by Jeremy Matthews

Created on: July 21, 2008

Should cell phone providers be allowed to hold customers to long service contracts? I believe no, they shouldn't. Why? Simple, their theory behind the long term contract (usually 2 years), is that they now have you (the customer) locked in to a recurring bill every month for the next 24 months. Regardless of whether you send one too many text messages or burn up a few too many of those cherished minutes; you have no choice but stick it out and pay it back to your cell phone's captor (I mean service provider).

Then, what happens if you decide you'd like that new phone that plays music, surfs the web, and cooks your lunch? You have to sign up for a new two year service agreement. What if you decide that the 1,000 minute a month plan just isn't enough; you may still have to sign up for a new two year service agreement as well. Then shortly after you have decided to sign on the dotted line for another two years, you step outside of your providers store; and your cell phone looses signal. Congrats, you have just signed over your patience for another 2 years.

I know that in this day and time a cell phone is basically a life line to every other person in your life, your Myspace buddy list, and your instant messenger client. However, should we be required to commit to these agreements in order to use this modern day necessity? I'm not locked into a contract on my water or power utilities. Why should I be on a telephone. Because when we get right down to it, that is all a cell phone really is. Just a fancy telephone.

Now, what happens when you have decided that enough is enough. You see on a television commercial that a rival service provider just released a new plan with more minutes and a cheaper monthly fee than what you are paying? But remember, you just got that awesome new 'do-it-all' cell phone which required you to extend your contract another two years. If you break that contract, you are in fact going to have to pay an ungodly amount of fees just because you are being a smart shopper. So it may seem like a great deal to go with the other provider. But when you figure in the fees for breaking your contract, it is cheaper for you to keep paying that bill, and maybe one day you'll be free of the cell phone shackles.

The argument over contracts will cell phone providers seem to be driving more and more people into alternatives such as prepaid cell phones. This opens the market to a whole new audience of people. People who might have to pay a deposit to start service (with a two year agreement), or people who just want the freedom to pick and choose who they give their business to. For these simple reasons, I disagree with service contracts from cellular providers.

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