Reviews:
 ·Frontier Communi..
| I read this last night.... .... not sure why this comes as a surprise, it costs billions of dollars to deploy a nationwide LTE network. The carriers need to recoup that money in a reasonable timeframe. The article backs up what I've been saying for awhile now, mainly that prices will come down in due course.
Something that I found interesting though, and not specifically related to data:
Voice tariffs are also benefiting from LTE. A number of operators are rolling out Voice over LTE (VoLTE). From analysis carried out by ABI Research into VoLTE services, the higher fidelity offered by VoLTE could help overcome the decline in voice-related ARPU. However, VoLTE is not being priced at a premium over existing circuit switched mobile voice services.
Point being, does anybody seriously expect voice revenues to go up if the cellular carriers manage to offer superior voice quality? How many people really care about that? Of the small minority that do, wouldn't they simply get a landline, today, rather than waiting for the higher bandwidth mobile voice systems of tomorrow? |
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| 4G It is way over hyped! |
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 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Huh? Let's see... for a lot of who would go from unlimited 3G data for $30 a month to a 1GB allotment for $50 a month (assuming Verizon), then we have the following:
1GB Usage - 167% of your original $30 a month
2GB Usage ($15 per GB overage) - 217% of your original $30 a month
3GB Usage - 267% of your original $30 a month
Man I *wish* it was only "20% higher"
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Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. |
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| reply to Crookshanks
Re: I read this last night.... Except then they'll want to build a 5G network, and rip us off for that. It's a neverending cycle, and without some sort of regulation, it's only going to get worse unless the insatiable greed finally places all these companies outside what the market is willing to bear. |
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| LTE on Prepaid I'm really looking forward to prepaid options getting access to 4G LTE. I'll probably have to wait for 5G to come out though.
On the plus side, now that everyone is moving toward 4G, my 3G is much faster. The day Page Plus Cellular gets access to Verizon's 4G, I'll immediately buy a 4G phone. 4G would be nice but it isn't a requirement.
On the rare occasion Pandora plays a song I don't like, I wouldn't have to wait so long for the next song to buffer. |
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| reply to Crookshanks
Re: I read this last night.... said by Crookshanks:The article backs up what I've been saying for awhile now, mainly that prices will come down in due course. Because, as we all know, TelComs and CableCos are known for reducing prices.
Right. Pull the other one, its got bells on 
My wife and I recently, as a result of lengthy, thorough research and discussion, decided we're just going to skip the whole "smartphone" and data thing entirely. We're not even going to look at it again. Like subscription TV: Far too much for far too little.
Jim |
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Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| reply to osravens
said by osravens:Except then they'll want to build a 5G network, and rip us off for that. They'll want to? I think you have that backwards, consumers want better, faster, and more reliable data networks, otherwise there would be zero incentive for a carrier to spend billions of dollars building one.
Anyway, if you think you're being ripped off, that brings us to....
said by osravens:unless the insatiable greed finally places all these companies outside what the market is willing to bear. Oh and:
said by osravens:and without some sort of regulation What does regulation have to do with prices? The carriers charge what the market will bear. Judging by the fact that they keep adding new data consumers, I'd say they aren't ripping us off. Do tell though, what kinds of regulations do you want to see, and how do you believe they bring prices down without also discouraging investments in network expansion? |
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axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC | Fixed price, low bill I think people want a low bill, at the advertised price, that never changes.
Let's take AT&T for example. They could offer a $50 plan, and provide what they can to still make a profit. Change the voice minutes, text messages, data cap, data speed, to whatever makes sense. But don't stick all these fees or increases on there.
Then Verizon could offer their own $50 plan, and compete on features. Leave out price as an issue, and see who has the better features.
