baineschile
2600
Premium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI | iPhone
To VZW. 2010. Book it. |
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grydlok
join:2004-01-06
Richmond, VA | What's to stop
What's to stop makers for still releasing headsets for one or two companies anyway.
You can't force Samsung, or LG to say sell high end device to MetroPCs or Criket. |
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MSauk
MSauk
Premium
join:2002-01-17
Sandy, UT | what happened to a free market |
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k1ll3rdr4g0n
join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL
| said by MSauk  :what happened to a free market "Industry standard pricing." Basically whatever one carrier is charging the rest will follow. Like a bunch of dumb sheep...hmmm |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
1 edit |  Handset exclusivity not that big a deal
Except for the iPhone, most(note: I said MOST & NOT all) cell phone users in the US don't really care about this issue at all. All the major carriers(Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, & Sprint) have plenty of competitive handsets(both cheap dump cellphones & high end smartphones) to please just about anybody.
The only reason that this has been an issue on the radar of the FCC & congresscritters is because of all the whining by the Apple lovers that they want the iPhone but don't want AT&T as their service provider.
Easy solution: pass 1 law that says Apple has to make both CDMA & GSM iPhones and they can't have an exclusive contract with any company unless they want Congress to smash their company for anti-trust violations. If that was done, the whole controversy on handsets would go away.
P.S.>> I am not really supporting that solution. Just saying that IF they did that, the whole handset controversy would end.
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insomniac84
join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN
| The consumer can't afford cell phones
Because of exclusivity deals subsidizing phones, the average consumer can't afford good phones.
All they do is remove any competition outside of getting contracts with carriers. And with most people getting phones with contracts a retail market for phones doesn't really exist. Phones basically carry supper high retail prices to make it seem like there is value in an exclusivity contract.
Cell carriers should be banned from interfering with the retail phone market. That way people can afford goods phones without having to sign a contract. |
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8744675
join:2000-10-10
Decatur, GA
| Competition and Innovation for who?
Exclusivity arrangements promote competition and innovation in device development and design.
Funny, they don't mention competition and innovation for the wireless service that Verizon directly provides. Hey Verizon, maybe better wireless coverage and service would promote innovation and competition in your own line of business, so you won't have to depend on 3rd party devices to sell your service.
I don't see how restricting a device maker from selling their phone to other carriers promotes competition. |
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Simplicity
@northgrum.com
 from:
TKJunkMail
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: Handset exclusivity not that big a deal
There's really nothing that needs done here. If iphone users were THAT peeved about AT&T, they wouldn't have set world records for sales when the 3GS came out. Consumers don't need Congress fighting their battles for them when they could have easily made a bigger impact by tanking sales. The problem is, those users couldn't possibly fathom living without their latest iphone gadget. Not busting on the iphone, just some of the moronic, over-the-top junkies. You know, the ones that complained they couldn't get a fully subsidized upgrade early, as if that's ever been par for the course. I'd love to have an iphone, but I'm not a typical spoiled Apple fanboy so I'm content to wait until it hits Verizon. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to insomniac84
Re: The consumer can't afford cell phones
said by insomniac84 :Cell carriers should be banned from interfering with the retail phone market. That way people can afford goods phones without having to sign a contract. That is the way it is in the EU. And there smartphones run $500 to $800 each. The US way is better for a lot of people where the phone is amortized & subsidized by the cell service provider thru the use of 2 year contracts. And now that ETFs are prorated, there isn't even a big disincentive not to switch carriers.
Not that I think consumers wouldn't be smarter to avoid paying for costly smartphones & expensive data plans if they can't afford it. But that is the American way. Spend more than you can afford. But whose fault is that but their own.
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PhoenixDown
-- Wants FIOS
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs:   | reply to 8744675
Re: Competition and Innovation for who?
For all the people that wanted the ROKKER for MetroPCS
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Eat Me
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ
 ·PenTeleData
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·VOIPo
·Vonage
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: Handset exclusivity not that big a deal
said by TKJunkMail :The only reason that this has been an issue on the radar of the FCC & congresscritters is because of all the whining by the Apple lovers that they want the iPhone but don't want AT&T as their service provider. That's it. Give this man a cigar. |
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SLD
Premium
join:2002-04-17 | reply to MSauk
Re: What's to stop
It disappeared along with true competion as the rise of the great duopolies/monopolies was fueled by neocons. |
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wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·RoadRunner Cable
·BroadVoice
| reply to insomniac84
Re: The consumer can't afford cell phones
said by insomniac84 :Because of exclusivity deals subsidizing phones, the average consumer can't afford good phones. SIGH.... thats totally incorrect. The carrier subsidies are actually the only thing that DOES allow people to afford cell phones. What most people (that live in the US) dont understand is that non-subsidized phones, even the most basic ones, cost a few hundred dollars. "Smart" phones (such as Blackberries and iPhones) have retail prices of up to $1000.
said by insomniac84 :All they do is remove any competition outside of getting contracts with carriers. And with most people getting phones with contracts a retail market for phones doesn't really exist. Phones basically carry supper high retail prices to make it seem like there is value in an exclusivity contract. The retail market for 'unlocked' cell phones doesnt really exist in the US because consumers dont want it to. The only reason every Tom, Dick, and Harry out there has an iPhone is because they were able to pick one up for $199. Look at Europe, most people pay full price for thier phones and (shockingly) pay full retail value. I have no problem with paying full retail for a locked phone, or even paying full retail just so I dont need to renew my contract that ended in 2005. Most people dont want that however, and this is the issue. If some law is put in place requiring people to buy thier phones at full retail price, Smart phone will disappear from the "average" consumers hands. 'Joe Smith' and friends will all start using the only phones they can afford (unsubsidized), which will be the cheapo, non 3G, candybar phone that might or might not have color screens.
said by insomniac84 :Cell carriers should be banned from interfering with the retail phone market. That way people can afford goods phones without having to sign a contract. Good luck telling the average person to drop almost a half months' salary on a cell phone then.......
