Consumers Union To FCC: Unlock Our Phones
wow.....
but then when it comes time for people to buy a new phone they will still be complaining that they even have to pay for it.
...
exactly... i mean its nice for people to push for it. but like the carriers say its gonna make prices of cell phones go up b/c then the company cant eat money knowing that the phone they carry will only work for them cause its locked. so if this happens where phones are to remain unlocked then you are definitly going to see prices of cell phones go up for initial users. and the common cell phone consumer wants a phone for free or nothing cause they think they basically payin for the "phone" with the bill every month. i think if the removal of locking phones happens then i'm sure "Free" phones will be gone.
...
On the flip side, I think people would be more willing to shell out the extra cash if they knew they could use that phone essentially until it dies, instead of just to the end of their contract.
But how would this work between CDMA and GSM? 😕
But how would this work between CDMA and GSM? 😕
...
it wouldnt work between cdma and gsm thats 2 different types. basically what it would mean is one user that has a cdma phone could carry the phone to another cdma provider.. and same with gsm meaning mostly with the big carriers t-mobile, att and cingular
...
Actually, Motorola unveiled a quad-band GSM/CDMA phone at CTIA in Atlanta this year, so your mainstream phone could crossover from a Verizon to a T-Mobile within the year if unlocked.
...
Actually, I think Moto's plan with that phone is to allow us Americans to buy a nice CDMA phone we can use over here...as well as take it to Europe or anywhere else and use the 900 and 1800 mhz bands GSM-wise.
...
The locking of phones I think is vital for the government who wants to keep everything so competitive in the cell phone industry. After reading the letter sent to Chairman Powell, I truly believe that consumers will still look for more reasons to complain about cell phones and that consumers as a whole are completely irresponsible when it comes to the environment already. What's going to stop them from throwing away a phone after they've purchased a new one? If it's the environment they're worried about, try to be more proactive on that issue instead of saying it just isn't fair. Furthermore, consumers will pay whatever it takes to keep up with technology and cell phone makers, not carriers, should consider the environment and the cost to co...
(continues)
(continues)
...
now people will be complaining about how expensive the phones are....they just won't stop complaining
...
I think it's about time. Why should a phone service tell me what phones to use when there are other phones compatible? It's like AOL telling me I have to use a specific Dell desktop, or Comcast/Adelphia/Cox cable internet tell me I have to buy a Gateway notebook to use their high speed internet. People hate cell phones, especially here in the mountainous areas, because to get the high quality and service of verizon you have to forego the best phones. To get the phone I want with Sprint, I have to deal with dropped calls and bad service. It's about time this happened.
...
I view it this way: How dare carriers take our money for their phones and then put restrictions on how we can use them? Screw them and their whining about not being able to offer subsidies anymore. Carriers will ALWAYS offer subsidies no matter what. It's called capitalism...each company has to undercut the other. Gimme my unlocked phone, dammit!
...
There are a lot of other reasons this is actually a good idea too, both for consumers and for the wireless industry. Of course, the industry doesn't want to change, but that doesn't mean it's a bad idea (think of what the recording industry COULD have done to embrace digital music right away and how much money they could be making by now if they weren't obsessed with DRM).
1. Carriers would no longer have to waste as much time and manpower repairing phones and satisfying customers who aren't happy with equipment; they could direct customers to sources of used equipment or offer them a contract extension and a new phone.
2. There would be more competition for phone retailers, lowering prices and increasing value.
3. Manufacturers wo...
(continues)
1. Carriers would no longer have to waste as much time and manpower repairing phones and satisfying customers who aren't happy with equipment; they could direct customers to sources of used equipment or offer them a contract extension and a new phone.
2. There would be more competition for phone retailers, lowering prices and increasing value.
3. Manufacturers wo...
(continues)
...
If you don't like the carriers taking your money for your DISCOUNTED phone, then buy it directly through the manufacturer and you can have your unlocked phone. If you aren't willing to pay a higher cost, then quit yur whining!
I can't wait till customers realize how much the phones REALLY cost, then they will be whining and bitching that they cost too much and beg the carriers to subsidize them again!
I can't wait till customers realize how much the phones REALLY cost, then they will be whining and bitching that they cost too much and beg the carriers to subsidize them again!
...
I strongly agree with your statement. People want everything free and this is an industry that really costs a lot of money.
...
Well, you know I am just sick of hearing free phone this, free phone that, I'm going to cancel if you don't give me a free phone. But how dare you give me a free phone and not let me use it on another carriers network! For shame! blah blah blah. I have worked in the wireless industry since 1996, the cheapest phone was $200.00 and 320 minutes cost $200.00 a month, you didn't get free weekends, roaming,long distance, mobile to mobile or anything else. There were less complaints then.
...
Well, that's just an example of giving a customer an inch, they'll want a mile. It's human nature.
...
Wow i didnt even know people complained about this. They obviously freakin' don't know how much phones really cost.
Dammit, just goto a shop and freakin' pay 20 bucks to get your damn phone un-locked. If all phones came un-locked....there'd be hell. And i think phon prices would definately go up.
