tom glaab wrote:
> SMS wrote:
>> I wonder how long until the carriers close this loophole. The prepaid
>> phones are generally sold below cost, with the idea that the airtime
>> costs will make up for it.
>
> Loophole? If you buy the prepaid and use up whatever prepaid minutes
> come with it, Cingular doesn't make a penny more than if you use it as
> a cheap replacement for your (broken) subsidized phone.

Yes, that's the problem. They don't get to sell you a non-subsidized
replacement phone at a high price, and they don't get you to sign a
contract extension for a subsidized phone. You're buying a subsidized
phone with the expectation that the subsidy will be made up with the
purchase of airtime.