It’s only in the cellphone business that anyone would tolerate such behavior. If a company tried this in any other industry, people would howl to the heavens. Imagine the outrage if Apple or Microsoft sold desktop PCs that allowed you to connect to the Internet only through Comcast — and then, if you tried to use Earthlink instead, the company would shut down your machine. Or what if Ford allowed you to drive your new Explorer only to Wal-Mart to buy your groceries; if you went instead to Whole Foods, a company official would come by and slash your tires.

These scenarios sound bizarre. But how is Apple’s iPhone policy any different? I understand that it has signed a deal with AT&T — and, now, several carriers in Europe — to deliver the iPhone exclusively. I understand it has obligations under those deals. What I’m disappointed by is how far Apple intends to take those contracts — all the way to breaking people’s phones is too, too far.