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U.S. Senators Ask FCC To Investigate Legality Of Exclusivity Deals Between Handset Makers And Carriers

Submitted by Edward Kirk on June 17, 2009 - 9:57pm.
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A group of U.S. Senators are asking the FCC to examine the exclusivity deals between wireless service providers and handset makers that allow a carrier to be the only provider for a specific handset over a period of time, such as the arrangement between Apple and AT&T for the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S. The decision was the result of a request sent by a group of rural operators asking to have the FCC look in to the matter.

The letter to the Federal Communications Committee requesting the examinations was signed by four members of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet: senators John Kerry (D), Roger Wicker (R), Byron Dorgan (D), and Amy Kobuchar (D).

If it is decided that such exclusivity agreements are unfair to customers or stifle innovation or competition in the industry, they may break their arrangements.

[via Macworld]

Submitted by thuggedout on June 17, 2009 - 10:09pm.
This is a good idea for some but for stock holders of AT&T won't like this because the iPhone has boost subscribers for them. If this brings better prices for devices and service, then I'm all for it.

Submitted by foamysking on June 17, 2009 - 10:17pm.
and bam we will start playing full price for phones again bye bye cheep phones hello nokia smart phone prices welcome to fracking europe

Submitted by HackThatPhone on June 17, 2009 - 10:23pm.
Good break it all up.

Submitted by Hans on June 17, 2009 - 10:29pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HackThatPhone View Post
Good break it all up.
screw that, i don't want to pay 600 for a new phone every couple years

Submitted by warlock on June 17, 2009 - 10:43pm.
Sounds like a monopoly to me!!!

Different Frequencies

Submitted by knate on June 18, 2009 - 6:28am.
How would this help?

Different frequencies are used by each carrier. There would be no way for me to be able to take, lets say, my iPhone to Sprint/Nextel cause the hardware won't support their network, I couldn't even use it on a Verizon Wireless network.

Why is it that when there are 1 or 2 phones that someone would like on their network this issue pops up again. No one ever complains about the POS phones.

Submitted by foamysking on June 18, 2009 - 6:34am.
unfortantly most people dont under stand that or even understand that there are diffrent technologies that cellular carriers use that are incompatiable lets just hope the fcc is a hell of a alot smarter than the senators asking for this otherwise its goinna frack the celphone indistry if all phones sold in the us have to be compatable with all networks or all networks must be compatable with all phones

Submitted by Hans on June 18, 2009 - 11:55am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by foamysking View Post
lets just hope the fcc is a hell of a alot smarter than the senators
the fcc is full of complete morons that have unrealistic ideas and are incapable of forming an intelligent thought. with that in mind, we are probably screwed

Submitted by HackThatPhone on June 18, 2009 - 4:19pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans View Post
screw that, i don't want to pay 600 for a new phone every couple years
So stop buying a new phone every two years. Break up the current system. I could care less about a cheap phone when you are now stuck with over priced month to month service and your phone is locked to boot. Even once you've paid off your contract the bastards still won't unlock your phone for you. If the playing field was leveled so that any phone could be taken to any carrier, then the customer would be heard as far as what features they want from their carrier, and carriers would fight for customers and lower prices to be more competitive.