I Quit the iPhone

I have loved the iPhone, but now I am quitting the iPhone.

This is not an easy decision.

I was there in January 2007 when it was announced and I bought the first iPhone as soon as it was available. I happily bought the iPhone 3G a year later. I’ve proudly yelled “I Am A Member Of The Cult Of iPhone.” I’ve been an unabashed cheerleader for the device to all who’ll listen. And I’ve scoffed at developers who said they’d abandon the platform.

But I’m not going to upgrade to the iPhone 3GS. Instead, I’m abandoning the iPhone and AT&T (T). I will grudgingly pay the $175 AT&T termination fee and then I will move on to another device.

What finally put me over the edge? It wasn’t the routinely dropped calls, something you can only truly understand once you have owned an iPhone. I’ve lived with that for two years. It’s not the lack of AT&T coverage at home. I’ve lived with that for two years, too. It certainly isn’t the lack of a physical keyboard, that has never bothered me. No, what finally put me over the edge is the Google Voice debacle.

Most of you won’t know what I’m talking about, so I’ll explain.

Google Voice is a a call management service that lets you determine what calls get through to you based on who’s calling and what time of day it is, among other factors. It has amazing features, like automatically transcribing all your voicemails. And you can forward calls to any other phone easily and automatically. Here’s an overview of the service if you aren’t familiar with it.

I’ve always wanted to use Google Voice but there’s a big switching cost - changing your phone number. Too many people have that phone number and use it to call in great stories. There’s no way I’m giving that up. And there’s another problem with Google Voice. When you make outbound calls from a phone, it (obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number, so recipients don’t know it’s you calling. Those were two hurdles I wasn’t willing to jump over.

But now Google (GOOG) is planning on rolling out number portability, so I can move my mobile phone number to Google. None of my friends, family or contacts have to store a new number.

That still leaves the problem of outbound calls, though. I can move my mobile number to Google and then get a new iPhone account, but outbound calls won’t be identified because they are on the new number. Google has a solution for that too, though. They are releasing apps for a variety of handsets that effectively take over the native dialer, address book and call log. Problem solved. I can use any phone I like, or a bunch of phones, and just choose the one that makes sense at any time. I never have to be tied to a carrier and their restrictive contracts again.

Or so I thought. Apple and AT&T are now blocking the iPhone version of the Google Voice app. Why? Because they absolutely don’t want people doing exactly what I’m doing - moving their phone number to Google and using the carrier as a dumb pipe.

So I have to choose between the iPhone and Google Voice. It’s not an easy decision. Except, it sort of is. Google isn’t forcing the decision on me, Apple (AAPL) and AT&T are. So I choose to work with the company that isn’t forcing me to do things their way. And in this case, that’s Google.

So what phone will I use next? Well, that decision is easy, too. I’d move to the Palm Pre because I believe it is the best phone out there other than the iPhone 3GS. But Google hasn’t created an app for the Palm Pre yet, just Android and Blackberry phones. So for now I’m going to use the new Android myTouch 3G along with the Google Voice App. As soon as something better comes out, or Google makes an app for the Pre, I’ll switch. And keep the same phone number. No long term contracts for me.

And Apple, if you ever decide to put the hammer down on AT&T and do the right thing for your loyal users, I’ll consider switching back. In the meantime, I’ll just use one of many iPod Touches laying around our office to test out new apps.

Original post

Comments

[FreeRange:]

Ridiculous. Michael, give us all a break! First, your phone is subsidized fool. Of course its locked to the carrier. Its still the best hand held computer with phone capabilities out there. And quite frankly, your whole rant on Google Voice makes no sense. We all use our phones to make calls and receive calls. And guess what, that's GV's primary purpose too. How many frick'n phones do you want to carry? How many features do we really really really need? What's your point? Transcribe calls? I need that because...???? I can just listen to VM like everyone else - gee that's tough. Forward calls? Gee - I can do that with my iPhone! etc. etc. etc. Get a life dude!

