I had been waiting since the first iPods for basically a phone/computer-in-your-pocket, and the latest crop of smartphones is pretty much there as far as I can tell technologically. The problem with this progress is sold to us as a luxury instead of a new standard, and as a result, we pay way too much for it, especially in our lack of choice.
I use an iPhone I purchased back in 2008, and have been with AT&T as my wireless carrier since…I don’t exactly know, at least since 2005. I’m not exactly thrilled with that. Over time the service and reliability of the network has noticeably gotten worse, but my bill has continued to rise. And now, the latest “gotcha” pulled by AT&T is to do away with their Unlimited data plans and limit you to 2GB of data, and $10 bucks extra for each GB after that. I used to champion in my mind the value of “rollover” minutes, but they only exist for me because of my conservative calling~ I never forget that I have limited minutes, and have occasionally gone WAY over to dip into them, meanwhile my bill reveals total minutes used is routinely over 3000. This is on a 2-line bill, and I pay about $130 per month for an iPhone and another cell with 700 minutes shared and 200 texts each. The other phone doesn’t have data service.
Like most things, this has been WAY overcomplicated. There are so many restrictions and regulations, it drives everybody crazy. I recently discovered a graphic contrasting the 2-year costs of the latest crop of smartphones, and it sounded a horn to me that I have been completely stupid with regard to how much I’m paying for all this modern convenience. Unfortunately, the only choice I have is to have or have not.
I would much rather pay a FAIR price for the device instead of being locked-in to exclusive contracts per carrier. I would much rather have a more tiered selection of calling services, none of which based on volume, in a similar way to the way cable TV or ISPs currently operate, (though I have my individual beef with each of those to discuss later) where you choose the type of service you want, with ANY device, on ANY network, and are not locked into a contract for number of years at the threat of cancellation fees. And obiously, It should be MUCH more affordable.
The advancement and saturation of technology should bring access to it and the costs of it down over time, not raise them. I realize that inflation is behind some of this as well, but it’s more about manufactured demand and extremely rationalized supply. What we really need is the “Model T” of smartphones, instead of treating them like Duesenbergs. Eliminiate the exclusivity and luxury attached to these devices, which I think Google half-heartedly tried to do with the Nexus 1, but Google has a pretty shaky reputation regarding privacy, and a recent report stated that 20% of all Android apps act basically as Spyware. That’s not really comforting either.
Here’s what I want. I’ll agree to pay $400 or so for the new iPhone, completely unlocked, and $50 per year for full-coverage replacement insurance. I want to use it on ANY network, and I want a completely unlimited plan for all features, for no more than $50 per month. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. The oligarchy of mobile providers in America is nothing short of the Trusts of old, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that nobody’s doing anything about it.
I’m about to just say fuck it and pull an Alexander Supertramp.
The Ryan Grey Observatory 