Originally Posted by Kabaal (Post 35634138)

-65% reduction on the upload speed now? No thanks. Haven't used my connection all that much lately so hadn't been keeping track of the STM, went to upload some files this afternoon and was slapped down to 4mbps from 11.7 quick smart.

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq (Post 35633804)

Trolololol. So your "partner" is "on 3 too and I think he pays something like £6.90 a month as he only uses about 100 mins a month" and also owns a mobile network? I'd be surprised anyone who owns a mobile network actually still feels the inclination to be ripped off by the country's smallest network, let alone actually pay for a mobile service.

Anyhow, you realise mobile networks in the UK don't actually buy handsets direct right? Therefore even *they* don't know how much they cost originally. Only one or two networks have direct relationships with manufacturers and even then only with one or two manufacturers. The vast majority of networks' phones are bought through distributor networks, where the distributor takes care of sourcing the phones from manufacturers, delivering them to stores, and in some cases even fulfilling customer orders. Most networks do not do any of this themselves.

Incidentally you claim the iPhone 5 costs £103 to build yet professional analytic company iSuppli - a dedicated electronics research company - say the cheapest iPhone 5 costs $207, and that's before R&D, distribution costs, packaging, marketing, business, legal and contractual costs, and profit for everyone in the middle:

http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/Pages/iPhone5-Carries-$199-BOM-Virtual-Teardown-Reveals.aspx

So I suppose you now also own an electronics design research outfit whose primary purpose is to take phones apart to find out how much they cost, and you happen to do it better than the existing market leaders?

I may not know everything but I sure as hell know a professional electronics market intelligence company likely has more of a clue about its business than some randomer on a forum claiming their "partner" "owns a mobile network" and likes getting ripped off on his mobile phone (after all, he pays £6.90 a month £3 of service) (presumably because their own mobile network is too poor to provide the basic service required?). Clearly not the thriftiest of partners then.

Keep the crap coming.

Originally Posted by everyday (Post 35634169)

It's not uncommon for people who work for or even run networks to have another deal with someone else, or did you not know that?

I don't care what people claim is such for the cost. I know that he CAN and DOES but handsets in wholesale from 2 companys and I also know exactly what he pays

he owns and runs an MNVO in London - what do you do? Pizza boy!

You're crap is much more amusing, so funny that even when you chose your username you must have had a fit.. LOL!

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq (Post 35634059)

We all know the profit margins on the hardware are high, yes, these are leading edge smartphones with some of the most advanced consumer technology in the world in them. R&D costs (which you don't see) are also high.

While I don't disagree they also make a crapton of profits on this stuff, certain companies have done professional analysis of how much the components and manufacturing costs - and as I say, they conclude the iPhone 5 costs over $200 for hardware alone before the cost of distribution and developing iOS are added on top. The S4 costs about $245 in pure components and manufacturing, the iPhone 4s cost between $196 and $254. Simply put, some loony raving "The iphone 4S cost apple £81.87 to build and the 5 was £103 to build." is horseshit.

Incidentally when you see the marketing for these new products a lot of emphasis is put onto the new software features, not the hardware. The only significant hardware change on the iPhone 5s was the fingerprint sensor, and that cost less than $15. Knowing a good few software developers and designers, it does irk me that some people seem to think software and design magically come for free and the only cost of making something is the physical hardware.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 35634597)

VM are in the process of moving their TMS servers from the edge (you see them as TMR on Traceroutes) to the regional core (pr whatever they call it)