Are HTC & Motorola boycotting AT&T?

[Plazmic Flame]

So, as the title states, Are HTC & Motorola boycotting AT&T, thus screwing over the rest of the world?

It sure does seem so from my perspective. All the heavy hitting Android devices are CDMA:

- Droid (Motorola)
- Droid Incredible (HTC)
- EVO (HTC)
- Droid X (Motorola)
- Droid 2 (Motorola)


Just to name a few... on the flip side, AT&T has gotten:

- Backflip...
- Aria...

Also worth noting...

- Milestone (Released in Canada, crippled by boot-loader)


How can they ignore such a huge market?? I'm talking about the GSM user market. Yeah, you may be on the largest market in the USA but your worldwide numbers could be so much bigger. Do you think the iPhone makes most of its sales in the USA? No... there are A TON of buyers from overseas and resellers (who sell them online to send overseas) and the same thing could happen for a device like the EVO or Droid X, if there were a GSM variant.

So.... WTF? Where are the EVOs and Droid X devices for people on SIM card carriers? Why is the door being slammed in our faces? To me, it seems like they don't even want to try and compete with the iPhone sales so they are staying off the network completely. Yeah, they released the Backflip and Aria, but I don't think they are expecting serious numbers with those devices. It was like they threw burnt scraps to starving dogs with those things.


/rant

 

[sniffs]

I bet it's got more to do with Apple strongarming AT&T into not putting much efforting into supporting Android.

That, or AT&T knows about the strength in numbers on Android and another huge smartphone would cripple it's network.

 

[kinster02]

You have the Iphone so be thankful for that because the Iphone could increase its sales potential if it was also on cdma carriers. Just like the Iphone we cdma types would like to have an exclusive device that's only available to our perspective carriers.

 

[Phil Nickinson]

It's the other way around. Manufacturers make the phones. Carriers decide whether they want them.

 

[Kyle Gibb]

It's the other way around. Manufacturers make the phones. Carriers decide whether they want them.

Exactly. AT&T wants you to buy iPhones, not Android devices.

 

[Beezzy]

Cause at&t likes Close ended markets, no free thinking, and iPhones.

Enjoy your sim cards and dropped calls.

 

[Plazmic Flame]

Exactly. AT&T wants you to buy iPhones, not Android devices.

It's the other way around. Manufacturers make the phones. Carriers decide whether they want them.

Really??? I never knew it was that way but... that just raises more questions no? So... what stops a manufacture like Motorola from making a GSM Droid X??

 

[quetzalcoatl]

Really??? I never knew it was that way but... that just raises more questions no? So... what stops a manufacture like Motorola from making a GSM Droid X??

They will make one they made the Milestone which is the Droid. The thing is they can not sell it in a market where they have an exclusive agreement for a phone. And we do not know how long the exclusive agreement is for as well since the Milestone is going to come out on some of the smaller carriers in the US soon.

 

[terpitude71]

Really??? I never knew it was that way but... that just raises more questions no? So... what stops a manufacture like Motorola from making a GSM Droid X??

why would they bother when at&t is just going to cripple it like they do every other android phone? at&t knows where their bread is buttered (iphone), and clearly android is not a priority for them. if you want in on the android fun (and why wouldnt you?), youll have to switch carriers (and really, thats not such a bad thing either)

 

[darreno1]

I bet it's got more to do with Apple strongarming AT&T into not putting much efforting into supporting Android.

+1

Everyone brought up good points, but I'm more in agreement with you here. I believe this has something to do with Apple being afraid of losing share to Android. Yeah the iPhone is popular but judging from the people I've talked to and the forums, there are a lot on At&t who would love to have a decent Android phone but can't switch carriers. Plus it would give the latest version of Android even more exposure to those who've never tried it.

In any case they may finally get their wish with the Galaxy S. I'm still waiting to see how badly At&t cripples it. I'm also curious to know what Samsung probably had to go through to woo them into carrying it.

 

[GQ50]

+1

Everyone brought up good points, but I'm more in agreement with you here. I believe this has something to do with Apple being afraid of losing share to Android. Yeah the iPhone is popular but judging from the people I've talked to and the forums, there are a lot on At&t who would love to have a decent Android phone but can't switch carriers. Plus it would give the latest version of Android even more exposure to those who've never tried it.

Damn u read my mind bcz I'm one who cannot switch as yet. Very interested in Android OS.

 

[techdaring]

I never would like to use phone with contract.