Droid Bionic unveiled with 4G, dual-core CPU, and a $300 price

The thing is paid for across the life of that contract you sign.

For all the time people here fantasised about "Microsoft taxes" when buying Windows computers, not so much squawking about the control carriers exert on mobiles in this country and the relative paucity of real price competition.

And people talk about free markets. Would really be nice to have one.

Yep. It's no different than people getting a "smart" phone for "only 200$". The cost is really paid out over a higher 2 year contract.

I wish we could just cut usage rates to a reasonable price and instead have people buy their hardware out right.

Oh wait, that would make sense.

~Jeff

Quoting:It's no different than people getting a "smart" phone for "only 200$". The cost is really paid out over a higher 2 year contract.

Is the contract higher though, mine hasn't ever been.

Quoting:I wish we could just cut usage rates to a reasonable price and instead have people buy their hardware out right.

You do have the option to buy the hardware outright, you just have to tell them that is what you want to do. That just gives you a device without a contract, the rate doesn't change...

Quoting:You do have the option to buy the hardware outright, you just have to tell them that is what you want to do. That just gives you a device without a contract, the rate doesn't change...

And if you had any question avout whether the market is actually a competitive one....

Idk why but I got mine for $250 on the website!

And yeah there's a usage fee to make that phone the price it is. But I am also locked in to unlimited access. I wouldn't be giving that up for the next 2 years anyway.

Quoting:And if you had any question avout whether the market is actually a competitive one...

There should be no doubt that the market is competitive. They compete with each other to rape consumers. ;)

fewt

With TMO USA the monthly rate is 20$ less per month for no contract as it should be :)

~Jeff

Quoting:I wish we could just cut usage rates to a reasonable price and instead have people buy their hardware out right.

You can in Australia.

@Jeff91 - That is very cool. I'm about to dump AT&NOCARRIER, maybe I'll head back to TMO - I had given them my business for 15 years before my (former) company told me to go get an iPhone. Worst decision evar.

>s the contract higher though, mine hasn't ever been.

That is clue number 1.

Ask yourself: How can a company possibly sell you service for the same price whether or not they subsidize the cost of a phone?

The answer is simple: In the absence of real competition, they can simply rip you off.

I'm using Virgin Mobile USA, which is owned by Sprint and share the same network, no contract, $25 a month for 300min and unlimited 3G data, text, GPS. But they only offer the same plan for $35 now.

Strange, but after buying an Android tablet I don't use my Android cellphone anymore except for calling. I returned 3 Android tablets to eventually settle with the Acer Iconia A500 because it has a full sized USB port onboard (the rejects were Asus Transformer and Toshiba Thrive).

So much hope had for Meego but couldn't offer to wait any longer, hope that rumour about Samsung buying it is true.

I some how doubt samsung is about to dump money into QT after investing in the superior EFLs for all these years ;)

~Jeff