iTable coming? was Re: IT'S OFFICIAL: Free AT&T WiFi for iPhone

On May 8, 1:56*pm, iPhone News <inva...@nospam.net> wrote:
> After the unusual situation where iPhones suddenly gained free access to
> Wi-Fi in certain AT&T-hosted hotspot locations, and were shortly
> disabled, AT&T has finally resolved the situation.
>
> The company recently posted on their iPhone webpage under the "Plans"
> tab that all iPhone plans now include access to their "more than 17,000
> Wi-Fi hotspots, including Starbucks all for use in the U.S."
>
> You can get a list of all the hotspots that now have included iPhone
> access at AT&T's website here, located under "plans".
>
> AT&T has yet to actually make an official announcement on the new
> service, but it would it would be safe to assume that they will be
> shortly.

iPhone Data Only = iTablet?

Personally I suspect that Apple will soon release a superior internet
mini device that is a glorified iPod Touch with the data portion only
of GSM network and WiFi. This would be an Apple iTablet/iPod. For
twenty or thirty dollars you will have unlimited 3G data access to the
Internet through AT&T and also full use of their WIFI sites. There
will be no phone capabilty in this tablet. This will give both AT&T a
new revenue stream and capture customers who are locked into Verizon
and Sprint with their cellphones but who lust after the neat
capabilites in an Apple Touch device. I doubt they would allow
tethering for that price. There probably will be no camera so some
business and secure government sites would have no problems with this
as a business tool.

Apple sales (and stock) will explode if that is their still secret
plan. Sprint WiMax plans may implode if AT&T trumps them with this and
Sprint doesn't have a device similar to the iTablet.



It may come about this summer since multiple "iPhone" devices are
rummored to be ready for release.

On May 8, 11:44*pm, "4.vic.hea...@gmail.com" <4.vic.hea...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> On May 8, 1:56*pm, iPhone News <inva...@nospam.net> wrote:
>
> > After the unusual situation where iPhones suddenly gained free access to
> > Wi-Fi in certain AT&T-hosted hotspot locations, and were shortly
> > disabled, AT&T has finally resolved the situation.
>
> > The company recently posted on their iPhone webpage under the "Plans"
> > tab that all iPhone plans now include access to their "more than 17,000
> > Wi-Fi hotspots, including Starbucks all for use in the U.S."
>
> > You can get a list of all the hotspots that now have included iPhone
> > access at AT&T's website here, located under "plans".
>
> > AT&T has yet to actually make an official announcement on the new
> > service, but it would it would be safe to assume that they will be
> > shortly.
>
> iPhone Data Only = iTablet?
>
> Personally I suspect that Apple will soon release a superior internet
> mini device that is a glorified iPod Touch with the data portion only
> of GSM network and WiFi. This would be an Apple iTablet/iPod. For
> twenty or thirty dollars you will have unlimited 3G data access to the
> Internet through AT&T and also full use of their WIFI sites. There
> will be no phone capabilty in this tablet. This will give both AT&T a
> new revenue stream and capture customers who are locked into Verizon
> and Sprint with their cellphones but who lust after the neat
> capabilites in an Apple Touch device. I doubt they would allow
> tethering for that price. There probably will *be no camera so some
> business and secure government sites would have no problems with this
> as a business tool.
>
> Apple sales (and stock) will explode if that is their still secret
> plan. Sprint WiMax plans may implode if AT&T trumps them with this and
> Sprint doesn't have a device similar to the iTablet.
>
> It may come about this summer since multiple "iPhone" devices are
> rummored to be ready for release.

Make that $40 a month. I forgot about this announcment which is
similar.

AT&T Introduces New iPhone Text Accessibility Plan for Customers with
Disabilities

New Rate Plan Includes Unlimited Internet and Messaging

San Antonio, Texas, April 29, 2008

The iPhone is now even more accessible for Americans who are deaf or
have a hearing or speech disability. Today, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)
announced a new Text Accessibility Plan (TAP) for iPhone, designed to
give iPhone customers with disabilities the choice of unlimited text
messaging, Web browsing and easy access to e-mail for $40 a month.

"Our Text Accessibility Plan allows customers who are deaf or have
hearing or speech disabilities to literally tap out their
communications on the go," said Carlton Hill, vice president of
Product Management, Voice Products and Affiliate Marketing for AT&T's
wireless unit. "Now with TAP for iPhone, users can tap, flick and
pinch the innovative Multi-Touch touch screen for a completely new
world of functionality."

This new plan is available to new and current iPhone users with
qualifying disabilities through AT&T's National Center for Customers
with Disabilities (NCCD). To qualify for the iPhone TAP, customers
must complete an application for eligibility. The form is available
for download at http://www.wireless.att.com/about/di...for-iphone.jsp.

