yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] yawxir:
Well,,

In Pakistan, The Trend of USA and UK's Carrier Contract Mobiles is a bit higher,,

People Get Cheaper a Carrier Contracted Cell Phone Worth 20$ and Send it to Asian Countries where these are Being Unlocked and Then Sold up to 400$.
[General Topics] eyeb:
Unlocked phones are just slightly cheaper too unless you are on a discounted/grandfathered plan

Using Tmobile's plans, 2 year plan is $80/month for unlimited text/call/data. Over the contract period + the $200 for the phone (assuming you don't go for a free contract phone), you pay a total of $2120

Same plan prepaid is $50/month using a $700 phone, you pay $1900 for 2 years. You can drop this down a little for the $30/month plan too if you don't need unlimited minutes
[General Topics] Skv012a:
That. Or, get contracted phone, sim unlock, sell for heaps of cash, buy WHATEVER you want + aforementioned.
[General Topics] fosics:
In Argentina you pay to the carrier a Galaxy SII 560 dollars, and you are locked for 18 months, after that you may ask the unlock key and its all yours, free to use with other companies.

Its the common procedure here, because an unbranded SII is paid over 900 dollars
[General Topics] chaki-:
Since two years i didn't buy phone over carrier with that crappy retail. Of course i didn't hand over the whole money, i have leased. And gotta say, that's the best decision i have ever made. I pay the phone off for 9 months without interest and after that i can do what i want with it.

But lately i did notice that most of the Tech Store's aren't give information online about unbranded phones. Just in case you go there you can see there are some. And the guy's are always tryin to convince you ti buy branded phone.... Can it be that somewhere in the near future all the phones are goin to be in the hands of the carriers?
[General Topics] Deggy:
Whether I pay $500 or $200 for for a phone, I'm paying the same monthly amount aren't I? The only major pro is that I would be contract free. And even if I wanted to change carriers, I would have to sign a contract anyways except with T-Mobile.
[General Topics] evolsam:
I prefer to pay a few hundred € and then be free to switch whenever I want than to be forced to stay for 2 years on a carrier with exorbitant plans. Hell, right now I'm paying 10€/month for 1 Gb HSPA+ and unlimited sms. I don't need more than that. Plus when I go abroad I just buy a SIM and can avoid all roaming charges.
[General Topics] grant190492:
see... I work for Orange UK, so we get discount between 40%-50% on monthly contract line rental... so in my case contract is cheaper :)
[General Topics] chaki-:
Show off :p:p:p

In your case, yes it is cheaper.;)
[General Topics] Neruul:
I always thought it would have pros and no cons, but Samsung proved otherwise.
[General Topics] KayxGee1:
To make it short and sweet:

1. No 2 year contracts

2. Higher value
[General Topics] DizzyWorm:
South Africa

I just recently discovered that south african carriers doesn't lock their phones at all and I live in SA(althought I never travelled) but still...
[General Topics] bamx2:
I agree -
[General Topics] errdos:
silly question but if you install a new rom aren't you getting rid of all the SIM/program restrictions and your phone becomes an equal to the unbounded on?

if so than there is no real reason to buy unbranded one. just install another Rom. you should do it even if you get unbounded one :) (this is the reason i love android)
[General Topics] GorgiGR:
Is this true about South Africa????:confused:
[General Topics] HTC Bravo:
In my opinion nowadays the best ways to buy a new mobile is buy it unlocked than hired with an operator. There are some low cost companies with great rates so... that will be my choice.
[General Topics] ygschiffer:
in my country (Indonesia), the phone that released by a carrier usually have a higher price than the international unlock version....

that's why I never bought a contract one in my country :D
[General Topics] Tyrol:
In Singapore, the phones that come with signing contracts with the carriers are unlocked anyway, so it really comes down to how soon you want the phone (since there's usually a delay between launch and when the carrier has it), and if you want to upgrade your phone before the contract is up.

Carrier-locking phones is illegal here, so there's less of a difference between unlocked phones and "carrier" phones as they're essentially the same.

