Posts tagged “mobile phones”

Why does my mobile phone suck so much? (Part 2)Mar 3, 2008

Mobile carriers are terrified of becoming commoditized data pipes, so they're fighting it with walled gardens, exclusive devices, and insane data pricing. The inevitable disruption will be a wi-fi VoIP phone sold outright, no contract, launching in dense urban markets. Free calls, great hardware, aligned incentives. Until then, your phone sucks.

Why does my mobile phone suck so much? (Part 1)Feb 25, 2008

US mobile phones suck due to geography, history, and bad luck. Low population density kills carrier profits, early AMPS network adoption created expensive legacy problems, and late GSM adoption meant missing out on the SMS cash cow that saved European carriers. Americans got screwed at every turn.

That's it. No more being nice to disabled people.Oct 13, 2004

Got my phone stolen in Leicester Square by a kid faking a disability to distract me while he lifted it off the table. I fell for the oldest tourist trap trick in the book. Lost all my contacts -- please email me your number.

I got a new mobile the other day, the ubiquitous Nokia 3210. I've been having fun with custom ring...Apr 2, 2001

Got a Nokia 3210. It plays the Imperial March and displays "Star Wars" as my operator logo. Found free logos at BoltBlue (one per day) and ring tones at YourMobile. Can't believe anyone pays real money for tiny black-and-white icons.