The one thing left for MS to be successful, please for the love of God

[MikeX74]

I don?t want to seem as if I am ungrateful for your input, but is that factual information. I mean, can we really put the blame at the carrier feet. After all MS paid 3 billion-ish for Minecraft, I don?t see what can be better leverage than cold hard cash.

Yes, you can put the blame at carriers' feet. Why? Because, as history has shown, at least in America, carriers only sell WP devices if they can get some sort of exclusive device or variant(Examples being the 900 and 920 on AT&T and the Icon on Verizon). Even if MS creates one phone to rule them all, carriers still have to WANT to sell it. And HeyCori is right about everything he said about carriers and the supreme lack of leverage that MS has with them. I think that you and a lot of people think that throwing money around can buy success(or leverage, in this case) 100% of the time. It can lead to success, but not buy it outright. You know why Apple has the leverage with carriers that it does today? Not because they threw money at carriers, but because they earned it with the success of the iPhone over the years. Carriers might hate the terms they agreed to with Apple, but they know that if they decide not to carry the iPhone, customers who want it will go elsewhere. Contrast that with Microsoft, who has no choice but to accede to whatever demands carriers put forth.

 

[andraeseus]

I have actually done this. I switched from at&t for the n900 (coming from a n-95 eruo version) luckily it wasn't a hard decisions because tmobile was much cheaper all around the board in every aspect. I wouldn't do that again though. They don't typically release flagship or the higher end models to tmobile for a hand full of reasons that I won't go into. However, what I have done ever since was seek out and purchase the unlocked model that is compatible with tmobile. this means I consistently spend more money up front for the phone as there are no subsidies and I am pretty much on my own for tech support and warranty/insurance stuff. after years of doing this though I don't mind. Besides, I tend to know more than the tards at the stores and on the customer support lines anyway. IF the new flagship does not have a compatible version in the US I will have to pick another os probably.

 

[nycny]

And on AT&T and T-Mobile (not sure about Verizon/Sprint), you do get a discount once the contract runs out and you keep the same phone. It's $15 on AT&T and I'm guessing it's about the same on T-Mobile.

I didn't know you got $15 price reduction when contract runs out?

 

[Talderon]

I agree with the posts above. I have worked for AT&T Corporate, T-Mobile Corporate and Sprint Corporate and it's NOT an MS issue at all. It all comes down to the carriers. 100% on them. As stated, for many devices, they want to have something that makes theirs different from anyone else to lure customers from other carriers. It's crappy how the carrier battles happen in the US, but for me, Sticking with AT&T is a good thing since I know they will be more open to taking on Windows Phone devices. Remember, AT&T was pivotal in the insurgence of the smart phone devices as we know them today.

It used to be that the carriers decided what the customers wanted and designed those devices to that specification. Steve Jobs approached EVERY carrier here in the US with his concept of letting the manufacturers design the handsets. AT&T Wireless was the only one that gave him the light of day. Thus, AT&T had exclusive rights to the first Apple iPhone for years.

With how successful the device was, it put other manufactures in the position to carve out a similar deal and thus the birth of the Smart Phones as designed by the Manufactures.

Even with that freedom, the carriers can put some restrictions on the hardware and applications that come pre-loaded. Thus the crippled AT&T 1520 with only 16GB RAM and no Qi wireless built in, as just one example.

Microsoft is doing it's best, internationally where there are less carrier restrictions, they are selling like hot cakes. Here, they are having a harder time getting into the space since most carriers are only willing to carry a couple devices.

Microsoft DOES need to work on those relationships to get more handsets on more carriers, but at this time AT&T is more than willing to take up the Windows Phone banner and release Windows Phone devices across the spectrum, not just on the low end like one carrier *coughT-Mobilecough* :winktongue:

 

[ashram]

And on AT&T and T-Mobile (not sure about Verizon/Sprint), you do get a discount once the contract runs out and you keep the same phone. It's $15 on AT&T and I'm guessing it's about the same on T-Mobile.

WHAT?!? I've been off contract for almost a year and got no such discount, those bums!!!

 

[HeyCori]

I didn't know you got $15 price reduction when contract runs out?

They started doing it the tail end of 2013, likely to compete with T-Mo.

AT&T To Offer $15/Month Discounts To Customers With Out-Of-Contract Phones ? Consumerist

 

[HeyCori]

WHAT?!? I've been off contract for almost a year and got no such discount, those bums!!!

When I first heard of the promotion I called to day of to make sure I got it, lol. I guess that was a while ago now since I'm with Cricket.

 

[ashram]

When I first heard of the promotion I called to day of to make sure I got it, lol. I guess that was a while ago now since I'm with Cricket.

well, to be fair, I am on a few grandfathered plans (and some only available through business accounts)

 

[andraeseus]

Because that phone hasn' t been available for a long time now. It was a one shot deal with just a few models made. ALSO! every locked phone will not work with any carrier. And if it does all features (especially network features like mms, lte, 3g, calling and web surfing at the same time, may not be available)

 

[andraeseus]

I have been yelling this since my soney Ericson p910 and with my nokia n95. Carriers should be selling based on service ! not headsets!. if they did that then they would only have their service to rely on as a way to get you in the door. their rate plans, reliability, etc. But why would you base it on that as a business? that promotes competition which is EXACTLY what the free market is supposed to do and it does not. there is not a business on the planet that wants compete because that drives the cost down for the consumer So minimize competition. When at$t is the only game in town for getting an iPhone they don't have to have the best service or rate plans. They will automatically get anyone who really wants an iPhone. Otherwise they would have to compete with T-Mobile which they do not want to do. No business wants to compete. I buy a tv cause I like the tv. I buy cable because I like the plans they offer. simple as that. I don't buy one for the other. If they open the phones up to every carrier than that is one less guaranteed stream of revenue. We would also know once and for all who is over all the best carrier out there.

 

[signal-2-noise]

As others have said...unlocked ftw. And "god" has nothing to do with this.