Having written carrier detection algorithms, I'll admit it's not full proof, but there are a lot of ways to detect the origin of a request hitting your server. A lot of information comes in on your standard HTTP request. Often times a carrier will add, remove, or alter the request. Especially the traffic of the web browser. If you want to know more about such things go to http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/wmlprogramming/messages and see what Luca has to say on the subject of transcoders. (Hint, he's not a fan).
The carriers can do it even more easily then your average website. Android applications can generate costs for a lot of people. An app on WiFi can generate a lot of traffic it really tries, but usually your ISP can handle that. An app connecting over a GSM or CDMA network on the other hand can ruin the experience for a lot of other users nearby. I think of it this way, who gets the money users are currently spending on cell phones? The manufacturer gets a lot, but in most places the carrier gets the lion share. Content providers like Google or application developers are small $ in comparison to your average smart phone's monthly voice, data and messaging fees. Also, the manufacturers are in discussions with the carriers long before the phone sees the market, giving the carrier even more opportunity to influence the process. When a manufacturer invests in a new phone model they carefully decide which chips to put in, to support what radio frequencies, which is a very region specific decision. Also don't forget how much money the carriers are investing in the whole process. It's not cheap to put up all those towers, or to research faster and faster technologies. My 2 cents, Matt Kanninen Mobile Developer On Mar 10, 3:39 am, Ralf Schneider <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't believe it. > > Android is used in more countries than in the US. > > My carrier don't know what phone I use (OK, he knows it through his network, > but its now written in any contract). > I can put my SIM-Card in any phone I want, at any time. > I can cancel my contract any time I want. > I pay 10€ per month for 5GByte data transfer. > ... > I'm not alone, many other people in many other countries have similar > contracts. > > I don't believe Google pays a penny to my current carrier. > > 2010/3/10 westmeadboy <[email protected]> > > > > > On Mar 10, 11:46 am, Al Sutton <[email protected]> wrote: > > > But hey, if you don't want to believe it that's your call. > > > I believe it... and, if true, it exposes such a huge flaw in the > > system. > > > As someone who downloads 100% of apps over wifi, I'm pretty confused > > why my carrier (I nearly always disable the APN) gets any money at all. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Android Discuss" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]<android-discuss%2Bunsubscribe@ > > googlegroups.com> > > . > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en.
