The Unfortunate Situation:
While traveling abroad, the USB\Charge port on my Wizard snapped off from the board. This rendered the unit useless since I could no longer sync or charge the phone. I am still trying to find somehwere local to Denver to have this repaired as I love that damn phone.
Seeing as how my phone would eventually die and I needed a phone, I searched and searched all over Prague to find a Wizard or any other comparable HTC model, but only managed to find 2 cell shops out of 17 that had anything. Unfortunatly they both wanted way to much for the units, more than I can get them for on ebay.
I decided to stay on the cheap, and picked up a unlocked Nokia N70 (Vodafone branded).
The Bad Experience:
While the phone itself seems pretty decent(for what it will\does do), I cannot for the life of me find a website\forum for Symbian phones that comes anywhere close to XDA-Dev in terms of general wiki support, dev support or user support. I have signed up to 3 or 4 and none have the amount of usefull data found here.
Unless I can find a way to repair my Wizard, or decide to purchase another on ebay - I really want a TyTN, I am going to have to live with the fact that there is not a single site\forum that lives up to the standards and quality of XDA-Dev.
Thankyou everyone.
I don't know anywhere in Denver where you can get it repaired, but PocketPCTechs in southern California should be able to do the job.
Thanks for the link. If I can't find anyone here have to use them.
Greetings All,
I am heading out to the Middle East soon and am in need of a good GSM phone for my travels. While the majority of my time will be spent in Afghanistan, I will be taking vacation in other, yet to be determined parts of the world. As such my thoughts are to have one phone that will work pretty much everywhere and for which I can just purchase local sims and swap them out as I move around.
I am a big android fan, currently have an EVO 3D on Sprint (alas that will not work in afghan. The specs on this phone seems quite good, my only concern is trying to wrap my head around all the offered frequencies. Seems some phone offer some, others others, and no one really all of them.
If there are other concerns you feel I should be considering, please feel free to speak up, ask questions, etc. I plan to purchase it on Amazon, and I am aware I need an unlocked one and will have to pay about $500 - $600 for it.
Hi I wanted to cover a few things such as:
- which sites in your region (Europe, America, etc.) do you recommed to buy phones?
- why and how do some online retailers sell just a phone and maybe a wall charger...where do they get the phones and where does the rest of retail contents go?
- would you say that generally speaking, if a price seems a bit too cheap on a phone (e.g. €50/$50 cheaper than others) then you have to be careful online?
- have you ever bought a phone on eBay, expansys or Amazon? How did that purchase go?
- any advice on detecting a reputable/scam seller/phone?
I hope that different people can pick up a few tips here about phones online etc.
For me, I bought a phone online a few years ago, turned out to be a dodgy imitation from China. Since then I've been extra cautious and learned a lot about how that works from experienced eBay members. I've since purchased only in retail stores. Now, I'm in the market for a new phone :victory: and have been browsing online. So many sellers online don't tell you much about the product, and to some degree, if you don't ask or it's not specified, you could get screwed over.
in the USA, i usually shop at newegg or tigerdirect. Best places for me to shop at, and good shipping too. Th.e sites give you a wide variety of items to buy, and sometimes give you deals of the days and bundles. Check them out.
Newegg.com
Tigerdirect.com
http://forum.xda-developers.com/announcement.php?f=1322
I've started a Whitehouse.gov petition to fix the cell phone subsidy problems. The cost of early termination fees are out of control compared to the wholesale and retail cost of phones and I'd like to see the phone subsidy (or financing) billed separately from the service cost. This would make it extremely clear to all (even those who don't currently understand subsidies) how much the phones are truly costing them and hopefully improve pricing on the big carriers.
We need 150 signatures to get this to a public state where anyone can view it on the site. I'm requesting help from everyone to get these signatures to 150 and beyond. Please post on your Facebook and Google+ to get your friends and family to help out too.
Go here to view the Whitehouse.gov petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/require-fair-and-clear-pricing-wireless-services-and-wireless-devices/wf5hYdxd?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl
The petition is as follows:
The federally permitted duopoly of AT&T and Verizon Wireless has severely hurt competition and driven up prices in the wireless services industry. This has occurred while wireless service prices elsewhere have plummeted due to technological improvements reducing the cost to deliver service. A 3 point approach is required to protect consumers:
1. Require separation of the true cost to the consumer for the phone hardware and wireless service so that they are billed separately.
2. Prohibit early termination fees that exceed the remaining balance of the fair market value of the subsidized or financed wireless hardware.
3. Require all carriers to offer wireless service without any financial penatly or increased cost of service for using a customer owned device.
Now before anyone tells me to own my cell phone service, please note that I already have with a Nexus 4 (previously G'nex) and Straight Talk, SIMple Mobile, and Solavei. I'm pushing this petition for everyone who doesn't yet "own" their service and to improve the future market overall.
While I agree with you about how you feel about contract services, I'm not sure how I feel about needing this to be legally policed.
