Upon re-reading my post may be incorrect for you. It was based upon my experience in the UK. Until about 18 months ago you didn't really get BBs on personal contracts, so the only people with them were corps. BBs became styled on this basis. They're only just becoming common for personal use.
It isn't really a 'fashion' statement I'd say, just people trying to inflate their own feeling of self importance.
People want them because they've got an air of exclusivity about them. Previously, 99% of people who owned them were given them by a company... which meant they were important(ish)... or atleast important enough to be given a phone. Thus the only people with them were generally higher status... and hence the jumping on the bandwagon by plebs all wanting to look like flash 'city' types.
As with all things driven by fashion, it'll come to an end and the consumer division will implode.
Does this mean that Nokia are going to bring out a new firmware very soon? It's a good phone at the moment but def. needs a bit of work before it gets released en masse to joe public. Lot's of standard phone features missing as standard and many items on the phone are literally just dead ends and unfinished.
Why not just scrap the ETF all together and make people pay out any outstanding amount on their contract if they want to leave?
How it works in the UK: 1. Get the handset free (iPhone, N900, anything) 2. Pay $60/month equiv. for 12-24 months service. The real cost of the service is about $20, but they subsidise the phone so you pay the extra. It's essentially a hire purchase. 3. At end of contract period get free upgrade to newest phone.
The upgrades are always there because otherwise you'll just leave and go with another operator. As I said, if you cancel midway in your contract you have to pay the remainder.
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