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View Full Version : Windows Phone 7: Affordable Edition

Nurhisham Hussein
04-21-2010, 03:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/microsoft-shopping-around-low-cost-version-of-windows-phone-7/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/...indows-phone-7/</a><br /><br /></div><p>Microsoft is apparently thinking of putting out a cut down version (at least in terms of hardware specs) for emerging markets. Why this matters is that the subsidy and contract model - where the cost of hardware is offset by carrier subsidies - isn't that prevalent outside the US, Europe and Japan. That puts many of the planned W7P handsets (that we know of) out of reach for the average smartphone user. Engadget is also speculating this version may be the HVGA screen&nbsp;configuration&nbsp;that was leaked a couple of months back. Good? Bad? Let us know.</p>
Fritzly
04-21-2010, 04:27 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/microsoft-shopping-around-low-cost-version-of-windows-phone-7/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/...indows-phone-7/</a><br /><br /></div><p>Why this matters is that the subsidy and contract model - where the cost of hardware is offset by carrier subsidies - isn't that prevalent outside the US, Europe and Japan. </p>

US and Japan is a more accurate statement. Majority of phones in Europe are SIM free..... thanks God!
Craig Horlacher
04-21-2010, 01:59 PM
I'm not sure what Microsoft is thinking. I don't see how this could be good for them.

I think it will sell even more Android phones then they are already by not allowing real multitasking, storage cards, or copy and paste.
Nurhisham Hussein
04-22-2010, 05:56 AM
US and Japan is a more accurate statement. Majority of phones in Europe are SIM free..... thanks God!

Yeah, at least in Europe you do have a choice. But IIRC, the carriers in Europe do offer parallel contract/subsidy plans as well. At least the EC is more pro-active on this than the US is - I think it's anti-competitive, and just drives up prices.
Fritzly
04-23-2010, 06:29 PM
Yeah, at least in Europe you do have a choice. But IIRC, the carriers in Europe do offer parallel contract/subsidy plans as well. At least the EC is more pro-active on this than the US is - I think it's anti-competitive, and just drives up prices.

Yes they do but we need to keep in mind a huge difference: In Europe you do not pay for incoming calls; this is just another riduculous robbery we suffer here. In fact in Europe a vast majority of younger users buy rechargeable SIMs which, even if you run out of credit, still allow you to receive calls.