AT&T puts the kibosh on voice-free iPhone plans for the deaf

Thanks for posting about this.

Kathryn
http://www.stonedeafpilots.com

I guess they didn't hear that one coming...

There was a time when Apple could hold the margins high, and still appear to care about their customers. Enter AT&T and suddenly things are a changing and fast! AT&T was always an uncarring corporate monolith and their attitudes have transferred to Apple somehow. I have heard that there is a LOT of bad blood between SJ and AT&T senior mgmt. Why? Because of their willingness to appear both stupid and greedy at every public turn. The 3G phone coming online soon didn't help, either. We've heard that Jobs and Co may welcome a federal court order which would break their exclusive deal with AT&T and open the market to all GSM Carriers in the US. And there are rumors that Tmobile is funding such a legal push behind the scenes of course. Stay tuned! Things may get interesting!

What's the point? Has anyone even thought about the iPod touch? It offers all the features – without the phone.

AT&T/Cingular did at one time have a product, the Ogo, that offered unlimited text messaging and access to email services like AOL, MSN, Yahoo.

The Ogo is no longer sold in the US but was availble in Europe. Not sure if this is still the case. Check out ogo.com.

To #17, I have an ITE digital (Starkey) which has a button that toggles between three settings. First is for two mics, second is for areas with lots of speakers (restaurants) and the third is for telephone. When using the iPhone, I toggle to the second setting.

I used to be with Verizon and had similar situations with their phones.

I did use the Nokia neckloop several years ago. Great product, friggin' loud! The Harris device looks similar. Starkey makes devices that attach to an OTE. Wish hearing aids made use of Bluetooth.

If AT&T decided to offer TAP, It will have about more than 1 million deaf customers. That will kill all other businesses such as T-mobile, Verizon, Blackberry, etc.. Right now, T-mobile sidekick is a highest number of Deaf customers. AT&T didn't realize that.

I've written this before elsewhere...

But why doesn't Apple just offer a version of the iPod Touch with the dataplan (but no voice) built in?

I've read that At&t have announced that there will be a 3G-based iPhone in 2008. Why not a iPod Touch 3G that has wireless capabilities similar to the EVDO card I use for my laptop?

Sigh. Why doesn't AT&T realize that more people might buy iPhones if they offered this plan? I'd get one in a heartbeat if I didn't have to pay for 450 minutes of voice time I'd never use.

I really think someone should be made responsible in
Washington or at Apple or at ATT for not offering a plan for
the iPhone for texting.

I think the American Disabilities Act needs to be
revamped and make Apple accountable JUST like
manufacturers in Europe are accountable for the birth
to the end of their product, meaning they have to
provide a recycling option for what they create. Same
with Apple, they have to provide the text only option
as a means to the ADA act.

It is really inconsiderate to see Apple and ATT
worshiping their dollar and guarding their profit
margin.