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That logic does not apply to unlocked GSM phones (like mine), where no carrier is involved in the purchase. These don't get updates either, despite (or because
by aristidb 16y ago
That logic does not apply to unlocked GSM phones (like mine), where no carrier is involved in the purchase.
These don't get updates either, despite (or because) the device manufacturer is in control, not the carrier.
Maybe in the USA, it is not common to buy phones unlocked and unsubsidised, but here (Germany) many carriers offer rebates if you don't buy a subsidised phone and bring your own.
- raganwald 16y agoWell, it wouldn't apply if you could argue that the carriers don't want Google selling unlocked phones and it defies them. My guess is that there are so few unlocked phones sold that the carriers don't really care one way or another about people buying unlocked phones, they mostly care about people hacking a phone that is supposed to be locked down.
- aristidb 16y agoI think a fair number of people have unlocked phones outside the USA because their carrier offers rebates for "phoneless" contracts.
- dgreensp 16y agoI think you nailed it on the last sentence. Google originally started selling a phone directly to consumers with no carrier involved, but gave up on the idea because they weren't able to sell enough units.
- aristidb 16y agoGoogle is also not really a good retailer. They have no experience at all with directly selling stuff, and I think they messed it up. But I can directly buy phones from HTC or Samsung here (well, of course through retailers), and some people do. Electronics stores offer a big selection of unlocked smartphones (I got mine through http://www.amazon.de/ http://www.amazon.de/). I always get a bit pissed when people from the USA ignore that the rest of the world is not just inhabited by dragons.