Jul 31 09:09 AM

[Luckyman#9:]

Talk about a knee jerk reaction. I can understand being upset, but personally, before I tossed my iphone aside and spent a couple/few hundred bucks for a phone I didn't even really want just so I could use a cool application I would look at some other options.

Namely jailbreaking the iPhone. GV was released on Cydia and the developer has promised a web app version so everyone can partake in the features regardless of handset.

Jul 31 09:23 AM

[CGP:]

Sounds kind of fickle, especially since you're willing to pay an extra cost vs. just waiting for the end of the contract, but ok....

....the indignance of iFandom though, "How dare you leave the Jesus phone! How can you!...

.....at least you're thinking for yourself and not blindly following

btw appreciate the Walmart analogy, is it net positive to have profits stripped out of everything and is it sustainable?

Jul 31 10:20 AM

[relayer75:]

Total barf. I want my 2 minutes back, please.

Jul 31 10:20 AM

[modelportfo...:]

Very clever article and great foresight into things to come. Once one carrier breaks ranks to offer VOIP for free (Google Voice basic idea plus lots of cool options), others will follow to stay competitive. If carriers are seen to be colluding over high charges by the regulator (FTC are you listening? EU are you listening?), antitrust will hit them. I checked out Vodaphone in UK to ask if I would be charged for Google Voice (not yet offered outside US) or even Skype (which is offered outside US) and answer was yes. I believe one of them has broken ranks on Skype (was it 3?) so I guess it is a matter of time. Google, pls bring Google Voice to UK!

Jul 31 12:42 PM

[Paul H. M.:]

Looks like AAPL is screwing over the customer again.

This is why I switched from Mac to Windows 12 years ago, AAPL forced customers to do things THEIR way. With Windows, I could use any hardware or software that I liked, which is STILL not the case with Mac OS (unless buy Windows and install, but at that point, why not just spend less on a pure Windows machine?)

Once again, AAPL has a great product, but giving Android the edge it needs to eventually be the preferred OS, or should I say, the Windows of Smart Phones.

Jul 31 01:23 PM

[Techtrader10:]

Google Voice sounds like it may have some great features. I really don't want to carry around a big, heavy smart phone, but GV might convince me otherwise...thanks for the article Michael.

Jul 31 01:34 PM

[speeddaimon:]

It took you two minutes to read that? Better tighten the chin straps on that helmet windowlicker.


On Jul 31 10:20 AM relayer75 wrote:

> Total barf. I want my 2 minutes back, please.

Jul 31 01:41 PM

[Techtrader10:]

Just went to the Google Voice web site, what a great list of features...put my name in for the next spot to open up. This could really help me with business, as it is always difficult to manage communications when your not in the office.


On Jul 31 01:34 PM Techtrader10 wrote:

> Google Voice sounds like it may have some great features. I really
> don't want to carry around a big, heavy smart phone, but GV might
> convince me otherwise...thanks for the article Michael.

Jul 31 01:48 PM

[Rokjok777:]

AAPL should be very proud. The faithful toe the company line and will trash anyone who threatens their fruit-centered reality. Arrington wrote a reasonable article and gets slammed for it. Amazing.

Jul 31 05:28 PM

[reagan:]

Maybe he's getting slammed for it because its a bunch of crap???


On Jul 31 05:28 PM Rokjok777 wrote:

> AAPL should be very proud. The faithful toe the company line and
> will trash anyone who threatens their fruit-centered reality. Arrington
> wrote a reasonable article and gets slammed for it. Amazing.

Jul 31 06:31 PM

[Up Yours SP500:]

Michael,,,,you are like a fat chick with an opinion....no one cares.

Aug 01 12:37 AM

[peter02l:]

Good riddance.

Aug 01 03:01 AM

[capitalisth...:]

I had to give up the iPhone as well b/c of all the dropped calls. It's a cool device but unreliable. I guess it's ok if you have a job that you don't require absolute reliability. In my line of work, dropped calls are potentially devastating. I'll be back when it moves to other carriers.