-----------------------

サンソングガラクシS II からタパトクで書いた。
[General Topics] Rulandas:
times changes for contract vs simfree debate

In the UK it used to be best choice to get a free phone on a contract. It did not also matter if you get phone or not if you had monthly contract. These days situation is so much different. You can get so cheap monthly contracts without a phone or even pay as you go as from giffgaff. So if you take a phone on a contract you would pay for it anyway. Especially that now there are smartphones. I see so many positive sides for buying a smartphone separately.

For Sim free phone/smartphone

- You can move to different network at any time. No commitment

- Therefore they would treat you better as you can leave them

- Get cheap calling plans

- Can upgrade phone at any time.

- No bloatware on your phone.

- Normally quicker software upgrades

- Mostly phone comes cheaper but you pay all upfront.

For contract phone/smartphone

- If device develops fault its covered by provided till the end of your contract
[General Topics] eksasol:
Technically you can buy third party warranty for your phone, but I don't know how good those services are.
[General Topics] HTC Bravo:
That's quite strange, isn't it? I mean, usually the unlocked version is more expensive than the operator's locked ones, right?
[General Topics] pshadoww:
This is what I think too :D

I always buy tmobile phones and use it on at&t
[General Topics] juzz86:
At the present time, there ar hardware differences between localised versions and International, carrier-free handsets too.

For example, the International Note packs an Exynos SoC. The AT&T version packs a Qualcomm one, thanks to LTE. So someone may prefer to pick up the International one if they do a lot of GPU-intensive stuff, or if they like a physical home key and no stupid AT&T logo on the front of their phone.

The One X is another good example at the moment. The International one has a Tegra 3, the AT&T one will have an S4.

The other reasons have already been stated. I personally buy them mainly to get my hands on phones that aren't released in Australia, and because everything released in Australia is over-priced to buggery :p
[General Topics] Rulandas:
sim free is better

it depends. Where you get the phone and what network deal you can be on... example is last years Samsung GS2 you can get for £375 (amazon). If you get giffgaff sim and pay only £10. You get 250 min unlimited txt and unlimited www and free calls to giffgaff users. If you manage to get anything near that offer on a contract and pay only £25 then you already paying the same. but you have no commitment to the network. For newer phones you will be even better off...
[General Topics] votinh:
It come all the way down to "money", seriously.

People who choose to spend $500+ unlock international version ones are the ones who are rich, hence they have money. I don't, there is no way I spend that much for the device.

People who choose to spend $500+ unlock international version ones the one who want to use new phones when others can't, hence they have money. I can't, I use my phone now and not thinking about another one 'til next 2 years.

Phones such SGS2 i777 (AT&T) version can be purchased as low as 1 cent in Amazon.

It can be app-debloated.

It can be unlocked at no time.

It can be mod'ed with custom ROMs.

It purely depends on how people choose to use but most likely, the key factor is they have money. If they don't, who would spend hundred of dollars to get one?
[General Topics] adelmundo:
I think it's more of a "do you want to pay more now or pay more down the line" thing.

My comparisons/differences are based on the US market btw:

Buy international unlocked phones and put it on a prepaid plan - Pay more upfront (higher phone cost) but you'll pay less over time in lower prepaid plan costs ($50/month or less in many cases).

Buy a carrier locked phone and put it on a postpaid contract plan - Pay less up front but you'll pay more over time with higher contract pricing ($80/month or more in many cases).

Yes it is all about money, you can bite the bullet now and pay a little more upfront or pay a lot more over 2 years, in many cases roughly $800-$1000 over 2 years.

I did my calculations with my SG Note International ($585 was what I paid for it) and putting it on Straight Talk (uses AT&T's network) for $45/month vs buying an AT&T branded Note and paying $300 for it then $90/month on service. I'm not taking into account taxes since it varies state to state and the math is easier.Phone price is based on when I bought the phone and not taking into account current pricing or price reductions.

