Most Wireless Users Consume Less Than 2GB/Month T-Mobile Users the Hungriest: 11% Use More than 3GB While T-Mobile's return to offering unlimited data suggests proclamations of the death of unlimited were premature, new data suggests that most users still don't really (yet) need unlimited data plans. New data from NPD Connected Intelligence shows that of 1,000 users monitored, very few consumed more than 2GB per month. T-Mobile has the hungriest data users, with 11% of T-Mobile subscribers using more than 3GB per month, compared to 4% for AT&T and Sprint and 3% for Verizon. "The numbers make it hard to see why most people should fret about data caps," insists the Christian Science Monitor, seemingly oblivious to the possible impact $15 per gigabyte overages could have on the heavier users and innovative applications of tomorrow.
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  LightSPremium
join:2005-12-17
Greenville, TX
 ·Time Warner Cable
| I don't use 2gb. I personally don't use 2gigs per month... Since August 1st, I've used 520mb. I have WiFi access both at work, and at home, so I'm rarely using data. Before I started this new job, I would use at most 1.5-1.6gigs a month.. I think the most I've ever used, though, was about 2.2gb.
That being said, I don't care if the carriers think we need it - it's the fact that they shouldn't dictate how much we use. We should have the ability to use as much as we want, at a reasonable price. | |
|  |  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5 | Re: I don't use 2gb. said by LightS:That being said, I don't care if the carriers think we need it - it's the fact that they shouldn't dictate how much we use. We should have the ability to use as much as we want, at a reasonable price.
The bone of contention is over what is a REASONABLE price. It will never be as low as people want it to be.
--
»www.mittromney.com/s/repeal-and-···bamacare
»www.mittromney.com/issues/health-care | |
| | | | | Re: I don't use 2gb. If it was free Karl would find a way to promote it in a negative way. | |
| | | | | | Re: I don't use 2gb. Well, I guess somebody had to take the obligatory pot shot.
Not that anyone ever takes his offer to be PAID to write a retort or any other article... | |
| | | | |  ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4
 ·VOIPo
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by PapaMidnight:Well, I guess somebody had to take the obligatory pot shot.
Not that anyone ever takes his offer to be PAID to write a retort or any other article...
Shhh, stop making sense.
Amazing how many people like to bitch about the site yet keep coming back...
--
"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org | |
|
| | | | Why are people paying for it if they don't think it's a reasonable price? They may hem and haw about it, but when they write that check to their carrier they tacitly acknowledge that the price is reasonable. | |
| | | |  coldmoonPremium
join:2002-02-04
Broadway, NC
 ·Windstream
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by Crookshanks:Why are people paying for it if they don't think it's a reasonable price? They may hem and haw about it, but when they write that check to their carrier they tacitly acknowledge that the price is reasonable.
Nice analysis of a captive customer base but you left out the issues like lack of provider coverage in a large number of areas outside urban centers (and many WITHIN). lack of competition that would allow that customer to "write that check to a different carrier", and provider created congestion.
So even if many would like to use the bandwidth they pay for, often they are unable to get reliable service even at ridiculously inflated prices.
So please tell me where the price of the service gets reasonable?
--
Returnil - 21st Century body armor for your PC | |
| | | | | Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| Re: I don't use 2gb. You can't held captive by the provider of a luxury service. Wireless data is not food, it is not electricity, it is not running water, it is not space heating. It is first and foremost a luxury service that you can easily live without if you find the price point objectionable or the service sub-par. | |
| | | | | | | | Re: I don't use 2gb. Internet is a utility. For many of us it is how we work, shop, and keep in contact with our families. With tech advances you could say telephone is as much a utility as is the telegraph to make the internet a luxury vs a utility. With the shutting down of DSL in many places there is no more choice but just wireless and they know it. You pay their unreasonable fee because you lose your job/contacts if you don't. Nothing is to high for monopolies charge and politics will never set limits to massive gouging as long as they always get a "cut" in political donations. | |
| | | | | | | | | Re: I don't use 2gb. said by whiteshp:Internet is a utility. For many of us it is how we work, shop, and keep in contact with our families. With tech advances you could say telephone is as much a utility as is the telegraph to make the internet a luxury vs a utility. With the shutting down of DSL in many places there is no more choice but just wireless and they know it. You pay their unreasonable fee because you lose your job/contacts if you don't. Nothing is to high for monopolies charge and politics will never set limits to massive gouging as long as they always get a "cut" in political donations.
