Apple allowing Apps to make free calls. AT&T embracing it.

We've all seen lately that the iPhone (and iPod under wireless network) is allowing apps that enable people to make calls to US lines without eating up minutes. I do believe at first AT&T was against this, for obvious reasons of potential loss in minute sales.

But looking at it from the business perspective, it looks like AT&T has wised up. This is not Apple's decision alone to allow these apps - they and AT&T work very closely. AT&T is beginning to see the minutes as a complete commodity. Recently, Verizon came out with an unlimited minutes plan at $69.99 and AT&T matched.

What they are discovering is what Apple is discovering: it's all about the apps and data. AT&T sees the future now, especially with the iPad on the way, that seeking more data is where the revenue is.

From The New York Times:

App of the Week: Free Calls, if You Don't Mind Ads

iCall lets you make free calls from your iPhone.

http://s.nyt.com/u/eWT

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Posted via email from Suneil Mandava's Posterous

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