Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (12862)	10/18/2003 6:35:30 AM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793600

Interesting Bill, I like the European model for cell phones better than the dominant U.S. one. Basically, everyone buys a phone here, prices vary depending on the style, capability and so forth. Then you buy a chip and put it in the back of your phone from whatever company you want service with. Then you periodically purchase phone cards, scratch off and insert the code number and call. The number does change when you change chips though. It's much easier to control the costs of cell phone usage here. If you don't use the phone, you don't pay a dime to have the service after getting the chip. Paper cell phone bills don't exist so there are no surprises. It's no wonder Nokia is doing so well in Europe. I did see roughly this same model being sold in Wall Mart before I left the states, but, I don't think it's caught on yet.