Dammit, just goto a shop and freakin' pay 20 bucks to get your damn phone un-locked. If all phones came un-locked....there'd be hell. And i think phon prices would definately go up.
...
I can tell some of you folks have no clue about this game works.
I pay my carrier $100 bucks for a phone, then to get you to activate with me, I sell it to your for nothing. I know I'm getting a nice commission from the carier for the activation, so I can afford it.
If you dump contracts & subsidy locks, that commission drops to near nothing, so I can't take a loss on the phone. That free phone now sells for $150, plus the free accessories you now get will cost you $10-20 bucks a pop.
I pay my carrier $100 bucks for a phone, then to get you to activate with me, I sell it to your for nothing. I know I'm getting a nice commission from the carier for the activation, so I can afford it.
If you dump contracts & subsidy locks, that commission drops to near nothing, so I can't take a loss on the phone. That free phone now sells for $150, plus the free accessories you now get will cost you $10-20 bucks a pop.
...
Less commissions paid, means less phantom churn. A plus for the wireless company. And for you, at least if you can sell a phone for $150.00 you know that you won't have to risk the cell company pulling your commision because of phantom churn issues.
...
And how many people will pony up $150 for a phone tomorrow, that is free today?
Less curn my butt. It will skyrocket. Prepay churn is at about 50%. I make $30 on a prepay activation. I only sell it as a last resort, because its not worth my time.
Now customer on rate plans won't have issues coming up with the money to pay their bills, so churn probably won't go that high.
But with number portability & no subsidy lock, its gonna get bloody.
Less curn my butt. It will skyrocket. Prepay churn is at about 50%. I make $30 on a prepay activation. I only sell it as a last resort, because its not worth my time.
Now customer on rate plans won't have issues coming up with the money to pay their bills, so churn probably won't go that high.
But with number portability & no subsidy lock, its gonna get bloody.
...
If that is what is necessary to get a cellular phone, and you need/want a cellular phone, you will pay for it. Phones weren't always free, in fact thy were a lot more expensive and people still bought them because there was a need/want.
I didn't say it would eliminate churn, I said it would eliminate phantom churn (cancelling an existing service after opening a new service). If everyone pays the same price, then there would not be any phantom churn. Or at least would be a lot less.
I didn't say it would eliminate churn, I said it would eliminate phantom churn (cancelling an existing service after opening a new service). If everyone pays the same price, then there would not be any phantom churn. Or at least would be a lot less.
...
atyhena i think you really make a god point there. my beleifs are taht if you want a good fone with good service you gotta fork over the big bucks. plus i don't know about you, but i am canadian and we can complain our rate plans are about half the minutes and feature you have to pay for. but im willing to shell out 300 dollars for my lg phone which is hela god for the screen people pay less for lets say the moto 720's like free but i fork out the money and i get a phone i know will last like 3 or four year . ya for unlocking. personaly i think it will do good for american wireless providers . first of all it will show who really is at the top of the pile and who needs toupgrade. for example ithink that aws should roll out their umts in new...
(continues)
(continues)
...
Just found the Phone Scoop site and joined on. Lot's of good info here.
It would certainly make it allot easier if the FCC would mandate that carriers cannot lock phones they sell, however, there is another way around this.
A past friend of mine had a phone that was locked, that he wanted to use with another carrier. Although he could pay someone on the Internet to give him the code in order to unlock the phone, it didn't seem right.
The alternative? Sue the company for product harboring. Yep, it does work.
Know where does it specifically state that a phone is the property of cell carrier. Only the service that the phone utilizes.
Although it may seem a bit more time consuming, it was more important to make a point agains...
(continues)
It would certainly make it allot easier if the FCC would mandate that carriers cannot lock phones they sell, however, there is another way around this.
A past friend of mine had a phone that was locked, that he wanted to use with another carrier. Although he could pay someone on the Internet to give him the code in order to unlock the phone, it didn't seem right.
The alternative? Sue the company for product harboring. Yep, it does work.
Know where does it specifically state that a phone is the property of cell carrier. Only the service that the phone utilizes.
Although it may seem a bit more time consuming, it was more important to make a point agains...
(continues)
...
i disagree, thats like buying a chevy and being pissed off that you cant put a honda motor under the hood.
...
Now now now...just because he stooped to calling us Americanos, and THEN gave us possibly the WORST lesson on economics ever...doesn't mean we should say ALL Canadians are stupid. They like putting their quarters in our vending machines and showing up at our beaches in brightly colored thongs...but otherwise they're okay by me.
...
I'm with muchdrama on this one. It was a pathetic economy lesson and since phonescoop has a spelling check for the posts, it doesn't make since to have misspelled words, unless it is what you intended. I have nothing against Canadians, they spend a ton of cash over here. They are, of coarse, the red headed step children of the western hemisphere.
...
