
When you hear the words government, politcs, and technology, you often come to the conclusion that the tech related topics are going to take a backseat to more trivial things…as in reality the actually often do. However, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) are on a quest for “the little guy” (us techies). The good fight worth fighting – carrier and manufacturer exclusivity deals. The most recent examples of this sales strategy being iPhone/AT&T and Palm Pre/Sprint. The senators mentioned are pushing the FCC to investigate these alliances to determine just how much they undermine consumer choice. Finally! While I can understand from a business and money making perspective the benefits that exclusive devices and deals bring, they are not good for the consumer under any circumstances. The carriers and manufacturers can declare from the highest mountain how awesome their alliance is. However, just remember that no matter how awesome a carrier or manufacture claims their network/device is, they aren’t omnipresent and their device is not from the hand of god. There is always a worthy second choice. But when their are exclusive deals going on, that choice and consumer choice gets shot to you know where. Are you happy that someone in politics is finally stepping up to seriously contend this issue? I know I am.
Source: 9 to 5 Mac, Ars Technica