OK, I want a Blackberry, I’d love to have an iPhone, gimme a new iPad, I want…. well, whatever new, cool device out there. I want to try them, use them own them. Yet, there is no earthly reason why I’d buy them because I am not a millionaire.
And it’s not because the devices themselves are too expensive, either. It’s because it costs too much to keep them operating. And why is that? Monthly fees.
If I get a Blackberry, I have a monthly fee. If I get a new iPad, then I have another fee. If I want an iPhone then there is a whole ‘nuther fee. Screw dat noize, man.
Here is the thing. Until wireless service can be sold to a customer, not a device, until the service follows the person and NOT the device, we will not be able to revolutionize America’s wireless service. There should be no service stuck to a device. It should be assigned to the person who can then key in his passcode and use his wireless service on ANY device that uses wireless.
The mounting fees for every different device you want to purchase is cost prohibitive and a bad idea. Imagine if you could use your wireless service on any phone, any laptop, any iPod, iPad, iPhone, any game playing device? Imagine how many devices that people would buy?
I think it would greatly improve sales of devices, grow development, and give wireless networks even more reason to improve service. And couldn’t just ONE fee for wireless instead of a fee for every device make wireless cheaper for lower income folks?
So, that is my challenge.
Warner Todd Huston’s thoughtful commentary, sometimes irreverent often historically based, is featured on many websites such as Breitbart.com, among many, many others. He has also written for several history magazines, has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.
