Re: Carrier Branding with Glass Back?
Keep in mind that phones need to have a carrier's service to work out in the real world. The carrier wants to reflect that they're the one that's allowing your phone to function when you're not on WiFi. Not all carriers have all devices so they want to remind you and potential customer's that they're the one who has that slick Note Edge that works on their great network that their competitor doesn't offer. That is why there is a Death Star on the back of my phone.
������He who controls the Spice controls the universe. The Spice must flow. n.Edge
Yes, that is how the carriers feel, but I still believe the entire system is backwards:
1) This would be like your cable company selling the service and then pretty much forcing you into buying your TV or PC from them (they force the TV/PC company to make a version for their network to "optimize" it. If the manufacturer doesn't comply, your cable company won't sell their product. In essence, they are the gate-keepers as to which devices we, the public, can use, etc.) This sounds absolutely absurd that we would EVER sign up for cable TV or high-speed internet and then go pick out a lovely TV from the cable company's selection of PCs and TVs, but that is EXACTLY what the carriers are doing.
2) Certain carriers do not have all phones because carriers want to have the device exclusivity. Why? Because, here in the States, historically, they do not want to try to win customers by the service alone; AT&T will offer you the Note Edge, but, strangely, it's absent from some other carriers. Wouldn't it seem reasonable that all carriers would want the device? Wouldn't that create true competition? It's a tool to offer people a reason to switch (or stay) with them. It's a shortcut. They do NOT want to win customers on quality of service alone, because that would force them to upgrade their networks. Not going to happen. We have the worst service in the developed world, but pay the most.
(Digression: Further, when the service is superior, they gouge and resort to playing dirty with their branding and your privacy (Verizon). Where else are you going to go if you need the coverage they offer? No where? You're stuck. There is just a lack of competition, and they know it)
3) Carrier's services are required for all cellular devices to work, yes. The issue is that they don't want to be seen as simply a dumb pipe that gives you data and communication services. They want to control the experience from start to finish. SIM cards were created to allow just this idea. You place the SIM card in a device, because, technically, that's all that should be needed to connect your mobile device to a network. AT&T/etc does NOT need to do anything to the device outside of programming the proper APN settings (even this is not necessary as most modern devices can automatically load such settings), but they literally go as far as to force carriers to create customized firmware for the phones to run on. Slow updates, sluggish phones and nasty bloat are the thanks we end users get for giving AT&T the pleasure of taking our money.
To refer back to my whirlpool example, this would be like your utilities company (which are far worse... ZERO competition) signing you up for water service in your neighborhood, and then forcing you to purchase your dishwasher and washing machine from them -- with their hideous logo on it of course. And you may want the Newtype 8000 washing machine, but, oh, too bad... only the other utility company has that model, but you are zoned for them. You are stuck getting whatever model your utility company thinks you would buy.
Sorry for the wall of text, everyone.
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He who controls the Spice controls the universe. The Spice must flow. n.Edge
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