Biting the Hand that Chokes YouBiting the Hand that Chokes You
"The better consumers feel about their iPhones, the worse they feel about AT&T."
August 21, 2009
"The better consumers feel about their iPhones, the worse they feel about AT&T."
A new survey by ChangeWave Research has confirmed the fact that users love their iPhones. According to Paul Carton, ChangeWave's research director, of the 200 owners of the new iPhone 3GS surveyed, 80% were "very satisfied" while another 17% were "somewhat satisfied." According to Carlton, "That's the highest ratings we have ever had for any smartphone, including previous iPhones."That's only part of the story however. The poll also discovered major dissatisfaction with AT&T Wireless, the exclusive US carrier for the iPhone. Fully 50% of respondents cited AT&T as their top dislike, though battery performance was the overall number one complaint. Some 32% complained about the AT&T lock-in and another 23% complained about AT&T's calling and data coverage, service quality, and service speed. "The better consumers feel about their iPhones, the worse they feel about AT&T," Carlton observed.
AT&T is reportedly hoping to extend their exclusivity arrangement with Apple through 2010, but with consumer reactions like this, you'd have to question if that would be a good move for Apple- not that the control freaks at Apple are above dictating terms to their customers. Interestingly, a study by the Danish consulting firm Strand Consult claims that carrying the iPhone is actually a detriment to the carriers. The summary reads in part "our research shows that there is not one single Apple partner in the world among the mobile operators that has increased their overall turnover, profit and market share due to the iPhone."
The iPhone is clearly the most popular consumer smartphone, and has single-handedly turned the cellular industry on its ear. I have railed repeatedly regarding how carrier exclusivity is stifling the market for mobile consumer electronics. If it does go multi-carrier, the iPhone may be the one product with enough market clout put an end to handset exclusivity."The better consumers feel about their iPhones, the worse they feel about AT&T."
