wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (12/09/85)
It has occurred to me that it would seem that an ordinary 300/1200 bps modem, without special programming or fancy features, should have about the same parts count and component cost of a basic multi-number-memory telephone. I would think that it should be available for a retail cost somewhere in the $50 range. This does not seem to be the case. Am I wrong in the parts cost estimate? Or is it just that telephones are produced in so much greater volume that the economies of scale cut their prices down to a third of what they would be if produced in modem quantities? Or are the manufacturers just conspiring to keep the prices high? Will Martin UUCP/USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA
grr@unirot.UUCP (George Robbins) (12/12/85)
In article <442@brl-tgr.ARPA> wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) writes: >It has occurred to me that it would seem that an ordinary 300/1200 bps >modem, without special programming or fancy features, should have about >the same parts count and component cost of a basic multi-number-memory >telephone. I would think that it should be available for a retail cost >somewhere in the $50 range. >Will Martin Prices are falling quickly as these products are moving from the commercial-> hobby->consumer markets. There are different rules and competitive forces in each of these these markets. Modem prices have been declining rapidly. The sales price for Hayes compatible modems will probably be down to around $100 within a year. Given the order of magnitude (more?) difference in volumes, between specialty items like modems and broad appeal items like telephones, this is probably as much as you can ask for. -- George Robbins uucp: {unirot|tapa}!grr P.O. Box 177 Lincoln U, PA 19352 [Any ideas herein are not responsible for themselves!]