| Todd Allcock 2007-12-25, 3:33 pm |
| At 25 Dec 2007 16:35:30 +0000 Larry wrote:
> Wired has hit the nail on the head in this article from back in October I
> missed.
It was interesting, but still makes the typical mistake of lumping all
carriers together in some kind of unholy alliance. These "insights" are
usually written by Verizon (or ex-Verizon) users!
> Read it then think about your personal experience with ANY carrier.
Some of us actually consider a carrier's openness as part of the selection
process.
Personally, I use T-Mobile. I realize other carriers offer more coverage
and more features, but T-Mo represents an excellent value and has an open
network and virtually no TOS restrictions.
My experience with T-Mobile...
2001: bought "uncrippled" (but relatively featureless) Voicestream (T-Mo's
predecessor) Nokia 8290. It's IR port allowed downloading free ringtones
from my PC, and supported tethering my PC or PDA at the blinding speed of
9.6kbps, with no extra cost (other than using minutes.)
2003, upgraded to a T-Mo Nokia 3650. It has uncrippled bluetooth- now I
could tether my laptop and PDA without line of sight at GPRS speed (up to
40k!) Woo-hoo! ("free" 9.6k was still available, but I splurged for the
$4.99 unlimited data plan) It is a Symbian phone, allowing me access to
hundreds of 3rd-party apps, all downloadable and not blocked by my carrier.
It includes a typical crummy ponecamera and a memory card slot. Pictures
and ringtones can be moved from memory to card or to PC via cable, IR, BT
or card reader, all without any restriction.
2005, the ringer on the 3650 craps out, and I buy an unlocked AT&T 3620
(essentially the same phone but with 800-MHz). Runs the same software, and
is also uncrippled in anyway. (Surprising, considering it's an AT&T
Wireless customized phone- maybe they're open too?)
2006, purchase a T-Mo MDA (T-Mo customized HTC Wizard Windows Mobile 5
phone.) It has uncrippled Wi-Fi, BT, the ability to run thousands of 3rd-
party apps, and again, is uncrippled in any way. Frankly, it can do
anything a Nokia Tablet can do, AND it's a phone.
2008- awaiting a T-Mo 3G WinMo phone- rumors point to a T-Mo version of the
HTC Kaiser (sold by AT&T as the Tilt.) I could buy it unlocked/unbranded
now, but why pay $700 now when I can get it unsubsidized later for $300?
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