What about competition? What happened to having several licenses so companies compete and offer cutting edge products, superior service and of course competitive pricing? That is slowing going away as the nation's largest companies are buying the cell carriers up and merging them together.
Just a few years ago, a market such as my home town had the choice of 7 national providers we now will have only 4 with a small regional provider. Not good for the consumer.
I can see loosing one, but this trend is just going to continue. Your worries about ringtones, UI and rate plans are just a small part of the picture when years from now when you realize that big business is going to own everything you use and touch and you will have to comply or "Join IN". With 2-3 carriers (or less who knows) you will see fewer options because they don't need to compete or offer you what you want. What choice will you have?
“One wonderful Samsung addition to the traditional Android experience is a "real" camera button on the side, which can even register half-presses for focus.”
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What about competition? What happened to having several licenses so companies compete and offer cutting edge products, superior service and of course competitive pricing? That is slowing going away as the nation's largest companies are buying the cell carriers up and merging them together.
Just a few years ago, a market such as my home town had the choice of 7 national providers we now will have only 4 with a small regional provider. Not good for the consumer.
I can see loosing one, but this trend is just going to continue. Your worries about ringtones, UI and rate plans are just a small part of the picture when years from now when you realize that big business is going to own everything you use and touch and you will have to comply or "Join IN". With 2-3 carriers (or less who knows) you will see fewer options because they don't need to compete or offer you what you want. What choice will you have?
Again... not good for the consumer at all.