On Jun 8, 2010, at 8:10 PM, Vickram Crishna wrote:
>
> On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 7:40 PM, narendra sisodiya
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> You can read more at -
> http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080404110651AATy94z
>
> This partly clarifies the situation: prior to the Blackberry and iPhone
> services, I don't think any Indian carrier had used the lock-in business
> model.
Reliance did I think. When they started their network, most of their devices
were subsidized.
> In the US and Australia, this is in fact the usual model, but it works
> because users are able to get devices at a fraction of the upfront MRP, while
> contracting for a long-term airtime deal. They have no choice, actually, and
> judging from user complaints, the airtime deals are terrible.
You can walk out of the contract there. Or wait till it finishes. There is no
"walk out" or "expiry" in India. They make slaves and bonded laborers out of
you :-)
> The overall cost works out ridiculously expensive, I am told, and phone
> unlocking is big business (and because of the upfront cost subsidy, very
> illegal, in the sense that the carriers do exercise their right to file a
> complaint if you get caught).
>
> I don't use Blackberry, but I understand that the deal is relatively low
> @499/mo, but how cheap that is depends on the per call cost. What's the deal
> with the iPhone?
The deal with iPhone is simple:
1. No provider subsidy. Pay in full
2. No changing network providers legally
> What kind of push email services are offered for GPRS/Edge phones using
> Android or any other open OS? Is it possible to just plug and play a SIM?
> What are the commonly used alternatives for FOSS OSes? Can one install them
> on inexpensive Chinese smartphones? I would certainly like to try that, since
> my ancient SE UIQ2 phone is sputtering, and I dread the thought of having to
> slide back to a cheap (ie affordable) keypad phone.
I wish there was something usable in this arena. I am told things are flaky
(but that was some time ago). Basically, when I want to call someone; the phone
should ferret out the number and just call. Not hang.
In hindsight, I've realized this practice of entrapment by smart phone
manufacturers and service providers is helpful for everyone except the
government and the actual user. Here's how:
1. It encourages gray markets. Unlocked iPhones are indeed sold in India. They
are probably imports from Hong Kong
2. The smart phone manufacturer (Apple) makes money anyway you look at it. I
don't think that all the iPhones in the gray market are stolen goods.
3. Things bought in the gray market need not be supported. Costs of customer
support vanish.
4. Quite a lot of taxes are evaded. Also the business risk of evading taxes are
passed on to someone else (the gray market vendor in this case).
5. People like me who do like to go the legal way get entrapped and become cows
for the network providers to milk for a long time.
Frankly, I think if the subscriber pays the full amount the phone manufacturer
and the carrier should have no business limiting his/her freedom of choice.
Cheers,
Amol Hatwar
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