Carriers are stupid.
Smartphones are becoming a big thing. Just about everybody has one; if they don’t, they’re being pressured to buy one. I see nothing wrong with this. The problem is in the quality of smartphones. First off, you have the “top tier” device. The iPhone. Apple’s most famous product and has a promise of delivering a top quality experience. Apple has the freedom to push out updates on their own time and don’t have to deal with bloatware. While I don’t care for the iPhone, I think this is wonderful. There is one device that doesn’t have to follow carrier regulations. Then enter Android. The same things mentioned earlier are not present here. Most carriers throw in apps that they force users to have on their devices. Then you have the update cycles which take forever and are almost non-existent. Some say if you don’t want to deal with that, get a Nexus phone. They’re available on all carriers and offer the “pure Google experience.” Problem with that is on Verizon there is still carrier intervention. Verizon apps are still installed and the update cycle is regulated by Verizon. Manufacturers need to be willing to build a device, give it the bands to support a network, and then offer it on their own. No carriers involved. Sort of the way the GSM Nexus devices work. The problem with this idea is it wouldn’t work on Sprint or Verizon, because you have to activate it through them.
Verizon (and carriers who do similar things) stop ruining devices. I would love to join their LTE network, but am pushed away from the crap they pull. I am forever stuck on AT&T. Hopefully the smartphone revolution picks up steam and carriers get better, not worse.
