[PCWorld]

Post your comments for How Stupid Can Cell Carriers Be? Really Stupid. here

[linuxrants7xpg]

Link didn't work for me. Found it here: http://www.pcworld.c...lly_stupid.html

[TheBigOldDog5ydw]

"Anyone who thinks that the carriers don't need regulation and that the "free market" organically solves these kinds of problems is living in a dream world"

Actually that's so far off the market it's sad. If the ,market were truly free, there's be lots of choices available and, as you will soon see, people would flee the carriers that use such techniques and the company producing the software would be bankrupted through law suits and companies not wanting to be associated with them in any way. WHat we have today is an artifical market where the players are granted license and protection against competition as well as "rights" to break the laws when it comes to data collection. In other words, you have a government sanctioned oligopoly. These same companies donate heavily to politicians to keep the artificially rules just they way they want them.

[JamesEvens]

Didn't we see something like this a few years ago with CDs? I root-kit that comes pre-installed is the worst kind of cram-ware because it exposes the user to potential attack. The carriers and handset manufacturers are both responsible in allowing this software to be placed on their devices. If there is a class-action suit everyone involved from the supplier of the software to the handset manufacturer to the carrier need to be part of the group providing settlement money.

[jdelsro19]

I don't see how this is anything but the carriers doing. They sell you a subsidized phone and you agree to their contract.

One more reason to not buy subsidized phones. Phones should be sold everywhere electronics are sold with no carrier involvement whatsoever. It was one thing 20 years ago to have carriers selling phones but we are now in the smartphone era and carriers need to stop controlling what's on my phone.

I only buy phones outright and only phones that I can root and install what I want and get rid of what I want. Consumers should not have to do this, but that's the way it is until carriers quit selling phones which will never happen as long as consumers keep buying subsidized phones which also keeps the prices high and the landfills filled. I see no good in 2 year contracts but that's what gives the carriers their control.
If people think this carrier IQ fiasco is going to stop Verizon or AT&T from doing whatever they want, you might want to look at how much control these 2 companies have over their customers and congress and can almost get away with whatever they want.