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here is the problem, Microsoft has allowed carriers to bastardize various Winmo distributions from the hardware manufacturers while Apple has basically been able to get away with murder (activating a phone with non carrier software? blasphemous!)
Look at the recent winmo offerings and how little they are subsidized compared to the iPhone. It is almost illicit at the way Apple is operating. You mean to tell me a Smartphone costs MORE than an iPhone on 2 yr contract?
I think Microsoft is taking back the reins here and building a full featured phone that they will take to a carrier like Verizon or Sprint and say "you want a brand name phone to compete with the iPhone here it is and you can't attach any conditions"
I think anyone would love to take on ATT with an alternative, but they have to let Microsoft do what they want, that means not ripping out features of WinMo or installing carrier proprietary junk.
If no carriers bite at that then Microsoft can still go out on their own and heavily subsidize the phone as unlocked WCDMA and go global with it. They have the money to pull it off. This would open them up to more retail channels than the iPhone currently has because it is tied to ATT dealers.
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