Exclusive phones bad?

[astraith]

Four senators are reportedly investigate whether or not an exclusive phone is bad for competition, and whether it should be stopped. I think this is BAD. I mean, are they going to go after Windows for having too many exclusive software? Are they mad at Nintendo for not giving Zelda to Playstation? This is the same with phones.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/s...5/daily27.html

What do you guys think?

[shunoshi]

This is a double edged sword in my book. Exclusives are good for service providers, but I don't find them good for the developer (in our case, Palm). I think the wider the install base, the better. Easiest way to accomplish this is to go "multiplatform".

Either way, I don't have an issue with exclusives. If a manufacturer wants to exclusively do business with one company, so be it. It's there perrogative. Government stepping in and saying they can't? That I have a problem with.

If the government wants to go after this issue that rides the edge of monopolization, they should go take a look at the cable companies and ruffle some feathers there. The way cable has locations under lockdown is bad business for the consumer. Because Sprint can sell the Pre and Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile can't isn't going to hurt the consumer.