> you practically can't start a mobile phone company that makes its phone hardware and software today and expect to make enough to keep the lights on
That's fascinating. I agree with you, but I'm wondering - how would the world have to change to make that possible? Or maybe, what's possible in today's world?
Starting an MVNO (aka pay T-mobile/others to use their towers) is capital intensive, but still far cheaper than trying to setup a nation-wide network for towers, or launch your own satelite constellation.
The two failures of Windows Mobile and Research In Motion (Blackberry) seem less relevant here given the mass-market appeal they're going for. If the goal were, instead, to operate a semi-private vertically integrated stack, say for a "private spy agency" company (I've been watching too much Archer lately), with semi-custom hardware on an existing network, with custom software, what would the economics be?
Could this be done for a few million? Tens of millions?
The major issue is that these days modern R&D and manufacturing tooling now requires a ridiculous amount of money. Away makes luggage and had to raise $50M in a series C. Look at the multitude of failed product Kickstarters.
It’s why across industry sectors, you are seeing consolidation of companies to reduce costs. In air transport, Embraer sold out to Boeing and Bombardier sold out to Airbus (and due to its fiascoes may cause the death of the business).
That's fascinating. I agree with you, but I'm wondering - how would the world have to change to make that possible? Or maybe, what's possible in today's world?
Starting an MVNO (aka pay T-mobile/others to use their towers) is capital intensive, but still far cheaper than trying to setup a nation-wide network for towers, or launch your own satelite constellation.
The two failures of Windows Mobile and Research In Motion (Blackberry) seem less relevant here given the mass-market appeal they're going for. If the goal were, instead, to operate a semi-private vertically integrated stack, say for a "private spy agency" company (I've been watching too much Archer lately), with semi-custom hardware on an existing network, with custom software, what would the economics be?
Could this be done for a few million? Tens of millions?