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.

Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim Mullens who wrote (143225)	7/3/2006 5:58:09 PM
From: Another John	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Jim, GSM phones from one network will not work on another network unless the phone is unlocked and usually have to be out of the contract period. Unlocking is generally available and non-contract SIM cards are widely used by students and those not willing to pay a monthly bill(PrePay). The SIM is handy when changing phones as it carries all your contacts and numbers.

To: Jim Mullens who wrote (143225)	7/3/2006 6:03:07 PM
From: seti	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Interesting point. Therefore, with carrier phone subsidies, they feel its to their advantage to restrict the turn over of handsets. It also reduces churn when one cannot use his phone on another network. Handset mfgs benefit with SIM cards if they result in more sales from upgrades/ new services. However, with a SIM one would not need a new phone when switching carriers and thus reducing phone sales. SIM cards could therefore benefit QCOM by driving more handset / chipset sales. Carriers do not give phone subsidies. They make "loans" at loan shark rates. In Hong Kong (admitedly a special case) I can buy a prepay SIM card for as little as $8 usd. It comes with $8 usd worth of airtime equal to 240 anytime minutes - no activation fee. Popping over the border to China, change the SIM card, and you can see everybody else doing the same at the crossing. In the US, I wouldn't mind buying a new gee-whiz CDMA phone, but don't want to get into the morass of vendor lock-in, contract periods, activation fee, endless garbage. So I get a cheap phone without subsidy from virginmobile (sprint network). One doesn't have to speculate about whether people will ugrade to newer phones. In asia, they change/upgrade very frequently. The US is a wireless third world country.