Locked phones (was Re: A timely rant: Time for SIM-free phones.)

Shawn Rutledge shawn.t.rutledge at gmail.com
Mon Feb 26 18:51:00 CET 2007


SIMs are great - I don't like SIM-free phones like Verizon ones that
require somebody at Verizon to switch the service to a different
phone.  With GSM you just switch the SIM yourself.  Of course it would
also be nice to be able to use different devices without having to
physically switch the SIM (like use the GPRS connection in a laptop or
PDA).  Anyway "SIM-free" is misleading as you are using it, because
you are actually complaining about locked phones that will only work
on one network.   And BTW it's not so hard to buy new unlocked phones
on the net if you are willing to pay unsubsidized prices for them.

As for Jobs, I think he negotiated a lot of unique stuff that cannot
typically be negotiated with a carrier.  It's too bad the phone still
costs $500-600 even with a contract.  Makes me wonder what the real
manufacturing cost is; is the hardware that super-duper or are they
just wanting to have even better margins than they get on ipods?

On 2/26/07, Sam Kome <sam.kome at motricity.com> wrote:
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> We should paper the world with (something like) this rant ahead of the wide release of Neo1973.
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> The fettered masses really don't get it yet.
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> Covers 8 myths which drive folks to buy locked phones and/or 2yr contracts:
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> http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/Its_time_to_buy_SIM-free_phones.php
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> "How would Apple fans react if the latest Mac computer was exclusively locked to a particular ISP, was only available to people who live in that ISP's service area, and people had to sign up to a 2 year contract with that ISP? The Apple fans would be mad as hell, so why on earth are they having to put up with exactly the same restrictions on a portable, pocket-sized Mac computer called the iPhone?"
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> "How is it that Finland, a poorer, lower-density country without phone contracts, and with a law banning locked phones, developed far better phone coverage than America, the land of locked phones and 2 year contracts?"
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> Sam Kome
>  UX Team Member
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>  www.motricity.com
>  view corporate video
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