Operators want to reduce churn numbers, increase customer loyalty and their stickiness, through differentiation and a unique offering. Obviously, operators want services that tie the user to them and make it harder to quit the operator. So, it makes sense that if a subscriber switches to another operator he looses the right to use the ǃ?oldǃ? operatorǃÙs special services ÇƒÏ just like loosing the voice mail or other personalized services. This includes storage services, like the ones you described.

However, the stored content is not lost, as the user gets the opportunity to download it to an external source. This may not be the most convenient experience for the user but the content goes with him; Hence it might be a bit extreme to say that the operators keep this data as ransom.

Despite what I wrote above, there might be a place for the regulator to require the operators to enable better interoperability and a more fluent transfer of data between operators. Or, it might not even be the regulator that leads to that, it could just be a market demand that will lead to more openness of services in the future.

For myself, I wouldnǃÙt just leave my memories in the custody of the operatorǃÙs caring hands, but market trends prove that these kinds of services are very appealing to a big crowd of customers.