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AT&T 'Sponsored Data' Partners Somewhat Snooze Inducing So Far

AT&T has been slowly expanding the partner list of companies involved in their "Sponsored Data" program, wherein partners' content won't count against a user's mobile usage cap. The program has been controversial among net neutrality advocates because the concept gives companies with money to burn a potential leg up against smaller competitors. While AT&T originally stated there was a bevy of big named partners waiting in line to sign up for the program, so far interest in AT&T's proposal appears to be minimal.

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Only a few smaller companies have signed on to the idea, the latest being Seattle-based startup Syntonic Wireless, whose vague announcement indicates they're building a content store within the Sponsored Data framework that will offer a selection of unspecified cap-exempt content:
quote:
With Syntonic's Connected Services Platform, eligible AT&T mobile customers will be able to access Syntonic's Sponsored Content Store -- a portfolio of web properties -- on their 4G smartphones, tablets, or laptops, browse websites, and stream audio and video without impacting their personal data plans. The Sponsored Content Store will be available to eligible AT&T postpaid or session-based subscribers with either an Android or iOS tablet or smartphone.* The store application will be available for download across multiple operating systems later this summer.
Instead of apps, the content store will curate cap-exempt content, though again, the company seems rather vague about specifically how this will work or why exactly anyone should be attracted to their selection of content outside of its cap-free status. When asked by ReCode whether Syntonic is helping AT&T erode neutrality by supporting a controverisal business model, company CEO Gary Greenbaum brushes aside worries with a somewhat odd comparison to the Super Bowl:
quote:
Greenbaum shrugged off the big opposition to such services — that they violate the notion of net neutrality and give companies with deeper pockets an easier way to fend off smaller rivals. “Just because my company can’t afford to have a Super Bowl ad doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have the Super Bowl game,” he said, adding that existing antitrust laws are enough to ensure fair competition. "I don’t see why the FCC needs to introduce new laws when existing laws are in place to protect consumers," he said.
Except antitrust laws are only useful if someone can be bothered to enforce them, and so far there's every indication that regulators and lawmakers see these kinds of gatekeeper efforts as the very pinnacle of innovation and creativity, not a potential threat. Neutrality advocates might at least take comfort in the fact that AT&T has been unable to secure any big name partners for this effort, with the current crop of cap-exempt content being somewhat nap-inducing in nature.

AT&T's dream scenario only works if they can get numerous big-named partners on board as paying affiliates, and so far it appears that most companies don't see the benefit in paying AT&T an additional fee just to bypass the company's arbitrary usage limits.
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fiosultimate
join:2014-06-09
San Antonio, TX

fiosultimate

Member

flip flops should be worn not spoken

First u mock net neutrality breaking sponsored data, now u ridicule sponsored data low sign up, John Kerry much?

And dont start with the bringing both sides of the argument into the mix, u bashed net neutrality, u reminded me of those peace living hippies stoping the missiles from deploying in europe , calling them baby killers and such, the future will decide if sponsored data is good or bad, not u, I mean without those missiles, we would be all speaking russian now

bmccoy
join:2013-03-18
Port Orchard, WA

1 recommendation

bmccoy

Member

Re: flip flops should be worn not spoken

Can u please stop using the letter "u" as a replacement for "you"? It makes you look extremely uneducated whenever you do it.

Metatron2008
You're it
Premium Member
join:2008-09-02
united state

Metatron2008

Premium Member

Re: flip flops should be worn not spoken

U $h0ud@ g1v3/\/ t3h 3x@mpl3 1/\/$t3@d 0f jus s@y1/\/ 1t lolz wtf BBQ !!!11!1!1!1!1!1!1!

I mean how else would someone see how dumb they look without giving a head hurting example.........

Mizzat
Will post for thumbs
Premium Member
join:2003-05-03
Atlanta, GA

Mizzat to fiosultimate

Premium Member

to fiosultimate
You should know by now that this isn't a news feed, it's a blog.

fg8578
join:2009-04-26
San Antonio, TX

fg8578 to fiosultimate

Member

to fiosultimate
said by fiosultimate:

First u mock net neutrality breaking sponsored data, now u ridicule sponsored data low sign up, John Kerry much?

