Unlimited data plans. Twas good for 3g

[Android Wax]

We all know unlimited data plans are not really unlimited data plans. That's the case in the US anyway. With the introduction of these new 4G devices you can easily blow threw a couple of gigs in weeks and when this happens you get throttled to where your 4G now turns into 2g. When are mobile device carriers going to up the ante? I don't see how 2 gigs is enough for the average user and getting a plan higher than 2 gigs is expensive. Yeah I know you can connect your device to WiFi and save your mobile data. But that seems kind of caveman like. That's what I used to do with my laptop back in the day.

 

[aysiu]

With the introduction of these new 4G devices you can easily blow threw a couple of gigs in weeks

4G loads data more quickly, not more data necessarily. My surfing/streaming habits haven't changed since I got a 4G phone, and so my data use per month also hasn't changed. It just takes less time for things to download.

 

[chanchan05]

Still, your carriers in the US are greedy guys. I get unlimited calls and text and real unlimited internet with tether (I uploaded a 2GB file in like an hour and still no throttle) for approx $50 a month.

 

[Android Wax]

Sure I get that 4G means faster. It also means more. I will be more inclined to download a game or movie on 4g rather than 3g. Ayslu you're just not using your device. I was watching netflix on my wives Nook using her mobile service from Verizon and 700 MB was gone in a blink of an eye. How are we to download all these great games, books, movies, and apps from Google Play with our current plans? Not only is data being throttled but also spending.

 

[jerofld]

This is one of the reasons why I switched from Verizon to Sprint. I had unlimited data on Verizon, but I didn't like how they were going to tiered data, and decided to vote with my feet and made it known on my exit survey why I was leaving. Even though I was grandfather'ed in.

So it comes down to what you're willing to do about it. If enough people leave these greedy carriers that it affects their bottom line, they may change their stance. But, so long as subscriptions are increasing, which they are, don't expect a policy change.

 

[Android Wax]

This is one of the reasons why I switched from Verizon to Sprint. I had unlimited data on Verizon, but I didn't like how they were going to tiered data, and decided to vote with my feet and made it known on my exit survey why I was leaving. Even though I was grandfather'ed in.

So it comes down to what you're willing to do about it. If enough people leave these greedy carriers that it affects their bottom line, they may change their stance. But, so long as subscriptions are increasing, which they are, don't expect a policy change.

So what you are telling me is that Sprint has a real unlimited plan...? I would have probably already researched this before you answer, but nonetheless I did not know this. If I knew where the Thank button was I would thank you. My two year contract is almost up....

 

[pwalt]

So what you are telling me is that Sprint has a real unlimited plan...? I would have probably already researched this before you answer, but nonetheless I did not know this. If I knew where the Thank button was I would thank you. My two year contract is almost up....

The "Thanks" button is in the bottom right hand corner of the post.

 

[Android Wax]

The only thing in my bottom right hand corner is Quote.

 

[Android Wax]

nevermind, it just popped up.. weird...

 

[aysiu]

I understand other people may want to consume more if they have faster speeds. I can speak only for myself. I had an unlimited plan on T-Mobile with 3G speeds. And I kept that unlimited plan on T-Mobile with 4G speeds. Then I switched to Verizon with a tiered plan and have a 4G/LTE phone. On all three phones, I consumed about the same amount of data (2-3 GB per month). So for me having faster speeds just means things load more quickly--I don't then have an incentive to consume more data.

 

[spiritofjon]

Personally I don't have a problem with cell companies moving away from unlimited to tiered plans. I also didn't have a problem with the initial way netflix changed their streaming plans/charges either. I know this puts me out of mainstream thinking and someone will call it crazy but I'm a realist.

5 years ago we as a society used data very differently than we do now. It only makes sense that plans, policies, and prices change with the times to keep up. 5 years ago unlimited plans worked for carriers because very few people actually used any data. Even the most tweaked out hacker among us couldn't come close to using 1gb of usage even if they stayed awake 24/7 in a attempt to intentionally max it out.

Back then the biggest threat to data bandwidth was texting and even that was no where near as common place as it is now. More people using data more often means bandwidth is now an issue that they didn't even have to consider dealing with 5 years ago. Over the years I've hosted and managed several websites and more than a dozen gaming servers so I can tell you first hand bandwidth and load balancing is the thing that nails you every time.

As more people use more data all of that data has to come from somewhere. Data bandwidth isn't like cash money it doesn't just fall from the sky. More people using more resources means more towers, faster optics, and more overhead and operating costs. It only makes sense if you use more data you should pay more than the guy next to you who doesn't use as much.

Now throttling as a means to punish usage now that there pisses me off.

 

[aysiu]

5 years ago unlimited plans worked for carriers because very few people actually used any data

Even two years ago, carriers were still offering unlimited plans, and it was possible then to parasitically use the network bandwidth. The real problem isn't that they're switching to tiered plans now. The real problem is that they should never have advertised "unlimited" data to begin with. I'm equally suspicious of any web hosts who claim to offer unlimited bandwidth. There's no such thing as unlimited. There are very real shared resources that have limits.

 

[Frisco]

Nothing in the OP or subsequent posts about apps, so I've moved the thread here to the Android Lounge for all to see.

 

[itsallgood]

All unlimited means is that you pay one flat rate for all that data you use, rather its 2,3 or 4G. Most people can stay between the 2GB per month, if they don't stream a lot of movies/shows. Also, using wifi cuts down on your data usage too. I have an unlimited data plan on AT&T, grandfathered in. On average, I use around 1 to 2 GB per month of mobile data and over 5 GB per month of wifi. (My data plan is only $30 per month.) People that have the unlimited data plan, is the main reason we are currently in the situation of data consumtion being so high. If we pay for what we use, we will management our data better.

 

[Kicksilver]

You guys are lucky, I pay U$50/month for 250mb of 1mpbs 3G.

 

[ab30494]

So what you are telling me is that Sprint has a real unlimited plan...? I would have probably already researched this before you answer, but nonetheless I did not know this. If I knew where the Thank button was I would thank you. My two year contract is almost up....

Ya Sprint is truly unlimited. I the max i have used is like 10g, and not one of it was throttled. Some guys say they use 15+g a month.

Ya their network isn't all that fast right now, But i think it is still worth it. And Hopefully be getting their LTE network up fast.

And with my discount from work i only pf like $60/month. Once my contract expires it will go up to $70 due to the $10 premium data. But still alot cheaper then the other 2.