tmh
@megapath.net
| reply to Karl Bode
Re: Already possible
That's only partially true. The local market is only a small portion of the global market for GSM phones. Most countries in Europe and many in Asia mandate equipment portability, yet prices are nowhere as cheap as the article suggests.
Instead, what has resulted is a truly extensive variety of equipment available, many with features considered advanced by the local (US) market. Since equipment is not subsidized, handset vendors have more incentive to bring out more feature rich phones with an eye toward making a profit, rather than selling a limited range to the provider.
For example, M1 Singapore offers the "entry-level" Ericsson T250i, with camera, mp3 player, FM receiver, WAP browser, and other features. Deal price is around US$180 (S$300). Not exactly cheap, and definitely not the sub-$100 product the article alludes to.
A high-end device like the Ericsson T650i with camera, video, mp3, 3G, html browser, bluetooth and several other things goes for about US$450 (S$888).
If you sign up with a contract, you can get them for $0 (free) and around US$160 respectively however. You can still take that device to another carrier at any time, but contract termination fees apply. |
