| Real competition after the LTE convergence takes place »Senators Look To Kill Handset Exclusivity
ability to choose the handset they want on the network that suits them best -- or performs the best in their geographical area. This won't really work until the US is no longer on 2 separate wireless systems(CDMA, GSM) and finally converges on the LTE platform in a couple years. Then, IF the FCC isssues some kind of mandate about no exclusivity contracts, it will be possible to move from carrier to carrier with that now unsubsidized very expensive smartphone.
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 PhoenixDown-- Wants FIOSPremium
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kudos:1 | I am sure carriers will still be able to lock you into a contract in exchange for a reduced rate on the phone.
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| said by PhoenixDown:I am sure carriers will still be able to lock you into a contract in exchange for a reduced rate on the phone. Maybe. But I am not so sure that carriers will want to subsidize phones anymore if a person can get that phone to use on any carrier. Especially with the rules being as they are now about enforcing prorated ETF fees.
In any case, I suspect that any subsidy tied to a 2 yr contract will be much less than it is now.
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
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| reply to fAcEtIOUs
said by fAcEtIOUs: This won't really work until the US is no longer on 2 separate wireless systems(CDMA, GSM) and finally converges on the LTE platform in a couple years. I don't think that is a show stopper. Hardware vendors can offer different models for different networks. As technology improves software defined radios (SDR) may be able to even mask that difference.
/tom |
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| said by tschmidt:said by fAcEtIOUs: This won't really work until the US is no longer on 2 separate wireless systems(CDMA, GSM) and finally converges on the LTE platform in a couple years. I don't think that is a show stopper. Hardware vendors can offer different models for different networks. As technology improves software defined radios (SDR) may be able to even mask that difference. /tom That is true. Just supply a different firmware for a different carrier, or even a plug in module like the SIM with the proper software on it.
Anyway, GSM sucks donkey balls and I don't want to be stuck with it. I have both a GSM and CDMA phone and CDMA on Verizon wins hands down. |
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| reply to tschmidt
said by tschmidt:said by fAcEtIOUs: This won't really work until the US is no longer on 2 separate wireless systems(CDMA, GSM) and finally converges on the LTE platform in a couple years. I don't think that is a show stopper. Hardware vendors can offer different models for different networks. As technology improves software defined radios (SDR) may be able to even mask that difference. /tom Well, in a couple years, when all the major carriers are on LTE anyway, it will be much easier to make a phone that works worldwide. Then the FCC can decide if exclusivity contracts will be allowed or not.
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 r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
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said by fifty nine:That is true. Just supply a different firmware for a different carrier, or even a plug in module like the SIM with the proper software on it. Anyway, GSM sucks donkey balls and I don't want to be stuck with it. I have both a GSM and CDMA phone and CDMA on Verizon wins hands down. Maybe in your small town. Have you ever travel cross country. Verizon coverage sucks. GSM gets signal everywhere which it is not always a ATT tower, but with free roaming ATT has much better coverage.
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
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said by fAcEtIOUs:» Senators Look To Kill Handset Exclusivityability to choose the handset they want on the network that suits them best -- or performs the best in their geographical area. This won't really work until the US is no longer on 2 separate wireless systems(CDMA, GSM) and finally converges on the LTE platform in a couple years. Then, IF the FCC isssues some kind of mandate about no exclusivity contracts, it will be possible to move from carrier to carrier with that now unsubsidized very expensive smartphone. LTE is a data protocol, not voice.
Both carriers will use their current GSM or CDMA with LTE for data unless they switch to handle the voice like voip over the data connection.
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| said by r81984:LTE is a data protocol, not voice. Both carriers will use their current GSM or CDMA with LTE for data unless they switch to handle the voice like voip over the data connection. The industry is working on that, but agreemnt hasn't been reached yet.
»www.unstrung.com/document.asp?do···ng_gnews
If operators can't agree on how to deliver voice services over Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, then the development of the next-generation mobile broadband technology could be thwarted, according to T-Mobile International AG .
LTE, as an all-IP, packet-based network, does not support legacy circuit-switched services, and there are several options for delivering these services. The various technology choices for voice over LTE include IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), circuit-switch (CS) fallback (which is basically using the legacy 2G or 3G networks for voice), and the relatively new initiative called Voice over LTE via Generic Access (or VoLGA, which essentially sends the CS traffic from the mobile switching center through an IP tunnel across the LTE network).
A rift has already emerged, as T-Mobile is VoLGA's most fervent -- only, actually -- operator supporter, while Verizon Wireless and France Telecom SA (NYSE: FTE)'s Orange favor the CS fallback approach.
"It's difficult to position LTE as a data-only network," said Seiser. "We need a good solution for voice and SMS as soon as possible." The convergence will happen or LTE won't go forward due to costs.
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
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Handsets bring in competition... it's how you bring in a competitive market place.
I am just dead set against congress getting involved in this. No one has a "right" to a cell phone handset.. as much as I'd like to be able to take the iPhone to another carrier, I still support the rights of free market/business entering intro agreements so long as competition remains.
The hardware has special software on it as well. Why would I want to buy a CDMA phone from VZ and take it to Sprint anyway? It's going to have VZ's crappy software on it.
Get congress involved, we're going to see less options.. plain and simple. Handsets will go up in price, and there will be less choice. You'll still see contracts to consumers.. which, personally I think you should not have to agree to. (Side note, I owned my phone outright, activated it and STILL had to be in an "agreement" which in itself is wrong)..
Congress needs to stay out of the cellular phone handset business... while it's not perfect, it works for people. I DO, however, support the option of once you've fulfilled your subsidy requirement (ie: purchased the phone outright or your contract) you should be able to do with what you want with that phone.. then again, when the contract is over, most people want new phones anyway. |
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
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Katy, TX | reply to fAcEtIOUs
They will do LTE for data in highly populated areas regardless of an agreement or not.
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| reply to fAcEtIOUs
This is the FCC meddling where it doesn't belong. Seriously.
The current system works fine. So you can't get an iPhone on Verizon. So what? Plenty of other phones are available!
I care first and foremost about reliability and being able to actually use the phone to make a phone call. GSM loses bigtime in that regard. |
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| reply to r81984
said by r81984:Maybe in your small town. Have you ever travel cross country. Verizon coverage sucks. GSM gets signal everywhere which it is not always a ATT tower, but with free roaming ATT has much better coverage. Ha ha ha... in my small town? I work in NYC and travel through much of Northern NJ on a daily basis. Is that a small town? |
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1 edit | reply to fiberguy
"The hardware has special software on it as well. Why would I want to buy a CDMA phone from VZ and take it to Sprint anyway? It's going to have VZ's crappy software on it."
You can flash any smart phone with a generic rom/other carriers rom images. I used an Alltel rom on my Sprint HTC touch for 3 months before Sprint released the update to allow GPS usage. |
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