The relationship between Apple, maker of the iPhone, and AT&T, its exclusive network carrier, was once heralded as a "groundbreaking alliance" between technology and communications, writes Fred Vogelstein in this month's issue of Wired. But that union has now descended into a "loveless celebrity marriage." In a detailed investigation, Vogelstein charts the many disagreements between the two, and reveals that Apple's secretive stubbornness doomed the relationship — and contributed to the iPhone's failures — right from the very start. Here are 5 revelations:
1. Apple is partly to blame for the dropped calls issue
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2. AT&T's board of directors were not granted a preview of the iPhone
"Shockingly," writes Vogelstein, AT&T's board of directors saw the iPhone for the very first time when it was launched to the rest of the world. Only a "handful of top AT&T execs" were shown the product before January 2007.
3. AT&T announced iPhone "tethering" without telling Steve Jobs
The ability to use your cell phone as a wireless modem, or "tethering," is offered by many carriers. But iPhone and AT&T "were at an impasse over it for at least two years," says Vogelstein. AT&T wanted users to pay extra for it, but Apple wanted it to be included in the flat-rate data plan. Eventually, AT&T exec Ralph de la Vega announced tethering at a San Fransisco wireless convention — but before an agreement had been made. Jobs was "absolutely livid" about it, a source tells Wired, ranting about what a "stupid company AT&T was."
4. Apple has been looking at making a deal with Verizon since 2007
The iPhone had only been on sale a few months when Apple began looking at network alternatives to AT&T. According to Vogelstein, Jobs began researching options to strike a deal with Verizon as early as late 2007, even sending executives to meet with Verizon's hardware providers. But, fearing a "nasty lawsuit," Apple didn't ink anything.
5. AT&T tried to make Steve Jobs wear a suit
When an AT&T rep suggested to one of Steve Jobs' aides that the CEO wear a suit to meet AT&T's board of directors, he was told: "We're Apple. We don't wear suits."
