Cell phones are like keys. We don’t leave home without them. That’s pretty well accepted these days. But when we do leave home … especially the country … we sure see phones that we don’t see in the U.S. On a recent trip to China I was amazed at the variety of advanced cell phones that almost everyone was using. The "new" and "advanced" Apple iPhone will probably not even raise an eyebrow outside of the U.S. Having a phone with a touch pad, high-res camera, email, etc., etc., etc. is old news to most of the people on this planet. So what happened in the U.S.?
To answer that we just need to be aware of one simple little thing: UNLOCKED CELL PHONES. Cell phones are little more than little computers. Turn on your computer and what is the first thing you do … login. The software on your computer controls the use. Take your password requirement off, i.e. unlock your computer, now anyone can get on and use it as they may. O.K., I’m not suggesting that you unlock your computer. I am just pointing out that with a little software modification a cell phone is easy to unlock. In fact, cell phones are inherently unlocked when made.
So who locked up the cell phones? The big bad wolf of course! In this case the big bad wolf is not really that bad, he’s just trying to eat like a pig and control your life in the process. Cell phone carriers in the U.S. subsidize the cost of cell phones. Of course you have to sign your life away with a one or two or God knows how many year service contract. Do you think the big bad wolf has gone soft and just wants to help you buy stuff? I doubt it! The fact is that your service contract is worth more to them than the amount that they subsidize your new phone. And, just to make things worse, you end up with a phone that you can only use with one particular wolf. Did you really get a better deal?
Doubt it again! You could have purchased a better phone and retained your right to choose and change carriers. Carriers only sell a limited selection of makes and models. Remember, they are in the carrier business, not the phone business (they practically give phones away to get your service). If you really want to see what’s available you need to check out unlocked phones. You’ll get a huge selection and see models that maybe your carrier will have in a year or two. The iPhone is a great example. Take a look at the HTC’s and 02’s available at WXPlanet.com. Never heard of them? Try the Motorola’s at WXPlanet, especially the A1200. All of these phones make Apple’s new phone look like old news.
Cell carriers do a great job selling service. WXPlanet does a great job selling unlocked phones.
Roger Gimbel
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