4 ms·
Is it really a stranglehold if it's a condition of a contract that consumers agree to in exchange for subsidized hardware? Personally I would never buy a carri
by hughes 7y ago
Is it really a stranglehold if it's a condition of a contract that consumers agree to in exchange for subsidized hardware?
Personally I would never buy a carrier-locked phone, but I have the resources available to make that choice. Though the difference is maybe not huge, how many people do you think are online directly because of a carrier subsidy?
- admax88q 7y ago> Is it really a stranglehold > but I have the resources available to make that choice
- fjp 7y agoNot necessarily arguing either point here, but phones are rarely subsidized anymore. You simply pay full price, at 0% APR over 12-24 months.
- richardwhiuk 7y agoThat's essentially a free loan.
- chiefalchemist 7y agoYes and no. The point is, you don't have a choice. And it's not as easy to BYOD and switch carriers as it could be. The fact that these guys can make that much money doing this proves how the market feels about it.
- ahupp 7y agoIt's very easy to buy an unlocked phone, you just need to pay an unsubsidized price and most people prefer not to do that.