[QUOTE=KorJax;36267921]I find it amusing that paying an overall cost of $1,200 bi-annually for a mobile smartphone is considered affordable and/or cheap
I'd get a smart phone if it wasn't for the fact that they are grossly over-valued, but people are willing to pay for the conveience and popularity of internet-everywhere so much, to pay well over $1,000 over the period of two-years (even more the longer you keep it) on a what is basically a small cheap hand-held computer with a nice screen.
Granted I know other smart phones/companies go cheaper, but it is still funny to me. I'm pretty internet-connected, love tech, etc, but I'd still much rather pay $75 a year to use a tracfone regularly for calls/texts, than invest nearly $700 a year for the same thing, but with the added convienece of having it look flashy and browse the net even more than I already do wherever I go.
Instead of getting a 2 year contract phone I could go on a goddamn cruise for 2 weeks or a roadtrip for a month.
I know I'm in the minority though - and I don't deny the convenience of having such a device. I'd just only pay $20-$25 a month at the most for such a luxury and no more than $250 for the actual device to do it (and not have said device be total shit). And even then I'd consider it an expensive luxury.[/QUOTE]
It costs me about 960$ yearly for my phone. I feel sad now.
lol
I paid $400 for an unlocked N900, and only pay $25 a month tops with T-Mobile for prepaid calling, unlimited texting, and my phone is still 100% better than an iphone
At least it's better than a lot of the prepaid phones out on the market right now
They'll never understand our love
[img]http://www9.pcmag.com/media/images/225376-lg-lotus.jpg?thumb=y[/img]
I don't get it how you guys can fuck up so much money with a phone in the US.
I only kill 120€ a year (10€ each month more or less) for basically everything free.
Free calls/video calls/SMS/MMS/whatever to people with the same service as me (Vodafone) and free internet. If I want to do something to a different service than me, I have to pay, but since I charge 10€ every month, its as if its free.
Then my phone cost like 100€, except I could be using an N95 instead which is alot better, for no additional costs (because its mine)
[QUOTE=MightyMax;36267828]it costs less than 100 bucks to MAKE an iphone.[/QUOTE]
For the hardware, yes.
You also have to factor in the people who assemble the iPhones, shipping to everywhere in the US, and paying the people who code iOS.
Now I know it's not nearly $550, I'm sure it's probably still in the $150-$200 overall.
In my country the prepaid iPhone 4S costs around $2000 ~~~
I bought an iPhone here in Japan. It's 200$ for the iPhone 4S, I only pay 1600 Yen (20 dollars) a month for unlimited internet and text (to SoftBank phones). The only downside is that you pay per minute when you call ANYONE.
i pay $40 a month for my 4GLTE galaxy note (2gb data)
the phone was $299
But how is the service on Virgin Mobil when compared to the others?
[QUOTE=Bryanrocks0;36280451]But how is the service on Virgin Mobil when compared to the others?[/QUOTE]
its just rebranded sprint
[QUOTE=meppers;36280631]its just rebranded sprint[/QUOTE]
I've heard Sprint is terrible. I've heard they throw in extra charges onto your bill every month for whatever reason and refuse to tell you why or refund the money. At least that was one of my friend's experiences.
[QUOTE=Funcoot;36267765]I have an AT&T iPhone... can I just get a Virgin Mobile sim?[/QUOTE]
Nope.
You can't even do that with Sprint or Verizon.
[QUOTE=Funcoot;36267765]I have an AT&T iPhone... can I just get a Virgin Mobile sim?[/QUOTE]
Virgin is an MVNO for CDMA carriers. I'm guessing either it isn't allowed at all or you have to jump through hoops to get it.
Pfffft, just get the new Samsung Galaxy S3.
[QUOTE=Bryanrocks0;36280451]But how is the service on Virgin Mobil when compared to the others?[/QUOTE]
I've got virgin mobile, I live in southern California, the only time I've lose server is when I go through a tunnel otherwise I get full bars, and I travel around southern California a lot.
[QUOTE=MightyMax;36267828]it costs less than 100 bucks to MAKE an iphone.[/QUOTE]
Not counting quality checks and materials testing, sure.
[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;36267815]How is an iPhone a hipster phone if fucking everybody has one.
No fucking joke, I go to the mall, EVERY FUCKING PERSON I see has an iPhone (with the occasional android).[/QUOTE]
i dont understand this because android has a higher market share now and has for a while
[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;36267815]How is an iPhone a hipster phone if fucking everybody has one.
No fucking joke, I go to the mall, EVERY FUCKING PERSON I see has an iPhone (with the occasional android).[/QUOTE]
agreed, I haven't seen an Android phone in god knows how long (besides mine)
I think Americans don't like them anymore, considering allot of people are frustrated with the lack of software updates that all iOS devices get no matter how much the service providers wish they didn't
[editline]11th June 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=DOG-GY;36282345]i dont understand this because android has a higher market share now and has for a while[/QUOTE]
All those market share reports are often before the 4S, or global, or just the fact that they don't point out that the Android is no longer viewed as better than iOS to allot of middle Americans with disposable income, it was only a short period where Android was actually preferred to iOS and not just price or contracts.
It would be just great if Verizon and AT&T weren't run by thieves.
My 75 year old grandma has an iPhone, iPad, does that make her a hipster? :v:
[QUOTE=The Baconator;36282907]agreed, I haven't seen an Android phone in god knows how long (besides mine)
I think Americans don't like them anymore, considering allot of people are frustrated with the lack of software updates that all iOS devices get no matter how much the service providers wish they didn't
[editline]11th June 2012[/editline]
All those market share reports are often before the 4S, or global, or just the fact that they don't point out that the Android is no longer viewed as better than iOS to allot of middle Americans with disposable income, it was only a short period where Android was actually preferred to iOS and not just price or contracts.[/QUOTE]
Anecdotal, but most all of my friends have android phones. I rarely see any ios device compared to android. Also, from what I read they (android) have a majority market share still unless you have data to show that they don't along with your claim on a majority preference.
[QUOTE=The Baconator;36282907]agreed, I haven't seen an Android phone in god knows how long (besides mine)
I think Americans don't like them anymore, considering allot of people are frustrated with the lack of software updates that all iOS devices get no matter how much the service providers wish they didn't
[/QUOTE]Odd, I see them all the time here. A lot of my coworkers have Android phones, and most of my friends use them. If anything, iPhones are by far the minority.
Yeah I'll just wait until the JB community can flash them for Virgin Mobile, and then I'll consider it.
[QUOTE=Number-41;36274851]I still don't get how people are prepared to spend 600€ on a phone. Imagine carrying 600€ on you at all times.[/QUOTE]
usually carriers subsidize them when you get a new plan so you aren't outright paying 600 for it.
[QUOTE=Lazor;36309147]usually carriers subsidize them when you get a new plan so you aren't outright paying 600 for it.[/QUOTE]
yeah, prepaid is great if you have cash upfront
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