at&t

I am pleased to announce that Bruce Berger has been awarded the Beta tester of the month award for September!

When Bruce tried to start EQO on his brand new Motorola V3xx phone, he was repeatedly prompted for permission to connect to the Internet. These annoying prompts made EQO unusable on his phone. As it turns out, AT&T has added this “security” feature to the V3xx (similar to how they messed around with the Nokia E62) to prevent “untrusted” software from damaging your phone. The only way around this problem is to modify the registry files in your phone. So, following the instructions listed in a post on Howard forums, Bruce managed to get rid of those irritating “security” prompts and use EQO on his new phone. Congratulations Bruce.

For his courage, diligence, and sense of adventure, Bruce will be the first to receive a brand spanking new EQO toque (just in time for winter in the Northern hemisphere)! Watch out for snowballs Bruce...

Cheers,

Peter
EQO Customer Support

As you may well know, the FCC is going to be auctioning off the 700MHz spectrum come January 2009. If you have not heard of this, you should really look into it seeing as it is one of the most important technology/communications issues of our era. Wired has a great FAQ on the subject.

This week, Business Week speculated that Apple is looking to get into the mix with other prospective bidders Google and AT&T. Why is this auction so significant? Ownership of the 700MHz spectrum would allow Google or Apple to have their own wireless network and compete directly with the incumbent carriers. This would blow the American wireless industry wide open and, I think, open the door for amazing innovation in the wireless space. I find it funny that Apple would be competing against their exclusive iPhone parter in AT&T, which really lends credibility to Jeff's theory that Apple bent AT&T right over.

Now when it comes to who I want to win the auction I was really pulling for Google to trump AT&T, but that was before I heard that Apple might also bid. Now I am torn between the two tech giants, how about you?

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

Here it is, the first edition of EQO Polls. I was going to make the question "What EQO Community guy do you like the most? Chris or Peter", but I didn't want to publicly embarrass Peter that badly.

Instead, I look to the iPhone. We at EQO have been following the iPhone unlock saga with much interest for we are in Canada and sadly still cannot use our iPhone as a phone. Do we risk destroying our precious gem with misappropriated solder? Do we wait for the software to be released? Do we acquire a pricey TurboSIM? Please let us know.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

AT&T sent out a text message today to all of its wireless customers indicating that they would no longer be mailing out giant phone bills:

"We are simplifying your paper bill, removing itemized detail. To view all detail go to att.com/mywireless. Still need full paper bill? Call 611."

This is clearly in response to the video iJustine produced showing the opening of her 300 page iPhone bill, which spread through internet and mainstream news channels like wildfire. Turns out one person can make a difference, as long as they are super hot and film themselves 24/7. iJustine, the environment thanks you for your efforts.

Also, I previously posted of my (sarcastic) intentions to setup a web cult of worship for iJustine, queen of the internet. Turns out I have been beaten to the punch once again, check out whatwouldijustinedo.com. iJustine, so hot right now, iJustine.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

News that AT&T is again crippling a new device, this time the Blackberry 8820, vexes me to the utmost. In fact, I'm the new mayor of Angertown. If you buy a brand spanking new Blackberry 8820, which you would probably pay something like $400 plus plan for, expecting to use WIFI and GPS without trouble, think again. To use Wifi you have to subscribe to an Edge data plan. AT&T is making sure you pay them for using the internet no matter what. And to use GPS you have to subscribe to TeleNav for $10 a month, even though you could use a free GPS service at your leisure. Angertown, population me, is accepting new residents.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

Yesterday TechCrunch reported that the FCC had released the auction rules for the 700MHz spectrum in their post FCC Fails To Mark Its Place in History. Indeed, GigaOm reckons that Google was awarded half a win in their battle to ensure Open Devices, Open Applications, Open Services, and Open Networks for this prized frequency band. What does it all mean? Well, the ruling in favor of only Open Devices and Open Applications is a step in the right direction for American Wireless and should ensure that the big carriers can't sell locked devices as they do on their current networks. Check out the CTIA's response to what openness there will be, bloody fascists. More importantly, what TechCrunch is alluding to with the title of their post is that the FCC missed their chance to turn the American wireless industry upside down. In not mandating Open Services and Open Networks, the FCC is basically blocking any plans Google may or may not have had for GoogleTel. Personally, I was really hoping the FCC would have the guts not to take the middle road here. A new national carrier in the form of GoogleTel would be a joy to see and could only benefit the consumer.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

Esteemed EQO founder and Chief Architect Jeff LaPorte introduced me to the 700MHz debate earlier this year and I've been following it with interest ever since. To get caught up on the issues, check out this great post from Om Malik: 700MHz Explained in 10 Steps. What interested me was the knowledge that some of my favorite channels in the 52-59 range like The Score, The Food Network (Iron Chef!), and Comedy Central would be booted off the spectrum come 2009. Thank goodness for my new digital box, crisis averted...

Today I came across a flurry of notable news on the subject:

1. Engadget Mobile reports AT&T endorses open access

2. MobileCrunch reports on Google's open access plans

3. MobileCrunch reports CTIA's response to Google's open access plans

Guess where CTIA gets their money? If you guessed the close minded, innovative-less carriers of America then you guessed right. I am completely biased when it comes to the 700MHz spectrum.  I'm all for open access and anyone who truly supports it.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist

I read an interesting post on MobileCrunch the other day, regarding Cingular's new linking policy.  Apparently they don't want anyone linking to anything but their homepage and you can only link to their homepage if you don't say anything negative about them.  The new AT&T I ask you this, what's the best way to get people to link to you and say negative things about you?  Answer: tell them they aren't allowed.

I was talking to Darla Mack about this in the light of her post about, and our subsequent conversation regarding, the restrictions put on the Cingular Nokia E62 (that's another post/rant right there) and decided to blog about it as well.   Turns out I am most definitely an infringer upon Cingular/AT&T's linking policy from when I negatively portrayed Cingular as evil (and linked to them at the same time, oh my!) for restricting third party application installation on the Nokia E62.  I wonder if they will sue me?  Here's hoping...

EQO Mobile users, this stance taken by a major wireless carrier epitomizes the challenges we face in delivering you quality service.  Application signing you ask?  We can't even link to them...

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist