Strategy, Innovation, Leadership and Security
T-Mobile just launched a plan for tourists visiting the USA. Go into any T-Mobile store with an unlocked GSM phone and buy this $30 plan. It is active for 3 weeks and does not auto-renew.
This will complete directly with companies like Roam Mobility and KnowRoaming. Let's see if they respond with cheaper plans.
Smaller is usually better but take a look at the world's smallest cell phone from Willcom, doesn't it look like a dolls accessory?
I'm guessing you won't be using this to snap pictures or play games but I'm sure someone somewhere on our big blue marbel may be looking for this type of diminutive device. The phone comes in white, black or pink and can be had for a cheap $380 in Japan.
A member of parliament representing the NDP (a major Canadian political party) has submitted a bill making tampering of a devices IMEI illegal. The IMEI is a unique serial number embedded in all GSM devices that allows the network to uniquely identify it. Carriers can use this to pair a device with a user or to prevent a stolen device from being activated on someone else’s account.
Read the NDP press release here
“Cell phone theft is primarily a crime of opportunity, because any stolen mobile device can easily be reactivated with a different carrier,” said Sullivan. “This will make it easier to track lost or stolen phones and will cripple the illegal cell phone trade by making it a criminal offence to tamper with the cell phone identification numbers.” - NDP MP Mike Sullivan (York South – Weston)
I wrote about the new unlocking policies for Rogers and Fido a couple of weeks ago and it seem the start of this new policy is almost upon us. In a tweet from FIDO, I was notified the policy would start end of March.
For those unfamiliar with the new policy, the 2 carriers will unlock any customer device for $50 after a device has been active for at least 90 days (as long as the customer’s account is in good standing).
Their PR machine says this new policy is in response to customer demand but most of us feel this is a pre-emptive move in response to the CRTC’s investigation into mobile carrier practices.