Nemeski@lemm.ee to Technology@lemmy.worldEnglish · 15 hours agoAT&T tries to defend why it shouldn't let you unlock your phone soonerwww.androidauthority.comexternal-linkmessage-square39fedilinkarrow-up1293arrow-down14
arrow-up1289arrow-down1external-linkAT&T tries to defend why it shouldn't let you unlock your phone soonerwww.androidauthority.comNemeski@lemm.ee to Technology@lemmy.worldEnglish · 15 hours agomessage-square39fedilink
minus-squareRubberDuck@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up33·6 hours agoJust make carrier locking illegal and have customers pay the actual price, now it’s just hidden costs to the consumer.
minus-squareHobbitFoot @thelemmy.clublinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up4·2 hours agoIt isn’t been a hidden cost for a while. Phone companies sell the phones at full price, but consumers want the 2 year 0% APR financing.
minus-squaresugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.workslinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1·16 minutes agoIf consumers bought the phones from a third party, there’d be absolutely no reason to lock the phone to a carrier. But when carriers also provide the financing, there’s an incentive to keep them on the service until the bill is paid. Screw that.
minus-squareHobbitFoot @thelemmy.clublinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up2·7 minutes agoBut who is going to provide the financing otherwise?
minus-square🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️@yiffit.netlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up3·12 minutes agoIf I could drop $1000+ for the device all at once, I already would be getting them carrier unbranded.
Just make carrier locking illegal and have customers pay the actual price, now it’s just hidden costs to the consumer.
It isn’t been a hidden cost for a while. Phone companies sell the phones at full price, but consumers want the 2 year 0% APR financing.
If consumers bought the phones from a third party, there’d be absolutely no reason to lock the phone to a carrier. But when carriers also provide the financing, there’s an incentive to keep them on the service until the bill is paid. Screw that.
But who is going to provide the financing otherwise?
If I could drop $1000+ for the device all at once, I already would be getting them carrier unbranded.