[rbanffy]

> They all just want to sell units. It's a mess.

Actually, they want you to buy a 12 or 24-month plan, The unit is just the bait.

In this scenario, it makes sense to build non-upgradable phones so that users opt to get locked in for another year just to get a "free" new phone.

[eru]

I am very glad, that I can just buy separate SIM cards in Europe.

[technomancy]

You can do that with the Nexus One in the US, but people don't. Possibly because the carriers try their damndest to make sure nobody knows about it.