If you're new to AirPods, considering buying a pair, or just want to pick up some new tips.
AirPods and AirPower: Everything We Know
Apple Must Approve Carrier LTE Networks Before Allowing iPhone 5 to Connect to Them
Apple does not allow the iPhone 5 to join a carrier's LTE network until it passes the company's own internal tests, according to Swiss cell carrier Swisscom. The report from Telecoms.com (by way of The Next Web), says that Apple enables LTE support on existing iPhone 5 models only after first testing the carrier network itself.
Telecoms.com quotes Alcatel Lucent CTO Marcus Weldon saying that Apple was "a bit big for its boots" with the policy, hinting that it was unusual for a handset manufacturer to have such control over its handsets. However, this has been the case since the iPhone first launched nearly 5 years ago.
Apple has exerted extraordinary control over the iPhone in a number of ways, including providing most tech support and replacements via its 800-number and the Apple Retail Store rather than through the carriers, as well as Apple forbidding carriers from preinstalling any of its own software applications or services on the iPhone.
This week, however, a Swisscom spokesperson told Telecoms.com that: "Apple only enables 4G access after testing their device on an operator’s live network."Apple has been selling the iPhone 5 in countries where it doesn't officially support LTE on any carriers, though most carriers have at least initial plans to support LTE in coming years with many in the midst of full LTE rollouts.
Swisscom launched its LTE network this week although the iPhone 5 was not available as an LTE device at launch. "Apple will provide a software update in due course," the firm said in a press release.
Telecoms.com quotes Alcatel Lucent CTO Marcus Weldon saying that Apple was "a bit big for its boots" with the policy, hinting that it was unusual for a handset manufacturer to have such control over its handsets. However, this has been the case since the iPhone first launched nearly 5 years ago.
Apple has exerted extraordinary control over the iPhone in a number of ways, including providing most tech support and replacements via its 800-number and the Apple Retail Store rather than through the carriers, as well as Apple forbidding carriers from preinstalling any of its own software applications or services on the iPhone.
[ 112 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
81 months ago
True to form: Android is all about freedom... For the carriers, not the user.
And Apple is all about making the user--not the carrier--happy.
Some people feel bad for the poor carriers losing some "control" (anti-Apple buzzword #17!). I don't.
And Apple is all about making the user--not the carrier--happy.
Some people feel bad for the poor carriers losing some "control" (anti-Apple buzzword #17!). I don't.
81 months ago
If anyone doesn't understand why Apple does this: A carrier could have set up its network in a way that doesn't work with the iPhone that well or use hardware with slightly different interpretations of the standard. If they test the phone first, they can make adjustments to their phone (or the carriers infrastructure) whenever necessary.
If they didn't do this, people buying Apple product would notice that they don't work reliably and blame Apple. This hurts Apples reputation which it needs to sell its products. Other companies might think this isn't worth the effort or simply don't care enough. Maybe they have other business models (like making their products cheap, brag with specifications or producing ads that will make their customers hurt Apples reputation for them). For Apple, reputation is a very valuable card.
If they didn't do this, people buying Apple product would notice that they don't work reliably and blame Apple. This hurts Apples reputation which it needs to sell its products. Other companies might think this isn't worth the effort or simply don't care enough. Maybe they have other business models (like making their products cheap, brag with specifications or producing ads that will make their customers hurt Apples reputation for them). For Apple, reputation is a very valuable card.
81 months ago
Apple should of firstly approved Verizon's 4G LTE network in Manhattan. Because in a lot of places it seriously blows.:mad:
I don't think that is how it works...
81 months ago
...as well as Apple forbidding carriers from preinstalling any of its own software applications or services on the iPhone.
I am okay with this. Anyone remember the days of Verizon disabling Bluetooth in certain handsets in order to charge a service fee to use it?
81 months ago
This is Apple ensuring the best possible experience for the customer.
That and CONTROL!
interesting, now that they sell an unlocked iPhone 5
81 months ago
No, this is the Steve Jobs legacy of being the ultimate control freak.
It's better than the carriers being control freaks. Remember what it was like just 5 years ago? If it were still that way, people would be paying $10/month for Verizon Navigator on some crummy plasticky carrier-branded phone instead of complaining about Apple Maps.
81 months ago
This is what probably happens:
Apple: Your LTE network is not good enough.
Carrier: OK, we stop selling your phones.
Apple: Your LTE network passes.
Apple: Your LTE network is not good enough.
Carrier: OK, we stop selling your phones.
Apple: Your LTE network passes.
[ Read All Comments ]
British audio equipment maker Bowers & Wilkins is expected to release its first AirPlay 2-enabled receivers in the near future.
A pair of new Bowers & Wilkins receivers named...
Google's "Keep" app for taking notes and making lists today expanded to the Apple Watch, allowing the app's users to use the note taking and list making functionality right on their...
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave 10.14.4 update to its public beta testing group, one day after seeding the third beta to developers and two weeks after releasing the...
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.2 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the second beta and a month after releasing the tvOS 12.1.2 update.
...
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.2 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second watchOS 5.2 beta and a month after releasing watchOS 5.1.3.
Once the proper...
GM was one of the early adopters of CarPlay, with the feature debuting on a few 2016 Chevrolet models and rapidly spreading across the company's various brands including Buick, GMC, and...
Following an announcement last year and launch in Europe, Eve Systems today released the portable LED lamp Eve Flare in the United States and Canada. Similar to Hue Go, Eve Flare lets you pick up and...
SoundCloud today announced a new feature that allows creators to distribute their music directly to major streaming music services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music (via Billboard). The...
