nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD
 ·Comcast
| reply to pnh102
Re: What's He Talking About?
said by pnh102  : quote:
Cooper calls the locked down handset and closed network models of today's carriers reminiscent of AT&T's control of the landline system in the 1950's.
If that's true then why is it possible to bring your own unlocked GSM/EDGE (3G if you know what you are doing) handset to either AT&T or T-Mobile? OK,how about this:
"...reminiscent of AT&T's control of the landline system ...up until earlier this year." |
|
pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by nasadude :"...reminiscent of AT&T's control of the landline system ...up until earlier this year." This year?
I've been swapping out cell phones with AT&T ever since I got my first GSM handset back in 2002. I've used a few different unlocked phones, as well as locked phones that I bought from AT&T that I later unlocked.
I understand that this kind of choice may not work with Sprint, Verizon or Alltel, but I don't think most people really care about this non-issue. Every carrier offers many different kinds of phones at all price points. Couple that with the fact that most people are probably more interested in any carrier that has good service where they use their phones the most and I think the original complaint about a "lack of choice" is really more of a non-issue than anything else.
I really find it hard to fault a system that allows you to get a phone for literally nothing while simply paying for basic monthly service.
--
"At the moment of conception." |
|
wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·BroadVoice
| said by pnh102 :said by nasadude :"...reminiscent of AT&T's control of the landline system ...up until earlier this year." This year? I've been swapping out cell phones with AT&T ever since I got my first GSM handset back in 2002. I've used a few different unlocked phones, as well as locked phones that I bought from AT&T that I later unlocked. I understand that this kind of choice may not work with Sprint, Verizon or Alltel, but I don't think most people really care about this non-issue. Every carrier offers many different kinds of phones at all price points. Couple that with the fact that most people are probably more interested in any carrier that has good service where they use their phones the most and I think the original complaint about a "lack of choice" is really more of a non-issue than anything else. I really find it hard to fault a system that allows you to get a phone for literally nothing while simply paying for basic monthly service. I agree. People quickly forget that the reason 99% of wireless customers are locked into contracts or devices is because they want them for nothing. If you want an unlocked phone you can take with you and use around the world you need to pay full price for it. I have been paying up to $1000 for phones for years, and this gives me the flexibility to what I please with them. Look at it another way:
"YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY (OR DONT PAY) FOR"
--
Комитет государственной безопасности
|
|
touchtone561
join:2007-12-10
Lake Worth, FL
 ·AT&T Southeast
| I agree somewhat. But the business models of AT&T and T-Mobile do not reward you from BYOD "Bring your own device" 
So although we can buy our own GSM/UMTS devices we still pay a subsidy surcharge in the service plans to run those devices at their full capacity / capabilities. Since the typical phone lasts 18 - 24 months, what is the benefit for the average user to buy them outright?
Now if there was a BYOD discount then...  |
|
Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA | Agreed. In fact it could be argued that NOT getting a subsidized phone is foolish as you're paying the subsidy anyway, so you're effectively paying twice for your phone. |
|