Month

Total Money spent on Int Note Total Money Spent on AT&T Note

1 $630 (phone+plan 1st month) $390 (phone+plan 1st month)

2 $675 $480

3 $720 $570

4 $765 $660

5 $810 $750

6 $855 $840 After the 6th month postpaid is more now

7 $900 $930

24 $1665 $2460 ---->$795 difference over 2 years

Again these numbers are based on no tax added (varies from state to state), no discounts like corporate discounts, and I didn't add in the activation costs (again to make the math simple and to illustrate a point), and not including old grandfathered plans, just as if you're getting into a new contract. Straight Talk plan includes unlimited everything, AT&T postpaid plan includes 450 minutes, 3GB data, unlimited texting.

As illustrated, after just 6 months, I pay less than being on contract. With this model, I can probably buy a new top of the line roughly every year by selling my phone and using the money + savings to buy the latest and greatest.

There are a few downsides, such as insurance and warranty issues, but with the money saved, you can essentially self insure.

In my example, that $300 contract phone will cost me $1095 after 2 years, think of it as $795 in interest for the subsidized pricing....
[General Topics] enigma00:
Why is it so strange? Most (sane) people would prefer to have the unlocked version, and the more desirable one being more expensive is natural, no?

That's what AT&T (or Verizon or other NA operators) would like to you believe. The "free" or "almost free" phones aren't really what they want you to believe. You are locked into a multi-year contract to pay for the price of the phone over time by forcing you to pay their bloated monthly fees.

There is no free lunch, my friend.
[General Topics] miz_pimp:
Yes, it's true, but most, if not all of the carriers, use branded software on their devices.

I had my device imported from overseas, unlocked and unbranded, which is what I prefer. Also, the device was much cheaper to import, than to have purchased it locally.

Sent from my Desire S
[General Topics] Limitz Cash:
If you want to buy a $500 phone, why not get the contract and get the phone for a low or dirt cheap price then pay the money to terminate the contract early then unlock it your self? I think it will be allot cheaper then paying full price for the phone..

Also assuming that you pay nothing or next to nothing for the contract/credit deposit.
[General Topics] Kerosine:
My experience?

I'm from Malta and carriers here are limited to three - Melita, Go Mobile and Vodafone.

I'm a GO customer. I bought my Sensation XE from Amazon and I'm on a €30-ish plan per month now, with 2Gb of internet per month. Had I opted to buy from the carrier NOW (not some months ago, when I bought my phone), I would have to do with this option:

1) No Sensation XE, only Sensation available

2) € 0.00 cost for the phone

3) 2-year contract on €75/month contract (including 2Gb internet only).

My costs were the following:

Sensation XE = €500 from Amazon.de

Contract = Approximately 30-35 per month, at 35€ * 24 months = €840

Total: €1,340

Had I opted for the Carrier's option:

Sensation = € 0

Contract = €75/month * 24 months = €1,800

Total: €1,800

Clearly, I paid more up front, but I'll be making a saving of €460 in the process. That's roundabout the price-tag of another high-end device which I might want to buy by then.

In my view, a simple math calculation should be done prior to any purchase decision, and you should always opt for the option that best suits your saving/spending patterns.
[General Topics] votinh:
I should have modified my post up there :)

Anyway, a special thank to adelmundo and few others that help me to adjust my mindset about this. I never heard of StraightTalk plan b4.

Can you provide some info about the plan?

I've tried to search but very confuse about what it is? Is it a AT&T pre-paid plan? or is it a company that using other phone provider services?
[General Topics] netrace:
I now use the cell phone is unlocked, in China the unlock phone so common, buy back can use.
[General Topics] votinh:
Usually, we have to pay first month (maybe plus the activation fee)

Still cheaper, though.

Wondering do they have any kind of restriction?
[General Topics] BenHolliday:
What am I missing when I see the unlocked 10 dollar unlimited data on at&t?

I've been searching all the paid and prepaid plans in my area and it looks way more expensive and not anywhere close to unlimited.

Simple Mobile is looking like the way to go here but if I can get 10 dollar unlimited data from at&t, I'd do it.
[General Topics] baumerman:
I used the Rogers HTC Dream (G1) on AT&T 3G unlock and then the Nexus One (Bought unlocked from google for AT&T 3G bands) and had the $10 internet plan no problem. Then when AT&T changed their data plans the summer of 2010 it bumped me to the $30/mo unlimited plan automatically. I never renewed during that time.

