Wireless Data

I agree on your first 2 points but then you lose me. Verizon in particular controls the manufacturers and what applications they allow on their phones and they don't pay me anything because I don't work in the cellular industry. And the competition of landlines isn't really a factor, you can't compare a 1940's console home radio to an iPod. The subsidy was created by the cellular industry to lure in customers and now they have to live with it and yes customers now expect the discounts. I work in customer support (different industry) and once a customer expects something that the "vendor" gives them then guess what you are stuck because no matter how much all of the pissed off cell phone checkout counter people piss and moan they are still the reason you have a job. so buck up and help out the customer and you'll have a job for years to come.