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The web is all aflutter in the debate over handset exclusivity. Harold Feld of Public Knowledge describes in a recently posted video how exclusive deals prevent competition between handsets and raise prices. Wayne Crews and Ryan Young of CEI have fired back, pointing to a handset market with literally dozens of competing devices.

The notion that exclusivity necessarily precludes competition is simply absurd. Apple’s deal with AT&T is precisely the opposite of monopoly. Far from cornering the market on smartphones, Apple has openly refused…

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A group of US Senators has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission expressing their concern that the exclusive arrangements that are common between wireless service providers and mobile handset manufacturers may be hindering competition and innovation. Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are worried that the prevalence of such exclusivity arrangements (for example, AT&T and Apple’s iPhone, or Sprint-Nextel and the Palm Pre) restrict consumer choice.

Are consumers getting a bad deal? In an essay published last…

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Prepare yourself for the latest episode of the best free market podcast around, LibertyWeek.

Your hosts Richard Morrison and Cord Blomquist discuss the looming presidential election, Halloween, the conviction of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the continuing economic unease, tough times for the U.S. Postal Service, American companies react to Internet censorship abroad, Cox’s new wireless service, Microsoft’s new web-based OS Azure, and all the finest Olympic News.

Listen now!

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