Why are tablets so cheap but smartphones so expensive? Is it the patents? Certification with carriers?
This is stupid. Most users would happily buy phones that are equiv of tablet + cheap ~$10-20 3g/lte modem. Nobody needs the Qualcomm one.
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Qualcomm owns the patents behind most of 3G, CDMA, and LTE (4G) technology. https://www.qualcomm.com/invention/technologies/lte …
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But you can buy a modem by itself dirt cheap & it's already licensed the patents.
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And here's one that's obviously made for embedding in computers, even cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-DW5804-E371-LTE-3G-01YH12/dp/B0156GGZZG …
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I don't see how they can forbid putting it in a pocket-sized computer instead of a large laptop.
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Licensing restrictions are designed to be messy. If you sell it, you need a new patent licence.
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Then sell it with a PCIe port and sell the PCIe cards in the same shop.
End of conversation
New conversation -
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Why isn't someone doing this and undercutting the crappy market with awesome $200 phones better than flagships in all other ways?
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But we're stuck paying $200 extra for the malicious soc based one where the modem can dma over your kernel.
End of conversation
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