Box breaker

The term box breaker pertains to the mobile phone industry; where there are companies or individuals that exploit the networks' use of discounts on handsets to create their own profitable business.

Business model

Mobile phone networks fundamentally have three different ways to connect customers to the network, each of which needs a SIM-card that locks the user to the network, and provides for a mobile phone number to be associated with a handset: contract, prepaid, or SIM-only. Contract customers are committed to a minimum monthly payment for perhaps 18 months, and generally get their choice of any telephone handset. Prepaid customers have a more limited choice of handsets, also tied to the operator, but they can stop being a customer whenever they like. SIM-only customers simply buy a SIM card and put it into a handset that they already own, and again can leave whenever they like.

There has been a huge growth in the prepaid business in the last few years, and the prepaid handset business has become particularly competitive, with the handsets sold through every kind of outlet, including supermarkets and online. The increase in competition has driven prices of handsets down. For example, one could buy a GSM handset over the counter for $20 in the United States.

Mobile phone operators sell their own branded version of prepaid handsets, bundled with a SIM-card. The handsets are priced at a discount to make them more attractive. The assumption is that a customer will buy the handset, and then activate with the SIM-card in the pack, which will eventually lead to the operator making money via top-ups on the phone. Box breakers subvert this by buying the phones, and unlocking the phone (SIM lock) so that it can be used with any SIM-card, i.e. on any network. Unlocked phones command higher resale prices, so can then be sold on at a profit, and can even be used by contract customers. Additionally, online marketplaces (like eBay) enable box breakers to operate internationally and exploit fluctuations in currencies and price differences between countries.[1]

Historically, box breakers have been procuring a large number of handsets directly from handset retailers stores that eventually suffer revenue losses from box-breaker practices. While chains like O2 and Carphone Warehouse have clamped-down on sales to box-breakers, there are many other outlets, including catalogue stores and supermarkets that have not addressed this phenomenon.[2]

Mobile phone handsets that are in high demand - especially models that are region-exclusive - are prime targets of box breakers. Handsets can be bought as prepaid, unlocked, and then shipped to the target market for a profit. This grey-market activity is a problem both for handset vendors and for network operators.

References

  1. ^ "Low pound fires breakers" - Mobile Magazine[dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Box breakers target non specialists" - Mobile News Archived 28 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine

Read other articles:

Pengadilan Russell

Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada Desember 2022. DoVan Ngoc yang berumur sembilan tahun menunjukkan luka-lukanya yang diakibatkan oleh napalm. Pengadilan Russell, juga dikenal dengan nama Pengadilan Kejahatan Perang Internasional, Pengadilan Russell-Sartre atau Pengadilan Stockholm, adalah pengadila...

 

 

Herat (kota)

Untuk kota di Iran, lihat Herat (Iran). Herāt هراتKotaJulukan: (هری(هریواNegara AfghanistanProvinsiProvinsi HeratKetinggian920 m (3,020 ft)Populasi (2012) • Total436,300 [1]Zona waktuUTC+4:30 (Waktu Standar Afganistan) Herāt (bahasa Persia: هرات, bahasa Pashtun: هرات) adalah kota terbesar ke-3 di Afganistan, dengan populasi sekitar 436.300 jiwa pada tahun 2012.[1] Kota ini berfungsi sebagai ibu kota Provinsi Herat...

 

 

2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's high jump

Women's high jump at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor ChampionshipsVenueOregon Convention CenterDatesMarch 20Competitors11 from 10 nationsWinning height1.96Medalists  Vashti Cunningham   United States Ruth Beitia   Spain Kamila Lićwinko   Poland← 20142018 → 2016 IAAF WorldIndoor ChampionshipsTrack events60 mmenwomen400 mmenwomen800 mmenwomen1500 mmenwomen3000 mmenwomen60 m hurdlesmenwomen4 × 400 m relaymen...

