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This is a sub-selection from Eh
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina to BiggA

Member

to BiggA

Re: Eh

A smartphone without a data plan is plenty useful. Millions of people who work in dense urban areas and use public transportation are probably never without WiFi. It's been a while since I've been to San Francisco (~2005) but even back then there was a free wireless network available. Instead of paying the hotel's ridiculous data fees I just used my laptop next to the window.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

That's connectivity here and there, not persistent connectivity like a smartphone is designed to work with.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

An iPod is the same thing without the phone and millions of folks love them despite having only WiFi connectivity. Next?

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

said by rradina:

An iPod is the same thing without the phone and millions of folks love them despite having only WiFi connectivity.

Same with the Samsung Galaxy Player's. It's a Samsung Galaxy without the CDMA/GSM module, antennas, or SIM card readers.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA to rradina

Premium Member

to rradina
Then get one of those if you don't want to pay for a data plan.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

But some folks might want voice everywhere, but not data. So they have to buy a feature phone, get voice everywhere and then carry an iPod for everything else they want in their pocket? Is this your position?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Correct. Really, everyone should have a smartphone though. They are so essential these days. And what makes them useful is their persistent data connection.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

1 recommendation

rradina

Member

We'll just have to disagree. A persistent data connection makes them more useful but to say they are useless without one doesn't make sense to me. Further, to have a carrier require a data plan based on the phone is an indication that more competition or regulation is needed.

Can you imagine cable companies forcing folks to subscribe to an HD package because they own an HD-capable TV?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

They do require you to get an HD package in order to get an HD box. It's a terrible idea to let people have smartphones with PPU data, and then they come in crying when they have a ridiculous phone bill.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Requiring an HD package to get an HD box means you want HD channels.

PPU: That's still forcing a data plan on smart phone users. The issue is smart phone owners should be able to have a voice-only plan.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

No they shouldn't. That's a support nightmare, and there's no reason to do that in the first place. The point of the smartphone is persistant data.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

We just disagree and if the carriers continue with the same approach, they might be faced with regulation.

It isn't a support nightmare unless the carriers do something boneheaded like allow data transfer without a data plan and thus the thousand dollar surprise bill at the end of the month. If that's what they do then they have created their own support nightmare.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

AT&T's system blocks MMS when you block data, because they use the same APN. Also, why would they spend money to support something that decreases revenue by a tiny amount in order to support a minuscule but vocal minority? It makes no sense, and the whiners just need to shut up and get with the program.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

No data plan, no MMS. No extra cost. A paying customer is a good thing and if they don't want data but they are willing to pay a bit more for a voice plan with no data (but obviously less than voice + data or why bother), that's money in the bank. Why wouldn't a carrier want a profitable, paying customer?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

OTOH, they probably are able to push more people up to the $20 data plan than they lose, so they end up making more money, the people have a better user experience, everyone wins.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Perhaps but lots of folks are defecting to MVNOs. Other than the horrid iPhone issues (having to use a T-Mobile SIM to setup the APN), it's the same network, just a lot cheaper. If the MVNO is still making money, wow, ATT is making a killing.

Given all the snow... sing this to Walking in a Winter Wonderland.
Regulation ringing, are you listening. More expensive plans, carriers are christening. A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight. Baby bells are being born again
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

MVNOs have data service, so it wouldn't be getting around the requirement for a data plan.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Yes but it's so cheap, who cares! I'm using Straight Talk on my iPhone for $42.50/month. I still have one iPhone on ATT with a grandfathered 4GB tethering plan but when I had both together, it cost $158/month with a 25% corporate discount! To think I paid that for over four years! The remaining iPhone may be moving soon as long my ST experience continues to be uneventful (other than the crappy swap-SIM method to setup the APN). That was total bullshit -- more of ATTs consumer friendly services.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

It's good for a single user who wants to keep their phone for a long time. Otherwise, contract plans are often cheaper and you get refreshed every 2 years.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

said by BiggA:

Otherwise, contract plans are often cheaper and you get refreshed every 2 years.

Um.. Ya, right.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina to BiggA

Member

to BiggA
You mean at least two users. Both my iPhones on ST would be $85/month. About half what I was paying before. Granted, no tethering, no visual voice mail but that's the trade off. With the savings I can get a hotspot with a separate contract if I want and still save money.

And if my phone gets too old, I can always do another subsidy contract to refresh my phone. For me, my iPhone 4 is good and should be for at least a couple more years. No need to pay ATT those two years since the rate doesn't go down when I finish my contract. That's where the problem is. If my rate dropped when the contract ended, I'd stay. But it doesn't. ATT didn't give me any incentive to stay -- especially when ST uses the same damn network.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA to SimbaSeven

Premium Member

to SimbaSeven
If you have four lines, and refresh them all every 2 years, contract is legitimately a lot cheaper than ST. For a single user, ST is a lot cheaper, although the true price when you factor in the hardware is around $67/mo.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven

Member

..except I can use my existing hardware.. so you can subtract the hardware cost.

..and 4 lines? I was paying VZ $150/mo for 2 lines. No thanks.
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This is a sub-selection from Eh