Internet is a utility. Internet on your phone is a luxury. There are other ways to communicate with your family. There are other ways to shop. And there is wifi for work and when there isn't, 9/10 work provides you the phone with internet.
I have never needed internet on my personal phone outside of a wifi area one single time. And I don't know a single person who has. | |
| | | | | | | | coldmoonPremium
join:2002-02-04
Broadway, NC Reviews:
·Windstream
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by silbaco:said by whiteshp:Internet is a utility. For many of us it is how we work, shop, and keep in contact with our families. With tech advances you could say telephone is as much a utility as is the telegraph to make the internet a luxury vs a utility. With the shutting down of DSL in many places there is no more choice but just wireless and they know it. You pay their unreasonable fee because you lose your job/contacts if you don't. Nothing is to high for monopolies charge and politics will never set limits to massive gouging as long as they always get a "cut" in political donations.
Internet is a utility. Internet on your phone is a luxury. There are other ways to communicate with your family. There are other ways to shop. And there is wifi for work and when there isn't, 9/10 work provides you the phone with internet. I have never needed internet on my personal phone outside of a wifi area one single time. And I don't know a single person who has. You, and those you know don't get out much then. Do you have to travel for your job? And if yes, do you have to go into areas without wifi available?
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Returnil - 21st Century body armor for your PC | |
| | | | | | | | | Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by coldmoon:You, and those you know don't get out much then. Do you have to travel for your job? And if yes, do you have to go into areas without wifi available?
Work should be paying for your cellular data service in this instance.
If they don't, well, decide if it's worth paying for. Weigh the cost of the cellular data connection against the inconvenience of being unplugged for a few hours while you're away from the hotel room.
One wonders how we managed to survive before the days of 24/7/365 connectivity. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | My personal phone. I do not need to use data on my personal phone for my job. | |
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| | | | | |  tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3
·Comcast
| And utilities charge for service too.
Voice only requires a small amount of bandwidth and thus is fairly cheap, internet functions running constantly require much more bandwidth and thus are fairly expensive.
If it is too expensive, do your high demand apps (shopping, video, etc.) on a connection with a lower cost per byte.
Very few if any places have shutdown DSL, though little effort is going into expanded DSL, upgrading service, or doing non critical line maintaince.
If your job doesn't compansate enough to pay for the nessecary/required tools like a cell phone (and if NESSESARY streaming video,high speed wireless) then it's probably best to change to another profession ASAP. | |
| | | | | | | Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| said by whiteshp:Internet is a utility. For many of us it is how we work, shop, and keep in contact with our families. We're talking about cellular internet here. It's a luxury, plain and simple. People can and do live without it. Don't whine to me because you feel it's overpriced while you continue to send Verizon/AT&T/whomever a check each month.
said by whiteshp:With the shutting down of DSL in many places there is no more choice but just wireless and they know it. Where is DSL being "shut down"? Some telcos have halted expansion deeper into rural areas but I'm not aware of shrinking DSL footprints. Even if they are "shutting down" DSL, you've got the choice to move to civilization. Living in the middle of nowhere comes at a premium. Are you also going to bellyache about the increased cost of maintaining a septic tank/well vs. having municipal water/sewer service? | |
| | | | | | | Reviews:
·Comcast
| Make me wonder how you fair in the third world or in a Amish community.
You it is an utility but like all utilities it is not an entitlement. Ask anybody had their utilities cut off for no payment. Where were you in 1969, I was grow up without computers a son of Black man was the fist to go to college, a grand son of a sharecropper and form a family line of slave in rural Virginia . Guss what I know my family history before there was and internet.
