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Not quite true, on price
I'm in the United Kingdom. I bought a phone with a partial subsidy - no contract, but a SIM card that connects me to one service. When I use it it costs more than it would cost on contract, but I use it very rarely.

Cost was about $80 equivalent. GSM. And that's as cheap as they get. Next year, maybe...

On contract, the phone would be"free", but I'd pay more at the end of a Year - And the contract wouLd run for that full year, whatever. If I bought someone else's SIM, didn't use the contracted service, I'd still be bound by the agreement to pay for the service being made available to me. If they did let me out early, they'd expect me to return their phone. After the first year (usually) it is my property.

And that's not what I did, anyway. I bought a phone and I own it.

Network incompatibility is just the stupid American system. But if you're licensing multiple incompatible networks, you can't reasonably require every phone company to run all different types of network. You /could/ regulate to compel network A to sell air time to network B, so customers can switch from company A to B and keep their phone. But I'm not Surthat makes sense even to me.

Or company B can give customers a new phone. Phone companies likto give customers phones for free, Like I said. Too bad if their favourite phone doesn't come in B's flavour of network, though. No can do. Did I mention your phone service industry sucks?

But any British phone company will sell me a SIM that fits in the phone I own and puts me onto their network.
Posted by: Robert Carnegie   Posted on: 12/04/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Good Grief  Franklin_z | 12/03/03
RE: Good Grief  ajapierce | 12/03/03
I'm not sure but...  Not average Joe | 12/03/03
Can you hear me now?  DarbyOhara | 12/03/03
Sorry if I sound too much like Bit  Mack DaNife | 12/03/03
Here here!  scidhuv00 | 12/03/03
The pepole posting above me are morons  boatelc | 12/03/03
Not quite true, on price  Robert Carnegie | 12/04/03
Average phone bill $50.00 X 12 = $600.00 A year  boatelc | 12/05/03
That's what the contract is for  avdp | 12/03/03
Contracts are scams and ways to get over  AbsolutelyNot | 12/04/03
Number portability benefits gradual?  Sunny Jalolly | 12/03/03
I agree, cell phones are easily replaced.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/03/03
I agree, ----  beepster | 12/04/03
If it still works, DONATE!  AbsolutelyNot | 12/04/03
Isn't  ParadigmOdyssey | 12/03/03
Numb thumb matches numb brain...  Netizen Kane | 12/03/03
Numb thumb  meerkat-wa | 12/03/03
Not so  DarthRidiculous | 12/03/03
That's why...  AbsolutelyNot | 12/04/03
Cell phone - utility or consumer good?  ejhonda | 12/03/03
Bring back Ma Bell!!  imatlin | 12/04/03
I think the contracts are BS  Arrg | 12/03/03
jesus...  ryusen | 12/03/03
RE: Cell phone lockdown  mrtwobit | 10/12/09

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