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-square40fedilinkarrow-up1294arrow-down14
arrow-up1290arrow-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-square40fedilink
minus-squareHobbitFoot @thelemmy.clublinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up4·3 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-up1·20 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-square🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️@yiffit.netlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up3·16 minutes agoIf I could drop $1000+ for the device all at once, I already would be getting them carrier unbranded.
minus-squareHobbitFoot @thelemmy.clublinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up2·11 minutes agoBut who is going to provide the financing otherwise?
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.
If I could drop $1000+ for the device all at once, I already would be getting them carrier unbranded.
But who is going to provide the financing otherwise?