FCC to look at exclusive cell phone deals - Page 3

twistedfish · #21 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajac

I rather buy the phone and shop for for a provider. Make the phones at cost then shop for a carrier and life would be good.

How would phone manufacturers make any money? We get the phones "cheaper" because they are subsidized by the carriers, if we got them at cost R and D would grind to a halt and you would never see a new product again.

**TheRealHotshot** · #22 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:51 AM

I look at the iphone like a sports car. You gotta pay to play. If you want one that bad and NO OTHER CARRIER has it than the question is had bad do you want it? Bad enough to change carriers? I mean really would you walk into a chevrolet dealership demanding a cobra? Or just buy a corvette because that's the car company you choose to go with? (Not sure using cars was the best example but you get my point)

**ajac** · #23 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedfish

How would phone manufacturers make any money? We get the phones "cheaper" because they are subsidized by the carriers, if we got them at cost R and D would grind to a halt and you would never see a new product again.

not true. They wanna make their money back fast they will put it at cost of manufacture plus a bit more and they will sell. Only reason phones more expensive in europe is casue the euro is worth more. and if they really wanna make a profit charge the cell phone companies like a quarter fee per phone they use on their network call it usage fee or something problem solved.

caleb02 · #24 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 01:15 PM

ok should a gm have exclusive rights to build the corvette too or should ford be able to build the corvette as well for competition in the market place? Also should auto dealers be able to sell any brand or just what they paid gm or ford or who ever for? I think we should have openess. Ford should also have the right to build the corvette as well as toyota. and Samsung should also be able to build the Blackberry Storm...

twistedfish · #25 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 01:57 PM

I think the openess comes in competative products. i.e Ford F150 vs. Chevy 1500 if they both built the F150 the product will die.

**TheRealHotshot** · #26 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb02

ok should a gm have exclusive rights to build the corvette too or should ford be able to build the corvette as well for competition in the market place? Also should auto dealers be able to sell any brand or just what they paid gm or ford or who ever for? I think we should have openess. Ford should also have the right to build the corvette as well as toyota. and Samsung should also be able to build the Blackberry Storm...

Umm don't agree if someone makes a product you like than go out and try to make a better one don't complain that your company should be able to make the same car when they own the rights to it. As someone stated gm 1500 ford f150 kinda the same but not totally

**Whosdaman** · #27 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gator352

If a carrier designed,engineered,manufactured, and sold it's own branded phone, then yeah. That phone should be exclusive to itself, but that isn't the case. Most of the manufacturers design a phone and sell that design to the carriers. Then they come up with key differences to make it unique. Such as the TP, Diamond, etc. But it is soley up to that carrier to buy and sell that phone. They don't have too though. That's what makes competition and a free market.

In cases such as the Pre and Iphone, they shouldn't be able to hold onto the rights for x amount of time. Maybe the rights to release it first for say a month or two, but not a year or even exclusively. Technology changes way to fast and a year can be eternity in this market.

In apples case, I blame AT&T more than I do apple. It would be better for business as they would or could triple thier revenue. Look at the Ipod, it's open and readily available. But on the other hand, I think they are doing shady business.

My two cents is that NO carrier should be able to sell a phone exclusively unless they design and manufacture it themselves. If the carrier chooses not to sell a particular phone you want, then change carriers to get that phone. But holding exclusive rights to 1 phone and 1 carrier is indeed a monopoly FORCING you to be on a specific carrier and not one of your choosing.

I agree completely, I believe all phones should be universal....and GSM and CMDA phones equal, they should add to the list Blackberry Storm because it's Verizon only...

But your also right about another thing, AT&T is the one to blame....they were the ones who put the money forward to buy the iPhone exclusively. You think Apple really wanted to be AT&T only? lol, I doubt it....there is alot of money AT&T offered to get that phone

That is why I'm so excited about the new CMDA/GSM Dual Phones, like the Firestone. Then all devs can unite to make their phones better, I wish the Rhodium was Dual as well because I would have bought it in a heart beat

caleb02 · #28 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRealHotshot

Umm don't agree if someone makes a product you like than go out and try to make a better one don't complain that your company should be able to make the same car when they own the rights to it. As someone stated gm 1500 ford f150 kinda the same but not totally

i think gm should be able to build the f150 and ford should be able to build the silverado.... that would be pure market forces.

**TheRealHotshot** · #29 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb02

i think gm should be able to build the f150 and ford should be able to build the silverado.... that would be pure market forces.

I don't agree. Reason why is because I think that makes things bland. So your telling me you sit down make up an car or better yet since this is a phone forum a phone from the ground up and its lets say its 4 cell phone carriers here you offer your own phone with your own terms of selling the phone and 3 of the carriers said no but one lone carrier wanted to take a chance on you product and BAM its a hit now everybody wants one now you don't wanna sell it to them now is it right the goverment steps in and make you when you offered them a chance(I believe apple offered the iphone idea to all and only at&t pulled the trigger) I myself think that's unfair. So since windows is the most used OS in the world does that mean ppl who buy mac books should complain they it should be shipped with windows and no OSX? They should have a choice? But aint that's why they bought a macbook? Cause it ran OSX

jimmiekain · #30 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 12:01 AM

i would be very happy if i could buy a phone directly from the manufacturer. Just tell them what carrier i have pay them have them send it to me call my provider and have it activated (for free or for $5 or less) and be happy. Why is that a bad idea. (if carriers want to offer specific stuff ie. sprint tv etc) they should offer it as a free download on the site.)