I did some more research on this topic and found the following:
The only manufacturer at this time that restricts carriers from disabling any feature set on their phones is Apple. This is because of their commitment to the security of their phones - they are not about to give proprietary in formation on anything about their software and devices to anyone, even the government in order to protect their control over the integrity of the device.
So it means that carriers have to provide Apple developers with the feature sets that they want activated and any software like MyRogers, Anyplace TV, etc to apple, and they test it fully and provide it directly to the customer via their Apple store channels. No updates come from the carrier directly, only via Internet to the Apple Store.
Blackberry used to do this too, but when they switched to Android they did not.
So Android farms this function and places their products at the whim of the carrier. I am not a fan of Apple in general, just me, but I do like them for their position on this one. Blackberry layers their security software on top of the Android builds and keeps a corporate security choice and sandboxes the Android consumer build away from the device, but we as consumers are at the whim of the carrier on features.
In those cases where a carrier chooses to not provide a feature over their network, that is their choice, but they cannot disable any feature sets on an Apple, but a network feature like WIFI or VOLTE , communications may not be supported, but it is there to be used at any time they choose to turn it on or not, but you can go to a carrier that provides it.
This is totally a decision by carriers and the manufacturers allowing them to do it. The same pressure and concerns exist in the USA too.
And last comment on "grey market" - again a bit of research - a grey market is distribution of a manufactured product through non approved channels - purchase of a cell phone by Samsung and other companies from any carrier is not grey market - the last incident of grey market distribution of cell phones was Apple 4 when an approved distributor received an advanced shipment and released them early prior to the approved dates of Apple and they sold them at a profit, but under the marketed price that Apple.
The use of the phrase grey market is completely inappropriate to be used by anyone talking about a manufactured phone purchased originally through an approved distributor, so an unlocked phone purchased from another carrier is not a grey market - call it what it is - a corporate decision to not support phones that are not purchased through a Rogers channel - period.
Even if you buy your phone from a friend, that was originally with another carrier is not grey market, it is a used product sale of a legitimate product.
So the statement that Rogers does not support all features on phones not purchased through their channel distributors, configured for their network is the legitimate answer, they choose not to provide the software build or the configuration, even at a cost to their customers on phones not purchased directly from them - although if you buy it from a friend and it was Rogers, it will work, in fact they encourage you to transfer your plan or phone to others if you are leaving - another way of circumventing the full intent of mobility of the CRTC, in my opinion.
Imagine if a TV manufacturer or home phone manufacturer restricted the feature set available - there would be you know what to pay.
Bruce
Bruce
