why can't we get unlimited data at a reasonable price?

[rudeguy]

I mean fast data.

I don't care if its prepay, postpay, sidepay....ugh


I'm tired of paying $125/month for 2 phones mainly for data. The max voice we have used was 250 minutes in a month. Texting is what it is, usually ~50 or so a month.

There has to be something out there....

 

[gsaldivar]

Clear's iSpot is kind of nice.

$25/month, no contract, unlimited data, but its "optimized" (restricted) for Apple "I" devices (iPhone, iPad, etc)*.

* Yes there is a way around that. Google is your friend.

 

[shortylickens]

You need ECON 101.
Supply and demand. So long as people are willing to pay loads of cash for 5GB with restrictions, they will do so. If everyone just stopped paying their phone bill all at once then maybe the providers would do something about it. But thats not gonna happen.

 

[olds]

Can you get Boost Mobile?
http://plans.boostmobile.com/monthlyunlimited.aspx

I pay about $150 (taxes/insurance/etc included) a month for a two line plan with unlimited mobile to mobile, texts, data and 1500 minutes to land lines. That really feels high. But I consider it the cost of doing business.

When I signed up for this, I figured I'd maybe cancel my land line and definitely cancel the $40 a month plan I have with it for unlimited long distance calls. So far, I haven't done either.

One thing that worries me a little about going cell only is national emergencies. If they shut down all cell service my land lines may still work.

 

[gsaldivar]

Can you get Boost Mobile?
http://plans.boostmobile.com/monthlyunlimited.aspx

Boost is going to be your last choice for data. They use the old Nextel network, and even the lightest websites are excruciatingly slow to load.

Watch below how long it takes to load a single website. And that is using Opera Mini with server-side optimizations (the default browser on Boost's only Android device)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfX0RnesoW8#t=5m30s

 

[olds]

Damn that's slow.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Clear's iSpot is kind of nice.

$25/month, no contract, unlimited data, but its "optimized" (restricted) for Apple "I" devices (iPhone, iPad, etc)*.

* Yes there is a way around that. Google is your friend.

I have been considering Clear's iSpot, that's a great deal...

 

[gsaldivar]

I have been considering Clear's iSpot, that's a great deal...

It really is. Main drawbacks:

- It's a separate device like a MiFi. So if you want data for your phone, you'll be carrying two devices around.

- 4G doesn't penetrate buildings as well as 3G does. So if you are in a marginal reception area or deep inside a building, expect a bit of walking around looking for a signal (one good thing is that you can leave the iSpot placed near a window, and grab the Wifi signal several meters away...)

- It's a 6Mbps/1Mbps speed cap, but hey for $25 unlimited use that's not bad at all...

- 4G isn't available everywhere yet. But there is a very good coverage tool on their site that will allow you to check your area and even gives you the tower locations.

 

[boomhower]

Why? Because all four big carriers agree that they are the only game in town and the general public will pay their high rates. Until that changes the prices won't, and will only get worse with lower caps for essentially the same price.(lookin' at you AT&T)

 

[cheesehead]

You need ECON 101.
Supply and demand. So long as people are willing to pay loads of cash for 5GB with restrictions, they will do so. If everyone just stopped paying their phone bill all at once then maybe the providers would do something about it. But thats not gonna happen.

It's a leeetle more complicated than that.

The price for a good in a market economy is generally defined as the lowest possible price where the supplier is still able to turn a profit. Unless, of course, all the suppliers have agreed not to drop their rates below a certain point. This is called "collusion," and is highly illegal.

The problem here is that keeping up a data network is stupid expensive. In addition to the cost of running an ISP, you also need a huge network of towers, cables, routers, and more requiring constant service. The more data people use, the more hardware you need - and the more it costs to run the business.

 

[SunnyD]

Boost is going to be your last choice for data. They use the old Nextel network, and even the lightest websites are excruciatingly slow to load.

Watch below how long it takes to load a single website. And that is using Opera Mini with server-side optimizations (the default browser on Boost's only Android device)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfX0RnesoW8#t=5m30s

Wrong. The newer Boost phones use Sprint's CDMA network, which is logical since Sprint is in the process of shutting down the entire iDen network to use the spectrum for more CDMA coverage.

 

[Cuda1447]

It's a leeetle more complicated than that.

The price for a good in a market economy is generally defined as the lowest possible price where the supplier is still able to turn a profit. Unless, of course, all the suppliers have agreed not to drop their rates below a certain point. This is called "collusion," and is highly illegal.

The problem here is that keeping up a data network is stupid expensive. In addition to the cost of running an ISP, you also need a huge network of towers, cables, routers, and more requiring constant service. The more data people use, the more hardware you need - and the more it costs to run the business.

Exactly. I don't know if people realize how expensive it is to get networks up and running. The average cell tower costs $3 million to build from start to finish. That's just one of MANY MANY MANY costs that cell carriers have. That said, prices could probably drop some and the companies would still turn a profit.