How can you get the $10 plan on an unlocked phone still?
[General Topics] nyamoV2:
Its all about the imei. Att did a grab with the nexus since it was easily available to people. But most phones that they don't carry will not be detected. Like most Sony phones for example.
[General Topics] Skv012a:
80% aren't and will never be available, they're hardware-butchered most of the time, and even per unlocking/debranding you can't trick carriers for lower data rates (ATT).

So while that $10 SGS2 sounds nice, I'd rather get it, sell it, and buy international instead.
[General Topics] adelmundo:
Straight Talk is an MVNO that provides prepaid mobile plans in the USA. They sell the phones and refill cards at Walmart and online and they use either AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint depending on what phone you purchase. Before you wanted to to get your unlocked phone on Straight Talk, you would have to buy a phone from them such as the Nokia N71, and take the SIM card and put it into your unlocked phone.

However a few months ago, Straight Talk introduced a Bring Your Own Device option where you could purchase a SIM card from them for $15 and then put it into your phone and pay $45/month for their unlimited everything plan.

Keep in mind though that although they advertise as Unlimited everything, there are some caveats to what "unlimited" really means. The voice and texting for the most part is unlimited, but there is no roaming I believe. Where the problem lies is the data part of unlimited. In their TOS, you are not allowed to stream music or video (like YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, etc.) Some people have been given warnings and have even had their SIM deactivated when they used to much data. On the safe side, some people have gone by the under 100 MB/day or 2 GB/month of data use to be safe. No one knows exactly what Straight Talk's criteria is or how they can determine if you're streaming or not. Most times they will give you a warning or 2 before they cut you off. If you look in howardforums.com, there are threads about Straight Talk, but as I have said, know one knows their exact criteria.

Most of the time I am on WIFI at work or at home, so I use very little 3G data. Their speeds are good if you do use 3G. You can even get HSPA+ (aka Faux G) if you have a phone capable of it. I had gotten on average ~2 Mbps down and as high as 8-9 Mbps in some areas.

If you bring your own phone that is GSM capable, you can use both phones that are AT&T or T-Mobile compatible. If you choose a phone that is T-Mobile compatible, you can request a T-Mo SIM. If you choose a phone uses AT&T bands, you can request the AT&T compatible SIM. You can even bring an iPhone on their network and can request the mini-SIM as well. I have also heard they treat the T-Mo phones differently as well, allowing them to use more data since T-Mo's data is unlimited, but throttled after 2GB. Although I don't know for sure since I'm not using the T-Mo SIM.

Straight Talk's website is straighttalk.com btw.
[General Topics] adelmundo:
There is a list in this forum on all the phones we know for sure that will work with the AT&T MediaNet aka Data for Non-Smartphone plan ($10/month).

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1446373

These are the phones that are confirmed working and some that are believed that can work on the plan but haven't been tested on it. Hope this helps!
[General Topics] mlackke:
900$ and soon we have SIII, must double the price then :)
[General Topics] votinh:
Based on what you have said, it seems indeed very good.

About roaming, assuming if I get the AT&T-compatible phone, I should get all AT&T coverage? yes, no? maybe?

Also, since it uses AT&T network, I assume that call quality would be the same, right?

About the data, I would never abuse it so not worry, I'm on AT&T now and my last 2 bills, I averaged 150MB per month since I mainly use wifi for higher speed.

It's also good to know that you got very good up/download rate. Awesome.

A question, if I get an AT&T-compatible phone, my other end is purely on AT&T network, do we have mobile-to-mobile discount? I know on my end, it's unlimited so I don't care but how's about the other end?

Again, big thank, m8

---------- Post added at 11:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 AM ----------

Can you elaborate it a bit? I'm not quite understand what you meant.

80% aren't and will be never available? 80% of what? unlocking?

