“My first one came in a box of parts from Amazon,” he says.
“I was like, ‘Oh my god.
This is going to be amazing.'”
Gulliver, a 27-year-old entrepreneur and programmer who has been blogging about his experiences with his phone for nearly two years, has spent more than $10,000 on his new phone since February.
He’s been waiting for the perfect time to finally buy his phone, he says, but has not received a call.
“My first phone came in boxes of parts for Amazon,” Gulliver says.
Gullivers iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S4, and Sony Xperia S3 are all covered with a sticker that reads, “This is the first phone I’ve ever owned.”
He estimates that he’s spent around $50,000, but is currently out of pocket.
The parts cost around $400 apiece.
Gully’s new phone will have a 5.5-inch 1080p display, and a 12MP camera.
Its rear camera is an 8MP sensor, with an f/1.7 aperture.
Gully plans to use the phone for video calls, but says he’ll only use the camera to take pictures of himself while he rides his bicycle.
“I’ve always liked to look out for the side of the road,” Gully says.
“[I] think the iPhone is a good product for the time.
It’s a little more advanced and it’s more comfortable, and I think it’ll get better over time.
But at this point I think the biggest advantage I have with it is the camera.”
Gullive is one of several smartphone enthusiasts who have taken advantage of a federal program that offers subsidies to purchase new smartphones.
The program has been in place since 2013, and now offers subsidies of up to $5,000 per phone, for a total of $16,000.
However, the program is only available to eligible smartphone owners, not all smartphone buyers.
That means the vast majority of consumers who qualify for the program do not.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also been pushing back against the subsidies, which have allowed the program to grow.
Earlier this month, FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen wrote to the FTC to urge it to end its subsidy program, saying it was too lucrative and unfair.
“The FTC has determined that this program is not efficient and that its benefits are outweighed by the risks to consumers and consumers’ ability to make smart choices and to be able to purchase the phones they need,” Ohlausen wrote.
“As a result, I am requesting the FTC cancel the program and provide an additional $2,500 in additional subsidies to eligible iPhone owners.”
Gully, on the other hand, plans to keep the phone.
“It’s going to cost me a lot more,” he explains.
“So I’ll just keep it.
I’ll buy it, I’ll pay for it, and it will be great.”