During the iPhone activation process, customers sign up for a standard
iPhone voice and data plan. After the iPhone is activated, customers
can e-mail, fax or mail the eligibility form back to the NCCD to
change their rate plan to the TAP for iPhone.

Current iPhone customers who qualify may also submit the NCCD
application to request the TAP for iPhone. Customers can contact the
AT&T NCCD with questions at 866-241-6568 for voice calls or
866-241-6567 for TTY calls.

"4.vic.healey@gmail.com" <4.vic.healey@gmail.com> wrote in news:28422baa-
c973-4b02-84bb-0d8ff69f805e@24g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

> Apple sales (and stock) will explode if that is their still secret
> plan.

Tell us, Vic, how much AAPL stock are you holding, anyway?

Just for reference, mind you, so we can try to understand your indefensible
positions.

Oh, oh....Apple may already be into copyright infringement, again.....

We have an iTablet, already!

http://itablet.garage.maemo.org/

I hope the boys sue their asses....(c;

"4.vic.healey@gmail.com" <4.vic.healey@gmail.com> wrote in news:28422baa-
c973-4b02-84bb-0d8ff69f805e@24g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

> iTablet.
>



I guess this one won't qualify, though. It runs APPLICATIONS, hundreds of
them, including Skype or Gizmo for telephone service cheap....

4.vic.healey@gmail.com wrote:

> Personally I suspect that Apple will soon release a superior internet
> mini device that is a glorified iPod Touch with the data portion only
> of GSM network and WiFi.


iSuckers get to carry multiple, deficient devices where one functional
device will do? Mah-velous!

<4.vic.healey@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:28422baa-c973-4b02-84bb-0d8ff69f805e@24g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

> iPhone Data Only = iTablet?

> Personally I suspect that Apple will soon release a superior internet
> mini device that is a glorified iPod Touch with the data portion only
> of GSM network and WiFi. This would be an Apple iTablet/iPod.

I seriously doubt it. Apple is too savvy to release such a niche product.
Nokia has been the most successful web tablet sellet ever with those N8xx's
Larry always manages to bring up in a thread (regardless of topic!) and even
those don't sell in any real numbers (at least not until Nokia slashed the
price of the N800 to cost to make room for the 810.)

Why in Lord's name, would they sell a tablet with GSM data but no GSM voice
capability? Many of the laptop data cards out there still have headphone
jacks on them so you can make a voice call in a pinch. (My T-Mo data card
has one, for which they charge a $0.25/min. flat rate for voice calls.)


> For
> twenty or thirty dollars you will have unlimited 3G data access to the
> Internet through AT&T and also full use of their WIFI sites. There
> will be no phone capabilty in this tablet. This will give both AT&T a
> new revenue stream and capture customers who are locked into Verizon
> and Sprint with their cellphones but who lust after the neat
> capabilites in an Apple Touch device. I doubt they would allow
> tethering for that price. There probably will be no camera so some
> business and secure government sites would have no problems with this
> as a business tool.

> Apple sales (and stock) will explode if that is their still secret
> plan. Sprint WiMax plans may implode if AT&T trumps them with this and
> Sprint doesn't have a device similar to the iTablet.

Oxford off his meds again? Apple could make the greatest WiFi tablet ever
and neither sales nor stock will "explode" because it's a niche product- a
very small subset of the population likes browsing on devices smaller than a
laptop, and only of subset of those folks (one is Larry, apparently!) are
willing to go BACK to lugging two devices- that's why we bought smartphones
in the first place- to leave our laptops, PDAs, and tablets at home. If
such a device was produced, I'll wager you won't see AT&T data built in, or
cameras left out to cater to the enterprise- instead, it'd be an "iPod Touch
Max," picture a Touch with a 7" screen, designed more to replace a portable
DVD player with web tablet functionality tossed in as a bonus. In fact, if
they built in a sufficiently res TV output, it'd double as a poor man's
Apple TV- content downloaded directly to the device over Wifi via the iTunes
store or pulled from your home network, and displayed on your TV, all from
the control of the large screen tablet. (This idea isn't original- see the
Archos 605 WiFi media player- all but the iTunes purchase functionality is
there. Apple could do the Archos idea a LOT better with the iPod Touch UI
and iTunes compatibility.)


> It may come about this summer since multiple "iPhone" devices are
> rummored to be ready for release.

Prepare to be disappointed like those who hoped/predicted the MacBook Air
would be a tablet or a UMPC-sized MacBook instead of a thinner version of a
standard giant laptop. (When will manufacturers learn that making an
unwieldly brick thinner just gives you a thinner, lighter, yet equally
unwieldy brick?)