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De-Branding, why buy a branded phone in the first place? |
enk39
Joined: Oct 27, 2008
Posts: 120
From: NZ
PM |
@carkitter:
-To my understanding sim locking helps to make sure that people are forced to use their network, that's irritating but understandable buisness sense.
-With Logo and software branding, the user is effectively advertising the network when using it eg pull out your phone and people see "vodafone" on it they know to go to vodafone shops.
That's what i assume the logic is behind branding is, But i can say i still don't like it and that it actually puts me off more.
From you comment it seemed you implied i was missing something so i'd be happy to hear what you have to say
[ This Message was edited by: enk39 on 2009-01-21 09:53 ] |
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whizkidd
Joined: May 14, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: India
PM, WWW
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Just a minor query that popped.. What happens if you end up in a country where there is no "partner" network of the operator your phone is locked to? Buy a new phone?? Man, thats crap if its that way.
Thank lord we don't have branding stuff here in India.. although I do see them slowly creeping up with newer, high end releases.
T230 >> T610 >> Ngage QD >> N73 >> N85 >> Omnia HD >> And countless other review units |
carkitter
Joined: Apr 29, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Auckland, NZ
PM |
Firstly, VodafoneNZ don't SIM lock their phones, except for the iPhone 3G but then all iPhones are SIM locked.
Second, all mobile phones have logo branding, whether it says  ,  , Cybershot or Vodafone. I honestly don't see a problem with having a Vodafone logo on my phone - as a brand, I rate it quite highly and the large amount of Motorsport sponsorship they indulge in goes down well with me too. 
Firmware branding is about directing customers to online services which provide a benefit to the user and a revenue stream to the network. Without online services, network charges would be higher for sure. Sometimes those services clash with phone features and I hate that like everybody else but I not going to 'cut off my nose despite my face' so to speak. I firmly believe that we should refuse to buy products and services that we don't like or approve off, not buy them then spend time breaking all the rules, hacking software and pretending we didn't for warranty purposes.
When VodafoneNZ announced they were going to SIM lock phones in anticipation of GSM competition from TelecomNZ, it was the massive public outcry that made then change their minds. And when they released rediculously expensive iPhone plans, the lack of customers caught their attention and they brought out some cheap plans, one of which was too good for me to pass up.
Its dialogue with networks we need not software hacks, that just makes the networks more determined - witness the lengths Apple has gone to this time round with the iPhone 3G.
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2009-01-23 09:49 ] |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
PM |
Well you can always go through O2 or Carphone. But sometimes if your network is offering you a great upgrade offer then well there you go. I always go through Carphone now. |
tbroe
Joined: Jan 02, 2008
Posts: 278
PM |
Yeahhh CPW will normally sell you an unbranded phone. O2 have minimal branding as well which doesn't really bother me  |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
PM |
My above post was a while ago. I now have Orange branded c510. The branding is nasty indeed but as for saying the branding has slowed the phone or made it unreliable. No. I have not had one single bug or crash with the c510. Yet. The one thing i am glad Orange does not do but Vodafone does is Vodafone sometimes even changes the signal and battery meters too. Why? Whats the sense in that? Signal and battery meters dont display network logos. Seriously stupid. I once had a branded Vodafone K700 and K750 and its signal and battery meters were changed. Stupid pointless. I dont mind an Orange sticker on the phone itself its the software i hate. The Orange sticker on my c510 can be removed and replaced with the Cyber Shot one 
[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2009-03-29 00:20 ] |
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Posted: 2009-01-21 10:51
