Today, Android powers the majority of the hundreds of smartphone options available to buyers. In fact, it is the glue that binds India\u2019s smartphone space and continues to encourage a widespread ecosystem of devices, apps and services.
India's smartphone market is also largely value-driven. With an average selling price of Rs. 12,000 (as per Counterpoint Research), manufacturers are fighting tooth and nail for a slice of market share. A packed spec-sheet has traditionally been the obvious point of differentiation, with a customized software.

Cramming paper-specs makes for great marketing, but there's a cost attached to it. In a market that is often won by the perception of value, it is important to keep costs low, and the hidden cost of that additional hardware afforded by your brand spanking new phone is the value that a company can extract out of you, the user.

The total cost of ownership of a phone is so much more than just the hardware components.

In a highly competitive landscape, you might lean on looking simply at hardware specs to get more for your buck, which often comes at the cost of up-to-date software and a better user experience. The lack of essential features like long term OS updates puts your privacy at risk. It also brings up the concept of planned obsolescence. Your phone risks being obsolete not by the aging hardware, but due to the lack of software support.

User data patterns are a precious commodity. That steal of a deal you just snagged? There is a possibility that the hardware package was facilitated by infringing on your privacy. These data patterns are critical for targeted advertising, pop-ups on phones, and play a key role in off-setting the minimal profit margins on hardware.

Now, some might say that there is no difference in ads displayed on the lock-screen and those in free apps installed through the Play Store. Fundamentally, the idea is the same. Reduce the cost of entry and make it cheaper or even free for a customer to get a service.

This brings up the million-dollar question. Is your phone truly your own when it is being used by the company as a billboard despite paying full price? What really is the cost of giving up control over your phone and leaving it open to security risks?

Let\u2019s negate the constant barrage of ads and spam that are certainly not the experience you sign up for when buying a phone, but can one really overlook the security ramifications for a second?

One might argue that a user who is coming to a smartphone for the first time and is still discovering the web and app ecosystem, certain app recommendations might be beneficial. But that\u2019s there is a big chance that this is just the tip of the iceberg for your mobile phone. And what about many of those who don\u2019t even need this? How many mobiles are available out there to help with such a consumer need?

Pre-installed apps are not held to the same scrutiny as those shipped through the Play Store and its malware protection program to ensure minimum safety standards. These apps often have system-level access to data, few safeguards to prevent data pilfering to off-shore servers, usually in China.

There\u2019s a fine line between security and privacy. Fingerprints, encryption might protect you if you lose your phone, but the real theft is of your data, there\u2019s very little you can do about it. Unfettered access to data through system-level applications leaves privacy out in the open.

Ad-targeting might not sound like a big deal, but detailed user profiles on likes, dislikes, interests and more certainly does. Your everyday searches can be telling of major life decisions. With phones becoming the center of our personal and financial lives, users need to be ever more vigilant about what, why of their data privacy.

Custom Android skins shipping with pre-loaded applications leave little control in the user's hands. These applications can rarely be removed, and there is no transparency over data usage metrics. This stands in sharp contrast to a pure Android experience that has no added bloat, gives users explicit controls over what they install and the level of access apps have.

Skinned Android users often have to wait months on end till they receive a security or version update, leaving users susceptible to fresh security threats. Have no doubt, bad actors will and do try to exploit those vulnerabilities, and it is in your best interest to be on the bleeding edge of security updates. Pure Android, by its nature, is faster with security patches and yearly major updates.

Opting for a better, and more importantly, a more secure smartphone isn't hard. There are options that treat user privacy and safety as a first-class citizen.

Your smartphone is only as good as the experience it provides, and security updates are an integral part of it. The focus needs to shift away from paper specs even if it means paying a slight premium for it.

As hardware gets commoditized, price wars are inevitable, and it is privacy and data security that gets caught in the crossfire. The onus lies on users to vote with their wallet and place value on a better, more importantly, secure experience over yet another data point.","blog_img":"","posted_date":"2020-07-29 12:41:53","modified_date":"2020-07-29 12:41:53","featured":"0","status":"Y","seo_title":"The hidden cost of your \"affordable\" smartphone","seo_url":"the-hidden-cost-of-your-affordable-smartphone","url":"\/\/www.iser-br.com\/tele-talk\/the-hidden-cost-of-your-affordable-smartphone\/4407","url_seo":"the-hidden-cost-of-your-affordable-smartphone"}">