vB Easy Archive - 10 Reasons To Hate Cellphone Carriers

Pages: 1

10 Reasons To Hate Cellphone Carriers
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: [TheBORG]

10 Reasons To Hate Cellphone Carriers - from Wired.com
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/...asons-to-h.html

Posted by: mpgz

I agree with the 10 reasons to hate the carriers. It doesn't mattter what carrier you have they do the same.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

reading that list made me want to punch things.

Posted by: Delav3

I went ahead and summarized for those who don't want to read the whole thing:

BBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Posted by: dimsum05

I hate when people whine about their cellphones carriers.

But they make me sign a contract for a discount: you can always get a new phone without signing up, it just cost more. People like this always want free stuff with no benefit to the cell carrier. "Gimme a free phone so I can leave you the following month." Carriers subsidize handsets to allow even the poorest of people to get a phone, all they ask you is to stick around for a year or two. You are already gonna be there anyway so why not

The selection of handsets is limited: this might be true in the CDMA world, anyone who whines about this in the GSM world should be slapped senseless...

And since when did everyone NEED a cellphone. There is always prepaid. You can't have your cake and eat it too!!!!

Posted by: RogerPodacter

my biggest pet peeve is that carriers control phone sales and tech support for phones, and people not only accept it, but don't even equate how how ridiculous it is in the larger picture and how little sense it really makes. Also not being aware me unlocked phones.

Posted by: manchuia

I am not a fan of carriers, but this is silly

Basically everyone wants high speed cell data, and cell signal everywhere of course this requires building out a nationwide network, and upgrading that network roughly every 3 years to the newest standard. Oh, don't forget, completely capable customer support 24/7, no deposits / extra fees, wonderful handsets at a cheap(ish) price, and don't make anyone pay for anything extra.

That is the dumbest stuff i have ever heard.

If you are dropping millions into an hardware / software / human infrastructure, you need to make millions back otherwise you end up out of business. Yes, the companies nickel and dime everywhere they can, but they are a FRICKIN BUSINESS. No one puts up a nationwide network out of the goodness of their hearts.

Most of those reasons listed are silly as they are required to keep the companies in the black. A couple of the others (spying on you) are simply a sign of the times (search engines keep records on you and have been subpoenaed to hand them over, why would cell phone companies be any different!). If you want to avoid most of those reasons, buy an unbranded GSM and go prepaid.

Posted by: dimsum05

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchuia

I am not a fan of carriers, but this is silly

Basically everyone wants high speed cell data, and cell signal everywhere of course this requires building out a nationwide network, and upgrading that network roughly every 3 years to the newest standard. Oh, don't forget, completely capable customer support 24/7, no deposits / extra fees, wonderful handsets at a cheap(ish) price, and don't make anyone pay for anything extra.

That is the dumbest stuff i have ever heard.

If you are dropping millions into an hardware / software / human infrastructure, you need to make millions back otherwise you end up out of business. Yes, the companies nickel and dime everywhere they can, but they are a FRICKIN BUSINESS. No one puts up a nationwide network out of the goodness of their hearts.

Most of those reasons listed are silly as they are required to keep the companies in the black. A couple of the others (spying on you) are simply a sign of the times (search engines keep records on you and have been subpoenaed to hand them over, why would cell phone companies be any different!). If you want to avoid most of those reasons, buy an unbranded GSM and go prepaid.

Cheers to that!!!!

But the problem is the none of the tech experts that make the mainstream media really know a damn thing about cell phone companies. Walt Mossberg telling everyone that no one has a choice period and that everyone should get an Apple Phone becuase it "just works". TWiT (with Leo Laport) complaining about the crippled functionality of the iPhone and having a wishlist of features that are already on other phones. Best browser ever, period? S60 has had that browser (or something similar to it) of a while now. I know he does buy unlocked Nokia handsets, but, even he went as far as calling N95-3 slow! How fast do these people want these device to run?

And when you do tell them a certain device can do everything and more than their beloved "jesusphone" and more, they say "but it's all about the interface!!!" or "S60 is too hard". How hard is it dial a number or to hit the menu button? They even allow you to move stuff around to your hearts content! At the end of the day, its all just Core Animation that make those little animations, like the little trash can thingy, which many were ECSTATIC about!!!! How bored have we become that we need something cool instead of something useful.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

all i'm saying is that the UK has a much more consumer friendly wireless carrier setup. call the US carriers a "business who just wants to make money" all you want, but the bottom line is the US is in the stone age the way our cellular companies are setup and run. UK still has subsidized phones on contract, yet they also do tons of unlocked pre-paid contracts. face it, the US is so backwards its insanity. its one area i wouldnt mind the government stepping in and slapping them around a bit.

