Ain't progress grand?

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/...tandt-style-limited-data-plans-later-this-mo/

Hang on to your megabytes, folks, because it looks like the Brave New World of limited data is truly upon us. AT&T and Verizon tend to follow each others' moves pretty closely -- the two carriers regard each other as their nearest competitors, after all -- and we're hearing that Big Red intends to move to some sort of tiered bucket strategy on July 29. We don't have details on whether the pricing will be identical to AT&T's ($25 for 2GB, $15 for 200MB), but we imagine it'll be within shouting distance if not. Of course, Verizon has been sending this message for a long time -- even before AT&T was -- so it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that this is going down. You might say that Droid Does Caps, eh?

Its not really a surprise, but its still a crappy move on Verizon's part. Very detrimental to the health of the smart phone and digital markets and their growth. For some people, it'll make their bills slightly cheaper, a slight short term plus. Still bad long term though.

I could see limited data for their 4G networks as they build it out, but for 3G service, it blows.

 

[theeedude]

I don't necessarily see it as a problem IF terms are reasonable. I'd rather pay for my usage than subsidize or leech off heavier/lighter users. Of course I doubt terms are going to be reasonable... carriers still charge 10cents for SMS that has almost zero data in it.

 

[Bateluer]

carriers still charge 10cents for SMS that has almost zero data in it.

A source of irritation, but easily circumvented using IM programs. Most, if not all, smart phones can run several different IM programs to connect to MSN, AIM, Facebook chat, YIM, etc.

 

[TheWart]

I don't necessarily see it as a problem IF terms are reasonable. I'd rather pay for my usage than subsidize or leech off heavier/lighter users. Of course I doubt terms are going to be reasonable... carriers still charge 10cents for SMS that has almost zero data in it.

Agreed...maybe once we move to LTE/4G we can hope.

 

[cheezy321]

Eventually everything on a cell phone will be just data packages. You wont have to pay extra for 'minutes' and 'text messages'. It should be this way already. You should pay for the bandwidth you use and that should be it.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

does this mean i can get out of my contract?

 

[charrison]

It is a good move by both carriers. It will force consumers to make better use of a scarce resource and use wifi when available. It is easy to not sure wifi as the 3g connections is always there, but if it is gonna cost you will spend the extra 30 seconds to connect to wifi.

The $15 dollar data plan will suck alot of new users into the smart phone world. My boss only used 75megs on his iphone last month, the low end plans are perfect for him. And most smart phone users fit under the 2 gig cap now. A few people will have to change their habits, but it will be better for all of us.

 

[zerocool84]

It is a good move by both carriers. It will force consumers to make better use of a scarce resource and use wifi when available. It is easy to not sure wifi as the 3g connections is always there, but if it is gonna cost you will spend the extra 30 seconds to connect to wifi.

The $15 dollar data plan will suck alot of new users into the smart phone world. My boss only used 75megs on his iphone last month, the low end plans are perfect for him. And most smart phone users fit under the 2 gig cap now. A few people will have to change their habits, but it will be better for all of us.

It's a good move for the carriers but not for the consumers. What if someone that just switches to them uses MORE than the 2GB cap??? There is nothing for a power user to do other than pay per MB which is ridiculous. They need to have different tiers for higher than 2GB as well as 2GB is nothing. You can't connect to wifi when there is no wifi. Maybe you're lucky to live somewhere that has wifi everywhere but many people don't.

 

[AstroManLuca]

A source of irritation, but easily circumvented using IM programs. Most, if not all, smart phones can run several different IM programs to connect to MSN, AIM, Facebook chat, YIM, etc.

Valid point except you have to figure out how to get your friends to stop sending text messages to your phone number.

I guess you could get a Google Voice number and just give them that number and tell them you changed it.

 

[Bateluer]

but it will be better for all of us.