 

[hanoverphist]

if cable companies worked the same as the cell companies did, there would be a $30 fee for each computer connected to your router. god help us if they figure out how to detect and bill for that. cell phone data should be treated the same way as your home internet, by the account. one fee for all phones on the account.

in my dream world at least.

 

[Billb2]

It really is. Main drawbacks:

- It's a separate device like a MiFi. So if you want data for your phone, you'll be carrying two devices around.

- 4G doesn't penetrate buildings as well as 3G does. So if you are in a marginal reception area or deep inside a building, expect a bit of walking around looking for a signal (one good thing is that you can leave the iSpot placed near a window, and grab the Wifi signal several meters away...)

- It's a 6Mbps/1Mbps speed cap, but hey for $25 unlimited use that's not bad at all...

- 4G isn't available everywhere yet. But there is a very good coverage tool on their site that will allow you to check your area and even gives you the tower locations.

And it works with an iTouch, so you don't even need cell service. Unlimited internet, 4G, no contract, $25, sounds pretty good.

They sell tow devices, one "optimized" for apple and one for everything else (4 hot spots, if I recall correctly).

 

[shortylickens]

Exactly. I don't know if people realize how expensive it is to get networks up and running. The average cell tower costs $3 million to build from start to finish. That's just one of MANY MANY MANY costs that cell carriers have. That said, prices could probably drop some and the companies would still turn a profit.

I dont think many people know that cost of production has NOTHING to do with the supply/demand curve.

Coke has a 1000% markup. Playstation 3's are sold at a loss.
Why?
Supply vs demand.

People are willing to pay 1.25 for a small bottle of coke. They are not willing to pay 1000 bucks for a playstation 3, which is what it should cost with a standard profit margin.

 

[randay]

I mean fast data.

I don't care if its prepay, postpay, sidepay....ugh


I'm tired of paying $125/month for 2 phones mainly for data. The max voice we have used was 250 minutes in a month. Texting is what it is, usually ~50 or so a month.

There has to be something out there....

i get true unlimited 3g and 4g for $80 bucks on sprint.

 

[Pliablemoose]

i get true unlimited 3g and 4g for $80 bucks on sprint.

Yep, myself as well, just made the leap to tethering at home, I'll see how Sprint treats me...

 

[jersiq]

if cable companies worked the same as the cell companies did, there would be a $30 fee for each computer connected to your router. god help us if they figure out how to detect and bill for that. cell phone data should be treated the same way as your home internet, by the account. one fee for all phones on the account.

in my dream world at least.

errrrr, it's about a gazillion times easier to engineer to fixed points than mobile points.

You are paying to be scheduled for the air interface simple as that.

 

[gsaldivar]

And it works with an iTouch, so you don't even need cell service. Unlimited internet, 4G, no contract, $25, sounds pretty good.

They sell tow devices, one "optimized" for apple and one for everything else (4 hot spots, if I recall correctly).

If anyone was thinking about getting a Clear iSpot, you better move fast...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/clear-ispot-discontinued-already/

 

[FearoftheNight]

I mean fast data.

I don't care if its prepay, postpay, sidepay....ugh


I'm tired of paying $125/month for 2 phones mainly for data. The max voice we have used was 250 minutes in a month. Texting is what it is, usually ~50 or so a month.

There has to be something out there....

try germany

 

[Cuda1447]

I dont think many people know that cost of production has NOTHING to do with the supply/demand curve.

Coke has a 1000% markup. Playstation 3's are sold at a loss.
Why?
Supply vs demand.

People are willing to pay 1.25 for a small bottle of coke. They are not willing to pay 1000 bucks for a playstation 3, which is what it should cost with a standard profit margin.

S/D matters, to a point. But I can assure you a cell provider isn't going to take a LOSS on data services. Nor are they going to take a total loss on the product. The cost to build/maintain a cell network is most certainly relevant in the costs passed onto the consumer.

 

[Pliablemoose]

And it works with an iTouch, so you don't even need cell service. Unlimited internet, 4G, no contract, $25, sounds pretty good.

They sell tow devices, one "optimized" for apple and one for everything else (4 hot spots, if I recall correctly).

For anyone considering this, you need to look at Clear's support forums, there's a bunch of really pissed off customers over there...

 

[Patranus]

What do you consider "reasonable"? LOL.

"I want, I want, I want - me, me, me - mine, mine, mine - free, free,free"

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

we spend too much money subsidizing phones. people need to realize that new $600 smartphones can't be had for the same $200 that old featurephones were had for. Old top featurephones were maybe $400-$450, but now the new smartphones are $500+ at least.

The solution if people want cheap phones is to have expensive data plans to cover it.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Um....then quit using data...what, internet at home, work, school isn't enough? You need it on the crapper in the public restroom in the mall?