http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/ Engadget Mobile Comments for Proposed law would require carriers to sell contract-free phones http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 4:24PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/
And I'm not sure why you would want to eliminate the subsidies. The subsidies actually REDUCE the price of the phone to the consumer. For example, you can buy a BlackBerry Pearl for $270 from NewEgg or you can get one for $99 from T-Mobile or AT&T when you sign up for a 2-year contract. That is a real savings of $170, which is a subsidy that favors the consumer.]]>Feb 27th 2008 4:24PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/
We would probably still have the current system, but call them "bundles" with a discounted phone and plan, rather than it being a necessary evil to get better phones and/or service options.]]>Feb 27th 2008 4:37PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 8:53PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 4:40PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 5:08PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 5:10PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 5:33PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/
Nobody likes contracts, but we seem to like paying full-price up front for a new phone even less. Subsidizing phones is a great tool that allows more people to get into a mobile phone. Contracts with penalties are the necessary protection to protect the carriers from getting screwed when they're selling handsets at a loss.]]>Feb 27th 2008 6:55PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 7:26PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 7:56PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/
Its funny really. Watching people's reaction when I say, "If you break this RAZR it is 259 for a new one," is so entertaining. ]]>Feb 27th 2008 8:03PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/
In most cases if you are smart enough to read the price card that has RetailPrice - InStoreRebate - MIR = FinalPrice then you obviously smarter then 95% of America.

We shouldn't be passing laws so stupid and ignorant people can continue being stupid and ignorant. ]]>Feb 27th 2008 8:01PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 8:59PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 9:16PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 27th 2008 9:16PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 28th 2008 10:29AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 28th 2008 2:44PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/Feb 28th 2008 6:46PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/
So Naive... ]]>Mar 2nd 2008 6:05PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/proposed-law-would-require-carriers-to-sell-contract-free-phones/I've worked in telecom for a decade now and have been on the wireless side for just over a year.
As a consumer I hated the contract system, but being in the industry I understand it now. Although I despise contracts when changing a price plan, but it makes perfect sense when buying a handset.
People want free phones - companies can't hand these out without a loss and that is why there is a contract. This is why people will still go onto contracts (and of course, bitch about it in hindsight) and the consumers who want their options will bring their own phones onto a non-contract FlexPay type service.
> You cant expect an ISP to give you a free PC with your internet subscription (and provide warranty, servicing, etc) without consequence and the same goes for wireless.
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