I DESPISE American Mobile Companies

OK, I’m probably one of the dumbest people out in the world today.  It’s one thing to be a “blind” consumer when dealing with cell phones and mobile service companies, but it’s another thing altogether when you know the pitfalls that other consumers fall into and then become just another statistic.

I purchased a Nokia E61i from an online vendor called thenerds.net — just one of the many electronic distributors that trade anything they can get their hands on.  I didn’t read the fine print and assumed the phone was sold “unlocked” which would mean that I could use it on any mobile network in the world.  However, that is not the case.  I recieved the phone and printed all over the box was “Approved for use on the T-Mobile USA Network”.  That’s when my gut started to hurt.

You have to keep in mind, that I am currently living in Sudan.  So, it’s not like I can just walk into a T-Mobile store and bargain my way into an unlock code.

So began my phone calls to T-Mobile and Nokia.  And, what a hideous experience this has turned out to be.  Here’s a quick synopsis:

T-Mobile USA: I’m sorry, this is not a phone that T-Mobile sells.  You’ll have to contact the manufacturer.

thenerds.net: That’s weird.  There’s a T-Mobile sticker on the box. It must be their phone.  Grunt.

Nokia Customer Service: We don’t lock our phones.  Only the networks lock the phones to their network.

T-Mobile USA: You should try T-Mobile in the UK — they probably sell that phone and can help you unlock.

T-Mobile UK: WTF?  We have nothing to do with your network!  And, it costs you $0.25 a minute to call us.

T-Mobile USA: Well, we could help you unlock the phone, but you don’t have a service account with T-Mobile.  You should call the people you bought the phone from.

thenerds.net: Grunt. Grunt.  Who are you?

Nokia Customer Service: See, T-Mobile told you that they could help you, but they won’t because you aren’t a customer.

T-Mobile USA: You could open an account with us and we could unlock you — but you have to wait through a 90 day probationary period.  There is a $35 dollar activation fee, a year contract and it will cost you $200 to cancel that contract. [If you are paying attention here, it would cost more than I paid for the phone...]

Me: But, I just want a usable phone!  I’ll pay for it!  Don’t make me go to the hackers.  Let me do this in a company-sanctioned way!  Can’t I just buy an unlock code?  PLEASE JUST LET ME GO!

The Customer Service Chorus: I’m really sorry you have a $400 paperweight that is totally unusable to you ever since you won’t be living in the United States in the next several years.  I’m really sorry for your loss, but if you just called XXXX then I am sure they can help you.

Having lived in South East Asia for the past 4 ½ years, I discovered there is a smarter way for mobile networks and cell phone manufacturers to operate their businesses.  If you don’t lock a cell phone to the service, then it’s likely that your customer base will actually, wait for it… buy MORE PHONES.  The human desire to have the latest and greatest should not be considered lightly.  That would enable mobile network services to concentrate on providing the best possible service and not worry about trying to entice people over with phones.  So, really, everyone wins. Even the customer.

But, I guess the American model isn’t really about letting the customer have much of much.  It’s just about keeping control and limiting consumer choices

So, in essence, I’ve done my bit for the economy.  I’ve just thrown $400 dollars (and in this economy.. that’s too much) to the world.  I hope you all enjoy it.