<< To even just try to sell with ones own plastic covers snapped on would cause extra costs, as well as taking responsibility for snapping them on correctly, packaging, warranties,inventories,etc. (the snip-snap mechanism is actually very demanding on quality of plastic,etc) >>
Essentially that is the function that firms like Brightpoint in the US serve for carriers.
Carrier orders phones from the manufacturer, possibly covers from same or another, customized carrier specific manuals from another source, packaging from another source, personalized SIM cards from the smart card supplier, etc. Phone is removed from box on a Brightpoint line, all components assembled, tested, then packaged and shrinkwrapped in carrier specific packaging for shipment to carrier, the carriers retail outlet or distribution channels, along with an output file to the carrier (SIM and handset data).
I'm assuming similar in Europe?
This "Shrinkwrapped marketing" concept in US was lifted from the UK (Mercury one2one) and OTA activation personalization of SIM was standard fare for US GSM carriers from the time PCS-1900 (GSM-1900) was launched by Sprint Spectrum in November 1995. Only one20ne and Orange were doing OTA at that time elsewhere.
This essentially changed "cellular" retail distribution methodology in the States, back then.
I still have the original one2one box that my Motorola DCN-1800 phone with special Barclay's key (purchased in London in late 94) came in, as well as the Sprint Spectrum box (purchsed in November 1995) my PCS-1900 Motorola Flare came in.
- Eric - |