Posted by: dimsum05

One of the few companies making strides to bring Data and Good rates for all is T-Mobile with FlexPay, having all the features of a regular plan, without the contract or commitment. As a T-Mobile sales rep, this plan has been extremely successful in the Dallas Metro area, but there are still a bunch of people that want the discounted price of the phone without the contract, which is the whole reason of the subsidized phone model in the first place. They want everything for free without some kind of sacrifice from them. It's not the carriers themselves, but it's the people in this country with a "More, More, More for Less, Less, Less!!!!" attitude that are getting their sob stories aired on your local 6 o clock news channels, making everyone else think they can override a legal document that they THEMSELVES signed, knowing full and well what the consequences were for not keeping their side of the agreement intact. It's a contract and YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN IT!!!

I just can't understand how the carriers (other than Sprint and Verizon) are screwing the customer, even though they willingly sign a deal with the company to get a MASSIVELY discounted handset. The only way I see the foul play is in the contract extension for the change of rate plan, but no one ever brings that up.

Posted by: WebologyChicago

Yes, but CEO's from cell phone companies makes massive millions of dollars in Salaries, for in most cases screwing up the company (Gary Forsee, the home depot idiot who runs Chrystler, or Terry Lundgreen from Macy's anyone?! Enron is another example)

My gripe is technology is supposed to get cheaper over time, my analog phone 15 years ago only charged 25 cents a minute overage on my basic 50.00 plan, now it costs me .49 a minute, or more.

I'm all for buying unbranded unlocked GSM phones, and thanks to T-Mobile's flex pay, I'm able to. But a cingular customer can't even get roll over or night and weekends without signing that first contract, even if they have their own phone.

PS. I have USCC, I pay full price for phones, and don't sign contracts.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

the bottom line is the US carriers are horribly setup. the simple fact that carrier sells the phone like they are coming off an assembly line in the back of the store makes the US population stupid and ignorant related to general mobile phone technology. we are behind most other industrialized countries. and the service that IS good is wasted on vcast and video share crap.

Posted by: dimsum05

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerPodacter

the bottom line is the US carriers are horribly setup. the simple fact that carrier sells the phone like they are coming off an assembly line in the back of the store makes the US population stupid and ignorant related to general mobile phone technology. we are behind most other industrialized countries. and the service that IS good is wasted on vcast and video share crap.

Do you expect them to say the phones they are trying to sell are no good. They are there to sell phones and every company will constantly stretch the truth to make the product sell. Its up to the consumer to get the facts and learn wether or not the hype lives up to their expectations. This does not only apply to the cell carriers, but consumer products as a whole.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

of course not. But whatever the reason, companies here are more monopoly and locked up. Everyone would benefit if this changed to the way other industries were setup. The technology would actually grow quicker and the consumer would benefit. People would still have to buy the phone, nothing would be given for free.

Posted by: manchuia

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerPodacter

of course not. But whatever the reason, companies here are more monopoly and locked up. Everyone would benefit if this changed to the way other industries were setup. The technology would actually grow quicker and the consumer would benefit. People would still have to buy the phone, nothing would be given for free.

I am sorry I just don't see this happening. I know too many people that would rather get a Free Razr, and pay maybe $5 - 10 / month more for their minutes and texts, than drop $140 up front (MSRP straight from Tmobile) and then get a minor break on their plans.

On HoFo, yeah that is optimal, but then again we also go through more phones in a year than most people will over their entire life (I am currently at over 5 times my closest rival).

The carriers have realised that and as such have dropped phone prices and make up money where people are willing to give it to them in add on services and "features".

Would I love to see a tech savvy / hofo user friendly MVNO with a better focus on what customers SHOULD get from a wireless provider? YES!!!!!

Will I blame the current companies for their current business model? NO!!!!

Am I happy with my options for carriers / phone combinations? NO!!!!

Could the current carriers use an exteneded lesson in customer service and appreciation? YES!!!

Really I was hoping for some South Korean technolust from Helio, that failed me, and the closest I can come is to just be a gadget whore on tmobile for relatively cheap. I think the appearance and subsequent disappearance of a number of MVNOs has proven that this industry is not easy (even when you don't need to support your own equipment), and how well you can toe the line between gouging the customer and actually providing value for service determines who will come out ahead.

If it were truly an issue the subscription numbers would be falling as people moved to the no obligation prepaid route, all carriers have them and the features on prepaid make it comparable enough to be viable.