This was only ever an attempt by our big 3 carriers to distract from their own sky high prices. Our big 3 have amongst the highest rates in the world and the highest margins in the world. They file a complaint with the bureau and presto the public conversation changes to blame Apple for the carriers gouging prices. "Sure our prices are high but it's Apples fault...see, even the gov is investigating them". CB is obligated to investigate on complaints so this was a cheap and easy way to distract from their own practices.
At worst, what I expect the carriers claimed was anti-competitive was actually Apple requesting fair treatment of their users. For years the big 3 had "iPhone plans", without actually calling them that. They were plans that you had to get in order to qualify for an iPhone subsidy/discount on contract and they were often 50% or more expensive than plans required for other flagships. I expect Apple went to them and said "WTF? Why are you extraordinarily gouging our customers? Stop going out of your way to screw Apple users or we stop doing business". And the carriers respond by raising rates across the board for everyone. The expected backlash arrives, possibly from regulators, and they distract by filing a complaint against Apple, hoping to kill two birds with one stone...shift public anger to Apple and get regulators that we're sniffing around them to look somewhere else.
So the CRTC is jumping on the consumer side of the bandwagon and the Competition Bureau made sure Apple wasn't screwing anyone, and yet there is still no rule that prevents carriers from taking control of our equipment. Stuff we own, that we paid for, can be locked by the carrier and we have to pay a fee to get it unlocked. Can anyone describe a scenario in which that makes any sense whatsoever?
How is a service provider allowed to hold our equipment hostage? If the cable company tried to lock our TVs to their service, and charge a fee to unlock if we wanted to change providers, everyone would scream bloody hell! Why do we allow cellular service providers to get away with this?
(End of off-topic tangent.)
Create a problem and then charge to fix it or just simply benefit from said problem. Carriers lock phones and then either charge you to unlock it or else it simply prevents you from using your own property in a manner that generates revenue for any other company.
That actually fits a definition of racketeering. Create a problem and then make money off of fixing it.
"We won't break your legs if you pay us. And you can open your store too. We're protecting you."
What I would like to see from all governments is the courage to call Cook and Apple on farming out production to the East and paying them a subsistence income, if that, in slave labour working conditions. Unless that is changed I can't buy Apple products as I refuse to be complicit. Have a look at this documentary: www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/m/episodes/apples-broken-promises .
I tagged your post 'Informative'...if only because I feel rather too informed about what it infers about your critics thinking. As others have pointed out.
So the CRTC is jumping on the consumer side of the bandwagon and the Competition Bureau made sure Apple wasn't screwing anyone, and yet there is still no rule that prevents carriers from taking control of our equipment. Stuff we own, that we paid for, can be locked by the carrier and we have to pay a fee to get it unlocked. Can anyone describe a scenario in which that makes any sense whatsoever?
How is a service provider allowed to hold our equipment hostage? If the cable company tried to lock our TVs to their service, and charge a fee to unlock if we wanted to change providers, everyone would scream bloody hell! Why do we allow cellular service providers to get away with this?
(End of off-topic tangent.)
Create a problem and then charge to fix it or just simply benefit from said problem. Carriers lock phones and then either charge you to unlock it or else it simply prevents you from using your own property in a manner that generates revenue for any other company.
That actually fits a definition of racketeering. Create a problem and then make money off of fixing it.
"We won't break your legs if you pay us. And you can open your store too. We're protecting you."
you can unlock your phone for $10 CAD online. or your local crappy cell repair shop in mall.
This was only ever an attempt by our big 3 carriers to distract from their own sky high prices. Our big 3 have amongst the highest rates in the world and the highest margins in the world. They file a complaint with the bureau and presto the public conversation changes to blame Apple for the carriers gouging prices. "Sure our prices are high but it's Apples fault...see, even the gov is investigating them". CB is obligated to investigate on complaints so this was a cheap and easy way to distract from their own practices.
At worst, what I expect the carriers claimed was anti-competitive was actually Apple requesting fair treatment of their users. For years the big 3 had "iPhone plans", without actually calling them that. They were plans that you had to get in order to qualify for an iPhone subsidy/discount on contract and they were often 50% or more expensive than plans required for other flagships. I expect Apple went to them and said "WTF? Why are you extraordinarily gouging our customers? Stop going out of your way to screw Apple users or we stop doing business". And the carriers respond by raising rates across the board for everyone. The expected backlash arrives, possibly from regulators, and they distract by filing a complaint against Apple, hoping to kill two birds with one stone...shift public anger to Apple and get regulators that we're sniffing around them to look somewhere else.
