AT&T wants customers to buy anything but the iPhone

[still1]

You could make the argument that AT&T might not hold nearly as much of the US mobile market if it weren?t for striking a deal with Apple that made them the exclusive launch partner of the iPhone. That exclusivity remained for years, causing other carriers to kick themselves for missing out on a golden opportunity. The iPhone has become such a hot ticket item that Sprint reportedly paid an exorbitant amount of cash to Apple simply for the right to stock the latest iteration of the handset. So why, then, is word trickling down from AT&T?s corporate offices to the retail level to steer customers away from purchasing an iPhone, even if they enter the store with their mind already set on the device?

That?s the word coming from BGR, where a report cites multiple sources working in AT&T?s retail stores as saying they have received direct orders to push customers towards Android (and even Windows Phone) devices. The reasoning behind the directive isn?t clear, as the iPhone has made up the bulk of AT&T?s phone sales over the past several years. It could be the impending launch of the iPhone 5 (or whatever it may end up being called). It could be in an effort to show a lack of favoritism towards Apple?s product.

AT&T has yet to comment, and we doubt they will provide any straight answers on the matter. Maybe it has everything to do with the fact that AT&T does offer several of the top Android devices currently on the market, and insisting that a customer pick up an HTC One X or Samsung Galaxy S3 instead of an iPhone could actually be seen as doing them a service.

http://phandroid.com/2012/08/01/att-wants-customers-to-buy-anything-but-the-iphone/

[+Steve B Subscriber²]

I'd say the reasoning behind this could be what is stated above or just the fact that AT&T still might not want to admit that it's network would've been just find under iPhone load if it actually invested in its network and not wait until it basically collapsed to do anything. AT&T has made a lot of bad decisions over the years. This to me is one of them if what is being said is true. You start alienating Apple customers and they will flock to what carrier will offer to sell with the least amount of hassle. I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't some idea from corporate to drive away iPhone customers to lessen network load. That is exactly what AT&T would do and I definitely wouldn't be surprised if it is.

[ANON86364]

I'd say the reasoning behind this could be what is stated above or just the fact that AT&T still might not want to admit that it's network would've been just find under iPhone load if it actually invested in its network and not wait until it basically collapsed to do anything. AT&T has made a lot of bad decisions over the years. This to me is one of them if what is being said is true. You start alienating Apple customers and they will flock to what carrier will offer to sell with the least amount of hassle. I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't some idea from corporate to drive away iPhone customers to lessen network load. That is exactly what AT&T would do and I definitely wouldn't be surprised if it is.

A smartphone uses the same data regardless of the brand. Unless you're trying to say that AT&T is attempting to steer customers away entirely...

[Rudy]

sounds silly to try to undercut your best selling phone :/

[+Steve B Subscriber²]

A smartphone uses the same data regardless of the brand. Unless you're trying to say that AT&T is attempting to steer customers away entirely...

You are right, data is data. What I meant was there are several different factors that determine data usage. One is the kind of person that has the device, the kind of smartphone. Some smartphones are more apt to use data then others because of speed. I hope it makes sense. In general, the iPhone is seen as the device the brought down AT&T's network or at the very least slowed it way down. As I said above, it would've been fine in Ma Bell actually invested in its network and not skimp out to please investors. WIth AT&T's track record, my "theory" above fits inline with AT&T's thinking.

[siah1214]

sounds silly to try to undercut your best selling phone :/

Not silly at all when you think about it. AT&T makes little money on iPhone sales because they are subsidized heavily. Then the iPhone user goes and uses (in general) much more data than the average Android user does, using network bandwidth and resources. So in the end, AT&T doesn't make nearly as much and in some cases loses money on the iPhone. So why should they want to sell iPhones? This will be very good for Windows Phone 8.

[theyarecomingforyou]

sounds silly to try to undercut your best selling phone :/

Not if Android phones offer better profitability, which it has been said that they do. If they can convince even 5% of customers to go for an Android phone instead of the iPhone then that can considerably increase profitability. And this move could be in response to the iPhone 5 which may be an even less attractive proposition for them.

[Dinggus]

Not silly at all when you think about it. AT&T makes little money on iPhone sales because they are subsidized heavily. Then the iPhone user goes and uses (in general) much more data than the average Android user does, using network bandwidth and resources. So in the end, AT&T doesn't make nearly as much and in some cases loses money on the iPhone. So why should they want to sell iPhones? This will be very good for Windows Phone 8.