Also, why "trick carriers for lower data rates"?
[General Topics] adelmundo:
Yes you will get all AT&T coverage, so if you look on AT&T's coverage map, that's your coverage area. Call quality is the same as AT&T as well. As far as the other person getting a mobile discount, if they are on AT&T, then I *think* they would not be charged on their minutes since it would see your phone coming through the AT&T network. Don't quote me on that though, I would probably do some research on that.
[General Topics] votinh:
Thanks, m8
[General Topics] Decs222:
Specially BLOATWARE free. But also because it's really annoying to be tied up to a carrier if you don't like the services.
[General Topics] itchy67x:
Im a german Vodafone customer and i really don't like the behavior of them but there is one really good thing if phone is broken or bricked I call them and they changed them for free and without waiting time for a new one....
[General Topics] felipeamh:
=)

Hello, I'm new here, I've always wanted to respond to thank, but I went out a message of "minimum 10 answers" but here I am ..... n_n.

Answering the question of the subject, saying that could provide an unlocked phone can have much more potential as telephone operators and manufacturers only think "commercially viable", never going to give total customer satisfaction. But the good thing is that there are people like you, I personally have long helped me a lot in several problems I had in the past within Windows, and now Android. Speaking of Android sitema, I tried all the existing ROM with the Kernel ...... but until today, I have had many problems, thank goodness I followed the ROM "dhruv.always" which arrived yesterday finally to perfection, NightlyFourE 5.0, even though I "failed again> _ <" just applied the patch CyanogenMod Google Apps (unbicado on this page -> http wiki-cyanogenmod-com/wiki/Latest_Version/ Google_Apps), I set up the account, I went to Settings, updated Gmail, blackmart installed, and the rest :) install applications, and I hope will last a lot with this system in my Optimus One

Well, soon I hope to thank each development issue, nice to meet you ^ ^

PS: sorry if this poorly drafted, this was translated by Google xD: P
[General Topics] EternalPal:
I bought mine due to bloatware and feeling that if I need to terminate a carrier my phone will not be stuck with them during the termination process.
[General Topics] BunmiHiT3k:
No contract required

you won't be tied down with a contract
[General Topics] vikingzou:
I am online 14 hours a day and I don't have that much people call me :), I hate the contract.
[General Topics] canuckerr:
I think the unlocked phone status has more appeal because of the flexibility to go anywhere and be able to buy a sim card and pop it in.

I think debranding a phone also has the same allure. Usually when a phone is debranded a lot of the bloatware is taken out and it runs faster.
[General Topics] mbaier:
Buy cheap from carrier , and unlock alone :cool:
[General Topics] mie2308:
Still tied with contract..:)
[General Topics] justinhforsyth:
AT&T Subsidized Phone: $200

AT&T Plan: $110/mo * 24 months (contract)

Lower resale value

Locked OS features

Bloatware

Total: $2640

vs.

Unlocked International Phone: $600

Straight Talk AT&T Towers Plan: $45/mo * 24 months (no contract)

Higher resale value

All features unlocked

No bloatware

Total: $1680

That is why.
[General Topics] franciscomac:
Well I have T-Mo. Its a bit more fair about their pricing.

240$

5 lines

3 w/internet 5gb cap

inter/national unl txt

1600 min

:D
[General Topics] mastertalks:
Carrier phones are better as per my opinion

Any carrier phone comes with a fixed but attractive data plan, they are specially helpful for people using internet and latest spectrum connections.

Web browsing is also a big advantage because the network provider gives sufficient speed download space.

with all these reasons, we can have unlimited downloads and can also browse many apps and games.

Just like the Nokia Asha 300, it has around 4 million free songs and 3 million apps, also there is live TV. Nokia has partnered with Vodafone India to provide attractive data plans and also gives a carrier plan to the new purchasers.

Asha 300 has crossed sales records with these interesting and free data plans with to do everything on the Asha 300.
[General Topics] Hanzo.Hasashi:
I have never ever bought a phone through a carrier!Nor did I ever have a contract! I rarely use my phone for phoning:D

Send from beneath my cloak of magic
[General Topics] Deggy:
Title should be changed to why go to the big 4?
[General Topics] vielikiy:
XDA
[General Topics] someone3974:
may consider it
[General Topics] shamal:
locked = NO freedom

Unlocked = Freedom
[General Topics] galaxys:
Unlocked or life with a smartphone would be very boring! Eeek