
Hear me out on this. A while back there was this post on GigaOm looking at how Mobile Phone Carriers are killing innovation in the Mobile Industry. Here’s another on FoxNews.com which briefly touches on WiFi in phones. This is a huge problem, and it’s only going to get bigger.
What sparked this post? A conversation with Darla regarding some news that I received. I know that the Nokia E62 has been removed from the Nokia Software Updater application, which offers free firmware upgrades to device owners, that they can perform at home. One of the most popular posts on this site was regarding the Cingular branded Nokia E62 and how to remove the branding.
Why would you want to remove the branding?
Because for one, it made java applications such as Opera Mini and Google Maps Mobile
completely useless. Because the applications are not signed with
Cingular’s developer certificate, they must request permission to
access the internet EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY NEED TO, meaning you would
never actually be able to use the application. Cingular has implemented
this limitation on other devices, as well, in the past.
Well, I got word yesterday that Cingular has requested that the
recently released Nokia N75 – the first (and probably only) US 3G S60
device – NOT be listed in the Nokia Software Updater
application at all. Why? What harm does it do? This is another example
of Cingular stifling the S60 experience. They already delayed the phone
6 whole months due to testing and compatibility requests, including the
report of a request to load up AT&T’s new "Remington" UI, which is
supposed to take over the whole phone, similar to how Verizon replaces
their devices’ ENTIRE UI with their own.
Every other S60 device announced in the last 8 months has been
available nearly exactly when they were planned, according to the Press
Releases. That tells me something. So why is Cingular doing all this?
They can brand phones without crippling them, look at all the other
Carriers in the world? And why does Verizon load up their own
proprietary UI, so that every single phone functions exactly the same.
More importantly, why in the world are the Carriers even in the
phones market? Do you buy your landline phone from AT&T? Do you buy
your TV from the cable company? NO. You get the device that you want
and then you get the service for it separately, as it should be.
This is one reason that alot of the mobile phone industry is looking
forward to the iPhone being released. Yes, they’re excited for it. Why?
As many other bloggers have said as well, if you’re spending that kind
of dough on anything, you’re going to shop around. So when you start
looking at the other mobiles that you can get for ~$500 WITHOUT a
contract, people’s eyes are going to be opened up.
But it’s going to take more than just that. This is a KILLER
opportunity for Nokia, Motorola, and the rest to start a HEAVY
advertising blitz. Educate consumers on how easy it is to just pop your
SIM card into whatever phone you want. Educate them on how much better
it is to function without your carrier holding your hand the entire
time. This is a unique opportunity, and I desperately hope that the
manufacturers take notice and take action. There’s still time.















