The iPhone Cometh

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When Apple introduced the iPhone 3G, it was available in 22 countries (but not Vermont). Soon, the iPhone will be available in 77 different countries.

The background chatter has been intensifying in recent days about whether Vermonters will join the rest of the developing world and be able to buy (and use) the iPhone. Legally.

Seven Days even received several tips that folks visiting local Unicel stores (the carrier that AT&T is buying, the exclusive service carrier for the iPhone) were told that within weeks Unicel will be transformed into AT&T Wireless outlets.

A quick check uncovered that AT&T is hiring in Vermont. There was even some great discussions at iBrattleboro about jobs coming to the area.

The Burlington Free Press has had a couple of interesting blog posts about the coming of the iPhone, including this fun series of posts by Jackie Kazil. But business reporter Dan Mclean dashed all hopes in his most recent post. He's certainly repeating the conventional wisdom I've heard from certain powers-that-be in Vermont (see below).

That said, my local Unicel rep said it's likely an announcement about AT&T Wireless (and therefore the iPhone) coming to Vermont will happen within a week. But, it's not likely Unicel stores will be closed and remade into AT&T outlets until after the holiday season. I mean, really, why close down for a week to renovate when you could be selling phones, right?

Other iPhone watchers, including Don Mayer at Small Dog Electronics, and Stephen Wark, a spokesman for the Department of Public Service, aren't convinced that the deal will close that quickly. Both it could well into next year before iPhones become ubiquitous in the Green Mountains.

"AT&T has a contract to acquire the Unicel system and customers in Vermont, which is awaiting the approval of the FCC.  The particulars are still in flux, but there were some underlying concerns about an acquisition creating a monopoly," said Wark, whose department regulates phone carriers.  "We do not know when it will be approved or what the final result will look like.  It could be by the end of the year, or it could be sometime next year."

That was a similar take to the one I received from Big Dog Mayer at Small Dog.

"I do not think that the iPhone will be here in time for the holidays. I believe that the deal between AT&T and Verizon regarding the transfer of Unicel is pretty much done but now needs approval of the FCC," said Mayer. "I have spoken to the lawyer representing AT&T and with the Communications Workers Union and my best guess is that it will be sometime in the spring before the IPhone officially makes it to Vermont."

When the iPhone arrives, it's not likely that Small Dog will sell the devices. But, for anyone hoping to trick it out and find just the right accessories for the iPhone, they're the spot.

Until then, i'll have plenty of fun with my iPod Touch — which is the Vermont version of the iPhone. It's everything but the phone part.

Comments

[msvt]

I confess: I'm a Vermonter and I've had an iPhone since the week they came out. Originally. How did I do this? I transferred my existing mobile number to my iPhone and, fortunately, it's not an 802 number. My bill is sent to my Vermont address, but I don't use my iPhone in Vermont much. It is the only mobile phone I've ever had that works at my house. My wife, who's definitely -not- much interested in technology, decided to buy an iPhone because she observed that they are easy to use and they work. She did the same thing I did, transferring her existing, not-802, mobile number to her phone.

[woofnet]

Don't get me started....

...too late. The Unicel (GSM) network has always rocked VT. Coverage is the result of investment in infrastructure(read towers) by Unicel nee Cellular One nee RCC.

There are two major types of cell services: Hatfield and McCoy. Sorry, GSM and CDMA. The former is the most popular worldwide standard, the latter has better performance and features at the moment. The technology plays like a Church Street sculpture, leapfrogging versions with a big ear to ear grin as the sellers require handset upgrades and additional services charges to listen to the latest Taylor Swift/Def Leopard collaboration(so awesome, i kid you not). B-Town proper has been upgraded to the latest service but population-density challenged cities and towns…not so much.

So, if i can go to Malone (NY) and get a PO box, buy and activate an ATT branded iPhone and rock the other side of the quadricentennial waterway, what's the issue? The issue, friends and neighbors is a little thing they call tariffs. An intended consequence of Reagan’s wholesale deregulation of the telco industry allowing the corporate boardroom to dictate access to technology left we the peeps licking the hand of the service providers hoping for a cookie. The service providers offer data access at a “reasonable” price in your local area but charge a premium for access outside your local area based on the theory that they have to pay partner companies to use their resources. Unless you shell out beaucoup dinero for the top shelf plan, they jack you for access.

Let’s put this all together, shall we? When ATT eats Unicel, all politics, I mean access to technology, becomes local. If ATT offers a deal based on the marketing wonks and their holy grail, market share, we benefit.

Just so you don’t feel any better about the whole thing, the latest iPhone uses the successor to the GSM network (G3) and Unicel hasn’t upgraded the rural towers. The cycle begins anew.

Disclaimer: I’ve been a loyal Unicel customer for years, make my living (if you can call it that) in technology and have much love for my Unicel account rep (REM<---ur the best)

woofnet

[Jackson]

Since at&t is hiring for local jobs, I think we'll have an "official" presence by year's end. Hoping so, anyway.

@woofnet - your comment is hilarious!

