Aardvark Daily

Please visit the sponsor!

Vodafone's deception uncovered?

In a column I published earlier this week I voiced my skepticism about the reasons behind Vodafone's switch to "locked" handsets on its network.

Vodafone told us that the locking was purely in the consumer's interest and designed to ensure they obtained the optimum "Vodafone experience".

Yeah, right!

But with yesterday's announcement that Vodafone will soon be selling the iPhone in NZ and Australia, the *real* reason for the switch to locked handsets becomes crystal clear.

And I for one, am totally less than impressed with the way the company has been caught telling boldface lies.

You can bet your bottom dollar that one of the conditions of the iPhone deal was that they would be locked to Vodafone's network and that Apple will be collecting a small but very worthwhile percentage of the network use charges associated with all the official iPhone sales in NZ -- just like they did with AT&T in the USA.

So why didn't Vodafone just play it straight and say so, rather than coming out with that ridiculous line of BS about the "Vodafone experience"?

I'm sorry but if this dishonesty is an example of the "Vodafone experience" then I'll be switching to Telecom at the earliest practical opportunity.

It's not that I think Telecom are any better or aren't equally as dishonest when it comes to making a buck -- but it is a chance to show (with my wallet) that I object to being treated like an idiot by my mobile provider.

But that's just me, I strongly suspect that most people don't give a damn and will line up in their droves to score a shiny new iPhone to go with their iPod and iMac.

I wonder what it's like being a fashion-slave? Unfortunately (or is that fortunately?) I've never been one so have no idea.

My purchasing decisions tend to be made on more pragmatic criteria such as value for money and a best match between the functionality offered and that needed for a task.

This is probably why I tend to buy no-name generic PCs rather than "brand name" boxes. It's also why I opt for 3rd-party inkjet cartridges and budget brand coffee.

Now of course in the case of the iPhone I'm happy to admit it could well be that this device is the best mobile phone available. Perhaps, even with the inflationary "i-premium", it represents stunning value for money -- I don't know.

But at projected price of NZ$700+, I don't think I can even remotely justify such an expense, especially when there are a raft of other "functionally equivalent" (and *unlocked*) devices starting to pour out of China at less than a third that price.

Yes, just as I wear "The Warehouse" undies rather than those carrying the Hugo Boss branding, I'm going to be more than happy to have a "Ying-tong iddle i-po" phone rather than the real McCoy.

Now I'll be very interested to hear from Aardvark readers exactly which way they'll be swinging on this whole i-Phone/i-phone-clone issue.

Will you be jumping on the "me too" fashion-victim bandwagon and standing in a queue to buy your very own piece of applemania? Or will you just stick with what you've got?

Do you feel insulted that Vodafone really expected you to believe that "Vodafone experience" BS they offered up earlier this week when we now know it was probably a condition of grabbing the iPhone deal?

Or will you be opting instead for an open source mobile?

And Paul (Brislen), feel free to chip in here :-)

Please visit the sponsor!

Have your say on this...

PERMALINK to this column

Oh, and don't forget today's sci/tech news headlines

Rank This Aardvark Page

Change Font