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This is really an obvious non-story. Smart phones came into existence because they became possible with the (currently) relentless march of Moore's Law. That sa
by cletus 16y ago
This is really an obvious non-story. Smart phones came into existence because they became possible with the (currently) relentless march of Moore's Law. That same law and increasing demand is predictably driving down costs. Shock, horror.
As for those bemoaning the demise of feature phones, that too is inevitable. It suits the usage pattern of some. Also cheap phones will live for a long time due to markets in developing countries where price is a more important factor.
Also for those saying the data plans and service costs are a barrier: the US is a mobile backwater (compared to any other OECD nation). Service is woeful, costs are ludicrous... It's simply ridiculous. Being charged for receiving calls? Receiving SMSs?!? Huge data costs. Lack of data Goering (eg a small woeful 100-200mb plan and then an unlimited or 2-5gb plan with a huge step up and nothing in between).
In the US you're paying realistically $60/month minimum (more if you want to tether!). In Australia I'd pay as little as half that for superior coverage and service quality. In Asia it'd probably be even less.
I expect in the developed world dmartphones will outsell feature phones within 3 years.
- joshd 16y agoIn Auastralia the plan I've just moved to (http://www.tpg.com.au/mobile/plans.html http://www.tpg.com.au/mobile/plans.html) gives me enough calls, text and data for $15 a month without any lock in. I've been looking into US contracts in preperation for a move and was shocked at the rates people are willing to pay.
- gommm 16y agoIn China, after paying for the cost of the iphone as downpayment (so around 700$), it costs 10$/month to get 15 hours call and 1.2 Gb/month data plan... That's under a unicom plan. Compare this to France for example where the plans easily exceeds 40 euros for "unlimited" data plan where you're not allowed to download more than 500Mb...
- gommm 16y agoIn China, after paying for the cost of the iphone as downpayment (so around 700$), it costs 10$/month to get 15 hours call and 1.2 Gb/month data plan... That's under a unicom plan. Now, this is not all of Asia, it's mostly because China is still not a very expensive place to live (although the price of housing in Shanghai is starting to look more and more like any international capitals...). When I lived in Japan, I paid 60$ for a phone subscription with 3 hours calls and no data plan (this was 4 years ago) and France is not much better than the US, plans easily exceeds 40 euros for "unlimited" data plan where you're not allowed to download more than 500Mb and with this you don't get much hours of call either... It's true though that the US is one of the only country I know where you pay to receive calls and to receive SMS.