The case for Android, unlocked, and pre-paid wireless

The Case for Android, unlocked, and pre-paid wireless

The smartphone/tablet OS debate is always a hot one. Competition is fierce, and people are very passionate about what they're loyal to. I am one of these people. It's Android-or-Death for me. I am not a stupid man, I like facts, and developing strong opinions through due diligence and research, so although Android obviously doesn't need me to defend it, with nearly 80% of the market share as of Q2 2013, I'm gonna make my case for it, and look at a couple other things.

So-called “Android Inferiority”:

• Widgets: the ability to get things we need on our phone's home screen without opening an app. Apple doesn't do this. Getting things done with widgets uses less horsepower, and it's a shitload faster
• Changeable keyboards: Apple's cockblocked here too. We all have different types of fingers, typing styles, grammar, and languages. It's nice to have the choices and custom fits for our hands
• Screen size: Admittedly, we don't want something TOO big in our pocket, but things like the Nexus 4 and HTC One are hard to beat when it comes to big, wonderful displays in 1080p.
• Google: 'Nuff said, seamless integration of all the features they offer in their suite.
• App integration: iOS used to offer this, and their users miss it sorely. It simply means the ability for one app to call another and integrate with it intelligently. For example: you can set Dropbox to open PDF files in QuickOffice, Kindle, or another PDF reader, not just the dropbox app.
• Cheaper apps, and more apps

Inferior? Not remotely. Different? Yes. Better? 80% of us worldwide think so. And what is definitely is, is cheaper.

My “socio-political case” for Android:

I am a (mostly) proud American, and a libertarian one. I am not a member of the Libertarian Party, nor any other political party, but I do believe in our freedoms and rights that are guaranteed in writing. I am also a contributing member of the Open Source Software Movement, and a longtime Linux-user. To me, have software and operating systems being open, altrustic, and available to anyone to tweak, modify, customize, and improve is a productive way of maintaining a libertarian lifestyle. It's representative of the cause for freedom and democracy. The Apple Jail Cell doesn't feel that way to me. And yes, I have owned enough Apple devices to be able to make the decision diligently.

I don't think it's very “American” of Apple to hold their cards so close, and to maintain almost Nazi-Germany-levels of control over hardware and software. But, they charge a premium for what they offer, and people pay it. I'm happy they are a successful company in a free market, but everyone's got causes they believe in, and one of my missions in life on a daily business is to try and take business away from Apple. Some I know have called in a “vendetta”. Well, it's not exactly changing my facebook profile pic to an equal sign, but it is in fact a cause I hit the streets for every day, and I do see the results. And once again, I'm grateful that I have the right to pursue this as an American.

My device:

This is not a “device” discussion, only one of “platform”, but everyone likes to know something about the wizz-bang phone that I have. It's the Google Nexus 4. It's simply the device that I chose, for three reasons:

1. It's unlocked, and not tied to any carrier...but we'll get to that in a minute
2. It's a pure Android experience, with updates coming in faster than any other device, and as an Android developer who writes a tiny bit of code, I can see how I'm helping my OSM cause and community more quickly with this particular device
3. It's got a huge and wonderful HD screen, horsepower to spare, and no matter how much I load it up with, it still runs like a barnburner

The case for unlocked:

Apples “inmates” are no doubt familiar with the contract they're asked to sign every two years, it's God-awful inflated premium price, and it's conditions that rival most marriages I witness. There is no need, on our “quest for freedom” to subscribe to ANY of this. Here's a little more info:

Most of America operates on CDMA networks (Verizon, Sprint, the other big boys), so that's what most people use. But most of the rest of the world's carriers are GSM. The two networks that are GSM in the United States are T-Mobile and AT&T. You can argue about the service and coverage of each network if you like, and I will attest that Verizon's coverage nationwide has proven to be the best in recent years, having been an AT&T, Verizon, and also Sprint customer before. I owned an iPhone for over 2 years on AT&T. What a corrupt relationship THOSE two companies had...but you can look into that on your own.

Anyway, when your device is unlocked, you have a SIM card slot. And you can interchange your SIM cards. So, if you travel internationally, like people in my business do, you ALWAYS have the option of taking your own device with you, buying a prepaid SIM in the country/region you visit from one of their HUGE varieties of GSM carriers, and having normal phone service just like you would in the US. You don't have to buy another phone, or sign another contract. With a little due diligence and homework, the sailing is smooth.

Lastly, having an unlocked phone allows you to go prepaid, and that's the best economic decision you can make if you call yourself a financially-responsible smartphone user. So now, we'll get to that...

The case for Pre-Paid Wireless service:

People worldwide are jumping from the big CDMA carriers like passengers on the sinking Titanic and going to prepaid. Why? For the same reasons 80% of them buy Android...same or better features, a shitload less bread. Post-paid 2-year-contracts with the big boys are the most irresponsible thing you can do with your money. If you've already gone unlocked, you have a bunch of the “MVNO's” to choose from.

The MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) are generic “white-label” network operators that buy time in bulk from the big carriers. Because of this, they're allowed to offer wireless coverage at a SEVERELY discounted price. Every major network, whether CDMA or GSM, has prepaid generic MVNO alternatives. Here is a list, and under what networks they operate. Feel free to take your existing device from your existing carrier (whether iPile/android/windows phone or blackberry), and jump ship to one of these. Or you can buy a new device when you come over. The SAME devices are available, including flagship android devices like the Galaxy, the HTC One, and the Nexus 4. Contact me for help if you like. I'm happy to take business away from the big boys.

Also, with an unlocked phone, you can switch carriers every month (as long as whenever you do, you're prepared to put up with a couple hours of number porting time), and try out all the networks, there are even a couple of MVNOs that offer service over multiple networks.

Now for the REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF....

SIMPLE ECONOMICS:

We ALL need to save money, don't we? Prepaid wireless is one of the fastest and quickets ways to do it. If you're on a 2-year post-paid contract with the big boys, you're just pissing money away. I am using my Nexus 4 on an MVNO called Solavei, which operates on T-Mobile's network. Not everywhere, but certainly in my little corner of Vegas and elsewhere I've toured in the past months of using it, after conducting speed tests with other users, their HSPA+ rivals 4G LTE in every way, and sometimes it's even faster. I may be just a lucky SOB, but in my house it's nearly as fast as my DOCSIS 3 broadband internet connection.

So, Solavei gives me unlimited talking, texting, and 4g data (with no throttling that I can see after six months, although I've never quite made it to 5 GB), for $48 a month. That's just RIDICULOUS-cheap.

I went to a verizon store in recent days, just for fun, and watched some turkey-neck douchebag in a BMW walk in to purchase an iPhone 5. He was NOT eligible for an upgrade. But like his Beamer, he probably just needed a new status symbol. So, he paid the $649 price for the phone. My Nexus 4 (16GB) was pre-ordered for $299 straight from Google. His bill, after I researched it, after all taxes and surcharges too, came to nearly $140 a month, and he had a new 2-year contract he was locked into. I went out to my car, pushed play on the new record from The Winery Dogs again, and did the math.

Turkey-Neck DoucheBag will spend over $2000 more than I will over the span of the next two years his contract is in place. Plus, he's jailed by the contract itself. Now, savings will vary, but that's just a staggering number. Can you afford to lose two grand?? I can't, so I won't spend it.