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Why are these the only two options? In Canada, all our phones are carrier-unlocked and still subsidized by the use of multi-year contracts. There are perfectly

Why are these the only two options? In Canada, all our phones are carrier-unlocked and still subsidized by the use of multi-year contracts. There are perfectly adequate legal mechanisms of enforcing contracts without needing to lock phones.

lotsofpulp 4y ago
Sure, and are subsidized phones more expensive in Canada as a result? US networks can also choose to advertise unlocked subsidized phones. The fact that they do not at a sufficiently competitive price to locked phones must mean the lock is worth having. The law is not forcing only two options, the market is. Any lender can lend money for a phone, just like Canadian mobile networks do.
- TMWNN 4y ago
  >Sure, and are subsidized phones more expensive in Canada as a result? Plans are far more expensive in Canada,[1] so I'd be very surprised if phones are not also more expensive. In the past five years I've benefited from three very attractive Sprint promotions: * 2017: Through Best Buy, offers amazing iPhone SE deal to customers. <https://np.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/6lyjyl/cheap_prepaid_iphones_whats_the_catch/djxljov/?context=3 https://np.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/6lyjyl/cheap_pre...> * 2020: Used iPhone 8 for $99. I buy one, sell the above iPhone SE for a profit. <https://np.reddit.com/r/Sprint/comments/hl1qu3/my_experience_upgrading_phones_on_kickstart_and/ https://np.reddit.com/r/Sprint/comments/hl1qu3/my_experience...> * 2022: New iPhone 13 for $200 plus trade-in. I trade in the above iPhone 8 and will pay $6.67/month for the following 30 months. (Had I chosen the iPhone SE v2 I would not have paid anything.) I am very, very certain that none of the Robelus has ever offered an iPhone for anything like any of the above, let alone all three. [1] Canadians who have a US mailing address often choose to get US plans with Canadian roaming service, because doing so is cheaper than getting a plan from Robelus.

lotsofpulp 4y ago

Sure, and are subsidized phones more expensive in Canada as a result? US networks can also choose to advertise unlocked subsidized phones. The fact that they do not at a sufficiently competitive price to locked phones must mean the lock is worth having. The law is not forcing only two options, the market is. Any lender can lend money for a phone, just like Canadian mobile networks do.

TMWNN 4y ago
>Sure, and are subsidized phones more expensive in Canada as a result? Plans are far more expensive in Canada,[1] so I'd be very surprised if phones are not also more expensive. In the past five years I've benefited from three very attractive Sprint promotions: * 2017: Through Best Buy, offers amazing iPhone SE deal to customers. <https://np.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/6lyjyl/cheap_prepaid_iphones_whats_the_catch/djxljov/?context=3 https://np.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/6lyjyl/cheap_pre...> * 2020: Used iPhone 8 for $99. I buy one, sell the above iPhone SE for a profit. <https://np.reddit.com/r/Sprint/comments/hl1qu3/my_experience_upgrading_phones_on_kickstart_and/ https://np.reddit.com/r/Sprint/comments/hl1qu3/my_experience...> * 2022: New iPhone 13 for $200 plus trade-in. I trade in the above iPhone 8 and will pay $6.67/month for the following 30 months. (Had I chosen the iPhone SE v2 I would not have paid anything.) I am very, very certain that none of the Robelus has ever offered an iPhone for anything like any of the above, let alone all three. [1] Canadians who have a US mailing address often choose to get US plans with Canadian roaming service, because doing so is cheaper than getting a plan from Robelus.