At 15 May 2008 17:19:19 -1000 BruceR wrote:

> Same here, I buy my phones overseas usually and just pop in my TMo SIM.
> The whole concept of buying a phone from the carrier is really quite odd
> and pretty much limited to the USA & Canada. I don't buy lamps, bulbs
> and appliances from the electric company or my BBQ or water heater from
> the gas company, I don't buy plumbing fixtures from the water company, I
> don't buy TV's from the cable company or even phones from the phone
> company (since the Carterphone decision of 40 years ago anyway) so why
> would one buy a mobile phone from a mobile operator?

Because they're heavily discounted. If the gas company offered me a water
heater for $1 I'd buy it from them instead of a home improvement store.