If you don't like the ETF, pay full price or don't buy the phone...nuff said.
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You could also not break your contract. You will still have 30 days to test the phone to see if it's to your liking.
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I agree. However, the same thing that applies to Verizon's crazy ETF applies here. It is NOT a good thing for consumers.
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MennoJan 6, 2010, 1:25 PM
And consumers ripping of the company wasn't good for their bottom line.
You can't steal from a store for years, and then complain when they install a security system.
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Thing is, just pay full price for the phone like we do with almost everything we buy daily. I paid full price for my TV. If I choose to take a subsidy for a phone, I am agreeing to the result of it.
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Will the price of my committed contract be less if I pay full price? The carriers claim that the price includes subsidizing the device. If I pay full price, I should get a better price, Right?
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MennoJan 6, 2010, 2:36 PM
With Tmobile this is the case, yes. You pay less if you provide the phone
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ALL carriers should implement this. I like my carrier and since I pay full price I might as well stay aboard and save on monthly fees. I save and the carrier has me for two years.
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MennoJan 6, 2010, 2:59 PM
Oh, I agree that they should.
I'm hoping that this Google Phone idea really takes off (especially on CDMA side)
Could you imagine a CDMA phone that would work on any carrier... all it would take would be those companies recognizing the ESN, and maybe a couple other things.. then make it a global capable phone and you have the first true "unlocked" phone for this market.
Have google subsidize the initial cost (act as a reseller) and offer a monthly plan discount for getting the phone unsubsidized, but still signing a contract.
ETF's would go away.. instead you would have a"buy out" option to make up for the discount or months left, or something. And if you did buy it out, you could take your nexus one, go to another carri...
(continues)
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I don't understand what you wrote. "unsubsidized but still signing a contract" aren't phones that have no subsidy also have no contract?
You know me Menno, I haTe contracts, I believe in earning a customer, not binding them.
Btw, I do find the Nexus One a very attractive smartphone.
For the time being I'm going to wait to see what features HTC packs into their Android device that AT&T is going to carry.
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MennoJan 6, 2010, 8:02 PM
what I am saying is that signing a contract gets you a cheaper monthly price. you can do month to month if you want.
This way the contract benefits you monthly, not just for phones.
I dislike contracts too, but I doubt they are going away.
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With reguards to contracts going away, or not, all I can say is that I -sense- that a whole, whole lot is going to change in the wireless industry in the next 2-3yrs, and it is very, very hard to even begin to predict what will change.
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