Exclusivity

Apple promotes exclusive holiday offers available to users of Apple Pay on the web

Apple has set up a new webpage at apple.com/apple-pay/holiday/ which provides a list of exclusive holiday offers from a number of retailers that are available with Apple Pay on the web, which recently launched with built-in support for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra devices.

“Experience the fast and secure way to shop online with Apple Pay, now on the web in Safari,” reads Apple’s notice, adding that would-be shoppers receive exclusive benefits such as free rush shipping, discounts and other rewards.

iPhone 3GS Running Untethered Jailbreak on iOS 4.3.1 with Sn0wbreeze Beta [Video]

The Windows jailbreak tool, Sn0wbreeze, was recently updated to perform a tethered jailbreak on iOS 4.3.1. We told you about the newest beta release a couple days ago, and many of you have successfully been able to jailbreak your iPhone on 4.3.1.

The biggest downer with the current Sn0wbreeze beta is that it’s a tethered jailbreak, and we’ve recommended holding off on iOS 4.3.1 until an untethered solution is released from the Dev Team.

To our surprise, an iDB reader sent us a video of his iPhone 3GS running an untethered jailbreak after using the latest Sn0wbreeze 2.4b1…

Too Many Facts Point to Imminent Verizon iPhone Announcement – A Detailed Timeline

I know it’s unlikely, but perhaps you’ve heard a thing or two about an upcoming little announcement regarding the iPhone, and some mobile carrier called Verizon. Sarcasm aside, let’s look at the latest details that we’ve gathered about the iPhone’s inevitable jump from AT&T exclusivity to CDMA land.

Join us as we take a look at some of the most interesting facts about this mobile landscape changing event. Face it, the Verizon iPhone is real, and it’s right around the corner…

Is AT&T Preparing to Lose iPhone Exclusivity?

With the rumors flying again that Verizon might be getting a CDMA iPhone sometime next year, it looks like AT&T might be getting ready for life after iPhone exclusivity. Bloomberg notes that AT&T has been ramping up new smartphones on their network.

Lately they have added several new Windows 7 and Android phones to their mix of units. AT&T has said numerous times that they are not worried about losing the iPhone exclusivity due to the increase in popularity with Android and interest in Windows 7 Mobile.

AT&T CEO is Not Worried About Losing iPhone Exclusivity

I like people with confidence. They maintain an aura of cool while some intense situations are presented to them. Then once in a while their confidence is largely mistaken as delusion. Is that what is happening with the CEO of AT&T and his latest claim of not caring about losing iPhone exclusivity? Not really.
Market Watch has a report that cites Randall Stephenson telling investors that basically the majority of current iPhone users are in long contracts as it stands. That’s certainly true however those “long” contracts are less than 2 years and will eventually need to be renewed to stay long term…

iPhone 5 To Run on Both 3G and LTE

Since I started following the iPhone daily buzz I am constantly reminded by how passionate and devout the community covering the device can be. So devout that the moment someone predicts the future of an unreleased iPhone, the rest of the bloggers rush to validate the claim.

CNET reports that an analyst from Rodman and Renshaw claims that Apple’s next generation phone will offer up support for both 3G technology and the futuristic LTE (Long Term Evolution) platform which is being touted as “4G” technology. Ashok Kumar said the following about the switch:

Is the iPod Touch For People Who Don’t Want an iPhone?

Apple’s event today wasn’t filled with too many surprises. The iPod Touch was beefed up in features that included many of the predicted and leaked abilities that were floating around. Mimicking nearly all of the features of the iPhone 4 makes me wonder now more than ever if the Touch is specifically designed for those who don’t want an iPhone.
Adding FaceTime and Retina Display to the Touch gives it both of the best features from the iPhone 4. The speedy A4 chip will make the two devices close to equal in processing time, something that the iPhone previously ousted the Touch in considerably. So what’s the difference?

AT&T Continues to Stay Confident About Losing iPhone Exclusivity

We reported earlier in the month about AT&T downplaying and avoiding questions about the effects it will suffer if and when their iPhone exclusivity runs out. The tune is staying the same from the telephone provider but now they are citing tablets such as the iPad as their future lifeline.

Without getting specific about the rumors of a Verizon iPhone, Glen Lurie (AT&T emerging devices president) says that the company plans to keep “plugging along” at the same rate of success they are now. Yeah, right…

What Would a Non-Exclusive iPhone Cost?

As iDB covers the possibility of a Verizon iPhone, most everyone thinks having a choice of carriers would be good for the consumers. However it’s that very exclusivity that makes the awesome device more affordable than other smartphones in its class, says 9 to 5 Mac. They have a point.

AT&T’s position as sole carrier in the U.S. doesn’t come without a hefty price. By being lone wolf they have to fork over subsidies that make the iPhone cost just $200-$300. In fact the mobile provider pays out more in subsidies for the iPhone than any other phone they offer. Don’t feel too bad for them because in reality it has been AT&T’s personal cash cow.

AT&T Downplays Possible Loss Of Exclusivity

Following suit with the rumor mill, AT&T drops hints that the carrier exclusivity with the iPhone will be no more. What doesn’t match up with consumer opinion, is the companies confidence that it won’t be an issue. Apparently they know something we don’t, or they’re doing their best to save face amongst shareholders. I anticipate it’s not the former.

In a recent SEC filing, Wireless chief for AT&T Ralph de la Vega stated that around 80% of customers are locked into family or corporate plans. To switch the entire group, he says, would be a difficult task. Truthfully, he’s correct. Your family plan is (almost always) renewed when just one line upgrades its phone.

The document makes a point of avoiding any mention of the iPhone directly, however previous quarters’ said nothing about exclusivity. Many will say this could be evidence that Apple’s contract is up, or nearing the end. Factually the last mention of the contract was Apple, confirming the agreement to last until 2012. Various rumors of an iPhone coming to Verizon and T-Mobile, have been enough spark to this fiery debate.

Whether or not AT&T will admit the potential catastrophe of losing the deal, they have lined their ducks in a row, to make sure those who are current, stay that way. They recently upped their Early Termination Fee, from $175, to $325. Yea, they (nearly) doubled it.

What is horrendous for AT&T, is ultimately awesome for Apple. Widening their market will only put the full court press on its competitors. I do understand what AT&T is doing, really. They are doing the only thing they can do, which is attempt to ease inevitable concern. We cant’ expect them to come out and say, “Hey guys, we are so freaking screwed”. But the fact that they are saying something says something, don’t you think?