And dont start with the bringing both sides of the argument into the mix, u bashed net neutrality, u reminded me of those peace living hippies stoping the missiles from deploying in europe , calling them baby killers and such, the future will decide if sponsored data is good or bad, not u, I mean without those missiles, we would be all speaking russian now

That's standard procedure around here.

First, Bode complains that "sponsored data" will be of benefit only to deep pocketed big companies and will put smaller start-ups that can't afford to pay-to-play at a competitive disadvantage and then he mocks the plan when those very same small companies decide to use it (which completely blows his original claims out of the water).

He can't seem to make up his mind. He should pick a story and stick to it.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

Not many appear willing to pay troll toll

Most fiction stories I've read, the troll is vanquished and the travelers go on their merry way.
Reality is pay or be eaten.

fiosultimate
join:2014-06-09
San Antonio, TX

fiosultimate

Member

Re: Not many appear willing to pay troll toll

Actually capitalism is eat or be eaten.....alive
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

Re: Not many appear willing to pay troll toll

Yah I took the capitalist part out as not relevant. There is a lot of grey area because of secret peering deals on who should pay what to get people their subscription services.

ev
@74.140.91.x

ev

Anon

Magenta

How exactly do they intend to get major players like Clear Channel to buy in for stuff like iHeart if TMUS gives peering away for no additional charge? Has anyone asked Randall yet?
78036364 (banned)
join:2014-05-06
USA

78036364 (banned)

Member

Re: Magenta

T-Mobile supposedly doesn't charge. Let's get that straight from the start. Also, like TM's way is better. You are exempt when you pass some sort of mysterious set of criteria TM doesn't care to explain and seems to change on a whim. the cash method is pretty straight forward and easy to understand.
Expand your moderator at work

viperpa33s
Why Me?
Premium Member
join:2002-12-20
Bradenton, FL

viperpa33s

Premium Member

AT&T usage caps was a load of crap

So AT&T is saying there was usage caps to give customers a better experience which was a load of crap. As you can see, AT&T gets money from the content companies and the caps magically go away without having to spend any money to do any system upgrades.

Have to break out my hip boots because the BS is piling up fast

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: AT&T usage caps was a load of crap

I always knew the capping/throttling of AT&T's Unlimited Data was a farce.

It was always about the money. It was never about congestion.

funchords
Hello
MVM
join:2001-03-11
Yarmouth Port, MA

funchords

MVM

AT&T -- the network that is so 20 years ago

Hey AT&T -- your curated content smacks of CompuServe and the old AOL. Maybe it is your dial-up speeds that made you think of bringing it back.
ITGeeks
join:2014-04-20
Cleveland, OH

ITGeeks

Member

Re: AT&T -- the network that is so 20 years ago

What's wrong with the free data? CS and AOL were designed with the portal in mind and not what the internet is today. But when you're getting data for free why bitch about it? they could lower the allowed usage caps and keep the pricing the same and tell you to deal with it.

ev
@74.140.91.x

ev

Anon

Re: AT&T -- the network that is so 20 years ago

T also promised unlimited pre-paid data to iPads with no contract then NOPE'd their way right out of it weeks later. Why? Because we're the phone company -- we don't have to care. Deal with it.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: AT&T -- the network that is so 20 years ago

Yup.

»Re: File an FTC Complaint for AT&T changing the terms

fg8578
join:2009-04-26
San Antonio, TX

fg8578

Member

Solution to AT&T sponsored data

Don't like AT&T's "sponsored data" plan? Choose a different wireless provider. Problem solved!

No need to piss and moan about sponsored data. Vote with your wallet! Unlike wireline, you actually have a choice of wireless providers.

telcodad
MVM
join:2011-09-16
Lincroft, NJ

telcodad

MVM

Here's Why No One is Buying into AT&T's Sponsored Data Plan

An article explaining why this hasn't been too popular:

Here’s Why No One Is Buying into AT&T’s Sponsored Data Plan
By Sam Becker, Wall St. Cheat Sheet - July 29, 2014
»wallstcheatsheet.com/bus ··· an.html/