Only the carriers benefit from this. They'll get more money and get to put off network upgrades for a few more years. In contrast, we lose the ability to stream HD content, means you'll have to carefully watch those HD Youtube videos. If you've got to micromanage your bandwidth, you'll just stop entirely. Oh, those companies streaming TV broadcasts to mobile phones? Yeah, they're hosed. Want to buy those MP3s you heard on Pandora? Better remember the band or song when you get home or hope you're already connected to a wifi network. A few album downloads will eat up your bandwidth quickly. Oh, and Pandora? Yeah, that's out entirely unless your connected to WiFi. Those online games that swap data back and forth? Those are out. Games that download lots of data to the phone's storage, those are out now.

Far better to stay with the unlimited data plans and let people and businesses thrive rather than commit economic starvation of new industries.

 

[charrison]

It's a good move for the carriers but not for the consumers. What if someone that just switches to them uses MORE than the 2GB cap??? There is nothing for a power user to do other than pay per MB which is ridiculous. They need to have different tiers for higher than 2GB as well as 2GB is nothing. You can't connect to wifi when there is no wifi. Maybe you're lucky to live somewhere that has wifi everywhere but many people don't.

2gig may be nothing, but some 95% of the population does not use that much every month.
Given that wifi is now free at starbucks and Mcdondalds, I would say you are never too far from free wifi.

 

[zerocool84]

2gig may be nothing, but some 95% of the population does not use that much every month.
Given that wifi is now free at starbucks and Mcdondalds, I would say you are never too far from free wifi.

Yes but like I said there's people who are going to be screwed cus they want to stream basic things which now won't be able to. They need to offer something for people who want to use more.

 

[pm]

As I said when AT&T rolled out their tiered plan, I think this is inevitable. There is only so much bandwidth available to a carrier and there are only so many places (for now anyway) where you can put up a cell tower. So given the limitations, is a finite resource.

I was in Ireland last week and on O2, I paid 5 euros for a SIM and then I paid 1 euro for 50MB. So about $5 would buy you 200MB. 1GB would be 20 euros. I thought this was a good system. In the three weeks I was there, I used 12 euros worth of data.

I'd rather pay for what I use than try to guess what I think I might use. And I'd rather pay for what I use than pay a really large amount of money ($30) for an "unlimited" system when I'm using about ~150MB per month. People who use a lot of data clearly aren't happy, but the vast majority of people who don't use a lot of data end up paying less.

 

[JimmiG]

Most carriers are already doing that here in Sweden. I only know of one that still has "unlimited" data, at 6Mb/s for $27 a month or 1Mb/s for $13 a month.

I have 1GB/month at 6Mb/s for $9. It's fine when you can use WiFi both at home and at school/work. I don't really find I have to do anything in particular to restrict bandwidth usage. I mean, there's no need to stream HD video on a 3.x" screen...

 

[charrison]

Yes but like I said there's people who are going to be screwed cus they want to stream basic things which now won't be able to. They need to offer something for people who want to use more.

Unfortunately streaming music may be out till networks catch up with the devices. Maybe pandora needs to create a stream cache when connected to wifi.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Could this be a starting point for providers to get rid of net neutrality? I will admit that we're a ways off from it leading to that, but the bandwidth issue is worrisome in that it makes a somewhat compelling argument for why providers should be able to limit certain content.

Yes but like I said there's people who are going to be screwed cus they want to stream basic things which now won't be able to. They need to offer something for people who want to use more.

Yeah, I think that's the issue is that they offer a very limited tier selection. You get what 2-3 choices and then pay out the ass from there. Considering they're touting all the features of these newer phones (and you know they'll start pushing Hulu/Netflix/etc or similar services), they're going to have to add a lot, and we'll probably end up where you have to pay $30 to stream one thing, then however much for other data, etc. To top it all off the people who will save money are saving very little. Didn't you used to pay just $30 for unlimited? Now if one month you use 3GB you're going to pay quite a bit more than $30 , but if you only use 1GB you're not really going to save much.

