Thread: How can anyone justify Smartphones?

Well, what you are seeing is the hardware that is finally bringing the internet to fruition.

The potential that was there in all those little things scattered all over--cellphones, TVs, computers, cameras--are now unified.

I've been waiting for the iPhone since I had my first internet connection...total connectivity, anywhere (almost, getting closer every day), anytime. The pricing plans are just the same old business folk trying to figure out how to preserve their old business model in a new business world.

How does that need any justification?

Originally Posted by JimR

The pricing plans are just the same old business folk trying to figure out how to preserve their old business model in a new business world.

How does that need any justification?

Good point.

If people are willing to pay these prices, it only makes sense to charge them. They're not there to make friends, they're there to make a living.

I couldn't be without my iPhone now that I have it. Everything everywhere at my fingertips. And to be honest it doesn't cost me anymore than my old cell phone did

My computer right now is full of viruses so it is pretty much unusable, so until I get a new one I'm glad my phone does every thing my computer does.

-dan-

Originally Posted by Glenn24

Good point.

If people are willing to pay these prices, it only makes sense to charge them. They're not there to make friends, they're there to make a living.

Thanks, but that wasn't actually my point.

My point is, the companies that have been providing cellphone service are now dealing with a different beast, and are trying to hammer a square peg (smart phones-basically a device to funnel the entire web into your pocket) into a round hole (their old voice-based service). The fact is, the smart phone has changed the market but the phone companies are still trying to figure out just how. So you get stupid (e.g. voice-plan centric) service contracts.

Originally Posted by JimR

So you get stupid (e.g. voice-plan centric) service contracts.

That is my greatest annoyance. Google, for example, lets you call land lines for free. (Maybe just in the US, I dunno). Google can be accessed through your data plan. Why force a voice plan when a data plan includes voice via data.

As a side note, if you can get unlimited data via your phone for, I forget but I think it was $30 a month with decent speed, why does my home internet, via land line, cost $50. Yea, it's faster, but it should be because a land line.

Dylan, yes, exactly. In Japan, they have had to restrict Skype to Wi-Fi use on iPhones because of a similar issue to Google, and they didn't want to kill their voice market. Stupid, stupid--trying to preserve an obsolete business model when the new model could be so much more robust.

Bump up the price on data just a tad, use the money to boost 3G bandwidth so more people get faster speeds and are thus not so apt to complain about the higher prices, and start offering pure data plans, et voila--new business model for a new communications market.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

That is my greatest annoyance. Google, for example, lets you call land lines for free. (Maybe just in the US, I dunno). Google can be accessed through your data plan. Why force a voice plan when a data plan includes voice via data.

As a side note, if you can get unlimited data via your phone for, I forget but I think it was $30 a month with decent speed, why does my home internet, via land line, cost $50. Yea, it's faster, but it should be because a land line.

Have you read the AT&T press releases? Starting 5/2011 they are going to be metering all DSL and Uverse lines. 150GB for DSL and 250GB for Uverse with 10 dollars extra a month for every 50GB after the initial. Also better make sure you have software to monitor your connection as the metering software AT&T uses has been shown to inaccurate.

I would love that deal. I currently pay $10/gb over 5 gigs; before that I was paying 5 cents / megabyte over 5 gigs ($51.20/gig).

Originally Posted by sinnfein

My computer right now is full of viruses so it is pretty much unusable, so until I get a new one I'm glad my phone does every thing my computer does.

-dan-

And what will you do when your smart 'phone suffers a similar fate?! I have a smart 'phone, but I'm no fan. I think I was better off with just my old basic mobile. I was actually better off without any mobile, but years of being on 24 hour call meant I had to have one for the job. It also meant I now think I can't live without a mobile...Blatently un-true. I could live with out one. I doubt my friends and family would like it too much though. Unfortunate, vicious circle in todays world.