Freedom thought of the day: And this, fellow Americans, is called a SIM chip 🙂 As well known and common as potato chips everywhere else in the world, it is an amazing device which allows people to CHOOSE what phone company to use and switch and change as easily as changing socks. Unbendable contracts, “locked” phones and phone lease scams are practically unheard of elsewhere…. You buy a phone, get a chip for whatever company you want. In America we are scammed into getting a “free” phone in exchange for a 2 year contract at $60/ month…. In other words a $1200 “free” phone you can buy from a street vendor anywhere else for $70 (or $2000+ for an iPhone).

Why? (Drumroll…..Here comes “freedom Bruce”!). Same reason MANY things are broken…..our friends in government and their friends serving special interests. Competition is key….. Like all business categories which suck (phone service, banking, insurance and increasingly medical) regulation from government has its sticky fingers gumming up the machine of efficiency and hindering competition. I can go to Pakistan, buy a phone, get a chip, call home and talk for three hours for $10 ….the price of a three minute call from AT&T. Would that mobile company not like to compete in our vast inefficient and overpriced market? Of course. But our politicians, in their wisdom, “protect” us from those who would deliver better networks at better prices….much to the delight of AT&T and Verizon.

Now I know this post hits a wide audience — 30% of the people are saying “What the heck is Bruce talking about, everyone knows how SIM chips work.” 30% are saying “What the heck is a SIM chip?” 30% are saying “Americans sign contracts and have locked phones….why?” And 10% are saying “Duh!” 🙂

Beat the system! Get an unlocked phone on Amazon, get a pay as you go mobile service and switch chips every time you head to a new country — it’s like the modern geek equivalent of dumping British tea into Boston harbor!

Note: when changing the chip be sure to shout Sparta style “Freeeeeeeeeedom!”