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verizon and att to kill unlimited plans...
Quote:
Melone was the statement that contracts with "as much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change." Verizon seems resolutely set on introducing some type of tiered or metered price plans, which is unfortunately the same path AT&T is headed down. The message from the networks is therefore clear: with great (downloading) power comes great(bill-paying) responsibility.
You have to expect this given the amount of abuse. So many people have found ways of getting around the $15 dollar tether charge. I recall one thread on the droid forums where members used over 10 gigs of data per month! Wireless networks aren't built to withstand the amount of usage that landlines normally sustain. So long as the $30 plan gets me ~5 gigs a month, I'll be just dandy.
All the 'unlimited' data plans I've seen, including mine from Sprint, only allows for 5 GB of data per month. If you go over that they charge per the MB, read the fine print.
All the 'unlimited' data plans I've seen, including mine from Sprint, only allows for 5 GB of data per month. If you go over that they charge per the MB, read the fine print.
How much is 5GB's exactly? I know that limit is in the fine print, but unless I'm tethering it would be hard to hit that wouldn't it?
I just don't get it why carriers would say "Unlimited" if it's really limited. I think it's misleading. If there is a 5GB limit, then just advertise 5GB limit. I really hope laws can be made to make false advertising like this illegal.
I just don't get it why carriers would say "Unlimited" if it's really limited. I think it's misleading. If there is a 5GB limit, then just advertise 5GB limit. I really hope laws can be made to make false advertising like this illegal.
Because technically it is unlimited. If a customer goes over 5GB a month consistently, his/her carrier has the right to see whether or not the customer has been using their plan for things not covered per contract.
Because technically it is unlimited. If a customer goes over 5GB a month consistently, his/her carrier has the right to see whether or not the customer has been using their plan for things not covered per contract.
Technically it still is misleading. It doesn't matter how or what you use that bandwidth for, you still have a limit, hence not 'unlimited'. Ask anyone what unlimited means and you'll get the same answer, and it's surely isn't 5GB.
All the 'unlimited' data plans I've seen, including mine from Sprint, only allows for 5 GB of data per month. If you go over that they charge per the MB, read the fine print.
I believe Tmo knocks you down to 2G if you go over the cap limit. No extra charges though.
Technically it still is misleading. It doesn't matter how or what you use that bandwidth for, you still have a limit, hence not 'unlimited'. Ask anyone what unlimited means and you'll get the same answer, and it's surely isn't 5GB.
Actually if you read the contract it DOES matter how you use your bandwidth.
Quote:
Data Plans and Features: Permitted Uses
You can use our Data Plans and Features for accessing the Internet and for such uses as: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; (iii) intranet access (including accessing corporate intranets, email and individual productivity applications made available by your company); (iv) uploading, downloading and streaming of audio, video and games; and (v) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
So it is unlimited data; you can use over 5GB, so as long as it's covered in the contract.
I can't understand how people use 5 or 10 gigs of data on a monthly basis... I think the entire time I've had my phone I've used maybe 2 gigs... exactly how much porn do people need?
I can't understand how people use 5 or 10 gigs of data on a monthly basis... I think the entire time I've had my phone I've used maybe 2 gigs... exactly how much porn do people need?
Push mail and causal browsing by themselves won't consume a lot of bandwidth. What consumes the bandwidth IMHO:
Streaming applications like Pandora and YouTube. I've found Pandora a very good alternative to terrestrial radio, especially in teh car. I've spent 20 minutes on YouTube keeping my 2 year old occupied. Android and iPhone have driven the usage of these mobile apps. PAndora references the iPhone (and now Android) app as one of the things that helped save their company.
Tethering - It's very easy to tether your laptop with Android and/or an unlocked iPhone. For Free. For occasional use this wouldn't be too much of a problem but for some, Tethering on a 3G/4G plan is cheaper than purchasing broadband as well. Especially if you do it without paying the tethering fee.
MEdia Purchase - probably the SMALLEST of the three, but pulling music files over 3G from Amazon MP3 store or iTunes does consume some serious bandwidth if done consistantly over millions of smartphone users.
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I can't understand how people use 5 or 10 gigs of data on a monthly basis... I think the entire time I've had my phone I've used maybe 2 gigs... exactly how much porn do people need?
*coughs* Tether -> torrents -> oops you just downloaded about 20 GB of games.
It's counterintuitive to put these lower bandwidth limits on a higher capacity technology. 5 GB per month? Now you can reach that limit in less than half the time as before. I like per use fees, but it has to cheap, like $10 for 10 GB/month. That way people are aware there's a limit, but it's reasonable. Instead of all or nothing, or $30 for 5 GB, which is a ripoff.