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sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH
1 edit | reply to TKJunkMail
Ok first off, you're grossly overestimating the price of high quality phones in the EU.
The technology in cell phones in the EU and Asia are a generation ahead of the US. As in, they already have camera phones capable of recording HD video at 720p, and capable of taking 12 MP pictures. *Those* are the high-end phones that cost several hundred dollars, but not so high as $800. The "retail" price of cell phones in America are grossly overstated. This is one of the reasons the iPhone hasn't sold particularly well in Japan.
Secondly, nothing stops EU carriers from offering contracts, at least as long as it doesn't go beyond a year. What consumer groups want is to ban *exclusivity* of phones.
Thirdly, the monthly cost of voice and data plans in the EU and Asia are *vastly* cheaper than in America. As in South Korea, basic plans start at $10/month, and voice + data plans for the entire *family* max out at $60/month. In fact, while we're on the topic of overpriced telephony, a super-fast internet connection + TV + phone service all costs a typical home $30-$40/month.
Finally, blaming consumers for spending money that "they can't afford" is the most idiotic criticism a person can make. Who are you to say they can or can't afford it? And how do you know they don't really need the wireless lines, and are simply overspending on a luxury? If they had a choice they'd obviously go for cheaper competition. Too bad *there is none*! |
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sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH
2 edits | reply to wifi4milez
You know, you provide me with such joy sometimes. Right now I'm just in the mood to bash someone's posts.
"Smart" phones (such as Blackberries and iPhones) have retail prices of up to $1000.
Um..hm...well let's see. An absolute top of the line Samsung M8910 Pixon12 will retail for 639 euro, which comes out to $900. We're talking about a 12 MP camera phone capable of recording HD video at 30fps, with a 28mm wide-angle lens and Xenon flash for high-quality indoor shots. Of course it has WiFi and HSPA 3G, along with Bluetooth 2.1 and micro-USB (no proprietary garbage). This is the sort of thing the richest of the rich buy. The phones that are sold in the US don't hold a candle to EU phones, and wouldn't even make the display case in the shops.
"Good luck telling the average person to drop almost a half months' salary on a cell phone then......."
People in the US drop much more than that on their voice and data monthly charges, which happen to be much higher than in the EU and Asia.
"The retail market for 'unlocked' cell phones doesnt really exist in the US because consumers dont want it to."
That's like saying super high-speed broadband doesn't exist in most of the US because no one wants it. It's pure conjecture on your part, and is based on the assumption that US consumers are well-informed and have actively decided the EU and Asian way is misguided. The fact is they've never had the choice.
"If some law is put in place requiring people to buy thier phones at full retail price, Smart phone will disappear from the "average" consumers hands."
Well that's odd, considering the immense popularity of smartphones in the EU and Asia. Hmm, could it be that you're making false conjectures? Probably. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to sonicmerlin
said by sonicmerlin :Ok first off, you're grossly overestimating the price of high quality phones in the EU. Am I??
Couple examples:
UK 3g 8 GB iPhone(NOT the 3GS) = 350 GBP = $572
»www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-iphone-3G···8&sr=1-2
»www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
UK 3gs 32 GB iPhone = 570 GBP = $932
»www.amazon.co.uk/APPLE-IPHONE-32···9&sr=1-1
HTC Smartphone P6500 = 545 GBP = $890
»www.amazon.co.uk/HTC-P6500-Windo···8&sr=1-2
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David
No,there is another.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
clubs:
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·magicjack.com
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: Handset exclusivity not that big a deal
Plus what about the Itouch. It don't have the phone built in it at all. So for those that wanted internet at their fingertips and can have a wi-fi service can have that.
I for one am looking for a non-super expensive Itouch. It may be a while before I get one though. |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| reply to baineschile
Re: iPhone
said by baineschile :To VZW. 2010. Book it. For VZW to get the iPhone, VZW would have to give up a lot of their power to Apple, and vice versa.
At this point in time, I'm gonna call it a nay for the iphone on VZW network.
I really do hope I am wrong.
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX
| 500,000 Customers? Who's that.
I sure hope lawmakers are not stupid enough to fall for that statement. There are hardly any carriers that have less than 500,000 customers. Most of those small companies have already been long ago gobbled up.
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Play a Death Knight?
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to David
Re: Handset exclusivity not that big a deal
said by David :Plus what about the Itouch. It don't have the phone built in it at all. So for those that wanted internet at their fingertips and can have a wi-fi service can have that. I for one am looking for a non-super expensive Itouch. It may be a while before I get one though. You can get 1st generation 8GB iPod Touch for as low as $144.
»www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e_7_1···d+touch+
My friend has one and with all the latest software, it works well. He must have about 50 apps on it.
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