Apple’s Dark Side
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past, oh, 5 years, you fully well know that MMS (multi-media message service), or picture text messages are nothing new. Peeps have been sending picture messages to friends and family for years on every type of device, from the most basic of flip phones to the most sophisticated smart devices – nearly every phone is capable of this simple feat except for Apple’s iPhone.at&t
Much controversy has been stirring about the iPhone’s inability to send picture messages since the phone’s debut in 2007 (which I am unashamed to say I purchased the very first weekend it was available). Back then, the public was told that the original iPhone (at that point there was no iPhone 3G – just the iPhone) was not going to feature picture messaging. Independent research, however, completed by iPhone hacking sites and user groups (such as groups at MacLife.com) have essentially proven that the original iPhone (and thus every iPhone) has always been capable of MMS picture messaging. The modem chip inside the original iPhone (which is used to send and receive picture messages) is used in a few other mobile devices, all of which are capable of MMS.
So it’s clear that Apple has always had the capability of offering MMS – why hasn’t it? The answer of course, is money. Apple’s official statement on the matter is “Now the hardware has changed enough between [the original iPhone and the new iPhone 3G and 3GS], not all features will be available on the original iPhone. For instance, MMS and stereo Bluetooth will not be available on the original iPhone.” Did you notice Apple never actually said “The original iPhone is incapable of receiving MMS” or any derivative thereof?
Apple is notorious for releasing incremental updates to their hardware (both iPods, iPhones and computers) just about every year, inciting users and fans alike to upgrade their perfectly functioning hardware to newer models with slightly higher capabilities. One could argue that there isn’t anything wrong with this – and to be honest, there isn’t, a company is free to do whatever they wish – but restricting basic features that every other device has had for half a decade (essentially forcing users to pay several hundred dollars to upgrade to a phone nearly identical to their previous device, if they can’t live without MMS) is a recipe for disaster. Loyalty isn’t loyal, and even the most devoted Mac and iPhone junkies may soon start to veer from the golden Apple if they aren’t treated better.
It is nice to know that September 25th is the day that the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3Gs will finally get MMS picture messaging – however this capability has been around since the beginning of the summer when Apple released its 3.0 software update. This time, AT&T dropped the ball, claiming that its network wasn’t quite able to carry the increased data burden that MMS will undoubtedly place on its [decidedly weak] network infrastructure. Basically, AT&T thought that if everyone started sending picture messages, its network would go down from the influx of use. It’s rather embarrassing, in my opinion, that AT&T is the last carrier worldwide to offer this feature, when smaller carriers in Europe and Asia have offered MMS on the iPhone since the feature was released in Apple’s 3.0 update. It’s coming, they finally told us – it’s coming. But is it too little, too late?
If there’s duplicates of this please delete.
I agree, apple and At&t screwed up, Like Blackberry had it etc, and don’t you know have to open a website just to view a picture?
As for making you upgrade or so if you want a new feature etc. this isn’t an excuse,, companies that do it because if everything is on the product first time around about no one would buy a new one unless it’s old or broken, least what I think they do it.
My issues with buying a brand new device most times is first one always tends to have bugs til it’s refined, same with a newly introduced car.
As for Asia be nice to have that newer tech, I think to get near them we need to more bandwidth and whatever else needs to be upgraded, But I hear some of their tech like for video doesn’t work well..
I dont’ know if it’s true or not but can’t we use the old analog bandwidth to or it’s channels for cell towers?
Reply to this comment
Should of looked it over and edited before, but does all the tech work well on the phones though? all I heard was a rumor that some of it didn’t work well.
and also meant Im not making them an excuse to do it, more of their reasoning. and I made no sense
, typically they want you to upgrade to get new features, but should I think give any customer a good discount. if a feature can be done with in a update.
Reply to this comment
Apple made a mistake tying itself to At&T. Verizon has better 3G coverage than AT&T. The advantage to apple was that they got there money upfront from AT&T and AT&T got captive users with long contract periods. It may have been a good short term move for Apple but people don’t like AT&T, so long range it is a engative.
Reply to this comment