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| AT&T defends FaceTime decision |
| By Thom Holwerda on 2012-08-23 08:29:31 |
| "AT&T is defending its decision to limit the use of Apple's video chat feature, FaceTime, to its Mobile Share data plans by saying that the limitation does not violate the FCC's net neutrality rules. The company wrote in a blog post on Wednesday that some groups had 'another knee-jerk reaction' to AT&T's limitation, but the company argues that its decision meets all FCC requirements." You can expect Verizon to follow suit soon. Carriers don't do things like this unless they know the competition will tag along. This also happens to explain why Apple probably can't do much about it; if both Verizon and AT&T give FaceTime the boot like this, there's little Apple can do. For what it's worth - I'm happy The Netherlands (and Chile!) has unconditional net neutrality. This would not fly here, further illustrating the need for net neutrality. |
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| Comment by marcp |
| By marcp on 2012-08-23 09:11:33 |
|
Don't be so sure, Thom. It all starts with small things, like using proprietary operating system [both PC and mobile], proprietary document, video. music formats, and then it comes to the internet land, because people have eyes and braines and they can see, that "oh, look! they are willing to pay thousands of dollars to lock themselves up in Apple's/Micfosoft's/whoever walled garden, let's try the same with internet packets, packet priorities, etc". So you may think to yourself "oh, well, I'm gonna trie new Windows 8/OSX/iOS/whatever", but you vote with your wallet. You vote for specific - not instantly obvious to read - technologies which may actually make your life harder. The reasonable choice is to support open and free projects. Support them with your wallet [vote with your wallet], your knowledge [participate in projects], etc. |
 - Score: 4 |
| net neutrality isn't neutral... |
| By roracle on 2012-08-23 10:30:39 |
|
The company providing the service should have a say in how it provides service. Customers have no say in this except the classic "vote with your wallet". If I came in and said you had to change OSnews to provide news that wasn't jiving with your site, or forced you to change anything at all, you wouldn't like it much. Same thing with any other company, no matter how big or small. They have the right to run their business the way they want, and you have the right to go to someone else if their service isn't necessary for you anymore. |
| - Score: 0 |
| RE: Comment by marcp |
| By ssokolow on 2012-08-23 10:32:53 |
|
Not as eloquent as I've seen but well said. This sort of thing is why I use neither Microsoft nor Apple products at home, why I can count the number of closed-source packages on my Linux PC on one hand, and why I don't own a cell phone. (Well, that and cellphone plans are expensive here in Canada and Google Now is just plain creepy.) Edited 2012-08-23 10:33 UTC |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[2]: Comment by marcp |
| By marcp on 2012-08-23 10:40:08 |
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I'm sorry I dissapointed you ;) I am not a native english speaker. Regards |
| - Score: 2 |
| Who use facetime? |
| By spiderman on 2012-08-23 10:55:06 |
|
Anyway, who use FaceTime? I thought video chat was dead a decade ago and people were texting instead, and I thought FaceTime was a lesser video chat that only works between iPhones. WTF is AT&T limiting its use? Is there anybody using it seriously? Edited 2012-08-23 11:01 UTC |
| - Score: 5 |
| RE: net neutrality isn't neutral... |
| By iskios on 2012-08-23 11:23:02 |
|
I guess you believe the Power company should tell you you cannot use your electric heating unit unless you go to their more expensive "Live Sustainer" plan right? Or that the water company can tell you you can use the water service for everything except bathing, unless you go for the higher priced "Cleanliness" plan? Before you say it isn't the same, it is. You are paying for access to something and these companies are now slowly gouging you for every nickel and dime by taking back normal uses. It's the crack business paradigm. Let them use it, then take it back so they have to pay more, and it's scuzzy. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: net neutrality isn't neutral... |
| By ricegf on 2012-08-23 11:27:13 |
|
I don't think this isn't legally true in the US - AT&T would be considered a "common carrier" (please google, IANAL), while OS News is an over-achieving blog site. From wikipedia, a common carrier is "a company that transports goods or people for any person or company, [and] ... offers its services to the general public under license or authority provided by a regulatory body. ... In the United States the term may also refer to telecommunications service providers". From legal-dictionary.thefreedic tionary.com, "A common carrier is legally bound to carry all passengers or freight as long as there is enough space, the fee is paid, and no reasonable grounds to refuse to do so exist." For better or worse (and in spite of my stubborn Libertarianesque leanings), in the USA AT&T arguably can't discriminate against telecommunications traffic unless it can demonstrate to Big Brother that it has reasonable grounds to do so. I suspect that Internet neutrality could be implemented at the stroke of a bureaucrat's pen, though congress makes period runs at autoscribing. |
| - Score: 4 |
| RE: Who use facetime? |
| By MOS6510 on 2012-08-23 11:56:08 |
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Yes, a number of people do. All of them employed by Apple working in the testing division and a few who make commercials. I don't think video adds much to a call. If any it makes it harder to hear someone. |
| - Score: 4 |
| RE[2]: Who use facetime? |
| By orfanum on 2012-08-23 12:16:34 |
| It looks as though the fates have decreed we must always disagree with each other ;) I have relatives far, far away; FaceTime gives me a cheap, effective way via wireless of speaking to them and keeping that contact alive (well, it will do until the point at which I get my Galaxy SIII at which time I will skip to Skype or Tango). |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[3]: Who use facetime? |
| By MOS6510 on 2012-08-23 12:25:42 |
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The problem I have with camera's is that I was around when people started getting them (webcams) and they kept video chatting without having any other reason but to use their cam. I have often even denied having a webcam! |
| - Score: 4 |
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