Qwest in talks with AT&amp;T; iPhone possible

I'm a bit late to the party on this one because I just found this Xchange magazine article

about Qwest talking with AT&T today. As Qwest considers dumping Sprint Nextel, its wireless partner over the last few years, its talks with AT&T might allow Qwest customers like me access to the iPhone.

So why don't I just drop my Qwest service and head full-time onboard the AT&T/iPhone bandwagon right now? Two reasons. First, I'm grandfathered into a sub-$20 500-anytime-minutes per month plan with Qwest and second, I have One-Number service. Never heard of it? It's the best thing since sliced bread. When my Qwest cell phone is powered on, it is my home number. Calls come directly to my cell phone. When I power it down, calls go to my home.

One-Number plus iPhone would probably be enough to convince me to drop all the prepaid iPhone minimalism and really jump fully on the AT&T bandwagon. The Sprint/Nextel agreement isn't due to expire for nearly a year but it looks like the AT&T-Apple exclusive agreement will still be in place when it comes time for Qwest to choose its next wireless partner. Here's hoping that it's AT&T.

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Source: http://www.xchangemag.com/hotnews/qwest-talking-to-att-for-w…

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I'm a bit late to the party on this one because I just found this Xchange magazine article about Qwest talking with AT&T today. As...

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artifex

Erica, don't drop that service for anything, it's a steal these days.

April 03 2008 at 3:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Gerald

I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but this will never happen. Qwest is using Sprint (CDMA). Moving to AT&T would mean that someone has to replace every Qwest phone out there. That means either Qwest or the customers have to pay for that.

Also, I highly doubt Apple will allow iPhone to be used with Qwest, a low-cost provider, for fear of cheapening the brand.

April 02 2008 at 11:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

John Doe

Hold on... how does this work?

Sprint is CDMA
ATT is GSM

How will all the Qwest phones work on ATT's network? The hardware is incompatible

April 02 2008 at 9:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to John Doe's comment

Kuy

Simple, they adapt the frequencies by using an aftermarket superheterodyne tuner circuit that connects to the antenna - adapt at&t's 1900MHz band to whatever the cell phone is designed for and you're set.

I kid, of course. MVNO's have to send out new equipment in this case. Yet another cost of being an MVNO.

-Kuy

April 02 2008 at 10:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

staniks

Yeah sure... be prepared to not be offered an iPhone with your current plan. AT&T customers got no such luxury. I tried to sign up under the Federal program and they wouldn't even give me a discount on the plan, I was willing to pay for the iphone.

April 02 2008 at 8:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bob

GrandCentral.com requires you to get a NEW phone number, with Qwest One Number Service you use the same number you already have - a much better choice.

April 02 2008 at 7:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

David

Number-One service on Qwest sounds cool; that same service is available to anyone right now at GrandCentral.com -- at no cost.

April 02 2008 at 7:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Epoxy

I know this isn't quite exactly what you want, but there are plenty of free ways to get the feature you want, the one that I use is GrandCentral.

April 02 2008 at 7:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply