 LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5
1 edit | Google's plan for unsubsidized phones dies Looks like Google's plan to bypass the carriers and push the unsubsidized phone model has crashed and burned. U.S. buyers are just too hooked on buying subsidized phones, even though they ultimately pay close to full price for it over the length of a 2 yr cell plan.
Also what helped kill it was the fact that Google has one of the worst customer service organizations on the planet. The cell service providers get bad marks for customer service, but they look great compared to what Google offers.
--
Are you happy with your rep in Washington, DC? |
|
 MizzatWill post for thumbsPremium
join:2003-05-03
Atlanta, GA
kudos:1 | said by Linklist:Looks like Google's plan to bypass the carriers and push the unsubsidized phone model has crashed and burned. U.S. buyers are just too hooked on buying subsidized phones, even though they ultimately pay close to full price for it over the length of a 2 yr cell plan. Also what helped kill it was the fact that Google has one of the worst customer service organizations on the planet. The cell service providers get bad marks for customer service, but they look great compared to what Google offers. Buying an unsubsidized phone is silly, the rates for the carriers are the same wether you buy it subsidized or not, so it is built into thier pricing. Now if they offered a discount for brining your own hardware, or price went down after your commitment....
So to take full advantage you should upgrade everytime you're able and sell your new or old phone. It just makes sense.
--
-M |
|
 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | reply to Linklist
I wouldn't say the unsubisidized part was the problem. I would say the problem of it only working effectively with T-Mobile was the real issue.
The Nexus One should have included full 3G support for all the major carriers right out of the box. THEN it would have stood a chance for taking off.
--
"Net Neutrality" zealots - the people you can thank for your capped Internet service. |
|
 DaveDudeNo Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1
 ·ViaTalk
·Vonage
1 edit | said by pnh102:I wouldn't say the unsubisidized part was the problem. I would say the problem of it only working effectively with T-Mobile was the real issue. The Nexus One should have included full 3G support for all the major carriers right out of the box. THEN it would have stood a chance for taking off. I agree, only releasing on Tmobile, then months later releasing the ATT version. No commericals or Ads. Plus a weak camera. If there isnt 3G support, whats the point ?
--
They Live... We Sleep...
“Spreading the wealth around” never results in a better outcome for people. It always results in destruction.
|
|
 Z80APremium
join:2009-11-23 | reply to Linklist
'mericans love making payments. We are a debt culture. |
|
|
|
| reply to Mizzat
said by Mizzat:Now if they offered a discount for brining your own hardware, or price went down after your commitment.... T-Mobile does exactly that... |
|
| reply to Z80A
said by Z80A:'mericans love making payments. We are a debt culture. ??? Unless I terminate the contract I don't pay anything more whether I buy a phone and bring it to a carrier or buy a subsidized phone from the carrier. No "payments" involved.
--
CCNA, Comtrain Certified Tower Climber |
|
 FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL
 ·Comcast
 ·T-Mobile US
| reply to Philmatic
said by Philmatic:said by Mizzat:Now if they offered a discount for brining your own hardware, or price went down after your commitment.... T-Mobile does exactly that... I was going to say that exactly.
--
sbcglobal.net speedtest result 11/11/09 - 5256kbps |
|
FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL Reviews:
·Comcast
·T-Mobile US
| reply to Mizzat
said by Mizzat:So to take full advantage you should upgrade everytime you're able and sell your new or old phone. It just makes sense. who is going to buy the phone your selling if everyone is constantly getting new subsidized phones?
personally I don't think cellullar companies should be selling phones. I think they should focus on service exclusively.
--
sbcglobal.net speedtest result 11/11/09 - 5256kbps |
|
FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL Reviews:
·Comcast
·T-Mobile US
| reply to cmaenginsb1
said by cmaenginsb1:said by Z80A:'mericans love making payments. We are a debt culture. ??? Unless I terminate the contract I don't pay anything more whether I buy a phone and bring it to a carrier or buy a subsidized phone from the carrier. No "payments" involved. t-mobile doesn't do this. if you byod you get a lower monthly rate.
--
sbcglobal.net speedtest result 11/11/09 - 5256kbps |
|
| reply to FBGuy
said by FBGuy:said by Philmatic:said by Mizzat:Now if they offered a discount for brining your own hardware, or price went down after your commitment.... T-Mobile does exactly that... I was going to say that exactly. But it's not enough, and the discount is unrelated to the cost of the phone you bring. A cursory glance at European service plans shows that bringing your own phone saves you a huge amount of money. With T-Mobile you only save $10/month, ultimately making it cheaper to just buy a phone with a contract. |
|
 RockyBBPremium
join:2005-01-31
Steamboat Springs, CO | reply to Mizzat
said by Mizzat:Buying an unsubsidized phone is silly ... sell your new or old phone. It just makes sense. Sell to who? someone who is silly by buying an unsubsidized phone? |
|
| reply to sonicmerlin
Try $20/month, Unlimited Talk/Text/Web is $79.99 when you bring a phone, or $99.99 if you are in a contract.
$20/month (Savings over subsidized) * 24 months (Standard contract) = $480 savings over the course of your contract.
That is an EXTRA $130 in savings over buying a cheaper subsidized phone (Nexus One in my example) and sticking with the more expensive plan. |
|
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | reply to FBGuy
Cellular carriers in the US get a leg up on each other mainly by offering cooler phones than the other provider. Or exclusive phones anyway. Otherwise T-Mobile would have to compete more fiercely on price than they do already. |
|
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | reply to DaveDude
5 megapixel is weak? |
|
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | reply to FBGuy
T-Mobile is the exception rather than the rule...they also subsidize their phones less than average and charle less for their phones off of contract. |
|
| reply to Philmatic
those are standard pricings now with TMO.. where have you been? |
|
| reply to DaveDude
its too bad that google is throwing in the towel soo early, they should sell the phone at t-mobile stores i would buy one...
actually google about the n1 camera vs droid
here is one of them
»androidandme.com/2010/05/phones/···xus-one/
the n1 has a better camera, don't get fooled by megapixels alone...
also, speed tests indicate the n1 is faster... htc gui changes slowed it down... and dont look as good anyways...
and google releases updates on it first... google android 2.2, rooting / jit, alternative roms... ect makes its better for android software developers |
|
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA | reply to Linklist
said by Linklist:Looks like Google's plan to bypass the carriers and push the unsubsidized phone model has crashed and burned. U.S. buyers are just too hooked on buying subsidized phones, even though they ultimately pay close to full price for it over the length of a 2 yr cell plan. I thought I saw some stats that USA users were buying more and more full-price unlocked phones, despite them being carrier specific in hardware designs. Also, if the phones would work on all/most carriers, then this would be far more widespread. Saying no one does it because they don't want it is premature if in fact they can't really make use of it because it really isn't available. |
|
| reply to Mizzat
said by Mizzat:Buying an unsubsidized phone is silly, the rates for the carriers are the same wether you buy it subsidized or not, so it is built into thier pricing. Now if they offered a discount for brining your own hardware, or price went down after your commitment.... It's not silly, because it is the 2 year commitment that is getting you the subsidy, not anything else.
If you plan to change your carrier without an ETF, it's not silly at all to not sign up for 2 years just to get a cheaper phone.
If you don't mind being tied to the same carrier for 2 years, then yes, it would be silly to outright buy a phone instead of having it subsidized.
But it's silly to call it "silly" when unsubsidized has a situation that is useful for some people. |
|
