature
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published December 6, 2007, 11:59 AM
A comment by the CEO of AT&T's wireless division was interpreted to mean the company was following up Verizon Wireless in opening its services to the customer's choice of handsets. But that may not be what he really meant.
"You can use any handset on our network you want," AT&T Wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega is quoted by USA Today as having stated, adding later that his company does nothing to police its customers and that has already established itself as the most open of US carriers.
But what de la Vega did not tell USA Today reporter Leslie Cauley could amount to several volumes, especially when compared with last week's stunning announcement by chief competitor Verizon Wireless. Not only is VZW opening up its CDMA network to the customer's choice of handsets, it will be opening its network interface specifications so that any manufacturer can make its CDMA equipment compatible with its network.
If AT&T's de la Vega mentioned his company had any similar plans to make its GSM network specifications generally available, the USA Today reporter did not mention them. Instead, she quoted him as having confirmed that Apple iPhone customers could only purchase their devices through AT&T stores, and only by signing a two-year contract.
The company has issued no formal statement on the affair or planned any announcement conference. And this morning, BetaNews found AT&T's press spokespeople scrambling for an explanation of de la Vega's comments, which may yet be forthcoming.
In an interview last month published by the San Francisco Chronicle, de la Vega said his company has been working to get the word out that it already provides choice to its customers, but for some reason customers may not be getting the complete message.
"We've done some innovative, creative things but somehow we're not getting the credit for it," he told the Chronicle. "And we're going to speak more loudly to that so customers know that we're open to choice, that we've been bringing them all the choices that are important and we'll continue to do so."
"If AT&T's de la Vega mentioned his company had any similar plans to make its GSM network specifications generally available, the USA Today reporter did not mention them."
AT&T doesn't need to make those specifications available. Specifications for GSM networks are set by The European Telecommunications Standards Institute, not by AT&T and the ETSI is happy to release that information. It's why GSM is the dominant mobile phone standard (80% of the market)and it's why the same W810i that I used on T-mobile's network works for me on AT&T's network now.
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|This is wrong, from what I understand you can't use a t-mobile phone with AT&T...especially the sidekick.
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|T-Mobile does not ever unlock Sidekick phones for any reason. You can unlock any other phone T-Mobile sells, just not the Sidekick.
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|My understanding is that nothing has changed:
You've always been able to put the little AT$T
card thing into any phone it'll fit in and if the
phone works AT&T won't care.
And if the phone doesn't work only _you_ will
notice.
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|Huh? This is a confusing article and I do not get its point. Is BetaNews saying the USA Today article is wrong?
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|What we're saying is that neither de la Vega's actual comments nor AT&T's (for the time being) inability to explain them, appear to lend themselves to a story with the headline, "AT&T flings cellphone network wide open," by our estimates.
-SF3
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|Thanks for the clarification, Scott.
Others here are right. From elsewhere online:
"AT&T Inc. said today [6 Dec. 07] that its GSM-based wireless network in the U.S. is essentially open to any GSM device and any software application, and has been for several years.
Siegel clarified today that the phone must work over GSM, but otherwise confirmed de la Vega's comments."
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|No ifs or buts but plenty implied.
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