During the past few years mobile prices have reduced, whilst the cost of mobile phone contracts sold by the mobile phone networks has remained pretty much unchanged (although you now get more inclusive minutes and messages). This means the price of a cell phone is proportionately less than it used to be when compared to the full value of the mobile contract. At one time mobile phone retailers would provide free mobile handsets as an inducement for buyers to purchase a contract. In fact, many would actually charge a fee for the mobile phone on top of the price of the contract. Cell phones were extremely expensive, and often seen as a premium product or status symbol. These days with increasingly common use and resulting economies of scale even the top cell phones can be bought cheaply.