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Every year, tech companies create the latest and greatest mobile phones that suit the needs of their users.
While there is the dilemma of choosing the right device, there is an even bigger question that people are asking: where should I buy my next phone?
While there are a myriad of options, such as Amazon, flagship stores, and third-party stores, carriers often offer a better option.
Below we take a look at some of the pros and cons of buying from couriers.
Partially subsidized devices
When it comes to phone prices, buying directly from the official store can be expensive. Network operators offer devices at a partially subsidized price.
Subsidized phone programs generally offer lower monthly service charges compared to the stores..
Although official stores offer similar programs, they usually have a high set of requirements and typically use credit cards.
With carriers, phones can be paid for without a credit card or through internet banking – a more accessible feature that offers convenience to potential buyers and less headaches financially.
Buyers also have the option to cash-out for the phone with a full payment, but that would mean the device is locked for the carrier.
It offers more inclusion and services
One of the biggest issues people face with their device is LTE network support or lack of signals for messages, calls, or data in certain areas.
Network operators use different types of technologies to provide services.
The smartphones they offer usually have the necessary hardware and programming to detect carrier frequencies and technologies from the carrier or its partners.
Some carriers also work with other carriers to provide extended coverage beyond their home network.
Meanwhile, phones sold by other sources may not have the same features that carriers offer on their devices.
Carrier phones also offer data plans that include voice, text, and data.
Some subscription offers may provide a certain amount of data for different services, such as social networks, video streaming, unlimited calls and texts to all networks and a few minutes to other networks and landlines.
Billing convenience
The biggest benefit of protecting a phone from carriers is financial convenience.
With inflation looming, buying from a carrier means you only have to worry about one bill covering phone plan and device instead of paying for them separately.
Most devices are only available as an afterthought, and while the prices for the phones’ monthly installment can sometimes be intimidating, they often come with added benefits that justify the price.
Disadvantages
Buying a phone from a phone company has many advantages, but there are also disadvantages to this decision, namely the phone lock and the lock period.
The phone is locked to the carrier
The main disadvantage of getting a phone from an operator is that the device is locked to that operator.
As with most companies, the operator’s devices are blocked only on their respective networks.
People who want to give their phone to relatives who use a different carrier will find that the phone rejects the SIM card.
The contracts have a duration of 24 to 30 months, depending on the carrier’s subscription.
Any attempt to unlock the operator’s devices will only result in termination of the contract and could lead to the blacklist.
After completing the contract, users are free to unlock their phones to sell or give them away.
References:
4 key advantages to buying smartphones from your carrier