Nether the utility means others have to provide the way you want it, some even provide the own utilities by digging a well or putting up a few solar panels
You can change you way you work and live if you do not have internet. . Beside with so many free hotspots I think you point is moot. | |
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| | | | | | | You can grow your own food. You can generated electricity via solar panels, a wind generator or diesel generator. You can get water from a well or having it brought it via a tanker type truck. You can heat your house via home heating oil, propane, wood or coal. | |
| | | | | |  r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX
 ·row44
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
| said by Crookshanks:You can't held captive by the provider of a luxury service. Wireless data is not food, it is not electricity, it is not running water, it is not space heating. It is first and foremost a luxury service that you can easily live without if you find the price point objectionable or the service sub-par.
Electricity is as much of a luxury as internet is.
Also, many people NEED to have electricity and internet at home to work so they can buy food to eat.
Sorry, but internet is a NEED as much as roads, other telecommunication, and electricity.
It may not be a NEED for everyone, but for alot of people it is. No internet, no roads, no electricy = no job to pay for food.
--
...brought to you by Carl's Jr. | |
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| | |  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by Crookshanks:Why are people paying for it if they don't think it's a reasonable price? Well try getting a smartphone from Verizon or at&t or Sprint or T-mobile without a data plan. YOU CAN'T.Most people on Verizon have their $30 data plan? You know why? because that's the cheapest they offer. | |
| | | | | | | | | | |  plencnerbPremium
join:2000-09-25
Elgin, IL
kudos:2 | Re: I don't use 2gb. I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian | |
| | | | | | | r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·row44
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by plencnerb:I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian
You cant possibly be this dense. You must be trolling me.
Who said I only wanted to make voice calls???
1. qwerty phones are needed for text messages, no one is going to try and txt using a number pad. That is stupid.
2. smart phones work with wifi (if you can wifi where you want to use your phone, why pay for a data plan?)
3. GPS works just fine with no data plan.
--
...brought to you by Carl's Jr. | |
| | | | | | | |  aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by r81984:said by plencnerb:I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian
..............2. smart phones work with wifi (if you can wifi where you want to use your phone, why pay for a data plan?) ........ \
because public Wi-Fi is too slow. Heck 3G is too slow. | |
| | | | | | | | plencnerbPremium
join:2000-09-25
Elgin, IL
kudos:2 | said by r81984:said by plencnerb:I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian
You cant possibly be this dense. You must be trolling me. Who said I only wanted to make voice calls??? 1. qwerty phones are needed for text messages, no one is going to try and txt using a number pad. That is stupid. 2. smart phones work with wifi (if you can wifi where you want to use your phone, why pay for a data plan?) 3. GPS works just fine with no data plan. I'm not trolling, just replying to your question with another question. IF you were someone who only needed to make voice calls, then why have a phone that did other things. I did not want to imply or give the impression that you said you only needed to make voice only calls. But, that was one way to avoid having a data charge.
I agree that if you don't have a querty phone, texting on a number pad sucks. Of course, before smartphones, that is what everyone did, which is why all those funny 3 letter words (LOL, TXT, BRB) and so on came to be. No one liked to text on a number pad. However, I am someone who does not like to text, and I tell my friends that if they want to get a hold of me to call my cell phone.
Yes, most smartphones have a built-in GPS, something you don't get with a non smartphone. However, if you already own a GPS (which, in my case I do, a Garmin Nuvi), why have 2 GPS's?
--Brian
--
============================
--Brian Plencner
E-Mail: CoasterBrian72Cancer@gmail.com
Note: Kill Cancer to Reply via e-mail | |
| | | | | | | | | r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·row44
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: I don't use 2gb. said by plencnerb:I agree that if you don't have a querty phone, texting on a number pad sucks. Of course, before smartphones, that is what everyone did, which is why all those funny 3 letter words (LOL, TXT, BRB) and so on came to be. No one liked to text on a number pad. However, I am someone who does not like to text, and I tell my friends that if they want to get a hold of me to call my cell phone.
Yes, most smartphones have a built-in GPS, something you don't get with a non smartphone. However, if you already own a GPS (which, in my case I do, a Garmin Nuvi), why have 2 GPS's?
Actually I never text'd with a number pad phone as the thought was stupid to me from day 1.
I had the nokia 6800 qwerty keypad phone.
That came out in 2002.
The nokia 6800 has to be the best designed qwerty phone of all time. Nothing has the same level of comfort and speed for typing. It is sad they stopped making phones to that design.