Never happen, but a cell phone customer can dream  |
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Reviews:
·CenturyLink
 ·T-Mobile US
 ·voip.ms
·Sipgate VOIP
| That Can't Be True! How can 4G be priced higher than 3G? Isn't it all the same price? I don't even know of anyone that has different prices for them. If a 4G phone can't get 4G shouldn't it fall back to 3G so you'll have service? Ok, the Samsung Exhibit II that Walmart sells can't get 3G but the Galaxy S-II does and will fall back to 3G if 4G is not available. |
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| reply to jseymour
Re: I read this last night.... Yes, prices will come down when we let what few firms are left merge together. Economies of scale will magically lower prices! [/industryshill]
We've heard this shit before. It doesn't work. |
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| reply to brianiscool
Re: 4G This is true. 4G is over hyped. Maybe it's my aging thunderbolt, but I rarely get over 6mbps in DC area on Vz LTE over the course of about 2 years and I'm consistently having to use "3G" connections, which allow me to do the things I want to do away from wifi such as stream audio, use Google Maps, and use other basic applications. With all of the restrictions on new "4G" connections, their utility is questionable. I DO have unlimited data, but it's not that useful right now.
So, yea, 4G is over hyped... It shouldn't be priced higher, it's an incremental upgrade that should be included in the cost of doing business, perhaps like the transition from 1X -> 2G -> 3G... |
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| reply to Crookshanks
Re: I read this last night.... said by Crookshanks:said by osravens:Except then they'll want to build a 5G network, and rip us off for that. They'll want to? I think you have that backwards, consumers want better, faster, and more reliable data networks, otherwise there would be zero incentive for a carrier to spend billions of dollars building one. Recent study concluded that the majority were, in fact, happy enough with 3G.
(No, not going to look it up. It was posted to the front-page news, here, I believe. Feel free to disbelieve it if you wish.)
said by Crookshanks:...what kinds of regulations do you want to see, and how do you believe they bring prices down without also discouraging investments in network expansion? Yeah, that was SBC's argument against giving CLECs access when they initially wanted to expand their DSL footprint.
We can see how that's worked-out, can't we? Now that they've got their footprint monopoly, they want to discard it and force consumers on to the wireless network for which they whine they need more bandwidth.
Jim |
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 dnoyeBFerrous Phallus
join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI
 ·Comcast
| reply to jseymour
Whats wrong with having a smart phone that has wifi only? Ive done that for years. This is my first month having a data plan. And that plan is only $5 because I still mostly get my data over wifi.
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dnoyeB
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard. " Ecclesiastes 9:16
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| reply to ArizonaSteve
Re: That Can't Be True! 4g is 3g plus. it really done to using tech so dam propitiate(dont think spelling word right) that the cost to upgrade or replace is very high |
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elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Short Term Effect So-called "4G" costs more out of the gate, because so many sheep are willing to sign for it as they lust for their latest fashion accessory.
When the carriers need to convert the hold-outs, prices will moderate. |
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| Yup, good point. We're not going to be able to change that one here. It amazes me how effective the marketing has become these past several years though... I mean, we are so driven by upgrading and and having the absolute latest thing. Our country is hooked on listening to the hype more than ever. Kinda sad really. |
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 Lone WolfIndependent Voter, Buy Gold and GunsPremium
join:2001-12-30
USA
kudos:1
·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
| Spot On Article My carrier charges $40 monthly for unlimited, talk, text and data at 3G.
They charge $50 monthly for 4G.
Close enough to 20% for me.
»www.mysimplemobile.com/Simple-Mo···lan.aspx
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Vote the Ins Out.
One term for all politicians.
Give the government back to the people. |
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 JohnInSJPremium
join:2003-09-22
San Jose, CA
·PHONE POWER
·Comcast
| reply to elray
Re: Short Term Effect said by elray:because so many sheep
For those of you playing the home drinking game, down that shot
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My place : »www.schettino.us |
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| reply to Lone Wolf
Re: Spot On Article For those that do not know, Simple Mobile is an MVNO using T-Mobile's network. Using a HTC One S and Simple Mobile's $50/mo plan, I regularly pull in speeds of 12Mbps down. It really is a good value, although I wouldn't test the unlimited data. They've been known to get upset about "excessive" usage past 2GB (although now there are some people claim it's been raised to 3GB). |
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BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH Reviews:
·Comcast
| reply to Crookshanks
Re: I read this last night.... They basically started with LTE faster than other countries because Verizon skipped the whole HSPA+ step and was still on slow EVDO, and AT&T doesn't know how to or doesn't want to put the effort in required to build a dense urban HSPA+ network like has been done in many other countries. |
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