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AT&T to Boost ETF to $325

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This kind of does make sense for GSM carriers.

WirelessVet

May 21, 2010, 2:05 PM
Seeing as how it is much easier to buy a ATT phone, break the contract, and sell the phone elsewhere for a potential profit(referring to a GSM global market).

In comparison, CDMA phones are usually locked to the specific carriers, unless you go to metroPCS. But again, the phone is now locked on to their system.

Now I realize there are people that have the skill to be able to unlock and hack equipment and things of that nature. I wasn't referring to those people at all. If you have the know how, more power to you I suppose. 🙂
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Versed

May 21, 2010, 2:32 PM
Its bullcrap either way, gsm or cdma, I bitched when VZW did it and the same with AT&T. The real truth to this, is AT&T is planning on giving those with iphones and early upgrade if on for a year (or something along those lines). So they lock them in for 2 years so when VZW gets the iPhone this fall, they have them.

I do agree about the iphone and people just terming, paying the etf and then selling it on ebay for a profit. Then just do it on the iPhone. AT&T nor VZW are losing money, so I don't see the point. Both are at the point of overwhelming the smaller national carriers.

BTW even if so, AT&T use different 3g radios then TMO, Don't see a massive run from them to TMO to use iPhone's or Pre's.
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nmunyat

May 22, 2010, 7:31 PM
A few things:

It's not bullcrap. You think it's bullcrap because you're either a) worried about something for no reason because you'll never break a contract, or b) you're either a thief or sympathetic to thieves who attempt to rip off wireless companies by purchasing devices at a subsidized discount, cancelling the contract and selling the devices for a profit. Honest individuals can look at the numbers and realize that the actual price of the device is significantly higher than what you pay originally, and until your contract has been fulfilled, the wireless company is out (read: losing) money.

It's not just iPhone, and there are a lot of people who've unlocked iPhones and taken them to T-Mo. Some people don't care about the 3G speed...
(continues)
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retrocool

May 22, 2010, 10:01 PM
Eventually (and probably thru FCC regulation), carriers will be required to any and all models of phones to be compatible with their networks, provided they are of the same network type (GSM or CDMA). This way, customers would be able to purchase a phone and go from carrier to carrier as they desire (and if this means breaking a contract due to the carrier subsidizing a phone purchase at the beginning, that's fine too - even if they charge huge ETF fees because of it; I think that would be a fair exchange for the ability to choose whatever carrier you wish).
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retrocool

May 22, 2010, 10:26 PM
Rephrasing the first sentence:

Eventually (and probably thru FCC regulation), carriers will be required to make any and all models of phones compatible with their networks, provided they are of the same network type (GSM or CDMA).
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nmunyat

May 23, 2010, 9:54 PM
Our system in America (talking about wireless communication) is set up in an unfortunate manner: different technologies, spectrum licensing and a whole bunch of other regulatory and technological challenges make a European style system nearly impossible to implement, if only because of the cost. Regulating prices and fees any farther would necessarily do one or more of the following: reduce network quality and coverage, cause massive layoffs in the telecom sector, stifle research and development.

If America went to a European style communications system, the public would incessantly complain about the price of the device, AND they would continue to complain about the price of service.
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Versed

May 23, 2010, 10:23 PM
Wrongo nmuryat,

Here is Vodafones prices and phone list.

http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/all-ph ... »
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nmunyat

May 23, 2010, 10:34 PM
The difference between our system and theirs is that theirs has been open as it is for a while. Ours, on the other hand, would require an inordinately large amount of capital, especially at first, to foster the transition to an open system. Ironically, the European countries are bound by far fewer regulations than ours, which allows their prices to be lower (in addition to their system being set up as it is from long ago).

Our current infrastructure couldn't support a GSM-only country, which is what would be required for the style of openness Europeans enjoy. This would require immense infrastructure buildout, plus FCC regulations would - at first, at least - drive prices up.
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