The thing with the phones being subsidized is that I don't see this as being a perfectly cookie-cutter direct relation to the monthly contract price. Why is it wrong for a business to offer an incentive for a customer to sign a contract ? People need to do research and have willpower - why should people have to be legally protected from making bad choices ? Casinos, liquor, and cigarettes are legal, after all.
The problem I see with point 2 is that it's not just about the hardware - it's about trying to leave a contract that you agreed to before the end of the term. Would you rather they take people to court over it ? It's like signing any contract and people should take it seriously instead of expecting to just get out of it if they want to - if you stop making car or rent payments the contract-holder isn't going to just say, "o, that's okay, I'll let you off free this time because you seem so nice". If you sign a non-disclosure or non-compete agreement, they aren't going to say, "o, you sound so nice over the phone and you're having a bad time, just go right on ahead and break the contract we won't pursue it".
The real "solution" here isn't legal action, it's public awareness. Awareness that a contract is a serious agreement - and that they have options and need to think about if a contract is best for them or not.
The solution is educating people on their other options - if people talk with their money, the companies will hear it (and at this point, they're already starting to listen).
You're preaching to the choir. A two year contract is a real commitment and shouldn't be taken lightly.
However, think about it in a little bit different light. The carriers are a legalized duopoly. This has significant benefits to us - remember when we only had regional carriers and we had to pay exorbitant per minute roaming rates? Now virtually every carrier includes roaming free, because they each have such a far reach with their existing network. We also have near seamless coverage wherever we're driving.
Despite these benefits of having only a couple major carriers, keep in mind that the carriers use public assets to provide service. Their spectrum is leased, not owned, and the spectrum is public property. Furthermore, they are in a unique position to take advantage of us, and they do. Think of the utilities that we use for our homes. You usually only have one choice for electricity and one choice for natural gas service to your home. Because if that, the utilities are regulated to protect the consumer. But, it really only makes sense to have one of each of these utilities in any area due to the high cost of the infrastructure.
I see cell carriers in the same way. Allow them to provide the benefits that they provide with their massive, high quality networks, but protect the consumer from abuse.
Let's take a look at typical discrepancies on a high end android phone subsidy.
Retail cost of phone: $500-600
Likely wholesale cost of phone to the carrier: $300-400
Cost to the consumer on contract: $200-300
Maximum amount of money to be recouped by the carrier due to subsidy: $200
Now lets look at the cost of the subsidy of two years:
Monthly contract cost: $90
Two year contract cost: $2160
Monthly prepaid plan (being conservative, they're typically lower): $55
Two year prepaid plan: $1320
You can't possibly look me in the eye and tell me that a $350 ETF is right or ethical. The carriers are recouping over over $800 to cover the cost of the phone in this scenario, and I'm erring on the low side. Remember when the ETF used to be $125-175? The carriers tell us that advanced devices cost more than feature phones did, but that's a pure lie. In the day of lower ETFs, feature phones had the same high retail pricing that smart phones do today.
You may or may not be surprised to know how many people I talk to about cell phones who don't understand phone subsidies. It's unfortunate, but not everyone understands it.
I'm on a personal mission the take as many people as possibly away from the major carriers and I've been very successful. Many people don't realize the prepaid options they have. But, we unfortunately need regulatory intervention to truly fix the problem.
I hate the fact that I don't have options right now because I'm locked into a contract until December. When I truly looked at how much I'd save over the two years, it made me sick.
If everyone just did a little bit of simple math they would leave Verizon and ATT. I am leaving to go to straight talk when my contract is up.
I think most people want what they want though. And that is the latest and fastest tech out there that's available to them and when they're offered it 5 to 6 months before they're contract is up at a "discount", then they jump at it. But we all know that in two years, your new tech will be way out dated and you will have paid twice what it's worth. It's rent-a-center for smartphones. It just doesn't make financial sense.
That's just my two cents.
Sent from my Droid X2 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 06:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 AM ----------
But I will have to disagree with you that we need regulatory measures. You would be taking away one's freedom to make choices. No one is forced to sign the contract just as no one is forced to buy a home or car that they can't afford to keep up. People need to be educated on how to live within their means by keeping a budget and sticking to it and learning to say no to themselves sometimes. Just because something is available to us or that we can afford the monthly payments, doesn't always mean we should buy it.
People no longer ask whether or not they should or shouldn't do this or buy that. They do everything they can to acquire the latest tech, gadget or possession thinking it will satisfy their unending desires. The problem is, they don't satisfy us.
Why do you think people are obsessed with rooting and constantly flashing roms? Because we get bored with our current os or how our phone looks and feels, so we think by flashing a different rom or mod, it will keep us happy and satisfied.
The only reason I'm saying this is because I'm just as guilty, but am learning how to be content with what I have. The moment I start becoming discontented with what I have, is when I buy into the lie that I just need to upgrade my phone and sign another contract to make me happy.
