http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/If it doesn't involve euthanizing my granma's cellphone, then I am all for it...]]>Aug 12th 2009 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 11:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Notice their hasn't been a race to the bottom with pricing for service? How can this be? Where's the competition? ]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 11:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Price fixing by the government just means that more people will use it. If you think service is slow now, wait until the price is arbitrarily dropped by the government.

What should happen is that the federal government should reduce corporate taxes from 40% to 25%. The price of the service will fall greatly then.]]>Aug 12th 2009 12:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 12:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
A more revealing figure would be what has happened to the price of entry in the past 5-10 years. It used to be around 2003 that you could get a basic plan for around $19.99 -$29.99. Now you see that entry level begins at $40 with the top four carriers. That's an approximate 25%-50% increase in the price of entry. They aren't cutting their costs...they are consolidating everyone into a smaller pricing structure.





]]>Aug 12th 2009 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 15th 2009 4:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
In Singapore, where the cost of living is 11th highest in the world, I can get unlimited 3.5G data, free tethering/internet calls, bundled minutes + SMS/MMS/Video calls etc etc etc for what would amount to roughly USD$40. There is a much more powerful bundle that pretty much amounts to near unlimited everything for about USD$70. But to be frank, I opted for the $40 plan using it for both business and personal calls (with free to negligible cost regional and international calls). I've yet to pay any extras on top of that $40 and I get reliable coverage even in bomb-shelter grade structures & tunnels.

Singapore is an extremely pricey place to live (more expensive than NY last time I checked and where the price of a basic, low end car will set you back $45,000! ]]>Aug 15th 2009 9:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
We also have HDTV, 100/100mbit fiber connections and kick ass health care :)
Or at least I do]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
I pay € 30 a month for 150 minutes (incoming calls are free), 150 sms messages (again, incoming free) and unlimited 2 Mbit/s 3G for my iPhone.]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Netherlands: 1025/sqkm
US: 31/sqkm
source: google'd "#COUNTRY# population density"

It's not surprising that Canada, Australia, and Russia have high costst as well, as each has an even smaller density than the US does. Here's a list from Wiki of nations with greater population densities than the US: Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Djibouti. It's hard to compare apples to oranges, especially when you don't take into account that an Apple is different from an Orange (UK).

I hate the fact I have to pay $20 for unlimited texting ($30 on my AT&T family plan for everyone), but it's the price you have to pay if you don't want cramped living.

I've got a better comparison, let's compare real estate in Japan to real estate in the US (337/sqkm for the former). ]]>Aug 12th 2009 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
If MetroPCS can get their act together a little bit more, I'm seriously considering switching. $50/mo for unlimited EVERYTHING, with no contracts to sign.]]>Aug 12th 2009 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
An excerpt from the OECD study: "Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden have the lowest prices for mobile phone calls among OECD countries, according to the latest OECD Communications Outlook."

You are defending high US prices for low population density. How then do you explain Finland offering the lowest mobile prices?

Finland: 17/sqkm
US: 31/sqkm]]>Aug 12th 2009 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 2:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/For about £45 (52 Euro) a month here, you get 1200 minutes anytime, any network (incoming calls are also free in the UK), 500 sms messages and unlimited 3G data.]]>Aug 12th 2009 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Mind you, I live in Canada. ]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 11:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Stop being such an ass, you just made bad comments for everybody. Go get laid.]]>Aug 12th 2009 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 13th 2009 9:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 11:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Cheaper cellphone bills for everyone!!!
]]>Aug 12th 2009 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Is that per month, because 780 minutes a year is nothing, that would only be 65 minutes a month]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Also, as one commenter pointed out, his incoming calls and SMS are free in the Netherlands. Think about how many outgoing minutes you use per month.]]>Aug 12th 2009 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 12:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
I hear people say they need their cell phone, but very few people (truckers may be the exception, due to the extreme amount of time spent on the road) really do.]]>Aug 12th 2009 12:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
It really depends on how you buy your phone here. If you buy an SIM-only, rates are dead-cheap.
If you opt for an smartphone for some sort, you get the phone absolutely free (even the most expensive ones, stuff like iPhones, blackberry, X1, N97 etc) but the rates can be a pain.]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
Indeed, I'm sim-only and would melt the phone before I started paying for calls/texts/data outside of my plan]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Example: T-Mobile Flex 15, 15 euros a month 0,20 a minute and SMS, you get 75 free SMSes/Minutes, but Flex 100 costs 100 euros, gives you 1000 free SMSes/Minutes and costs 0,10 for each when you get outside those borders. (There are loads of other options as well)

But yeah, Pre-Paid is dirt-cheap, unfortunately it's pretty hard to get an internet contract with it as well (The only one offering this is KPN), and ofcourse you'll have to pay for your cellphone instead of getting it for free.]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 11:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Aug 12th 2009 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
In Canada: 3 year contracts and an expensive plan for a slightly subsidized phone.

Protectionism hurts consumers. ]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
The government even provides a free, neutral online plan price calculator to determine what provider is the best for your needs [depending on number of minutes/SMS you need]. They update it daily and providers use it in their advertising. It's all public and free information.

Ironic, how the US calls *my* country "socialist".]]>Aug 12th 2009 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/Everyone thinks that because they don't pay for the incoming call that it's FREE. But it's not. It simply means what it says. They don't pay for the incoming call. But someone does. Who? The person who called them. That is why their billing method is called "Calling Party Pays." The person who makes the call pays for it. There's no such thing as "local calling." You pay for all calls you make. Wait, your friend is on a different carrier? Okay, you're going to pay even more for that then. Oh, what's that? Your friend is in the next state over? Ya, you're paying even more. And since you are currently on another carriers tower, you're paying more for that too.]]>Aug 12th 2009 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
And who is paying $53 for 65 min and 50 text messages per month??]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/us-canada-and-spain-win-the-battle-for-most-expensive-cellph/
no, they get to smoke legal weed!]]>Aug 12th 2009 11:43AM