Why Your Cell Phone Stinks
By Michael Finneran
Published September 2007; Posted April 2008

Abstract:

The phenomenal growth of cellular has been spawned in large part by a Faustian bargain the carriers have struck with their customers: the carriers underwrite the cost of your handset to hook you in for a long-term contract. Some carriers are now questioning the wisdom of that plan. Sprint’s Gary Forsee has indicated that the business model for their new WiMAX service will not be built on subsidized devices, so possibly this idea will disappear from the wireless market.