$30 CAD for 6G of data from Fido in Calgary, very old plan.
In Canada, we pay much more for internet, cable, electronic and everything from Amazon.ca .
What I would like to see from all governments is the courage to call Cook and Apple on farming out production to the East and paying them a subsistence income, if that, in slave labour working conditions. Unless that is changed I can't buy Apple products as I refuse to be complicit. Have a look at this documentary: www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/m/episodes/apples-broken-promises .
I tagged your post 'Informative'...if only because I feel rather too informed about what it infers about your critics thinking. As others have pointed out.
exactly. I want my DISLIKE button back
Why are you guys feeding the drive by troll? Reasoning won't work. Data won't work. Your getting mad or insulting her is simply the affirmation she is looking for. She doesn't care about Apple or the Chinese workers. She just wants to feel smug and superior.
Laughing at these people is the only response that annoys them and the only one they deserve.
What I would like to see from all governments is the courage to call Cook and Apple on farming out production to the East and paying them a subsistence income, if that, in slave labour working conditions. Unless that is changed I can't buy Apple products as I refuse to be complicit. Have a look at this documentary: www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/m/episodes/apples-broken-promises .
Sigh. Yet another rabid CBC 'viewer', presenting a biased CBC 'documentary' as something that represents balance and truth, all while typing on a device most certainly made in China - a country that almost every Canadian and US company does business with, many while turning a blind eye. Sad. At least the CBC is using Apple to gain viewers attention and advertising dollars. But what is your excuse for remaining uniformed about Apple's attempts to improve working conditions in China Ms Hudgins?
What they really need to look at is why Apple (stores) will have stock of items for months and long-serving independent resellers can't get stock at all!
You must be joking right? You think there needs to be, and should be, an investigation into why Apple stocks its own stores before meeting the stock wants of other companies that want to sell Apple products???
So the CRTC is jumping on the consumer side of the bandwagon and the Competition Bureau made sure Apple wasn't screwing anyone, and yet there is still no rule that prevents carriers from taking control of our equipment. Stuff we own, that we paid for, can be locked by the carrier and we have to pay a fee to get it unlocked. Can anyone describe a scenario in which that makes any sense whatsoever?
How is a service provider allowed to hold our equipment hostage? If the cable company tried to lock our TVs to their service, and charge a fee to unlock if we wanted to change providers, everyone would scream bloody hell! Why do we allow cellular service providers to get away with this?
(End of off-topic tangent.)
Create a problem and then charge to fix it or just simply benefit from said problem. Carriers lock phones and then either charge you to unlock it or else it simply prevents you from using your own property in a manner that generates revenue for any other company.
That actually fits a definition of racketeering. Create a problem and then make money off of fixing it.
"We won't break your legs if you pay us. And you can open your store too. We're protecting you."
you can unlock your phone for $10 CAD online. or your local crappy cell repair shop in mall.
Huh? How?
I shouldn't HAVE to pay ANYTHING to ANYONE to get them to stop holding my phone hostage -- and that's exactly what it is, legal kidnapping -- but I'd rather pay $10 than $50, and I'd rather not reward the carrier for unscrupulous and unethical behaviour so if I gotta pay I'd rather direct the money to someone other than the carrier. If you can show me how, I'd appreciate it.
Comments
At worst, what I expect the carriers claimed was anti-competitive was actually Apple requesting fair treatment of their users. For years the big 3 had "iPhone plans", without actually calling them that. They were plans that you had to get in order to qualify for an iPhone subsidy/discount on contract and they were often 50% or more expensive than plans required for other flagships. I expect Apple went to them and said "WTF? Why are you extraordinarily gouging our customers? Stop going out of your way to screw Apple users or we stop doing business". And the carriers respond by raising rates across the board for everyone. The expected backlash arrives, possibly from regulators, and they distract by filing a complaint against Apple, hoping to kill two birds with one stone...shift public anger to Apple and get regulators that we're sniffing around them to look somewhere else.
That actually fits a definition of racketeering. Create a problem and then make money off of fixing it.
"We won't break your legs if you pay us. And you can open your store too. We're protecting you."
In Canada, we pay much more for internet, cable, electronic and everything from Amazon.ca .
Laughing at these people is the only response that annoys them and the only one they deserve.
I shouldn't HAVE to pay ANYTHING to ANYONE to get them to stop holding my phone hostage -- and that's exactly what it is, legal kidnapping -- but I'd rather pay $10 than $50, and I'd rather not reward the carrier for unscrupulous and unethical behaviour so if I gotta pay I'd rather direct the money to someone other than the carrier. If you can show me how, I'd appreciate it.