Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of a House subcommittee on telecommunications and the internet, slammed the iPhone’s restrictions this week in Washington. Even though the phones become expensive paperweights if customers quit AT&T’s plan, claims Markey, AT&T still charges a $175 termination fee. Markey went on to say that the phone has “Hotel California service. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave – you’re stuck with your iPhone and you can’t take it anywhere.” The termination fee Markey mentions is quite common and can be found in virtually all long-term cellular contracts in the United States. While it is true that you can’t use take the iPhone to another service provider, the capabilities it retains after activation — iPod and Wi-Fi — are generally far greater than any other phone after being removed from service.
Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett was a senior editor at iLounge. He's been covering the iPod, iPhone, and iPad since their inception. He has written numerous articles and reviews, and his work has been featured in multiple publications.