Cellular, stuck in the dark ages and why Google missed a huge opportunity with Android
I have now used every Irish network including the 3G radio on the iPhone 3G and have used MAXroam in it with full 3G in a couple of different countries.
All with no issue
So what am I using
Well its this little beauty.The Rebel sim card, (Go buy one and test it use the code weekend10 for a 10% discount this weekend) it works every time on every network, nothing has failed on it yet including inbound, outbound calls and full 3G plus phone is pwned to allow me to use any apps including QIK that I want.
So why have I spent so much time on this?
The phone is mine I paid for it, I want to use it on whatever network I choose, I don’t want to be tied to an O2 network that I have no faith in and I don’t want to pay extortionate roaming fees.
We are stuck in the dark ages in telecoms, I don’t have to buy a TV that Sky the satellite company gets ongoing revenue stream from and a new contract, same with my car, I don’t have to buy a car that the gas company I use gets to pick and I don’t have to buy a router that my internet provider insists upon.
Why aren’t mobile phones sold like every other household device? revenue comes from the line rental and the usage, if my carrier lets me down I can move on.
Google have just missed a huge opportunity to break down the telecom walls with the much awaited release of their Android device, why didn’t they sell it direct to the public from electronic stores, let the customers use their existing SIM and contract, the revenue is coming from the advertising and I presume the build cost above the $200 that it is rumoured to retail at could be earned downstream, they didn’t, it was straight back into bed with the most closed network of all.
What do you think?
Here are some screen shots of the iPhone using 3 Ireland, MAXroam and even using T-Mobile on Michael Arringtons phone.
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Let’s just take the Android source code and install it wherever! I already have it running on a Nokia N810 and nearly got it running on a HTC Touch. There are enough internet forums explaining how to do it. It will be much easier from next week on when the Android source code will be free.
Again with the hacks Markus
My point is, Why should we have to hack, we own the device, we paid for it.
Why aren’t the mobile networks delighted to have us as customers?
Why do we hugely overpay for cheap devices over the lifetime of a contract?
I totally agree Pat. I got excited about the rumors of the home activation for the iPhone but its just to cut down the lines you still need to go to the store to pick up the phone.
Why should all these phones be sold with a contact? its enough.
http://technmarketing.com/2008/09/22/iphone-home-activation/
Like I said in http://www.esyurl.com/c4h, http://www.esyurl.com/c4i, & http://www.esyurl.com/c4j
Google, like the other device manufacturers are greedy.
They want the large rebates from the operators.
They want the exclusivity that being on one operator gives them.
Customers want the exclusivity that only being able to get a device on one network gives them.
In the end, the only party that will change that is….the operators. Either by getting it rammed down their throat, or with a change of ideas…
I’d like to see the second one happening, but….I am not holding my breath.
There is no reason why phones *have* to be sold with a contract, but as long as the operators give the manufacturers the big wedges, and the regulators don’t force their hand, the opposite isn’t going to happen any time soon.
See you next week Pat. I’ll be the one throwing the tomatoes at the o2 guys
Like I said in http://www.esyurl.com/c4h, http://www.esyurl.com/c4i, & http://www.esyurl.com/c4j
Google, like the other device manufacturers are greedy.
They want the large rebates from the operators.
They want the exclusivity that being on one operator gives them.
Customers want the exclusivity that only being able to get a device on one network gives them.
In the end, the only party that will change that is….the operators. Either by getting it rammed down their throat, or with a change of ideas…
I’d like to see the second one happening, but….I am not holding my breath.
There is no reason why phones *have* to be sold with a contract, but as long as the operators give the manufacturers the big wedges, and the regulators don’t force their hand, the opposite isn’t going to happen any time soon.
See you next week Pat. I’ll be the one throwing the tomatoes