tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post9117381878870768592..comments2023-11-12T00:30:15.262+09:00Comments on Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*: iPhoreigner [revised]kushibohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-76591049341109312062010-06-03T12:07:35.535+09:002010-06-03T12:07:35.535+09:00If it were a choice between your solution and not ...If it were a choice between your solution and not getting an iPhone, I'd be totally onboard with that idea. <br /><br />But the the subsidies, as I understand them, are a bit fuzzy, made with assumptions of a certain amount of phone usage that <i>on average</i> comes about over the course of two years, but not always so. <br /><br />I think because of that, KT would rather not have to put a specific price tag on the actual subsidy, which would make them less inclined to do it this way. But maybe they would be willing to do it, but the calculation (how many months are left on your visa, etc.) gets a bit complicated. <br /><br />I'm not trying to excuse KT, just saying they might find it more trouble than it's worth. On the other hand, if LG had gotten the contract instead, I think they would have made sure there was a way to do this (LG, the company that has been offering English-language service for most of the past decade, plus various plans for foreign nationals to get phones on their own without "help" from a cosigner or having to get a disposable phone).kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-84945140597175692452010-06-03T11:43:54.584+09:002010-06-03T11:43:54.584+09:00I understand that there are some dubious foreigner...I understand that there are some dubious foreigners here that leave without paying up any outstanding bills. However, if KT has money up front and would return the amount that is subsidizes for Koreans *if* completion of the contract, it's a win-win situation - more subscribers for KT and foreigners get equal treatment.Canadian Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758724962458980677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-76622867397400308212010-06-03T02:47:34.646+09:002010-06-03T02:47:34.646+09:00I think something like that could be worked out. B...I think something like that could be worked out. But like I said, an organization like ATEK should be on it.<br /><br /><b>If KT is so worried that foreigners will leave before the contract is finished,</b> <br /><br />You know why they worry about this? Because no small number of foreigners really do this stuff. Phone bills, electric bills, gas bills, etc. I have seen it first hand, and as a landlord, it worries me as well.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-11120420309238038452010-06-02T21:01:01.597+09:002010-06-02T21:01:01.597+09:00I have a really simple solution for this whole sit...I have a really simple solution for this whole situation. If KT is so worried that foreigners will leave before the contract is finished, they can ask the foreigner to give a deposit, the same price as the phone would be. If the foreigner can complete two year contract, the money would be returned. KT has their security, the foreigner is eligible for the same subsidy (thought it's given later), and everyone can be happy, right? Pipe dreams, eh?Canadian Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758724962458980677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-768952976049633612010-06-01T09:26:54.016+09:002010-06-01T09:26:54.016+09:00You mean your local ABC affiliate didn't help ...You mean your local ABC affiliate didn't help <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/consumer&id=7280961" rel="nofollow">you</a> to save thousands by not having a cell phone contract?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpBN-BBhcew" rel="nofollow">How to Call Your iPod Touch And Give It A Phone Number For Free!</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NmenFAiOzc&feature=related" rel="nofollow">How To: Call on iPod Touch and How to Call Your iPod Touch</a><br /><br />Personally, I went with <a href="http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=1fba2842326c555b&hl=en" rel="nofollow">Google Voice</a>, but you need an invite (I've used up all mine) and to be located in the U.S. to set it up.John from Daejeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431973044799010218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-560439252128419632010-06-01T07:48:23.623+09:002010-06-01T07:48:23.623+09:00Sorry, Roboseyo. My bad.
In hindsight, the embar...Sorry, Roboseyo. My bad. <br /><br />In hindsight, the embarrass-Korea-internationally-to-get-what-we-want methodology is more his style than yours (although, I'd be willing to employ it myself for the right issue).kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-63142963880210859242010-06-01T07:40:03.290+09:002010-06-01T07:40:03.290+09:00Though we look similar enough that people often th...Though we look similar enough that people often think we're brothers, the Metropolitician was the one who encouraged people to write to Steve Jobs. :)<br /><br />http://metropolitician.blogs.com/scribblings_of_the_metrop/2009/12/an-open-letter-to-steve-jobs-from-an-iphone-hopeful-in-korea.htmlRoboseyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308196436612993379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-3090833225233731202010-06-01T02:27:30.024+09:002010-06-01T02:27:30.024+09:00John, can you elaborate on how to do that? I may w...John, can you elaborate on how to do that? I may want to use my actual iPhone that way when I travel abroad. <br /><br />My mom has an iPod Touch I gave her for Christmas, so if we do go to Europe, we might want to do that with her device as well.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-44392376302502418982010-06-01T02:26:24.810+09:002010-06-01T02:26:24.810+09:00Canadian Bacon, that was sloppy of me. Very sloppy...Canadian Bacon, that was sloppy of me. Very sloppy. I read "educators" and assumed that it was including E2's and not just E1's. <br /><br />Also, it doesn't include student visa holders either. <br /><br />Clearly what needs to happen is for an organization like ATEK to get on this, trying to find a workaround whereby the "guarantor" status of one's 신원보증 can be used (with the visa sponsor's permission?), but that might distract from all the "human rights abuse" campaigns they've been doing. ;)<br /><br />It looks like the international students in Korea are no better off than the students I mentioned. <br /><br />But the final point remains the same: for all the bluster about how badly foreigners were being treated in Korea by making them unable to take advantages of the massive subsidies they could get if they were on a two-year contract (Roboseyo thought people should write to Steve Jobs!), the same thing happens in the US with people on temporary visas who are ineligible for a Social Security number.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-82811667353756121732010-05-31T21:45:14.388+09:002010-05-31T21:45:14.388+09:00I don't understand the need for a cell phone w...I don't understand the need for a cell phone with a monthly bill when you can purchase an ipod touch and set it up to make and receive free calls before leaving the states while traveling anywhere in the world (where you have wi-fi access) with a couple of free software downloads.John from Daejeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431973044799010218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869680.post-26242795951285317712010-05-31T20:31:41.947+09:002010-05-31T20:31:41.947+09:00If you read the full article on the Korean Times w...If you read the full article on the Korean Times website, you might notice E-2 visas holders are not on the list of people "helped" under this program. Wonder if it was just written incorrectly by the KT or if it's just a continuation of the problem for E-2 visa holders.Canadian Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758724962458980677noreply@blogger.com