Tarabai

Queen of Maratha Empire, Military Commander For other uses, see Tarabai (disambiguation). TarabaiRegent of the Maratha EmpireMaharani of KolhapurIllustration of Tarabai, c. 1928Queen Regent of the Maratha EmpireReign1700–1708, 1710–1714PredecessorJankibaiSuccessorRajasbaiBorn1675Died9 December 1761(1761-12-09) (aged 85–86)SataraSpouseRajaram (married c. 1683, died 1700)HouseMohite (by birth) Bhosale (by marriage)FatherHambirao MohiteReligionHinduism Tarabai Bhosale[a]...

 

 

Chi (letter)

Χ redirects here. Not to be confused with X or ×. Not to be confused with Xi (letter). Twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet Greek alphabet Αα Alpha Νν Nu Ββ Beta Ξξ Xi Γγ Gamma Οο Omicron Δδ Delta Ππ Pi Εε Epsilon Ρρ Rho Ζζ Zeta Σσς Sigma Ηη Eta Ττ Tau Θθ Theta Υυ Upsilon Ιι Iota Φφ Phi Κκ Kappa Χχ Chi Λλ Lambda Ψψ Psi Μμ Mu Ωω Omega History Archaic local variants ϜͰϺϘͲͶ tsandigamma Diacritics Ligatures Numerals ϛ (6)ϟ (90)ϡ (9...

 

 

Lega sannitica

Questa voce sugli argomenti popoli antichi e antica Roma è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. L'Italia pre-romana La Lega sannitica era una confederazione che, tra la fine del IV e gli inizi del III secolo a.C., riuniva le principali tribù sannitiche per fronteggiare la minaccia portata loro dall'espansionismo dei Romani. Membri permanenti della Lega erano le tribù dei: Caudini, Irpini, Pe...

Ху Ханьминь

В этом китайском имени фамилия (Ху) стоит перед личным именем. Ху Ханьминь胡漢民 Председатель Законодательного Юаня Китайской Республики 8 октября 1928 — 2 марта 1931 Предшественник Должность учреждена Преемник Линь Сэнь Рождение 9 декабря 1879(1879-12-09)[1]Паньюй, Гуанчжоуск...

 

 

Bermuda Police Service

Police service in Bermuda This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Bermuda Police Service – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2022)...

 

 

Operation Tractable

1944 battle in France during World War II Operation TractablePart of Operation OverlordCanadian forces moving toward Falaise on 14 August 1944Date14–21 August 1944LocationNorth of Falaise, Normandy, France48°53′34″N 0°11′31″W / 48.89278°N 0.19194°W / 48.89278; -0.19194Result Allied victoryBelligerents  Canada Poland United Kingdom[1]  GermanyCommanders and leaders Harry Crerar Guy Simonds Stanisław Maczek Walter Model Kurt MeyerStr...

Joe Nelson

American baseball player For other people named Joseph Nelson, see Joseph Nelson (disambiguation). Baseball player Joe NelsonNelson with the Florida Marlins in 2008PitcherBorn: (1974-10-25) October 25, 1974 (age 49)Alameda, California, U.S.Batted: RightThrew: RightMLB debutJune 13, 2001, for the Atlanta BravesLast MLB appearanceJune 9, 2010, for the Boston Red SoxMLB statisticsWin–loss record7–2Earned run average4.38Strikeouts154 Teams Atlanta Braves (20...

 

 

List of conflicts related to the Cold War

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) While the Cold War itself never escalated into direct confrontation, there were a number of conflicts and revolutions related to the Cold War around the globe, spanning the entirety of the period usually prescribed to it (March 12, 1947 to December 26, ...

 

 

Ciria

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Ciria – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Municipality in Castile and León, SpainCiriaMunicipalityCiriaLocation in Spain.Show map of Castile and LeónCiriaCiria (Spain)Show map of SpainCoordinate...

Historiography of India

Part of a series on the History of India Timeline Prehistoric Madrasian culture Soanian, c. 500,000 BCE Neolithic, c. 7600 – c. 1000 BCE Bhirrana 7570 – 6200 BCE Jhusi 7106 BCE Lahuradewa 7000 BCE Mehrgarh 7000 – 2600 BCE South Indian Neolithic 3000 – 1000 BCE Ancient Indus Valley civilization, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Post Indus Valley Period(Cemetery H Culture), c. 1700 – c. 1500 BCE Vedic civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Kuru Kingdom, c. 1200 - c. 500 BCE Early Vedic Period R...