But to say that I need the government to tell me that I can't takes away freedoms and personal responsibility. Sometimes we need to make mistakes to realize that the decisions we made weren't so beneficial after all.
Sent from my Eclipsed Droid X2 using Tapatalk 2
If you read the petition, it's actually a pretty reasonable request. As a business owner myself, I am generally anti regulation.
My proposed regulations merely require separate billing of the subsidy and service and prohibits the carrier from recouping more than the value of the subsidized equipment in the event that you decide to end your contract early. It is my hope that showing people exactly how much the contract costs them might encourage people to make the right choice. I don't want the government telling people what they have to do, but I do want them to ensure that people are not lied to.
But I fully agree with you that people have lost the common sense to live within their means. I think it's particularly clear as a result of our economic crash related to the housing industry.
On the note of your contract through December, do the math. You may break even quicker than you think. I left Verizon in August, 11 months into my contract. I had a 6 month break even period, so it was a win in the end. I keep telling everyone that I know about the ROI of switching, and I've had pretty good success with friends and coworkers.
If my wife and I were to end our contracts right now, we'd save $90/month switching to straight talk. A couple of problems. The up front cost of early termination fees and buying GSM phones when both of ours are cdma only usable on Verizon. Pretty sure we'd more than break even over the course of the next 10 to 11 months. We don't have enough saved to pay up front. My wife loves her iPhone 4 and she could probably find someone on Craigslist who would trade a GSM for her cdma. I have a dx2 and could probably get 50-75 for mine. To buy a comparable GSM phone would cost me atleast 200. This all is off the top of my head. Any pointers or tips on the cheapest and best way to do this?
Sent from my Eclipsed Droid X2 using Tapatalk 2
Juice3250 said:
If my wife and I were to end our contracts right now, we'd save $90/month switching to straight talk. A couple of problems. The up front cost of early termination fees and buying GSM phones when both of ours are cdma only usable on Verizon. Pretty sure we'd more than break even over the course of the next 10 to 11 months. We don't have enough saved to pay up front. My wife loves her iPhone 4 and she could probably find someone on Craigslist who would trade a GSM for her cdma. I have a dx2 and could probably get 50-75 for mine. To buy a comparable GSM phone would cost me atleast 200. This all is off the top of my head. Any pointers or tips on the cheapest and best way to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The aspect of having the financial resources to buy out your contract is a very common issue. Sometimes waiting out the contract is the best thing to do and obviously only you can ultimately make the right decision for your finanaces. If you make enough money, consider setting aside an extra amount of money every paycheck to get to the point where you can buy out your contracts. Maybe you can stop going out to eat for a month? Maybe you can skip the big trip with the kids over spring break? There's often a place to cut your budget if you feel it's the right priority.
I know that the Verizon iPhone 4 devices have GSM built in and it might even be unlocked already. However, unless jailbroken, I don't believe you can access the APN settings to use a different carrier. I'm not an iPhone expert, I'm all Android. I do think it's possible, and Verizon will likely give you a SIM unlock code if you need it and ask for it, just ask for the unlock code before you terminate your service.
I purchased a GSM Galaxy Nexus, unlocked when I switched. Then I bought a Nexus 4. Those are your best bets for going contract free, however there are other options. But the Nexus phones have the right bands to work with T-Mobile or AT&T, allowing you to hop MVNOs to chase the best price.
Start by reading this thread to get an understanding of prepaid smartphone service: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455014
If you can't afford a Nexus phone, read this article for some ideas: http://androidandme.com/2012/12/reviews/best-unlocked-android-phone-for-any-budget-december-2012/
A great domestic source for a plethora of unlock phones: http://www.gsmnation.com/
Also, Amazon.com is a great source for unlocked phones.
Remember, you're paying less for service because you're not getting a phone subsidy. Expect to pay an exorbitant amount for your phone, but you will be rewarded by crazy cheap service!
A real shame that Phones4U are the latest High Street brand in the UK to crumble into administration. Whilst I do not know the complex contractual workings or business model of Phones4U, I do know that EE and Vodafone want more of your money, so in order to achieve that they stamp out the little guys who brought them so much business in the past.
What this means for the UK consumer is less competition, fewer deals, higher prices, longer waits for newly launched devices and networked locked and/or branded phones. Carphone Warehouse is hanging in there but they are probably having to strike some less tasty deals with the networks now to keep them happy. They also won't have to juggle their deals so much to outdo Phones4U.
Not everyone has happy stories about how they traded with Phones4U but I have had some pretty good deals and picked up the latest phones from them in the past.
I hope it's not the beginning of the end for High Street mobile phone shops, I guess we shall have to wait and see.
I am in Ipswich and a lot of phone shops like this have or are starting to close down as you have said. I used CPW to get my deals mostly but my sister used Phones4U and was happy with their service over stores like EE, Orange or O2 as they gave her the runaround or charged slightly higher for the same deal as other stores.