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T-Mobile, AT&T oppose unlocking rule, claim locked phones are good for users

(arstechnica.com)
197 points LorenDB | 3 comments | 21 Oct 24 20:31 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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tptacek ◴[21 Oct 24 21:11 UTC] No.41908565[source]▶
This is a good way for Ars to generate clicks and a more honest headline probably wouldn't move the needle much, but it's worth being clear for HN that the objection here is not that locked phones are good for consumers, but that the subsidization deals locked phones enable are.
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nothercastle ◴[21 Oct 24 21:27 UTC] No.41908679[source]▶
They aren’t though. Subsidized phones are like monthly car payments drive up costs and are targeted at people bad at math.

If consumers paid out of pocket for their phones then they would be more picky about upgrading and plan prices. It would also make upselling shitty plan features harder so the carriers would loose a lot of money.

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cmeacham98 ◴[21 Oct 24 21:35 UTC] No.41908766[source]▶
I would agree with you (financing small purchases like a phone is a bad idea and causes people to spend money they shouldn't), but that doesn't make the clickbait acceptable. Ars Technica should accurately report the claims of the telco industry.
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DaiPlusPlus ◴[21 Oct 24 21:39 UTC] No.41908799[source]▶
Most people don’t live in your affluent bubble where, apparently, a $500 to $2,000 expense is a “small purchase”.
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Always42 ◴[21 Oct 24 21:42 UTC] No.41908827[source]▶
You don’t need to pay $500 to $2000 for a phone. I don’t think I have ever paid that much.
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throwaway48476 ◴[21 Oct 24 21:51 UTC] No.41908893[source]▶
Cheaper phones have a way higher value/$ ratio. Instead of financializing expensive phones the market should encourage cheaper phones through increased demand.
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1. unsignedint ◴[21 Oct 24 22:33 UTC] No.41909283[source]▶
You don't need to go for the cheapest phone, but I find the midrange, around $300-$400, to be the sweet spot. Sure, you could opt for something more expensive, but unless you have a specific need, the benefits won't be that noticeable. I'd rather put that extra money toward upgrading a PC instead. I chose a midrange Samsung for its practical customization options over stock Android, plus it comes with 4 promised updates. While it's not as long as the 7 years of updates from a Pixel, realistically, the battery will likely swell like a pillow before it even hits the 7th year anyway.
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2. paulryanrogers ◴[21 Oct 24 23:58 UTC] No.41909807[source]▶
IME even mid tier phones won't have more than a year or so of security updates left, unless you buy them new. And even then it's often only 18-24 months. We should insist that companies support their phones longer or unlock and completely open source them at the EOL.
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3. unsignedint ◴[22 Oct 24 08:22 UTC] No.41912288[source]▶
We’re likely talking about a small subset of users for whom open sourcing or similar efforts would be worthwhile. The bigger issue these days is that phones aren't designed to last. We've seen this trend ever since batteries became non-removable, and I doubt EU regulations will make a significant difference. Most users either dispose of their phones when they stop working or trade them in for a newer model. This is especially common with premium phones, while mid-range models might only fetch you $10 on a trade-in if you’re lucky.

Some companies do better in this regard. For example, Samsung provides four major updates, whereas the last mid-range Motorola I owned only gave me one. By the time I receive the fourth update on my current phone, I'll probably be dealing with bigger issues, like the battery not holding a charge—or worse. I wish phones were more serviceable, but that’s just not the case. Still, at mid-range prices, I’m fine with replacing it when it’s on its last legs.

If you're inclined, though, most Android phones allow you to unlock the bootloader and tinker with the software as much as you want.