Why Do Some Politicians Want To Ban You From Putting New Software On A Prepaid Mobile Phone?
from the protecting-business-models? dept
The EFF points out that some prepaid mobile providers have apparently convinced some politicians to introduce a bill, The Wireless Prepaid Access Device Enforcement Act of 2009, that would ban buyers of prepaid mobile phones from installing their own software for the purpose of working on another network. Basically, this is a bill specifically to protect the business model of Tracfone, which sells subsidized phones assuming that the buyers will keep buying prepaid minutes from them. The problem is that this might just be a bad business model -- and once someone has bought a device, it should be theirs, and they should be free to do with it what they want. Congress shouldn't be protecting anyone's business model.
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Filed Under: business models, ownership, prepaid mobile
Companies: tracfone
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Counter-Terrorism?
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Re: Counter-Terrorism?
Terrorist1: Ok I have the bomb completed and I am ready to blow up the building we planned on taking out.
Terrorist2: Excellent how are we going to set it off?
Terrorist1: I am going to install some software on this prepaid phone and BOOM!
Terrorist2: We cant do that! It is illegal to install unauthorized software on a prepaid phone!
Terrorist1: Drats!! Foiled again!
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Re: Counter-Terrorism?
Plus since when did silly things like laws stop criminals and terrorists?
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Re: Counter-Terrorism?
No. Even the suggestion is idiotic. Congratulations.
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Re: Re: Counter-Terrorism?
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Re: Re: Re: Counter-Terrorism?
There's no need to start using profanity and calling people names either.
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Re: Counter-Terrorism?
1) you don't use phones as detonators. you use them as triggers. phones don't generate enough electricity to detonate anything. you use a power source like a battery to blow a smaller explosive (like a blasting cap), called a primer. all the trigger does is complete the circuit between the battery and the primer.
2) any device with a vibrate function can be used as a trigger, including a pager or a sex toy.
3) you don't need any software to set up a phone as a trigger. you just cut the wire from the phone to the vibrate-motor and solder it to a switch. the phone "rings", switch closes the circuit, and (hopefully) it goes boom.
4) techdirt now supports terrorism.
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Re:
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Congress shouldn't be protecting anyone's business model.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Congress protect everyone's business model? I mean, most business models are based on some sort of implicit or explicit contract, and those contracts are enforced by laws that are written and maintained by Congress (I'm sure some of them go back to Common Law).
I don't see why this business model needs its own special law, when a contract would do just as well. Perhaps some company that wants to operate loss-leader business models should have people sign a short contract at the register when purchasing one of these devices. I imagine that would cut into sales a little, but if this bulk-buying-reflashing-and-reselling business is so big it might make sense.
I've never really liked loss-leader business models myself, because instead of competing on socially-valuable things, like better product quality or lower price, you're competing on socially-malicious things, like who is capable of more artfully tricking consumers into spending more money than they think they are, or who is capable of better exploiting people's inability to perfectly predict their own future behavior.
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And you are right, I can't think of a single reason that consumers should keep their rights if it means Tracfone will go out of business. Can you? Why not just pass a law that gives tax money to Tracfone?
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Loss leaders aren't malicious in and of themselves. It depends on whether the user is subsequently gouged because the seller has some kind of lock-in.
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When I bought mine, the salesperson informed me that the phone is not for resale. I was OK with saying that I understand they don't intend it for resale, because that isn't the same as agreeing not to resell it. :-) At that time (about 2 years ago) they didn't say anything about trying to use it on another network, perhaps that issue hadn't come up yet.
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The Motor Fuel Access Device Enforcement Act
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Isn't that the purpose of elected representatives?
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Re: Isn't that the purpose of elected representatives?
Purpose: It's their job to make laws based upon the interests of their citizen constituents.
Do: They ignore their citizen constituents when they can and make laws based upon the interests of the companies that supported their election campaign and current prostitute and/or prescription drug problems.
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Re: Re: Isn't that the purpose of elected representatives?
Like many people, you seem to believe that their *stated* purpose is their *true* purpose. It isn't. If you want to know their true purpose, look at what they do, not what they say.
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I'll do as I please..
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Would this stand up?
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Re: Would this stand up?
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Re: Re: Would this stand up?
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Re: Re: Would this stand up?
it can't be subsidized *that* much, otherwise, kids in the drug trade would have put them out of business years ago by burning phones.
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Re: Re: Would this stand up?
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Re: Re: Would this stand up?
The only way for a carrier to claim different would be if the contract said something to the effect of "the phone remains the property of AT&T, and you must return it upon request". That sort of language exists for things like credit cards, FastPass toll RFIDs, and used to exist for landline phones.
Your suggestion is wrong. The phone is a loss leader, which under their business model they hope will generate positive returns in the long run. What if a Walmart offered "door crasher" specials for Thanksgiving, but said "Those remain our property unless you spend another $200 in the store." What if Walmart then asked congress to pass a law that said, "Nobody can come to our store on thanksgiving and only buy the door crasher items, but not also buy other regular priced items." Well, that's what TracFone wants.
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Re: Re: Would this stand up?
If there's a contract in place that states that by receiving the merchandise you agree to "blah blah blah legalese" and then you SIGN that agreement, then you are bound by the agreement. Like in a auto lease agreement, the bank owns the car, you get to use it, but there's a contractual agreement signed by both parties that spells this out.
No agreement, then the phone is yours. Possession … 9/10ths and all.
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Re: Re: Would this stand up?
Can you cite US law to back that up or are you just making crap up?
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Re: Re: Re: Would this stand up?
The regular post paid has price and time limit well stated when subsidy will be paid off. why those prepaids can't do that.
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It is the American way blame others for everything and sue them. If that fails change the laws so you can succeed.
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You know...
Given internet connectivity is relatively complete in this country (what is it, like 85% of people have access to the internet one way or another? Going off of memory in a news story there, so might be off...), why can't an independent, trusted group make a point to catalogue controversial legislation and go out and do a properly inclusive poll of registered voters that are effected by the bill, and just get their vote?
That way, if you have a bill like The Wireless Prepaid Access Device Enforcement Act of 2009 and 90% of the constituents don't want it, the group can flat out come out and say, "We have confirmed with a fair amount of accuracy that Senator Moneytaker has no interest in representing his constituents".
In fact, you could have a running list of each Senator/Representative and how many times and on what bills they blatantly ignored the will of the people. That way, when they're up for reelection, you go to the site, type in their name and then vote for the other guy should it be warranted.
Crowd source it locally with some general national guidelines. Hell, it doesn't even have to LOOK pretty; make it look simple like Craig's List. Except it can be called Dark Helmet's Shit List.
Dark Helmet WANT'S YOU! When do you want to start?
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did the unlock exception for the DMCA expire?
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Wow...it's possible to do this?
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Free Consulting
But you know what happens? Not everybody to whom I offer free consulting ends up hiring me and making me money.
I am going to ask congress to pass a law that says anyone to whom I give free consulting MUST then hire me for at least 2 hours of paid consulting. MY BUSINESS MODEL MUST BE PROTECTED. God (and congress) forbid I should suffer a loss, invest and suffer my own risks, or fail to make money on EVERY single loss leader I incur.
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Politicians are bought by lobyists, thats why they do it.
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