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[–] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Not sure what you’re talking about. Did you even read the article? It’s free and always has been. They’ve never even brought up a price.

The stories of people saved are marketing gold for Apple.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    The only context to view their language (extending free year) is that they intend to switch to some form of a paid model i.e bundled or standalone.

    I'm not commenting on whether that's good, or bad, just that it's clearly what they are planning on doing. Otherwise, they wouldn't use that specific language.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago*

    It’s called keeping your options open. I don’t expect it to go paid, ever.

    Can you imagine the negative publicity if some family with little kids dies because it’s behind a paywall? Me neither. Won’t happen but it keeps their competitors off balance.

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  • [+] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)
  • [–] 8 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    The implication is that Apple's language is very specifically implying this is a fee-for-service product, but that they are waiving that cost for a defined time period. They may extend that again, or several more times, but they are going out of their way to NOT say it's just free, or simply an included feature e.g. FindMy.

    If their intent was to have it be an included service, they would NOT include the language about how long it will remain free.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago*

    Releasing too much info gives your competitors an advantage. Keeping them in the dark keeps them guessing.

    Guessing they’ll be moving to starlink at some point in the future and it will get even more affordable.

    I don’t see it being an incredibly expensive service for them to provide given the obvious public relations gains, especially when they just said they’d be opening it for auto incidents too. Super high volume compared to a few (hundred?) rescues.

    That said, I could see the auto coverage being a paid service down the road. Pun intended.

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  • [+] 3 points 2 years ago* (1 child)
  • [+] -1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 child)