| T-Mobile CMO: subsidized pricing hurts wireless competition, undermines hardware value Mar 11th 2012, 06:41 Could an end to unsubsidized smartphones be on its way for US carriers? If T-Mobile's Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman had his way, that familiar on-contract pricing would've gone the way of the Dodo a long time ago. Speaking at this week's GeekWire Summit in Seattle, the Magenta exec vented his frustrations with the industry's current business model, citing his belief that low cost handsets not only distort consumers' perspectives, effectively "[devaluing].. the hardware they are using," but also position wireless market players to compete unevenly. When pressed as to why his own network hadn't effected the change, Brodman referenced the lack of cooperation from other major operators, in addition to a market driven by subscribers' purchase habits. As for the fourth place network's glaring iPhone omission, Brodman seemed nonplussed, highlighting the variety of Android and Windows Phones available on its lineup, while asserting his faith in a multi-OS marketplace. While you keep those toes crossed in the hopes of a subsidy-free mobile future, check out the source below for the full panel interview. T-Mobile CMO: subsidized pricing hurts wireless competition, undermines hardware value originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 02:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Mashable |  GeekWire | Email this | Comments | | Apple WALT prototype hits eBay, reminds us of a life with landlines Mar 11th 2012, 04:41 As it turns out, Apple too used to announce products at trade shows... only to never actually ship them. Back in the halcyon days of the early '90s, Apple revealed the WALT (Wizzy Active Lifestyle Telephone) at Macworld Boston, touting a fairly amazing feature set. Things like a touchscreen, handwriting recognition, fax support, an address book, caller ID, online banking and a speakerphone set it apart from the landline devices of its day, and being that it was co-developed with Bell South, it's pretty clear that your pops had his eye one at some point. Those looking to relive the corporate boom of one-nine-nine-to-the- tres can plunk down $8,000 of 2012's dollars at the eBay link below; just don't expect it to work out of the box, okay? [Thanks, TS] Apple WALT prototype hits eBay, reminds us of a life with landlines originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | eBay | Email this | Comments | |
