Subscribers to Telefonica's O2 service in the UK who have an iPhone will enjoy free WiFi access at over 9,000 hotpots via BT OpenZone and The Cloud. If things are in place with roaming agreements the number could be even bigger potentially, but how the roaming works is usually agreements between the origination carrier and the roaming partner, not always the partners' partner.
Still this is in my mind one more game changing move that can be traced back to Apple. With the new 3G iPhone with built in "WiFi sensing" they have created a platform that has the potential of being always connected. This is something that even RIM can't claim because not every RIM device is WiFi out the door. Here's an example of where Microsoft lost the game a long time ago. Devices on the Windows Mobile and even back in the day of Windows CE had WiFi capability, but never really was it exploited.
Apple has been able to do just that. Never before have the mobile operators, except in the case of RIM, laid down and said, "ok, we'll give you what you want in exchange for ____________" Apple has shown not only are the amazing consumer marketers, but that they understand the business of the telco business very well.
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