Expect the large carriers to do whatever they can to prevent from open platforms to gain market share. One of their biggest concerns is turning from *Cellular Service Providers* into *Wireless Network Providers* (which is exactly what Neo will catalyze). There are suggestions being currently made in the cellular industry to start charging a premium for accessing certain URLs from cellphones (e.g., Skype :)), as well as other mid-evil times ideas.
There are about 180 wireless providers in the US (http://www.ctia.org/research_statistics/index.cfm/AID/10202). One way of getting traction is with the smaller MVNO, which will see the Neo/OpenMoko as a business opportunity rather than a threat. DP. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 5:37 PM To: community@lists.openmoko.org Subject: Re: Marketing fodder for Neo: FCC presentation Clearly, before the September mass market release, we should have regionally oriented wikis that accurately list the Neo1973/OpenMoko friendly carriers and connectivity options. I also floated an idea recently about an "Neo/OpenMoko Friendly" barnding program that falls in along the same subject here. For what it's worth, I got back an email from T-Mobile customer service and they indicated that they had no plans at this time for the Neo1973. But they also seemed confused about my question in other ways. I imagine that until one of us gets a chance to talk to their VP of 'Keeping The Customer Locked In Our Walled Garden', we'll never know if they see this change/opportunity coming. The Neo/OpenMoko platform, if it takes off, **will** change how the major carriers operate here in the U.S. They will have to morph into something more resembling their european cousins, and stop trying to grab market share by using the latest fashion phone as bait, and instead, focus on being competitive, low access barrier service providers and if they have any sense at all, they will add value by enabling and supporting 'Mobile Connectivity Computing' (MCC) by distributing and supporting MCC oriented software. Alan Original Message: ----------------- From: Michael Murphy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:51:47 -0500 To: community@lists.openmoko.org Subject: Re: Marketing fodder for Neo: FCC presentation On Thursday 22 February 2007 2:22 pm, Jeff Andros wrote: > On 2/22/07, Gabriel Ambuehl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Thursday 22 February 2007 19:43:26 Sam Kome wrote: > > > Yes, if the phone in question has been locked to another carrier: > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidy_lock > > > > Still, nobody really forces you to buy SIM locked phone for all I > > know. If you want cheap phones, that is usually the price... > > > > _______________________________________________ > > OpenMoko community mailing list > > community@lists.openmoko.org > > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community > > in the U.S. carriers are basically the only "real" source of > phones... and they only sell one kind. it's also next to impossible > to buy a plan without purchasing a phone as well(albeit a heavily > subsidized one). while there are retailers that sell sim-unlocked > phones most of these are either internet order or slightly shady. as > I understand it, most other places this is not the case but it's the > reality here > > when Sean's dad, or other "normal" consumers go out to purchase a > phone, the only trustworthy source they can really find is from the > carrier... so it's a self-perpetuating ecosystem My experience has been somewhat different. I purchased my last phone, under a contract, from CellularOne in the US. It's a gsm quad-band Motorola V400. It was unlocked at the time of purchase. I've been off contract for over a year now and have successfully used sims from other carriers. The store from which I purchased the phone has told me that CellOne does not lock its phones. Before I found out about the Neo, I was planning on purchasing my next phone from Nokia's company-owned NYC store, where I got my N800. All of their phones are unlocked. Michael _______________________________________________ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you? http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePoint _______________________________________________ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community