This is the most ridiculous post I have seen in quite a while.
#1 - If they are just "carriers" then they would need to charge more which would bring the mass complaining to a new level.
#2 - Name a business that does not collect data. They all do. (especially APPLE)
#3 - Maybe Apple should be computer makers or iDevice makers and stay out of advertising, marketing, and payment systems.... (same philosophy applies)
#4 - You are clueless as to how much all carriers put into evolving technology, expanding coverage, etc.
#5 - Yes, everyone will complain even if they do everything you say. People complain and they want companies to provide stuff at no profit. Maybe these complaining folks should work for no profit.
I responded to this post in a douchey way and it was deleted (as it should have been) so I'll try to comply with the rules of this forum and hopefully contribute something of value. I have worked in telecom for 20 years (no longer though, but thats another story) mainly in strategic development and corporate planning for 3 letter telecoms and ILEC's supporting M&A, capital deployment, and new business development (regulated and non- regulated services).
#1 - If they are just "carriers" then they would need to charge more which would bring the mass complaining to a new level.
No, gross margins on "large" traditional telco/ISP/Cable services are in excess of 30%. The cash flow generated from these services have been diverted from capital investment in "core" services (Voice/Data) to new services "vertical" investments in content and services. The hikes in costs has driven revenue away from basic service maintenance and capital improvement causing a decline in service quality. The underlying reason why this is happening is because every ISP/cable/telco provider sees the enormous amount of money being made in silicon valley and they think they can do the same. The only problem is that they have an enormous amount of cash flow and very limited experience in VC. The result is a bunch of "Dud products" that are only kept alive by by carrier exclusive status. look at an AT&T or Verizon android phone and you will see the bloatware that is a product of this investment.....
#2 - Name a business that does not collect data. They all do. (especially APPLE)
Yes, but do they sell the data? It's one thing to use user data for the basis of product improvement (bug fix reports or usage reports for features or usability development) as opposed to as a revenue stream for further revenue stream (like Facebook). Apple from what I have found keeps its data collection internal for product development with limited sharing with partners.
#3 - Maybe Apple should be computer makers or iDevice makers and stay out of advertising, marketing, and payment systems.... (same philosophy applies)
As to advertising, it depends how the data is shared and used. its one thing to drive ad placement it's another thing to sell the individual user information to third parties (data brokers) like AT&T and Verizon does. Once data is sold to these data brokers there are no controls on how it will be used. This is becoming a big issue. Data brokers have no FISA court (not like that worked) and little or no legislation regulating how they manipulate the data. Think of what it's like to get your credit report and finding errors, now imagine that you apply for a job or a mortgage and you get turned down or have to pay a higher interest rate and there is no real way that you can review and or correct any errors or understand who has accessed and used your data. I'm not a Tin Foil hat kinda guy but I have talked with a few of these data brokerage companies both as a supplier and a customer and felt really icky afterwards.... The link below gives a high level overview.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/t...nsumer-database-marketing.html?pagewanted=all
#4 - You are clueless as to how much all carriers put into evolving technology, expanding coverage, etc.
No, Like I said before I have worked for 20 years in this industry including setting up and deploying long haul optical networks, metro networks, leasing (IRU's) and selling dark fiber for domestic (ILEC's and CLEC's) and international companies (CLEC). If you ever want to talk about DWDM deployments or the cross connect market you would find out that I am pretty well versed on both the capital and revenue side of this business.
#5 - Yes, everyone will complain even if they do everything you say. People complain and they want companies to provide stuff at no profit. Maybe these complaining folks should work for no profit.
There is a ton of profit in core services (see #1) and with smart capital deployment margins can be increased and service can be improved. I suggest that you read the 10K's from Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon and you will see where the money goes...... As to "complaining," wireless, ISP, and cable services sucks here and could be so much better. If a customer can't insist on better service from a company there is something terribly wrong.
