The five things cell companies need to do to make you like them
Today I have been reading New York Times reporter Laura Holson's incisive piece entitled, Cellphone Straitjacket Is Inspiring A Rebellion.
One of Laura's theses is that we are in the early stages of a transition from a time that cell companies had all the power, to one where handset manufacturers, content providers and ultimately, consumers, will call the shots.
Mobile isn't going to give up easily. Even though Apple, with its iPhone, is seemingly the one in control of its agreement with exclusive U.S. carrier AT&T Mobility tt's not in their nature of mobile carriers to give in too much.
But we can hope, can we not?
Outsized IMHO for sure, but I would love the wireless carriers if they'd change their ways thus so:
Allow me to download and install any legal utility on my phone that I want. I am talking directly, not third-party. I'd really love to point my BlackBerry browser to Skype, download and install a mobile version, and have it work on my BB or cell phone.
Eliminate per-SMS fees. I am not a big texter but I would like to see these services rolled into my data plan.
Ditch all service contracts. These make it hard to say goodbye, but land and VoIP companies don't ask for this. First month's service in advance might be a suitable compromise.
Make your websites easier to use. Don't bury your "Pay My Bill" feature. If I want to look at new devices, and then purchase them from your site, don't make me go through a PITA zip code geo-locator zprocedure. And I know you want us to use your website rather than talk to your humans but don't make me go through five levels - including three levels of "Contact Us"- before I find a phone number I can call you at.
Keep up with Flash and Java. Upgrade your mobile browsers so they don't trip up on advanced scripts that some websites use. Is that so hard?
If I brewed an extra cup of coffee, I am sure I could come up with five more reasons. That said, let me turn this over to the readers.
What can your cell phone company do to make you like them?