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Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Germany

Posted by Michiel on November 24, 2007, 11:57 am, in reply to "Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Germany "
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Reged: 11/21/07
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Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Germany [Re: MW Forums]
#552961 - 11/21/07 04:08 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply

Vodafone shouts about iPhone, but in reality they don't want a trend to be started. This is IMHO the point that very few speak about ! They don't want a plan that gves you free internet access 24h for a flat fee ! They are making too much money now ! In Italy they advertise a plan that for 89 euros gives you "free internet access". You subscribe and realize that that only goes through WAP protocol and Vodafone portal: totally useless. If you want "nomal" internet access you have to pay extra.... And they dare to complain about the iPhone ! Of course, because people don't have a chance to fall into their plans....
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whitedog
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Loc: Northern California Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Ger [Re: MW Forums]
#552975 - 11/21/07 04:43 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply

I agree the excessive price of the unlocked iPhone is an incentive to hackers. You could ruin several locked iPhones for the price of a single unlocked one. Still, we should not be surprised that the service providers put more effort into cornering market share than on helping the customer. That's the nature of the "free" market. Which, even in Europe, is still relatively free - as the cell phone business demonstrates. And, as usual, the government serves as the referee when businesses appeal to the courts to resolve their differences.
Personally, I think all this ho-ha demonstrates a healthy dialectic at work. The noisy competition keeps the issues in the open where the pubic can see what's going on and, when it becomes necessary, compel their governments to intervene on their behalf. Counterintuitive as it may seem, the balance is maintained through this kind of (peaceful) conflict.
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KPO'M
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Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Ger [Re: kwill]
#552977 - 11/21/07 04:49 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply

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The obvious purpose of the pricing is to help consumers see the value in purchasing the phone WITH the contract. Rationalizing how much the unlocked phone SHOULD be is pointless. In fact, since it was meant to alienate the average person, it is actually about €9000 less than it could have been.

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How exactly is having a contract with T-Mobile DE vs any other German carrier "worth" €600? That's essentially what they are saying. It's in T-Mobile's interests to keep as many iPhone customers with their service as possible, and this is their way of saying it. I don't necessarily blame them, since they gave Apple a rich contract. That said, I do blame Apple, since they are the ones who came up with this business model. It's great for their shareholders, but lousy for consumers, and sets a bad precedent, since it bundles a specific provider of a commodity (i.e. wireless service) with a desirable product.
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tomtom
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Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Ger [Re: theroadrunner]
#552982 - 11/21/07 05:00 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply

Data Plans, Roving and to a great extent Telephone plans suck throughout Europe. The services are too expensive for folks to use without a thought.
I thought the iPhone plans very reasonable compared to market options even if pitched above where I would like to see them. The inclusion of access to many Wi-Fi spots an added benefit.
Vodaphone has had it too easy for too long and I agree with you the company is trying to preserve status quo using the meanest and most anticompetitive tactics at its disposal. I do hope that T-Mobile is awarded considerable damages at the end of the day.
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zenwave
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Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Ger [Re: JakeB]
#552984 - 11/21/07 05:05 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply

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What gets me, is all the Average Joe's arguing for the companies who're screwing them. Listen, buddy, it's in ALL our interests as CONSUMERS that the iPhone be offered unlocked so we can choose a competitive plan.

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I agree ... someday perhaps our legislators will defend consumer rights as vigorously as they support corporations.
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KPO'M
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Re: Under pressure, T-Mobile unlocks iPhone in Ger [Re: tomtom]
#552991 - 11/21/07 05:35 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply