Why is F@stlink so expensive?

[marco]

There is not much inside of it. No keyboard, no screen, no camera, no battery etc. Yet it is the same price as a reasonable cellphone. A ripoff I say.

 

[Uli]

I tend to agree

 

[Piesang]

You both have 720 posts. You don't see that often.

 

[Uli]

lol yea me 721 now!!!

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Link or picture, or specifications of the device concerned?

if I'm correct it's that ethernet router?

In such a case you don't need a keyboard or screen - it is a dedicated device to enable a small office or home network to connect to the 3G network without any fuss.

Sure, you can use a cellular telephone, and use Internet Connection Sharing to share it between two (or more) computers. But this device plugs directly into the network, and will also be able (if supported) to offer VPN services.

Big difference.

 

[marco]

I will race Uli.

 

[Uli]

haha me first... lol

 

[marco]

What you talking about Librarian? Smoking boom?
Read the post. Fastlink modem E220. Can only do 1 thing and that is to connect to internet. Price should be about R300.00 at the most compared to other gadgets of the same caliber.

 

[Dr_Data]

Marco, you need to do some self research sometimes, it helps

 

[marco]

Dr Data, your remark offends me. I have no gripe with MTN. The price is the same with all networks here and the UK and USA. I did do research. I even researched the inside of it. Some hybrid components and no gold. It is overpriced by the manufacturers. I still say it is overpriced unless you tell me otherwise.

 

[Dr_Data]

Dr Data, your remark offends me. I have no gripe with MTN. The price is the same with all networks here and the UK and USA. I did do research. I even researched the inside of it. Some hybrid components and no gold. It is overpriced by the manufacturers. I still say it is overpriced unless you tell me otherwise.

Hi Marco
Apologies no offense was intended. Was referring to the post by Lib.
Regards
DD

 

[m0zy]

lol yea me 721 now!!!

 

[marco]

Yes, Lib and Mozy are both on something.

 

[dj_jyno]

Good question. It should be cheap for two reasons: lack of really advanced circuitry in the device (not even sure whether they have a built-in processor or whether the host does all the work) and since Huawei is Chinese, they have some of the cheapest labour available.

 

[ColinR]

Economies of scale? Far less of these made than the average low cost cellphone?

 

[dj_jyno]

Economies of scale? Far less of these made than the average low cost cellphone?

Could be, but there is a large percentage of spares that are shared between different form factors (PC Card, USB, router) e.g. the aerial and most of the IC, which really is the heart of the modem. This in itself should keep the production cost low.