Aug 01 04:13 AM

[daniel3582:]

Everyone else here has mentioned what absolute bollocks this article is; I won't do the same. Just an observation, though:

Google Voice is not free, Michael. It just cost you $175. Plus, your monthly fee on a new phone that likely isn't as functional. I'm not going to question someone's intelligence over their "must have" list. You could have spent your childhood years dreaming of a day when your phone could write down everything said into it... who am I to spoil your childhood fantasy? My point is, don't tell me it was free.

Who knows... Apple might include a voice to text app standard in their next phone. Have some d*** patience. They are crushing the smartphone market. It's also apparent that they are not going to rest on their laurels; the responsiveness to customer feedback was made evident with the update on OS 3.0. The very fact that they can change the functionality of their phone with a SOFTWARE UPDATE through an efficient, revolutionary mass distribution system is now taken for granted... how many other phones can do that!?!?!?

I don't know if you live in rural Kazakhstan, but your claim that the iPhone is well known for dropping calls is absolutely ridiculous. AT&T is responsible for their network's ability to carry a call, for one. And, deciding the worth of a phone based on an anecdotal argument (the iPhone is rubbish because it dropped MY calls) is patently silly.

The writer in me really does hate being this critical of someone, but this article left me no choice.

Aug 01 07:07 AM

[The Economi...:]

I can't stand my ear phone. I can't text without LOOKING at it and my ear always puts the calls on hold. THe dropped calls are ridiculous for someone with a small business.

Aug 01 08:33 AM

[tedster98:]

waaah. pass the pacifier. This isn't even newsworthy. Even morons know AT&T has and continues to have piss poor service. I have had verizon for years with no real issues other than the high bill. As much as the i-phone seems like a nifty gaget, I think its time is over and 3rd party makers will continue to grab market share.

Aug 01 09:26 AM

[drstockshrink:]

When you are using an ipod touch take it on the road with a Verizon MiFi (Verizon's best kept secret). You'll have most of the fun apps that you miss since you dumped your iPhone. It is a much cheaper and you can use it on your laptop at the same time. I never bought the iPhone because it does not tether to a computer like other smart phones. Another Apple rip off.

Aug 01 11:54 AM

[naidle:]

Well said. I don't think a lot of people here see the forest through the trees on issues such as this.

I'm rather pissed and I'm an iPhoner too.

Aug 01 12:08 PM

[naidle:]

Dropped calls isn't just carrier related. I had the e71 for 1 year. 0 dropped called. iPhone 3GS for 1 week - 3 dropped calls.

Now, I'm not saying that in and of itself is evidence but it was the same carrier in the same city.

iPhone is great but there's a reason business folk go Blackberry and it isn't the crappy U2 commercials.


On Aug 01 07:07 AM daniel3582 wrote:

> Everyone else here has mentioned what absolute bollocks this article
> is; I won't do the same. Just an observation, though:
>
> Google Voice is not free, Michael. It just cost you $175. Plus, your
> monthly fee on a new phone that likely isn't as functional. I'm not
> going to question someone's intelligence over their "must have" list.
> You could have spent your childhood years dreaming of a day when
> your phone could write down everything said into it... who am I to
> spoil your childhood fantasy? My point is, don't tell me it was free.
>
>
> Who knows... Apple might include a voice to text app standard in
> their next phone. Have some d*** patience. They are crushing the
> smartphone market. It's also apparent that they are not going to
> rest on their laurels; the responsiveness to customer feedback was
> made evident with the update on OS 3.0. The very fact that they can
> change the functionality of their phone with a SOFTWARE UPDATE through
> an efficient, revolutionary mass distribution system is now taken
> for granted... how many other phones can do that!?!?!?
>
> I don't know if you live in rural Kazakhstan, but your claim that
> the iPhone is well known for dropping calls is absolutely ridiculous.
> AT&T is responsible for their network's ability to carry a call,
> for one. And, deciding the worth of a phone based on an anecdotal
> argument (the iPhone is rubbish because it dropped MY calls) is patently
> silly.
>
> The writer in me really does hate being this critical of someone,
> but this article left me no choice.

Aug 01 12:12 PM