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Cellular Phone Forum / Country Specific / UK Group / April 2006Why do people actually *buy* mobile phones?
Hi, I'm after a "HTC Tornado". I have an existing package. Now you can buy for ~£290 sim free or get one with a package for the same annual cost. Apparently any lock is dead easy to remove. So why do people buy a phone rather than get a cheap package? They have the added bonus of a fair few free calls, "immediate" replacement if the phone is crocked etc. Why should I buy rather than just take out another package - even I don't use any of the call allocation. What am I missing? > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > What am I missing? Th efact that some people have poor credit so can't get contracts, some people don't want to be paying out each month for cashflow reasons, not having the phone butchered by a network prior to sale Jo wrote: > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > What am I missing? >Th efact that some people have poor credit so can't get contracts, some >people don't want to be paying out each month for cashflow reasons, not >having the phone butchered by a network prior to sale Right so none of those apply to me so I amay aswell get a contract. Cheers >>Th efact that some people have poor credit so can't get contracts, some >>people don't want to be paying out each month for cashflow reasons, not >>having the phone butchered by a network prior to sale > > Right so none of those apply to me so I amay aswell get a contract. Well, quite. Luck you, ya dafty. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > What am I missing? Some people (me included) have such low usage that a contract isn't the right option. Not everyone wants to be tied down for 12 or 18 months either. What happens if you need or want a new phone in 8 months time? More importantly, the contract allowance may not correspond well to your actual usage and you may not use up all your allowance while incurring additional costs for calls, text, data and voicemail access. [snip] > Some people (me included) have such low usage that a > contract isn't the right option. Not everyone wants to be [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > your allowance while incurring additional costs for > calls, text, data and voicemail access. Why do people want to change their phones every 5 minutes anyway..? When did you last "upgrade" your landline phone..?! Ivor > [snip] > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Ivor About 4 mins ago :-) Irma [snip] > > Why do people want to change their phones every 5 > > minutes anyway..? When did you last "upgrade" your > > landline phone..?! Ivor > > About 4 mins ago :-) > Irma Ok. And the time before that..? Ivor > [snip] > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Ivor About 1973, I think! Irma > > [snip] > > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > About 1973, I think! > Irma Precisely. So why the need to replace mobiles all the time..?! Ivor > > > [snip] > > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Ivor Because most people leave their home phones at home where they can come to little damage whilst they carry mobiles around and subject them to infintely more usage and exposure to potentially damaging situations (i.e. bashed around in pockets, dropped, scratched on desks/car storage space, knocked around in bags) so their lifespan is much shorter hence people need to upgrade/replace as it tends to be cheaper than a repair. Daft analogy IMO > > > > [snip] > > > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > is much shorter hence people need to upgrade/replace as > it tends to be cheaper than a repair. Daft analogy IMO Not really. To me (and I suspect a lot of people) a phone is just that, a phone. I don't expect either my home or mobile phone to double as an MP3 player/video player/camera or whatever, I expect it to be able to make and receive phone calls. I keep it in a case in a jacket pocket that doesn't have anything else like keys, pens or whatever in it, so it doesn't get scratched or knocked about. On the other hand, some of the normal landline phones in our office look like they've been in a war zone (they probably were before our firm bought them..!) Ivor > [snip] > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Why do people want to change their phones every 5 minutes anyway..? When > did you last "upgrade" your landline phone..?! There's no point in upgrading a landline, because the technology doesn't change very much, and they're either crap, or expensive, or both. I upgrade my mobile because I can - every 12/18 months I get a new phone that is significantly better than the last (radio/games/storage space/camera quality/screen quality/battery life/bluetooth etc etc) and because it's free. I went from paying £40 or so a month to paying £23 a month, on a better phone. If this sort of upgrade was available on a landline then people would upgrade there too. It's just a quirk of the mobile phone industry business model - really there shouldn't be any mystery about it. [snip] > There's no point in upgrading a landline, because the > technology doesn't