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Ben Skversky - 18 Aug 2007 02:03 GMT

I was at my local T-Mobile store today to return the Samsung Blast. I never
saw such a lousy selection of phones. T-mobile really does have a bad
variety of phones.

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Todd Allcock - 18 Aug 2007 04:47 GMT

> I was at my local T-Mobile store today to return the Samsung Blast. I
> never saw such a lousy selection of phones. T-mobile really does

have

> a bad variety of phones.

While I don't necessarily disagree, what do you want that they don't
have?

I really haven't been blown away by any mid-to-low-end phones recently.

T-Mo, IMHO, could really improve selection without spending any real
money or resourceswith three easy, but novel steps:

1. Empower their independent dealers to carry a selection of unlocked
phones (shifting the headache and burden of procuring phones from T-
Mo to it's dealers or at least to experienced distributors like
Brightpoint.)

2. Institute a policy to put a "subsidy credit" on customer's bills
to allow customers to buy the unlocked phones of their choice. I.e.
instead of a $200 equipment discount subsidy for a two-year contract,
why not a $200 BYOP ("bring your own phone") credit on your bill
instead.

3. Make the T-Mo "customizations" like the MyFaves app into
downloadable Java apps, so customers aren't penalized for choosing
non-T-Mo-branded equipment.

These three simple things would instantly transform T-Mo's phone
selection from blah to the widest in the world instantly, and a
direct-to-customer subsidy would embolden manufacturers to market
their latest handsets in the US immediately, without having to court
carriers to offer their phones with subsidies.

It would also raise awareness of T-Mobile as a cutting-edge carrier,
since a variety of head-turning handsets would pop-up, with the
inevitable "where'd you get it/who's your carrier" questions leading
back to T-Mo. --

"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003

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B'ichela - 18 Aug 2007 05:57 GMT

> While I don't necessarily disagree, what do you want that they don't
> have?
>
> I really haven't been blown away by any mid-to-low-end phones recently.

So far most cell phones to me are really the same. Bar,
Slider, Flip..... SNORE! Sure some have a camera, some have Edge. but
when you think of what a phone is for. thats just eye candy. What I
would like to see, for us who are visually impaired. Is a LARGE print
phone with large display screens. I would take the size tradeoff.

> 2. Institute a policy to put a "subsidy credit" on customer's bills
> to allow customers to buy the unlocked phones of their choice. I.e.
> instead of a $200 equipment discount subsidy for a two-year contract,
> why not a $200 BYOP ("bring your own phone") credit on your bill
> instead.

Groan! Please! spare me the contracts! I bought my phone on
Ebay and I am happy with it. I would rather have a cell phone service
that doesn't tie me to a contract. If that means I pay full price or
buy a unlocked GSM phone somehwere else. No problem!

> 3. Make the T-Mo "customizations" like the MyFaves app into
> downloadable Java apps, so customers aren't penalized for choosing
> non-T-Mo-branded equipment.

Why make it an applet at all? Just have people update their "MyFaves"
via the website like Alltel does for "My Circle" then it would not
require any such applet.

> It would also raise awareness of T-Mobile as a cutting-edge carrier,
> since a variety of head-turning handsets would pop-up, with the
> inevitable "where'd you get it/who's your carrier" questions leading
> back to T-Mo.

I agree if T-mobile did do that it would save them some money
too as they would not be required to keep an inventory of phones. Just
call T-mobile or go into the store and pick up your SIM card. I still
don't know why T-mobile wouldn't sell me a prepaid sim card over the
phone... I had to order mine on Ebay. West Hartford T-mobile is a long
walk from Torrington Connecticut (Legally blind, I cannot drive.)
Of course that has its caveats too. if your phone isn't
compatible or you need to do special setup.. you are on your own!
whereas T-mobile is required to service the phones they sell.

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Joey Dee from NYC - 18 Aug 2007 12:53 GMT

> T-Mo, IMHO, could really improve selection without spending any real
> money or resourceswith three easy, but novel steps:
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> inevitable "where'd you get it/who's your carrier" questions leading
> back to T-Mo. --

I'll give you three --- four dollars to submit this post as a suggestion to
T-Mobile. No, make that $5.

Signature

Joey Dee from NYC

Remember: It is To Laugh

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Ben Skversky - 18 Aug 2007 14:51 GMT

I'm looking for a solid flip phone. The problem is, that most of their flips
are "my fave" phones. Most of the my fave phones do not show the day or
date. I currently have the Samsung 619. It's a great phone, but I'm tired of
it. By the way, the 619 does show the day & date.

>> I was at my local T-Mobile store today to return the Samsung Blast.
> I
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
> all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
> ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003

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Scott Ehrlich - 18 Aug 2007 15:09 GMT

>I'm looking for a solid flip phone. The problem is, that most of their flips
>are "my fave" phones. Most of the my fave phones do not show the day or
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>> all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
>> ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003

I just picked up a Motorola v195 from the web on their prepaid plan. They
probably have the v195s in-store for postpaid. I'm a fan of certain
Motorola phones, and this looks good, and is quad-band.

Scott

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Bob H - 23 Aug 2007 13:50 GMT

Besides that ... how about lousy partnership with mobile application providers?

For example in the USA, try to get Weather Channel, Accuweather or WeatherBug?

AT&T, Sprint, etc all support the advanced interactive Java features these applications have. T-Mobile and you're stuck with simple text based interface and alerts .... geezzzz!

B H

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