"Some day I would love to buy calls and data minutes by the drink from an "iCalls". That serviced by Apple. Or WalMart. Or AT&T. Or Verizon. Or Virgin. Or Skype. Or Whoever. "
That "whoever" may end up being Google. It has filed a patent application which "suggests it is planning to rid users of the need to choose a single network at all. The patent describes a system where instead of always connecting to one network, a phone, laptop or other wireless device invites all available networks to bid for your business."
In the meantime, the Apple exclusive with AT&T has resulted in an even higher TCO for the second generation iPhone 3G...so radically different from its affordable iTunes by-the-drink model.
