Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

Where is this UPDATE you speak of?

How will an operator restrict access to their network... by individual IMEI?

BTW, if this is a figment of your imagination or you have no support for your allegation, please say so in your reply.

If on the other hand you do have support for your position, please provide a link. :)

Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

@Crashdamage

Maybe they should use the N900 to get the attention of the customer base.

Apple was already popular because of its Ipods... one could argue that it was easier for them to dictate the way the Iphone was launched, as opposed to letting the providers make the rules.

Nokia could build interest with this "4th Step" and then gradually move towards the "unaltered" option with their subsequent maemo devices.

I guarantee you the N900 will sell much much less in the US if it is unsubsidized than it would otherwise, altered or not.

Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

Problem is with subsidized prices. When operators/carriers sell "cheap" phones, they want some return to investment. Which means blocking VoIP, Skype and IM services. Currently they make bucks with calls and SMSes. This the reason why they don´t like the loop holes in THEIR phones (as they present it). This is the reason why carriers don´t want to subsidize N900.
Another is that people don´t want to spend $500 to mobile, even it means that they have to bind themselves to fixed terms for long periods, if they want "cheaper" phones.

Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

excuse me but are the subsidied phones a form of charity from operators? who will pay the tab finally?

tip: look at the mirror.

Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

I think that's their plan, yeah. Use it to create a loud buzz.

For sure, Apple already had clout. Same goes for Nokia outside the US. They're trying to use that popularity to do something with the N900 similar to Apple did with the iPhone - take it as is or leave it. It might work...

If they let the carriers modify Maemo now, they'll never be able to put that back in the bottle. Set the rules and stick by them.

Absolutely. And if successful, the N900 or it's children will be offered subsidized, no doubt. But the iPhone started out unsudsidized at $500-600, built demand, got subsidized later - and gadget history was made, despite flawed hardware/software, a single lousy carrier and high price. Appears to me Nokia wants to try and follow that model.

Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

Heh, over 17 million iPhones sold worldwide since release, not bad for flawed...

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente...7_million.html

Re: Nokia to stop operator reducing phone features for Maemo phones
 

I understand what you are saying but sometimes the operator subsidized phones end up costing more than the unlocked phones on the longer run. For example the iphone data plan is 15$ more expensive than the regular unlocked data plan on at&t. So that increases the price by 15* 24 = 360$ on top of the 200$ you are already paying for the phone. So that makes the total price 560$ and of course remember that you have to stay in contract for 2 years which in these days of technology is a lot. In most cases you will get a better model of the same phone or another brand phone which you will want to buy. And then there is the issue of lack of official firmware updates. And most important of all reasons is that it prevents competition among the cellular providers. If Americans keep allowing their carriers(and apple) to do what they want to do they will never get a free market. Not that it cannot be done.... the markets in Asia are very good and you get very cheap prices for prepaid services. So there are many advantages to get an unlocked phone. I think buying the phone on a credit card and paying off a little every month is better than getting a locked phone.

Re: Nokia: Maemo phones won't be tailored for carriers, operators may reject
 

I've been following this thread rather closely - btw, Transformers rule - but as far as it stands... can I just simply ask for somebody to break this down to me a bit better than it has been so far to me?

Reason I'm asking... mind you... I've had prior phones that were subsidized that were not crippled or even branded over than a startup screen from all I could tell.

So why is this a problem with the Maemo branded phone? Am I missing a shift in how phones are marketed now?

Feel free to treat me like some 3 year old dummy (which isn't too far from the truth). I just don't... quite get the concern from the standpoint from the carrier.

Re: Nokia: Maemo phones won't be tailored for carriers, operators may reject
 

In general, operators either want to either SIM lock the device after subsiziding, but equally well you can just have a fixed 24 month contract for your SIM card and not worry about locking the device: the consumer pays the same whether or not he uses the SIM (and/or the device). That works well if it's a relatively fixed flat monthy fee. For deals where the price depends on the usage, SIM locking is preferrable to operators, since you don't want the customer to use the device with a cheaper deal.

Re: Nokia: Maemo phones won't be tailored for carriers, operators may reject
 

Then again, in general: an expensive device = users are able to do a lot with it it = a lot of data transfer as well as other services potentially used = a lot of potential extra revenue = more need to lock down and make sure that the customer doesn't go for cheaper options.