> > I was attempting (badly!) to make the point that the usual product > > pattern for Nokia/SE/whoever - where they release some new, > > interesting device and then release incremental/facelift upgrades > > that'll support themselves through the artificially buoyed > up market > > of telco contracts - may not be very well suited to the full-price, > > no-contract-available 770 upgrade. > > Are you from US? Because most people around me (and I guess > generally in > Europe) buy their phones themselves and not from mobile operator. > Operators offer phones too, yes, but they are generally > overpriced, outdated and the choice is limited. Maybe > companies use this but for average person it does not make > sense. Phones and cellular operators are different things. Or > do you buy TV from your cable/TV operator? Also majority of > people here (70%) use prepaid cards without contract and even > have more such cards from different operators and swap them > in one phone. Maybe mobile market is more competitive in > Europe (or in my country)? I remember phones bought from > operators were blocked in firmware to prevent using with > other cellular networks but this is history too (maybe noone > bought such phones?). Certainly everyone I know in the UK gets a phone as part of the line rental package (or at least discounted by it) from their service provider/operator (e.g. Vodafone, Orange, etc.). Seems like there are major differences within Europe too (not too surprisingly). Regards, Simon
