Just Sayin’ More Words

iPhone Plan Is a Ripoff

Back when I posted my initial thoughts on the iPhone I said the following:

No iChat?!?! Are you kidding me? Giving SMS an iChat interface just doesn’t do it for me. The device needs instant messaging. This is the killer feature for my Sidekick. Only providing SMS for real-time messaging is inadequate. Without presence management and contact with external networks (i.e. anyone you want to chat with not using a cell phone), the iPhone is incomplete. Considering the data network they need to have for web browsing and such is already in place, this seems like a gross oversight to me.

And guess what? If SMS is a good enough real-time communications method for you, you’re going to get gouged with text message fees. The threaded “mock iChat” nature of the iPhone’s SMS implementation will resort in people sending a TON of text messages. Only problem is you only get 200 text messages a month with all the plans! I don’t know the exact number, but I’d estimate I send 200 IMs from my Sidekick every few days. But wait, there’s good news. You can add unlimited SMS to your AT&T account for the low, low price of just $14.99 a month!

Let’s compare…

Plan
T-Mobile Sidekick: $39.99/month for 600-1000 minutes (depending on when you sign up)
Apple/AT&T iPhone: $59.99/month for 450 minutes & unlimited data

Data Plan
Sidekick: $19.99/month
iPhone: included above

Text Messages
Sidekick: Unlimited, included in data plan
iPhone: 200 included, $14.99/month for unlimited, various other packages (couldn’t find per message rate on AT&T’s web site)

Web Browsing
Sidekick: Lacking web browser, decent speed, browser works well with limited network (EDGE)
iPhone: “Real” internet…good luck with that on the EDGE network

IM
Sidekick: Unlimited Yahoo, MSN and AIM.
iPhone: Uh….

Yes, the iPhone wins with their sweet apps (Google Maps, Youtube, Email, Visual Voicemail, et al.), iPod integration, device form factor, multitouch, yada, yada, yada. But they could have really put it over the top with a knock-out data/voice/sms plan. For some reason, they’re choosing not to. To get the equivalent service that I have now, it would cost me upwards of $100/month and I still wouldn’t be able to use IM. I’d sure look cool though.

I have a feeling that the SMS message limit will go up within 2-3 months and that we’ll see iChat added as well in about the same timeframe. When that happens, I’m going to want one of these things so, so badly.

UPDATE: Here’s Apple’s official plan pricing page.

June 26th, 9:38 AM Bush League, Technology Read more Comments

SuperDumb

I haven’t posted many non-technical posts (despite being the reason for setting up this blog). If you’re an RSS subscriber and are only interested in posts related to .NET, subscribe to this feed.

News from CNNSI.com today about the NFL’s ridiculous policy restricting public viewings of the “big game” this Sunday (I would call the game by its name, but I don’t want a cease and desist letter from the NFL. Herein, let’s call it the “Grand Vessel”). Get a load of this:

NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church’s “[Grand Vessel] Bash” on the church Web site last week and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled, the church said.

Initially, the league objected to the church’s plan to charge a fee to attend and that the church used the license-protected words “[Grand Vessel]” in its promotions.

Pastor John D. Newland said he told the NFL his church would not charge anyone and that it would drop the use of the forbidden words.

But the NFL objected to the church’s plans to use a projector to show the game, saying the law limits it to one TV no bigger than 55 inches.

The church will likely abandon its plans to host a [Grand Vessel] party.

So, you’re telling me that if I have a 100″ projection screen in my house and have some people over, I’m breaking the law?!? I love sports. I hate sports leagues. Just yesterday I wrote on my other blog about how pro sports leagues just don’t seem to actually care about the fans. If this isn’t more proof of that, I don’t know what is.

The only good thing about this story is that inspired me to create a new category for posts.

February 1st, 2:11 PM Bush League, Sports Read more Comments