*coughs* Tether -> torrents -> oops you just downloaded about 20 GB of games.
Right, and not covered in the contract--in fact Verizon lists it as one of the prohibited uses.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayziac
It's counterintuitive to put these lower bandwidth limits on a higher capacity technology. 5 GB per month? Now you can reach that limit in less than half the time as before. I like per use fees, but it has to cheap, like $10 for 10 GB/month. That way people are aware there's a limit, but it's reasonable. Instead of all or nothing, or $30 for 5 GB, which is a ripoff.
Agreed, it is a rip off. It also sucks because they say these data plans are required to "protect" us from overages when it would be easier to just remove the mandatory Verizon web access shortcuts.
Technically it still is misleading. It doesn't matter how or what you use that bandwidth for, you still have a limit, hence not 'unlimited'. Ask anyone what unlimited means and you'll get the same answer, and it's surely isn't 5GB.
Is it the same as an all you can eat place advertising that you can "eat all you want for $"? But, technically you can't without limitations. For instance you can't stay there six hours, or leave and come back even though you already paid.
Odd ball examples but you get the point. There is a certain degree of reason.
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The Everything Data and Simply Everything plans for the phones don't have data caps on them, only the Connection Card plans do. Those are 5GB of use on the 3G network for $59.99, overage is $0.05/MB. If you have a 4G card, the 4G use is unlimited (for now, at least, we see what happened with the 3G "Unlimited" plans last year, I think). I've used 598,983KB, 476,899KB and 339,090KB each of the last 3 months, and so far this month am up to 64,651KB with the cycle ending on March 27, but then again, I don't tether my phone (yet, if I end up traveling somewhere w/o Wi-Fi, I may for a bit, but not as my main internet service).
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i know at first this seems like just another way for the big companies to get more money out of us, but i want to ask why no one is contemplating something specifically listed that is unique to LTE in this case...
everything works on the same signal. is that my understanding? voice and data are together, not separate like they are now....
you pay for tiered usage of your voice plan, why wouldnt companies just move to a "all-in-one" tiered plans?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crikerat
Sprint needs to generate new customers so unlimited 4G is a good way to attract new users, especially with few 4G handsets and 4G coverage.
Those plans will change once capacity is threatened. The best part is, you probably won't even know it because it will be changed in the fine print.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
I believe this to be incorrect. If you knew anything about sprint, you would know this wasn't the case. Sprint has always followed their own playbook, and everyone else copies them. Sprint has also reduced churn, and calmed the losses. 90% of sprints losses are from the nextel side. The sprint side are actually pretty happy. It won't be long(maybe another year) before sprint is gaining subscribers strong. They also rule the prepaid side of things, hands down. Prepaid/no contract is where this industry is headed, so they will clearly be on top, again. Sprint has also always lead the industry when it comes to technology. First to go digital, first to 3g, and first to 4g. Ill stick with the more technically advanced carrier, and so will anyone else who can use basic logic.
Its still a long way off. Let's see where everything stands by then. It might be that the "cap" is actually the 5 gigs most people think their data is on right now. Plus, going all the way back to AOL days, the charging per kilobyte model just never works.
Give it till 2012, and with competition will come better pricing. This is one comment, we'll see what happens when the economy still sucks and people aren't paying for that new multi billion dollar network they've built.
yeah, seems like Pandora is a data vampire, I love it though cause my son likes to fall asleep while we listen to it. The megabytes do add up fast though
Its still a long way off. Let's see where everything stands by then. It might be that the "cap" is actually the 5 gigs most people think their data is on right now. Plus, going all the way back to AOL days, the charging per kilobyte model just never works.
Give it till 2012, and with competition will come better pricing. This is one comment, we'll see what happens when the economy still sucks and people aren't paying for that new multi billion dollar network they've built.
IMO, it will probably be a tiered plan- like texting plans. It will probably be structured so that the average person will end up pay for unlimited anyway since the cheaper plans will probably be for people who check their e-mail once a week. If you use it on a regular basis, you'll want to go unlimited. So in effect the carriers are just raising prices under the guise of pay for what you use. Really, if they are going to rip the hell out of us for texting, then make data unlimited.
I agree with many of you. We knew this would be coming. However, on the same token, RoadRunner and DSL services haven't done a pay-by-usage plan, and you'd think it would be in their interest just as much as it would be in a cell carriers.
I would guess they'll lower the cap, and charge for anything above that. Like my 450 minute talk plan.
Now, who's gonna make the app to start tallying KBs used??
verizon and att to kill unlimited plans...
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