[QUOTE=Capt'n Corrupt;860859]To add insult to injury, the Galaxy Tab internals cost ~$200!


http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns-Man...n-Reveals.aspx
http://an.droid-life.com/2010/11/02/...only-cost-205/

The real shocker is the lost cost of the 3G radios (for me anyway). At $20 it should be standard in all devices that have WiFi, or should be made into a modular appendage for WiFi devices. There's no WAY this addition should inflates the price from $300 on average (WiFi only) to $600 on average (Smartphone). Even with a USB interface, a standard network protocol, and a built in antenna system, this could be made to be a small as an insertable SIM for truly unlocked and very flexible devices. Those that don't want 3G now, don't have to pay for it, but it's an option for later, and they're not locked into any one carrier in the event that they decide to switch. Even better it provides the ability to travel without needing a new device.

[QUOTE]

I guess the problem with embedding the 3G radios in ALL devices is that
1) Mfrs cannot use this as a way to price 3G devices higher for better profit margins (obvious).

2) the Carriers will raise hell as they dont want all that competition (as users can now switch carriers easily as it becomes a ubiquitous presence in all devices)

3) Carriers will have to run the gamut of 3G tests to insure that their network security isnt "compromised" (the bogeyman argument that carriers always use to thwart any innovation).

But I guess some day soon this might be broken just as many other walls have slowly been torn down in the world of carrier-mfrs nexus.