[The Devil's Advocate]

Bah. Apple's one of the rare companies I admire, but the iPhone? I'd rather use my $30 Virgin phone which costs $13 a month and has no stupid contract. Or a Palm OS device which can run fully functional versions of programs like PocketQuicken or Filemaker, which are substandard on the iPhone, to say nothing of their requirement for a data connection to actually work. The limitations of the iPhone are even more irritating because they're all matters of corporate policy and not actual capability.

The Vermont thing has also been an obnoxious snub.

Shrug.

[dan]

Ive had my iphone for some time now - along with the thousands of other students in Burlington. Just order it and set it up online.

[Argle-Bargle]

If Apple / AT&T decides that you spend too much time on "roaming service," which at present is all of Vermont, they can shut yer iPhone right off, Dan.

[dan]

That was only the case with the 1st gen iphone. My friends work at AT&T in MA and they, as well as customer service assure me - and the thousands of other 3g users in Burlington, that no iphone 3g phone will ever be shut off in VT- especially now that ATT owns the VT towers. This is old news.

[Argle-Bargle]

Well, I just called AT&T, and after reaching the official iPhone department, who spent a long time looking things up, they informed me of the present official policy. If you are using more than 40% roaming services, and you live in an area with no services, they can suspend your services, although gracefully, they will not charge a termination fee. It was also confirmed that at present, almost all of Vermont has no AT&T service. Thus, until further notice, if you live in Vermont, and they decide they want to, AT&T can shut yer iPhone right off.

In your case, and that of the "thousands of other students in Burlington," I'd imagine that the exception is having a permanent address in an area with services, i.e. out of state.

[dan]

You are right- most everyone here has out of state addresses, but I dont. And you are right - that is their official policy, but if you already have an account and talk to any manager at an att store, they will guarantee you that If you have a 3g, (and when you sign up online it asks for usage area zip code and billing address, its perfectly fine to put an out of state(false) zip-code for usage area and your VT address for billing) that you DEFINITELY will never be shut off. I have this in writing and on my file at ATT. If you read some of the forums on the web, you will find all the people who have done the same thing in VT and have guarantees on file. The goal isn't being able to have an iphone in VT and not have it shut off anymore, its being able to sign up and put your usage as a VT zip, and get an 802 number. I have a CT area code because I have always had one since I lived there years ago. Ive used my iphone 100% in VT only for a long time now and have no roaming, am on ATT towers, and am not in any threat. This is the promise that I have gotten from every ATT rep in stores and on the phone.

[casey]

Woofnet is awesome. Way to work a Reagan telco dereg dig in there!

No iPhone service in VT is yet another reason I no longer live in VT. But when I come back to run for Congress, I'll pretend like I really missed it. Kidding. I think.

[dan]

There is 100% iphone att tower service in VT RIGHT NOW. I dont know how else to keep saying it. Get an iphone and live and travel around VT every day like I and all the others here do.

[plainspace]

Yes, I've heard that there is 100% AT+T coverage in VT now. The Unicel towers have been calibrated. I just heard from a source at Unicel that the reason we don't have the iPhone (legit) yet is that Unicel and AT+T are squabbling over holiday sales. Basically Unicel is stalling on the construction of 10 towers in Vermont that need to be finished before AT+T can take over as part of the agreement made by/with the FCC. I assume Unicel is doing this so they can clean up on holiday sales. And who is being left by the wayside on this one? The consumer as usual. I wouldn't buy a Unicel plan until AT+T takes over. Get on with it! I want an iPhone and I want to buy it subsidized by AT+T not full price from Apple. Is that still the case or could I buy one for $199/$299?

[ifollower]

I've been reading an unofficial iPhone blog for a while now. Not only is AT&T hiring, but Unicel stores have begun the transition to AT&T stores. The stores will be selling AT&T service within the next couple of weeks.

It may take a while before the actual iPhone is sold in Vermont. Estimates from unicel stores place the release date just after the holidays. However, you can buy the phone anywhere and as long as you can port your number and receive AT&T service you're golden. Service will be available before the phone.

[fdsfds]

dsfsd It may take a while before the actual iPhone is sold in Vermont. Estimates from unicel stores place the release date just after the holidays

[miu miu bags]

Basically Unicel is stalling on the construction of 10 towers in Vermont Burberry bagthat need to be finished before AT+T can take over as part of the agreement made by/with the FCC. I assume Unicel is doing this so they can clean up on holiday sales. And who is being left by the wayside on this one? The consumer as usual. I wouldn't buy a Unicel plan until AT+T takes over. Get on with it! I want an iPhone and I want to buy it subsidized by AT+T notMIU MIU handbag full price from Apple. Is that still the case or could I buy one for $199/$299?

[omega watches]

I dont know how else to keep saying it. Get an iphone and live and travel around VT every day like I and all the others here do.

[louis vuitton]

I assume Unicel is doing this so they can clean up on holiday sales. And who is being left by the wayside on this one? The consumer as usual. I wouldn't buy a Unicel plan until AT+T takes over. Get on with it! I want an iPhone and I want to buy replica louis vuitton saleYes, I've heard that there is 100% AT+T coverage in VT now. The Unicel towers have been calibrated. I just heard from a source at Unicel that the reason we don't have the iPhone (legit) yet is that Unicel and AT+T are squabbling over holiday sales.
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