👿 What are you talking about phantom churns? Come on now, I also work in cell phone retail and that would be blatantly illegal. It's one thing to blame carriers for costs on phones but the few who sell this stuff, like any other retail sales position, make money based on costs and subsidies. Give me an example about phantom churn and I might believe you.
...
You're an idiot. Phantom churn is not illegal. But it does cost the carriers to unecessarily pay commissions on an existing customer. Cancelling an existing account to activate a new account is phantom churn. It skews churn numbers, and new gross ads. Whether or not it is purposely done is another question. But most phantom churn is at the fault of the dealer who tells the customer to activate a new line in a different name, or telling the customer that they can't keep their same number.
...
Oh please! If I had a nickel for every person who "coincidentally" happened to activate a new line JUST as the contract on their old one expired and called to cancel due to "not needing that line any more, and by the way I want to transfer my number to the new line... blah blah blah..." I'd have a stack of nickels taller than I am, and I'm pretty darned tall! I've had customers tell me that indirect dealers told them that they can't get a discount on a new phone unless they open a new line, and they're surprised as heck to find out that the prices I'm quoting for their discount are LOWER than they were offered by the dealer, then they're surprised that they won't have to change their number! Phantom churn is a BIG problem, and it's all ab...
(continues)
(continues)
...
The main result of this, I think, is that the price that customers pay for cell phones in the first place will skyrocket. No free phone for you!
...
You dont really think that unlocked phones is a good idea do ya ???
1.phone companies lose money do to loss of sales.
2.Cell phones prices go up 2X plus.
3.Serivce reps would then have to now how to program phones.
How do you think sprint knows if your roaming ? if your not on a 1900mhz system. If you put a sprint phone on verizon ,you would have to reprogram the whole phone to look for 800m not 1900. And because of that phone companies will charge more for service to make up for training and everything else involved with switching phones and companies.
I like the idea of taking a sanyo phone to verizon (but it doesnt work) Verizon doesnt use the same web, the same picture sending format, same txt sending format. NOTHING wo...
(continues)
1.phone companies lose money do to loss of sales.
2.Cell phones prices go up 2X plus.
3.Serivce reps would then have to now how to program phones.
How do you think sprint knows if your roaming ? if your not on a 1900mhz system. If you put a sprint phone on verizon ,you would have to reprogram the whole phone to look for 800m not 1900. And because of that phone companies will charge more for service to make up for training and everything else involved with switching phones and companies.
I like the idea of taking a sanyo phone to verizon (but it doesnt work) Verizon doesnt use the same web, the same picture sending format, same txt sending format. NOTHING wo...
(continues)
...
"3.Serivce reps would then have to now how to program phones."
Programming a phone is not that hard. TDMA phones already need to be programmed. Either manually or OTA (over the air)
Also, I would pretty much expect that when it comes to technical support people would call the manufacturer of the phone much in the same way you call the manufacturer of your T.V. and not your cable company when you want technical assistance.
Programming a phone is not that hard. TDMA phones already need to be programmed. Either manually or OTA (over the air)
Also, I would pretty much expect that when it comes to technical support people would call the manufacturer of the phone much in the same way you call the manufacturer of your T.V. and not your cable company when you want technical assistance.
...
3 service reps per store ..per company times 7000 retail stores for verizon,sprint,alltel and every other small cdma company = 21000 reps they just trained for no reason. Thats just the small part. Do you now how to get sprints shortmail to work on verizon >>? U cant, so how do you think they phone swap is goin to work ?
...
I am sure that with the unlocking of the devices, it isn't going to be that you are buying a sprint pcs phone, or you are buying a Verizon phone. You would be buying a Nokia phone or a Samsung phone. In the analog days it didn't matter if your phone read Airtouch (b side) or Cellular One (A side), you had ot manually program the number into the device and then switched network mode to either A or B depending on the carrier. I assume this would be much the same way with the CDMA technologies. As far as GSM goes, it will be relatively simple, just switch sim cards. Who knows?
...
Now in general terms we all know there are several technologies used in the US (GSM,CDMA...) by our cell companies. Most of us also know that with each company have "Trademark" premium services that can't crossover, for example: Sprint Vision picture mail can't be sent to US Cellular Easy Edge or Verizon GetPix and visa versa. Unlocking handsets would not be a problem to be set up at store locations/3 party stores(Radio Shack, abc neighborhood wireless retailer). There just has to be an understanding by the CONSUMER that not all premium services MAY NOT WORK with there handset, and the REPRESENTATIVE give full disclosure of limitations of the equipment that they own.
How about this, for example: There are customers that would like to switch...
(continues)
How about this, for example: There are customers that would like to switch...
(continues)
...
I think the idea of a different type of contract is a good one.
You want a free phone? Fine it will be locked you agreed to this contract once you fulfill your agreement then we'll unlock the phone. You want it unlocked fine you are going to pay full price for the phone. What do we think most people would do?
You want a free phone? Fine it will be locked you agreed to this contract once you fulfill your agreement then we'll unlock the phone. You want it unlocked fine you are going to pay full price for the phone. What do we think most people would do?
...
This forum is closed.
