It's not the equivalent.
If the third party phones allowed users access to Ma Bell's network, switching systems, etc, without paying Ma Bell - then it might be equivalent.
I'm pretty sure that would be considered theft of communication services.
If the third party phones allowed users access to Ma Bell's network, switching systems, etc, without paying Ma Bell - then it might be equivalent.
I'm pretty sure that would be considered theft of communication services.
It's more like phone manufacturer X that accesses Ma Bell's network creates phone with slightly better call quality that only works with other X phones and is worse with anyone else's phones. And they start doing that once they have >50% market share.
Servers handle routing and storing. iMessage will deliver and store the message to server, and then to receiver when it is online.
It is major cost when there are millions of users on, top of notifications.
User pays for ISP, only up to the closest link.
Aaron Swartz was hounded to death by the Feds for unauthorized access to a website and charged with a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
He wasn't even trying to turn a profit.