change very much, and they're either > crap, or expensive, or both. Hmm. Mine isn't either. > I upgrade my mobile because I can - every 12/18 months I > get a new phone that is significantly better than the > last (radio/games/storage space/camera quality/screen > quality/battery life/bluetooth etc etc) and because it's > free. I went from paying £40 or so a month to paying > £23 a month, on a better phone. How is £23 a month free..?! That £23 you pay per month I probably pay every year on my PAYG phone, which I have had for 3 years. I already have a camera and a radio, I don't need them in a phone. My 6310i already has bluetooth anyway. > If this sort of upgrade > was available on a landline then people would upgrade > there too. You think so..? Why..? > It's just a quirk of the mobile phone > industry business model - really there shouldn't be any > mystery about it. Quirks are always mystifying to me, I just wonder why they happen. Call it natural scientific curiosity if you want..! I just don't understand why people change something that is working perfectly well. If it breaks or something, ok, but if it's working, why bother..?! Ivor > Quirks are always mystifying to me, I just wonder why they happen. Call it > natural scientific curiosity if you want..! I just don't understand why > people change something that is working perfectly well. If it breaks or > something, ok, but if it's working, why bother..?! To improve their perceived quality of life, I'd say. People do it with cars, clothes, computers, tvs etc. Clearly they don't need to do it. "Keeping up with the Joneses" probably explains some of it - probably the more visible things like cars or extensions to their houses, rather than broadband connection speed, size of plasma tv etc. I've got a camera/radio but I don't carry them around with me unless I'm specifically going to use them, but thanks to my phone I now have them all the time. I could pretend that it's not useful to be able to take a picture of anything whenever I feel like it, but it wouldn't be true - a 2meg camera produces pretty good pictures, and it's a quick way of taking notes. I'm sure over the years the features on the phone I'll get for "free" will include TV - no doubt you'll be maintaining that you have a tv, radio, mp3 player, camera, portable game console, pda etc etc and don't need that tech on your phone? > > Quirks are always mystifying to me, I just wonder why > > they happen. Call it natural scientific curiosity if [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > rather than broadband connection speed, size of plasma tv > etc. I note that you didn't answer several of the questions I actually asked..! Ivor > > > Quirks are always mystifying to me, I just wonder why > > > they happen. Call it natural scientific curiosity if [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > I note that you didn't answer several of the questions I actually asked..! I think we just use our phones differently. > > I upgrade my mobile because I can - every 12/18 months I > > get a new phone that is significantly better than the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > a camera and a radio, I don't need them in a phone. My 6310i already has > bluetooth anyway. £23 of phone calls per year, even at 1 pence per minute, is just over 3 hours. I make about that a month (and I'm paying for around 5 hours per month, if you exclude texts). Also, I doubt your calls only cost you 1 pence per minute. > > If this sort of upgrade > > was available on a landline then people would upgrade > > there too. > > You think so..? Why..? Why wouldn't people upgrade their landline in the same way they upgrade their mobile? Not as many people, certainly, but I'm sure it would be popular. Otherwise, why do people buy new landline phones at all - presumably they've already got one, and it's hard to imagine they get stolen/lost/damaged as often and as easily as mobiles. > So why do people buy a phone rather than get a cheap package? > What am I missing? Could make sense if you don't want a fancy phone - and you can buy a decent used one on Ebay for £20 to £40 - and then get a phone free contract. I was offered a phoen free contract by Voda - which worked out £6 pm cheaper than a contract with a "free"6230i. >So why do people buy a phone rather than get a cheap package? I can only speak for myself, but I often buy generic phones without contract due to being able to get exactly the model I like without any nasty customisations or SIM locks and knowing I wont have to mess about or wait for an unlocking solution. I also usually get a phone each year on contract renewal. Sometime these go straight on ebay (got £ 190 for my 'free' 6680 last year which covered a large chunk of the years line rental), sometimes (if they're easily unlocked and de-branded) I use the supplied phone. I've even been known to take out a second contract just for the phone - such as a cashback deal on a Pink V3 for my wife... So I guess people just take the deals they need to get the phone they want! Rgds Jonathan  SignatureFree VoIP SIP accounts at www.kcip.com >I'm after a "HTC Tornado". I have an existing package. >Now you can buy for ~£290 sim free or get one with a package for the same [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >So why do people buy a phone rather than get a cheap package? I'm surprised that no-one has offered an obvious answer: that you're comparing an *annual* cost with a *once-only* cost. So keeping the phone for two years on contract would cost twice as much as buying it. Not everyone changes their mobile phone every year! Mike. SignatureEntia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem > > I'm after a "HTC Tornado". I have an existing package. > > Now you can buy for ~£290 sim free or get one with a [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Not everyone changes their mobile phone every year! No, some people seem to change them with their underwear..! I wonder why they don't do the same with their landline phones..?! Ivor >> > I'm after a "HTC Tornado". I have an existing package. >> > Now you can buy for ~£290 sim free or get one with a [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > No, some people seem to change them with their underwear..! I wonder why > they don't do the same with their landline phones..?! People upgrade frequently because the way mobile phones are marketed is designed to make us think we need to. Oh and because its "free". > some people seem to change them with their underwear..! I wonder why > they don't do the same with their landline phones..?! Mobile phones are still a developing technology, yes the basic features remain the same, but manufactures are constantly making them smaller, and adding extras such as MP3 players, cameras and Internet. There's simply no market for MP3 players as the like on landline phones, and people use their computers for the Internet. I upgrade my computer every couple of years, phones are much more like computers in that respect. SignatureMarc See http://www.imarc.co.uk/ for contact information. > > some people seem to change them with their underwear..! > > I wonder why they don't do the same with their landline [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > basic features remain the same, but manufactures are > constantly making them smaller, Make them any smaller and you'll need a pointy stick to press the buttons..! Oh wait a minute, you need that already for some of them..! > and adding extras such as MP3 players, cameras and > Internet. A phone to me is precisely that, a phone. I don't complain to BT that I need a computer and modem to access the internet. > There's simply no market for MP3 players as the like on > landline phones, and people use their computers for the > Internet. I upgrade my computer every couple of years, > phones are much more like computers in that respect. I use my mobile to make phone calls. I don't need an MP3 player in it to do that. There's a rumour that Nokia are considering re-introducing the 6310i due to demand from people who want phones, not multi-function gadgets. Ivor > There's a rumour that Nokia are considering re-introducing the 6310i due > to demand from people who want phones, not multi-function gadgets. > > Ivor Rumour = any statement to warrant a troll. Irma > I use my mobile to make phone calls. I don't need an MP3 player in it to > do that. Fair enough :) but there's obviously a demand for these integrated devices, but as you've stated, not for everybody. SignatureMarc See http://www.imarc.co.uk/ for contact information. > > I use my mobile to make phone calls. I don't need an > > MP3 player in it to do that. > > Fair enough :) but there's obviously a demand for these > integrated devices, but as you've stated, not for > everybody. I have an instinctive dislike of putting all my eggs in one basket. If one component breaks, you lose the lot while it's being repaired or waiting for a replacement. In years gone past, things were built to last, now they're throwaway items. I'd rather not throw something away when I've only had it for less than a few years. Ivor >Mobile phones are still a developing technology, There are very few technology refreshes between handset models. >yes the basic features >remain the same, Indeed. >but manufactures are constantly making them smaller, That's nothing like true. In the last couple of years they've been getting bigger because... >and adding extras such as MP3 players, cameras and Internet. The thing to remember is that customers don't choose phones, the networks choose them, and decide what to offer at subsidised prices. They want the extra revenue from picture messaging and the like, even if the punters are not keen. So they push handsets with facilities to run up big phone bills. SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! hairydog@despammed.com declared for all the world to hear... > The thing to remember is that customers don't choose phones, the > networks choose them, and decide what to offer at subsidised prices. > They want the extra revenue from picture messaging and the like, even > if the punters are not keen. So they push handsets with facilities to > run up big phone bills. As a consequence of this handset manufacturers plough all of their R&D into such devices so they can sell more phones to the networks, leaving "basic" phones high and dry. SignatureRegards Jon Jon <spam@jonparker.plus.com> wrote in message <MPG.1eb92039a1905a3d98a041@text.usenet.plus.net>: >hairydog@despammed.com declared for all the world to hear... >> The thing to remember is that customers don't choose phones, the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >into such devices so they can sell more phones to the networks, leaving >"basic" phones high and dry. There's little need for R&D into basic phones. The issue isn't that the handset manufacturers aren't willing to produce basic phones- there are many, many Chinese manufacturers doing this now. The issue is that the 'branded' handset manufacturers know there's a larger margin available to them on 'smart' and 'feature' phones and this is where they will deploy their production. >>> I'm after a "HTC Tornado". I have an existing package. >>> Now you can buy for ~£290 sim free or get one with a [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Ivor That's once a week then, for me. Irma > So why do people buy a phone rather than get a cheap package? I frequently work abroad, and buy local sims rather than pay for high roaming costs. That needs an unlocked handset. I can unlock one on an agreement, but that would be a breach of the conditions I'd put my signature to, and I won't do that (no matter how unlikely detection might be). I have a selection of motorola accessories that fitted my timeport, and won't fit the nokias and erricsons on offer from most suppliers. I decided to buy another motorola. By owning my own handset I can use PAYG agreements, that cost me nothing while I am not in the UK, or when I am working nights and don't have the bl**dy thing switched on. I bought my last motorola with a 3 year warranty, including the battery, and free theft insurance. The whole thing suits me very well. > I can unlock one on an >agreement, but that would be a breach of the conditions I'd put my >signature to, Can you explain that statement? It makes no sense to me. SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! > > I can unlock one on an > >agreement, but that would be a breach of the conditions I'd put my > >signature to, > > Can you explain that statement? It makes no sense to me. If you get a "free" phone with a contract, it is locked to the network to ensure that the subsidised hardware is only used on the contract. It's a breach of the contract to unlock it. >>> I can unlock one on an >>> agreement, but that would be a breach of the conditions I'd put my [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > to ensure that the subsidised hardware is only used on the contract. > It's a breach of the contract to unlock it. Rubbish; Phones are acquired outside the terms of the contract. You can do what you like with the phone, which includes unlocking it. Providers will normally refuse to unlock it until you're outside your contract, unless you send some money their way (Usually paying the remainder of your line rental up front, but then that just hangs around as credit on your account for the following months) Also, if you go around unlocking it in a half-arsed way (custom firmware flash etc), you may void your warranty.. which is a different thing completely to 'breaching your contract'. >> > I can unlock one on an >> >agreement, but that would be a breach of the conditions I'd put my [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > If you get a "free" phone with a contract, it is locked to the network That depends on which network provides the handset. Most O2 and Voda contract handsets are provided unlocked. > to ensure that the subsidised hardware is only used on the contract. Nope, it's to try to prevent it being used on another network. > It's a breach of the contract to unlock it. Complete and utter rubbish. Go and read your contract and you'll discover that the handset is supplied separately to the airtime agreement. The handset is yours to do with as you wish from day one. Signature<<< Unlock Your Phone's Potential >>> <<< www.uselessinfo.org.uk >>> <<< www.thephonelocker.co.uk >>> <<< www.gsm-solutions.co.uk >>> >If you get a "free" phone with a contract, You pay for it in the line rental, it's not free. >it is locked to the network Not necessarily. As many contract phones are not locked as are. >to ensure that the subsidised hardware is only used on the contract. That's utter rubbish. The network don't care whether you use it or not. As long as you pay line rental for the minimum contract term. >It's a breach of the contract to unlock it. Completely untrue. Read your contract and you'll see. Why do people make these lies up? SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! >> If you get a "free" phone with a contract, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Why do people make these lies up? The sad thing is they actually believe the bullshit that they utter. Sad really. Irma > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > What am I missing? or alternately, buy them off ebay after the early-adopters have got bored. if the tornado=spv c500 then you can get a good one for 80 quid off ebay... |
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