 

 

Tunisia–United States relations

Bilateral relationsTunisia – United States relations Tunisia United States Diplomatic missionEmbassy of Tunisia in Washington, D.C.Embassy of the United States in TunisEnvoyAmbassador Hanene Tajouri BessassiAmbassador Joey R. Hood Tunisia – United States relations are bilateral relations between Tunisia and the United States. According to a 2012 global opinion poll, 45% of Tunisians view the U.S. favorably.[1] History This article needs to be updated. Please help update this artic...

 

 

SMA Labschool Kebayoran

SMA Labschool KebayoranInformasiDidirikan25 September 2001JenisSwastaAkreditasiA[1]Nomor Pokok Sekolah Nasional20107313[2]Kepala SekolahRisang Danardana L, MM. [3]Jumlah kelas9 kelas setiap tingkatJurusan atau peminatanMIPA dan IPSRentang kelasX, XI MIPA, XI IPS, XII MIPA, XII IPSKurikulumKurikulum MerdekaJumlah siswa894AlamatLokasiJl. KH Ahmad Dahlan 14 RT.2/RW.1, Kramat Pela, Kec. Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta, IndonesiaTel./Faks.021739...

Ordelaffi

Disambiguazione – Se stai cercando altri significati, vedi Ordelaffi (disambigua). Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento storia di famiglia è priva o carente di note e riferimenti bibliografici puntuali. Sebbene vi siano una bibliografia e/o dei collegamenti esterni, manca la contestualizzazione delle fonti con note a piè di pagina o altri riferimenti precisi che indichino puntualmente la provenienza delle informazioni. Puoi migliorare questa voce citando le fonti più precisamente. ...

 

 

Nonpoint source pollution

Pollution resulting from multiple sources Part of a series onPollutionMuddy river polluted by sediment Air Air quality index Atmospheric dispersion modeling Chlorofluorocarbon Combustion Exhaust gas Haze Global dimming Global distillation Indoor air quality Ozone depletion Particulates Persistent organic pollutant Smog Soot Volatile organic compound Waste Biological Biological hazard Genetic Introduced species Invasive species Digital Information Electromagnetic Light Ecological Overilluminat...

 

 

اتحاد غوادلوب لكرة القدم

يفتقر محتوى هذه المقالة إلى الاستشهاد بمصادر. فضلاً، ساهم في تطوير هذه المقالة من خلال إضافة مصادر موثوق بها. أي معلومات غير موثقة يمكن التشكيك بها وإزالتها. (فبراير 2016) الرابطة الغوادلوبية لكرة القدم الاسم المختصر LGF الرياضة كرة القدم أسس عام 1961 المقر بوانت-آه-بيتر  الان�...

From Zero to I Love You

From Zero to I Love YouPoster filmSutradaraDoug SpearmanProduserTommy VillafrancaAlan KoenigsbergRendell BryceEric DalyLaird McClureMeade ThayerStephen W. WallaceVladislav YashkovMichael BuszaDitulis olehDoug SpearmanPemeranDarryl StephensScott BaileyPenata musikMervyn WarrenMalik WilliamsSinematograferKevin BarryPeter SteusloffPenyuntingChristo TsiarasPerusahaanproduksiMilton Ventures Media5 Child ProductionsEsplanade PicturesTanggal rilis 26 Maret 2019 (2019-03-26) (BFI Flare...

 

 

Regulasi Umum Perlindungan Data

Regulasi (EU) 2016/679 GDPRRegulasi Uni EropaJudulRegulasi (EU) 2016/679 Parlemen Eropa dan Dewan tanggal 27 April 2016 tentang perlindungan orang alami berkaitan dengan pemrosesan data pribadi dan pada pergerakan bebas data tersebut, dan mencabut Direktif 95/46/EC (Regulasi Umum Perlindungan Data)Dibuat oleh Parlemen Eropa dan DewanReferensi jurnalL119, 4/5/2016, p. 1–88Persetujuan EEAYaSejarahTanggal dibuat14 April 2016Tanggal implementasi25 Mei 2018Naskah persiapanProposal KomisiCOM/2012...