What’s With The Carrier-less Craze, Google? Motorola?
With the release of Google's Android Operating System and wave of new devices that came with us, a new trend seems to be appearing with the fancy new linux smartphones.
As we've seen with the famed Google Nexus One, and now Motorola with a confirmed, but unknown device, the developers are skipping the carrier and going direct to the consumer.
In past years, we were used to asking the big questions like the carriers that will cover a new device's debut. But it seems that question begins to grow more and more distant in the present, as we've seen with the latest release of Android devices. Many of them come capable to several carriers, rebranded and released by a multitude of GSM and CDMA services. This lack of carrier interest however arises several questions.
For one thing, why? We've had a symbiotic relationship between mobile device developers and the GSM or CDMA carriers for some time now, why drop it out so suddenly? Could it be the control and rebanded done by each carrier, resulting in dislike and poor reviews on the developer's devices while other carriers receive substantially higher reviews. Could it perhaps be entangling contracts and deals, a far cry from the small amount of subsidized cost on the phones. Could it even be a consumer attempt to choose the carrier, rather be chosen by the carrier?
All of these questions and more loom as both Google and Motorola intend to go direct to consumer with several devices, allowing them to then contact carriers for SIM cards, rather phones. Could it be the end of the carrier monopoly on device control for the American markets?
Or worse, could it be the end of CDMA, a radio division of mobile phones that you must buy carrier-specific phones for?
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I think we’ve basically moved past the need to identify ourselves as with certain carrier and more we are becoming more and more aligned with the makers of the phone’s Hardware and/or Operating Systems.
The following is my opinion:
Apple started it with the iPhone. A tightly controlled platform with limitations placed upon the carrier. The goal, to make the ‘Apple Experience’ in the image of what Apple wants it to be.
These other companies want to provide a platform image as well, but don’t have the clout with the carriers that Apple does (from a consumer demand perspective).
In the end, carriers will just be a means to an end. Assuming they all get to the same coverage and reliability levels.
I think buying a carrier-less phone makes sense. It doesn’t mean we won’t be able to buy subsidized phones. It just means that if we pay full price for a phone, that we will be free to use it on any carrier we choose. We have always had the option to pay full price for a phone, but the problem is the phone we buy is still locked to a specific carrier.
Who knows, maybe the day will come when cell phones are just like tvs & computers. You buy them in the store, then you look for the best service provider to give you the best deal and coverage. Would make total sense to me!
@Atomic2Mod –
thats the way it should be.
2 phones doesn’t constitute a craze
what craze?
Nexus One 3G (USA) works on …. drumroll….. um….. awkward pause….
t-mobile 3G only!
ROTFLMAO
Once carriers stop bribing phone makers (see ATT & $500 to Apple) for exclusives then we (in the USA) might see “carrier-less” phones working on ALL CARRIERS.
Don’t hold your breath