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

Tue Feb 27 10:48:38 CET 2007

when we are at it, limiting calls to only certain numbers is a
standard GSM feature, it's just seldom used, as most people just
forget their PIN2 ;)

Andreas

* Dean Collins <Dean at cognation.net> [070227 10:41]:
> Took 4 minutes of googling to find both Cingular and Verizon have kids
> phones and restricted access plans.
> 
> Stop your bitching and go save the world.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Cingular's FireFly phone has buttons for preprogrammed phone numbers for
> Mom and Dad, along with a button for 911 emergencies. Up to 20
> additional numbers can also be programmed into the phone. Verizon's Migo
> phone from LG also offers a dedicated emergency button, along with four
> buttons that parents can program.
> 
> Even though the big carriers' services and phones don't match the
> functionality of newcomer Disney Mobile, they still may have an edge
> over Disney. For one, most parents who'd even consider buying a cell
> phone for their kids are already customers of one of the big cell phone
> companies. It might be easier and more cost-effective for them to wait
> for new features to be added to their current provider's packages.
> 
> 
> Limits on kids 
> 
> Parents can designate the times when a kid can call particular numbers
> or play games. With TicTalk, Mom and Dad can also limit the number of
> minutes for calls to certain numbers - say to a best friend. 
> 
> As with Firefly, the phone operates on the GSM cellular network. For
> some reason, the unit I had never properly updated the time. TicTalk
> costs $99, plus a $10 activation fee. An hour of prepaid talk is $15.
> The phone is available online now and in stores by year's end.
> 
> 
>  
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dean Collins
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org [mailto:community-
> > bounces at lists.openmoko.org] On Behalf Of alan at rotorgraphics.com
> > Sent: Monday, 26 February 2007 6:27 PM
> > To: community at lists.openmoko.org
> > Subject: RE: Locked phones (was Re: A timely rant: Time for SIM-free
> phones.)
> > 
> > Dean...
> > 
> > Its been a while since I looked, but I do stand corrected. The Disney
> plan
> > indeed launched last June.
> > 
> > The Disney plan is not, however prepaid, and worse, it is Disney, the
> folks
> > who bought and paid for our Sonny Bono Copyright Tem Extension Act.
> > 
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono_Copyright_Term_Extension_Act
> > 
> > Which, of course, puts them on my "List".
> > 
> > Thanks again.
> > 
> > Alan
> > 
> > 
> > Original Message:
> > -----------------
> > From: Dean Collins Dean at cognation.net
> > Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:35:21 -0500
> > To: community at lists.openmoko.org
> > Subject: RE: Locked phones (was Re: A timely rant: Time for SIM-free
> > phones.)
> > 
> > 
> > >
> > > As a parent, one of my great angers with the cellular industry is
> that
> > > NO-ONE has offered a pre-paid plan that limits the child's monthly
> use
> > of
> > > the air-time resource by cutting it off once the minute limit is
> > exceeded
> > > for the month.  Calls FROM and TO the parent account would still go
> > through
> > > and be billed to the parent account.
> > 
> > 
> > Alan,
> > Totally incorrect, this was one of the main themes behind the Disney
> > MVNO and I also think Verizon or cingular have this option as well (I
> > know I saw a tv ad for one of them a few months ago but cant remember
> > which one)
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Regards,
> > 
> > Dean Collins
> > Cognation Pty Ltd
> > dean at cognation.net
> > +1-212-203-4357 Ph
> > +1-917-207-3420 Mb
> > +61-2-9016-5642 (Sydney in-dial).
> > 
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org [mailto:community-
> > > bounces at lists.openmoko.org] On Behalf Of alan at rotorgraphics.com
> > > Sent: Monday, 26 February 2007 2:27 PM
> > > To: community at lists.openmoko.org
> > > Subject: RE: Locked phones (was Re: A timely rant: Time for SIM-free
> > phones.)
> > >
> > > Sam...
> > >
> > > Thanks for posting that link.  A great write up on the
> "Fundamentally
> > > Immoral" business practices in the cellullar communications industry
> > today.
> > >
> > > What I expect from the "Operators" or "Carriers" (depending on which
> > oceans
> > > are nearby) is that they cease and desist using obfuscation and
> > bundling to
> > > hide the true cost of their services.  Ala-carte pricing that can be
> > > compared business to business.
> > >
> > > Another Mini-Rant of my own:
> > >
> > > Cell Plans That Help Parents Teach Responsibility
> > >
> > > As a parent, one of my great angers with the cellular industry is
> that
> > > NO-ONE has offered a pre-paid plan that limits the child's monthly
> use
> > of
> > > the air-time resource by cutting it off once the minute limit is
> > exceeded
> > > for the month.  Calls FROM and TO the parent account would still go
> > through
> > > and be billed to the parent account.
> > >
> > > But the cell industry in not interested in what is best for Society
> as
> > a
> > > whole, namely  young people who can demonstrate the ability to
> > conserve and
> > > manage resources.  Thanks for being such good citizens, guys. (<<
> > Sarcasm)
> > >
> > > Alan McSwain
> > >
> > > Original Message:
> > > -----------------
> > > From: Sam Kome sam.kome at motricity.com
> > > Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:18:59 -0500
> > > To: community at lists.openmoko.org
> > > Subject: RE: Locked phones (was Re: A timely rant: Time for SIM-free
> > > phones.)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I think that the article I linked to really clearly covers all of
> the
> > > issues presented in the email responses.  The price subsidies, the
> > > locked/unlocked, the SIM buying, the phone w/o SIM buying, etc.
> > >
> > > That's why I brought it to this group, because I respect the
> > > intelligence of the folks here, and I think they care about
> furthering
> > > the efficacy and usability of mobile computing and communication.
> > >
> > > I took it for granted that everyone on the list, including myself,
> > knows
> > > the difference between T/CDMA (also available with SIMs, but
> > nevermind)
> > > and GSM devices in terms of subscriber identity management.
> > >
> > > I _don't_ take for granted that anyone not working in or around the
> > cell
> > > phone industry can even spell SIM, let alone understand the
> > implications
> > > of whether or not their phone has a removable chip, or if that chip
> > will
> > > work in another device, let alone with another carrier.
> > >
> > > When my mother/brother/friend in the US wants to buy a phone, they
> are
> > > very likely to go to one or two cell phone outlet stores, RTFMA, and
> > see
> > > a plethora of plans with minutes and calling circles and
> > > free-after-x-o'clock.  They will not be able to reasonably compare
> > these
> > > to each other without performing sophisticated systems analysis on
> the
> > > fly.  They will and do sign up for 2 year contracts _and/or_ locked
> > > devices.
> > >
> > > This by the way, makes my job (creating mobile content) more
> > difficult,
> > > so I have both the philosphical and selfish professional incentives
> to
> > > try to both educate the general public and solve the core problem as
> I
> > > see it, which is a sea of proprietary devices that have lousy
> software
> > > and worse user interfaces.
> > >
> > > How'd I do? Still childish boring bullshit?
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org
> > > [mailto:community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org] On Behalf Of Shawn
> > > Rutledge
> > > Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 12:51 PM
> > > To: community at lists.openmoko.org
> > > Subject: Locked phones (was Re: A timely rant: Time for SIM-free
> > > phones.)
> > >
> > > 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:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > We should paper the world with (something like) this rant ahead of
> > the
> > > wide release of Neo1973.
> > > >
> > > > The fettered masses really don't get it yet.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Covers 8 myths which drive folks to buy locked phones and/or 2yr
> > > contracts:
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/Its_time_to_buy_SIM-free_ph
> > > ones.php
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "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?"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "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?"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Sam Kome
> > > >  UX Team Member
> > > >
> > > >  www.motricity.com
> > > >  view corporate video
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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