 

[charrison]

Only the carriers benefit from this. They'll get more money and get to put off network upgrades for a few more years. In contrast, we lose the ability to stream HD content, means you'll have to carefully watch those HD Youtube videos. If you've got to micromanage your bandwidth, you'll just stop entirely. Oh, those companies streaming TV broadcasts to mobile phones? Yeah, they're hosed. Want to buy those MP3s you heard on Pandora? Better remember the band or song when you get home or hope you're already connected to a wifi network. A few album downloads will eat up your bandwidth quickly. Oh, and Pandora? Yeah, that's out entirely unless your connected to WiFi. Those online games that swap data back and forth? Those are out. Games that download lots of data to the phone's storage, those are out now.

Carriers are dropping billions into network upgrades every year. Upgrades if anything are being expedited, not delayed as more and more people adopt smart phones.

Far better to stay with the unlimited data plans and let people and businesses thrive rather than commit economic starvation of new industries.

Or let everyone have unlimited and ruin the experience for everyone because the networks are always full. There is such a thing as balance.

Caps are only a temporary thing. Once everyone switches to a smartphone and the networks stabilize, they will go away.

 

[Bateluer]

Caps are only a temporary thing. Once everyone switches to a smartphone and the networks stabilize, they will go away.

History isn't with you on this, unfortunately. Carriers will want to suck as much money as they can from their customers, as well as set themselves up as content providers, cutting out other businesses and endeavors in the process.

Data caps are detrimental to everyone but the carrier.

 

[sswingle]

does this mean i can get out of my contract?

Doubtful, since they will probably let people keep their old plans until they upgrade or change something.

 

[JD50]

2gig may be nothing, but some 95% of the population does not use that much every month.
Given that wifi is now free at starbucks and Mcdondalds, I would say you are never too far from free wifi.

That's absurd. So now you're supposed to go find a McDonalds or a Starbucks when you want to download some music or a video? That defeats the whole purpose of having a smartphone.

I don't eat like shit or drink over priced coffee, so it's not like my phone could queue it up when I'm at one of those places. And I'm not going to sit there and stare at my phone hoping that I'm driving or walking by a place that has free wifi.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

2gig may be nothing, but some 95% of the population does not use that much every month.
Given that wifi is now free at starbucks and Mcdondalds, I would say you are never too far from free wifi.

I work in a large office building. You would think that I could leech off some office networks unprotected WiFi, but because of where I work, they take network security very seriously. And I'm not about to go in and hack into a network either. The closest WiFi hotspot is 2 miles away. Now while I'm sure I'm a 'special' case, I am very glad that I got on AT&T unlimited plan late last year and am now grandfathered into it.

 

[Anubis]

I work in a large office building. You would think that I could leech off some office networks unprotected WiFi, but because of where I work, they take network security very seriously. And I'm not about to go in and hack into a network either. The closest WiFi hotspot is 2 miles away. Now while I'm sure I'm a 'special' case, I am very glad that I got on AT&T unlimited plan late last year and am now grandfathered into it.

I work in a place much like yours, we don't have wifi running in the building i work at anywhere. i know HQ runs it in a few conf rooms and the caf area. HQ is 5 miles from here, you need be on your work lappy or have the guest password to use it and they don't give that guest PW to employees. Other then that TBH i don't think there is any other free wifi within a 5 mile radius of here.

 

[boomhower]

I work on the road, so wifi is not available. I don't have a problems with reasonable caps. To me 5GB's is reasonable, 2GB's for $5 less is not.

 

[JD50]

I work on the road, so wifi is not available. I don't have a problems with reasonable caps. To me 5GB's is reasonable, 2GB's for $5 less is not.

:thumbsup:

 

[mmntech]

We've had limited data in Canada since the beginning. Right now it's $20 for 500mb, $25 for 1gb, $45 for 2gb, and a whopping $60/month for 5gb.

I pay the same for my 14mbps/60gb home internet that Rogers charges for 2gb mobile.