Gents, this article at Gizmodo is welcome news as far as I am concerned. http://gizmodo.com/verizon-is-finally-ditching-smartphone-contracts-too-1722767038
Finally, we are seeing the inevitable move away from contracted, over priced mobile devices. And when I say over priced I mean the ridiculous, 'retail' prices carriers throw at you to suggest their contract prices are somehow a good deal. A goodly portion of what you pay to them each month goes toward that device. By the way, the same devices the carriers have had exclusive rights to sell for decades. Ever notice when you check the price of a phone in a major retailer like Best Buy, Amazon, or Walmart they still carry the carrier's brand on them and are locked to their individual services? And the prices are the same as at the carriers stores. This is their buying power. We've all been over paying for this stuff for decades. Go to Asian and European retailers and see the cool devices they can buy anywhere and use with just about any carrier.
Eventually this move away from contracts will bring true consumer 'street' pricing to mobile devices. Just like it has done to everything else. And eventually it will lead to interoperability between carriers. A situation which should have been mandated years ago. It will take awhile but this can only mean good things for consumers. When you are able buy unlocked, unbranded devices from the mentioned retailers and simply call up who you like for service, then things will be good. We now just need AT&T to give in and the die will be cast. Remember when they stared the 'Next' programme a few years ago? Hey, bring you own phone! Hey, sign up for Next and get a new device for only $25 a month! Get a new one every year. Then people quickly realised the pricing for your non subsidised plan was exactly the same as the subsidised plans. Who's playing whom here? It didn't take long for the ruckus to hit. Now they have lower prices for those who bring their own devices. And I personally hope that in time we are at a place where you just hit a vending machine for service. What do you think?
Finally, we are seeing the inevitable move away from contracted, over priced mobile devices. And when I say over priced I mean the ridiculous, 'retail' prices carriers throw at you to suggest their contract prices are somehow a good deal. A goodly portion of what you pay to them each month goes toward that device. By the way, the same devices the carriers have had exclusive rights to sell for decades. Ever notice when you check the price of a phone in a major retailer like Best Buy, Amazon, or Walmart they still carry the carrier's brand on them and are locked to their individual services? And the prices are the same as at the carriers stores. This is their buying power. We've all been over paying for this stuff for decades. Go to Asian and European retailers and see the cool devices they can buy anywhere and use with just about any carrier.
Eventually this move away from contracts will bring true consumer 'street' pricing to mobile devices. Just like it has done to everything else. And eventually it will lead to interoperability between carriers. A situation which should have been mandated years ago. It will take awhile but this can only mean good things for consumers. When you are able buy unlocked, unbranded devices from the mentioned retailers and simply call up who you like for service, then things will be good. We now just need AT&T to give in and the die will be cast. Remember when they stared the 'Next' programme a few years ago? Hey, bring you own phone! Hey, sign up for Next and get a new device for only $25 a month! Get a new one every year. Then people quickly realised the pricing for your non subsidised plan was exactly the same as the subsidised plans. Who's playing whom here? It didn't take long for the ruckus to hit. Now they have lower prices for those who bring their own devices. And I personally hope that in time we are at a place where you just hit a vending machine for service. What do you think?