[rant]
I really despise the US Carriers (other than t-mo) for their locking-BS. So the Streak is coming to AT&T (who cares?) Why isn't the Streak coming to w/e carrier you have? I realize that AT&T and T-Mo are both on GSM, but T-mo is the only Carrier that requires NO CONTRACT, EVER. I'd leave T-Mo for (another US carrier) if they didn't require that I have a contract, whether or not I have a phone.
[/rant]
(... ok ok i'll stop ranting before i get too far off topic.)
Discussion about
Dell had better make this phone available unlocked.
Problem is, most people who rant about unlocking then tend to go on about the price of handsets when they're unlocked, saying they should be like $100. I buy a fair number of unlocked handsets since I often upgrade independently of the contracts I have, and people balk at what I pay for them - which strikes me as a little strange as e.g. a top-spec iPod Touch is $400 to start with...
I stopped myself short of saying...
that T-mo offers a way of paying for a phone similar to the contracted-type of the other large US carriers. Yes the price of a mobile smart phone is expensive, but T-mo allows the 20 month plan (which can seem like a contract as you have to pay the phone off before you can leave). Nicely there is no interest charge if you choose to use the 20-month plan. (e.g. $400 phone; $20/ month. $75 phone; $3.75/ month). Does any other carrier offer a payment plan similar T-Mo?
that T-mo offers a way of paying for a phone similar to the contracted-type of the other large US carriers. Yes the price of a mobile smart phone is expensive, but T-mo allows the 20 month plan (which can seem like a contract as you have to pay the phone off before you can leave). Nicely there is no interest charge if you choose to use the 20-month plan. (e.g. $400 phone; $20/ month. $75 phone; $3.75/ month). Does any other carrier offer a payment plan similar T-Mo?
Yes. What many people who rant tend to be effectively expecting when they say 'unlocked' is unlocked with subsidy, with no (or very short) contract.
