"Google plans to give multiple mobile-device makers early access to new releases of Android and to sell those devices directly to consumers, said people familiar with the matter. [...] The expansion of direct sales marks a bid to exert more control over key features and apps that run on Android-powered phones and tablets, thus reducing the influence of wireless carriers over such devices, these people said. Wireless carriers typically handle marketing and sales of devices and thus can exert some control over the services that run on them." So, an expanded Nexus program that includes several smartphones and tablets without crapware. Sounds good.
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Member since:
2006-06-01
Member since:2012-03-26
Member since:2007-08-22
Agreed. It's time to put the carrier aside and get people accustomed to buying their phones outside the carrier and realizing their rights in the process.
Then perhaps we'll get some downward pressure on the carriers to also charge those people less since they don't have a phone to payoff.
Member since:2005-07-08
Member since:2006-05-30
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2009-06-20
Five Nexii instead of one... Christmas will be fun! Especially given they will have to really work hard on the hardware to differenciate.
(Well, I hope, because maybe, given the short time remaining until the end of the year, they may fall back on slightly modded already-released hardware. May be easier for the Jelly Bean team, too.)
Member since:
2006-05-18
The problem with Google phones or any unlocked phones for that matter is that they are expensive compared to carrier subsidized ones. Every two years, Vodafone sells me a top of the line phone at half the price or less to make me renew my contract for another years.
I pay about 15 euro for practically unlimited calls and SMS and 1GB of data (which I never use up no matter how much Starcraft 2 I watch on Youtube).
If I were to buy an unlocked phone, I'd get exactly the same contract but pay the full price on the phone. Does not compute.
Member since:2009-04-08
You are omitting an important (to some people) variable: absolutely no contract. The purpose of buying hardware outright is that you have more options and you are not locked into a contract. Probably of equal importance, an unlocked phone will not be loaded with a bunch of carrier crap.
Also some carriers, like T-mobile in the US, offer a lower monthly rate if you use an unlocked phone. This doesn't affect your situation but maybe now you can see why some people would benefit through bypassing the carrier.
Member since:2007-05-05
Member since:2007-02-18
Member since:2007-05-05
What's one more unequal relationship between the have and have less?
I can own my phone (which I do) and if I chose to sign a contract for service or not (which I have not).
I own my computers and I don't run non-free OS's. I will only buy DRM protected content if I know it can be ripped to remove it. Otherwise there is no way I'll touch it.
Member since:2006-05-18
Member since:
2009-09-03
Member since:
2005-07-11
