I was browsing around Best Buy last week with a $20 gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket. I was drawn to the “communications” department, being the radio nut that I am.
There were at least four different mobile phone services I could choose from, some having three or more phones to choose from. Lining the walls were rack upon rack of phone accessories: cases, chargers, earphones. You name it.
A whole section of FRS and GMRS walkie-talkies caught my eye. There were 1 and 2 watt models. Some with chargers, some without. Some even had built-in GPS units. Every possible feature one could imagine was on at least one product. I was amazed.
As I stood there awed by the selection, I was reminded why I love America’s free market. In America, every consumer itch, no matter how small, can get scratched. Every taste can be catered to. Truly amazing.
I think a key reason for the product diversity in that department is that the govermnent is mostly uninvolved. The FRS and GMRS radios are no-license or self-licensing products. Also, the FCC never enforced one mobile phone standard in the US. Thus, we have competing services using competing protocols with competing phones: all to better serve the consumer.
Regulation is big sucks! Rulez is the free market!