If I had an Android, I'm sure I'd use just as much data as I do with my iPhone.

[+Steve B Subscriber²]

Well, AT&T released a statement saying they aren't doing such things. Though that doesn't mean squat because you can't expect them to admit it. LOL

[andrewbares]

If I had an Android, I'm sure I'd use just as much data as I do with my iPhone.

But most people with Android DON'T use as much data, as studies have proven. That's where the logic comes from.

I'm betting that's because there are plenty of super cheap Android phones where people can't/don't want a data plan with them. So I don't think correlation == causation in this case. Nevertheless if AT&T can make more money off each Android sold, then that's what they should do.

[LSlari69]

I'd say the reasoning behind this could be what is stated above or just the fact that AT&T still might not want to admit that it's network would've been just find under iPhone load if it actually invested in its network and not wait until it basically collapsed to do anything. AT&T has made a lot of bad decisions over the years. This to me is one of them if what is being said is true. You start alienating Apple customers and they will flock to what carrier will offer to sell with the least amount of hassle. I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't some idea from corporate to drive away iPhone customers to lessen network load. That is exactly what AT&T would do and I definitely wouldn't be surprised if it is.

That doesn't make sense. If you are worried about network load, Android does that far more than iPhones. We know how much of a data hog Android can be with all the ads popping up

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

well, that's funny, because my AT&T contract expires in 04/2013, but for only 250 bucks (plus, the fee for starting another 2 year plan), I can get an early upgrade for....you guessed it...an iPhone (and this is what they want me to have after using a droid...no thanks!) That's what they think I should have, and that's what they keep trying to pressure me into, but I REFUSE to.

[cybertimber2008]

But most people with Android DON'T use as much data, as studies have proven. That's where the logic comes from.

I think the widgets help. Why open a weather app with a bunch of videos up front (weather.com for iOS, looking at you...) when a simple widget will tell you the current temp + 3-5 days and use a few kilobytes of data?

[Elliott]

Sounds like I might be getting my iPhone 5 with Verizon instead.

[+Steve B Subscriber²]

That doesn't make sense. If you are worried about network load, Android does that far more than iPhones. We know how much of a data hog Android can be with all the ads popping up

What is you say is true also but, I think it really depends on which Android device you're talking about and the person using it. Honestly, its really hard to say what AT&T's reasoning behind such a move would be. For all we know it could be "all the above". LOL

[cybertimber2008]

Sounds like I might be getting my iPhone 5 with Verizon instead.

It doesn't say they won't offer it. Just walk in, say "i'm here for and iPhone. Take my money without pushing me torwards and iPhone or i'm going to verizon".

[Elliott]

It doesn't say they won't offer it. Just walk in, say "i'm here for and iPhone. Take my money without pushing me torwards and iPhone or i'm going to verizon".

Yes, but AT&T's had a sorry excuse for an LTE rollout, and it looks like Verizon might be required to offer free tethering for the iPhone 5.

[Eddo89]

Android users use less data. But is that a fair statement? I would bet any iPhone user convinced to use Android will use just as much data. Anyone using Flagship phones probably would had used as much data as iPhone users.

[BetaAddict]

If I had an Android, I'm sure I'd use just as much data as I do with my iPhone.

But most people with Android DON'T use as much data, as studies have proven. That's where the logic comes from.

I'm betting that's because there are plenty of super cheap Android phones where people can't/don't want a data plan with them. So I don't think correlation == causation in this case. Nevertheless if AT&T can make more money off each Android sold, then that's what they should do.

Android users use less data. But is that a fair statement? I would bet any iPhone user convinced to use Android will use just as much data. Anyone using Flagship phones probably would had used as much data as iPhone users.

Studies from last year show the average android phone consumes slightly more data than iPhone. But take the data with a grain of salt, because these study difficult do not distinguish whether the usage is deliberate (streaming 6 hours of Pandora a day, active web browsing, etc) or background processes syncing. So you cannot directly imply that one type of phone uses more data than the other as there are many other advantages that android phones have, like larger screen size and rooting/mods, that can encourage more active usage compared to the iphone.

With that said, AT&T is largely motivated by one thing, which is profit. They make far more money selling lightly subsidized android phones compared to heavily subsidized iphones. If android subscribers are using more data, then they will try to convince and gouge them some more overpriced data plans due to the higher data usage as well.

[.Neo]

Could very well be they're trying to get rid of stockpiles.

[fusi0n]

I actually used more data with my Android because I kept downloading new roms on it, re-downloading my 180s from the play store..