In Denmark, we do realize it. The Danish law requires companies to specify the minimum price for the phone for the contract period. If the phone has an initial price of $99, monthly contract is $49, and minimum contract period is 24 months, they must list $1176 as the minimum total price.
I _did_ pay that for an unlocked iPhone, because I wanted to use it while traveling. (The savings paid for the phone on the first trip I made, compared to the execrable roaming/data charges I have experienced with AT&T in the past).
But I think aes256's point is valid. That iPhone you buy with a carrier subsidy does not cost $199.
In a fully-transparent world, you'd be able to bring your own phone and get a reduced monthly bill from your mobile carrier. Or you could buy a subsidized phone and pay more per month.
In a fully-transparent world, of course, the mobile carrier becomes commoditized. They hate that.
It can't come soon enough for me, as a customer, however.
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 29.6 ms ] threadYou are paying $850 for your top of the line iPhone, you just don't realise it because it's in the form of $40+ monthly instalments...
Check "mindstepris" (24 month contracts) at: http://www.telenor.dk/privat/mobil/mobil/iphone/
But I think aes256's point is valid. That iPhone you buy with a carrier subsidy does not cost $199.
In a fully-transparent world, you'd be able to bring your own phone and get a reduced monthly bill from your mobile carrier. Or you could buy a subsidized phone and pay more per month.
In a fully-transparent world, of course, the mobile carrier becomes commoditized. They hate that.
It can't come soon enough for me, as a customer, however.