I usually tell people to text me than call. If I cant answer I would rather have a text than a VM. And calling me for something quick to say, it is quicker just to text.
It helps now using google voice for VM that transcribes my VM in an txt message.
I have a TomTom GPS, but it always comes in handy to have GPS with anywhere you need it. If you are going to carry a phone, might as well have one that can do many things even if you only need to do that thing rarely.
--
...brought to you by Carl's Jr. | |
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| | | | | |  amarryatVerizon FiOS
join:2005-05-02
Marshfield, MA
·Verizon FiOS
| said by plencnerb:I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian
The calendar. | |
| | | | | | | | plencnerbPremium
join:2000-09-25
Elgin, IL
kudos:2 | Re: I don't use 2gb. said by amarryat:said by plencnerb:I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian
The calendar. I took a look at my LG Phone (model# LG325G), and it has a calendar in it, and my phone is not a smart phone. So, if you do some research, you can get a non-smartphone with a calendar in it. I know I'll never use it, but it looks like I can add appointments, birthdays, events, and so on. Seems like it does everything a calendar should do. It probably has a way to give an alert too when an event comes up to help remind you about it.
--Brian
--
============================
--Brian Plencner
E-Mail: CoasterBrian72Cancer@gmail.com
Note: Kill Cancer to Reply via e-mail | |
| | | | | | | |  chambercPremium
join:2008-08-05
Irving, TX
·Time Warner Cable
| said by amarryat:said by plencnerb:I would think the other option to avoid the data plan fee is get a phone that is not a smartphone. Why have a smartphone if all you want is to make voice calls anyway?
--Brian
The calendar. Nokia and Motorola phones have had calendars in them for more than a decade. | |
|
| |  ArrayListnetbus developerPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | it will also never be as high as business wants it to be. | |
|
| | | | LightSPremium
join:2005-12-17
Greenville, TX | Re: I don't use 2gb. Actually, I want unlimited data to not be a ploy. | |
|
| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by LightS:I personally don't use 2gigs per month... Since August 1st, I've used 520mb. I have WiFi access both at work, and at home, so I'm rarely using data. Before I started this new job, I would use at most 1.5-1.6gigs a month.. I think the most I've ever used, though, was about 2.2gb. yes you use wi-fi? Why? Because you don't want to go over 2 GB and be charged overages. What if all the data you used over wi-fi was on cellular instead. How much would that be? Well over 2 GB. Does anyone think that if all carriers had unlimited data average use would be under 2 GB? Also this study is including non smartphones which uses less data and thus bring down the average.
With caps at 2 GB yeah it makes sense people use less than 2 GB. Check the speed of all the cars on a road that has a speed limit of 55 MPH. I bet the average speed is pretty close to 55 MPH. Now take away the speed limit. I can 100% assure you the average speed would increase greatly. | |
| | | LightSPremium
join:2005-12-17
Greenville, TX Reviews:
·Time Warner Cable
| Re: I don't use 2gb. I love how you seem to know the reasons I do stuff. Are you a mind reader? You must be, because you know that once I go over my 2gb cap that I'll start to shudder and cry because of overages!
Oh, wait - That's right. I'm still grandfathered in with my unlimited data than Verizon - and, on the rare occurance (2-3 mo's a year) that I do go over it, they haven't throttled me, or billed me a dime.
I use WiFi for a multitude of reasons: The main one being, well, it's available. The second one being, it's faster.
Oh, and for your scrutiny, here you go!
Notice on the WiFi how that gigabit is downloaded to Spotify? Done on WiFi, because it's 200x faster than the 3G connection in my new location. | |
| | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: I don't use 2gb. said by LightS:I love how you seem to know the reasons I do stuff. Are you a mind reader? You must be, because you know that once I go over my 2gb cap that I'll start to shudder and cry because of overages!
Oh, wait - That's right. I'm still grandfathered in with my unlimited data than Verizon - and, on the rare occurance (2-3 mo's a year) that I do go over it, they haven't throttled me, or billed me a dime.
I use WiFi for a multitude of reasons: The main one being, well, it's available. The second one being, it's faster.
Oh, and for your scrutiny, here you go!
Notice on the WiFi how that gigabit is downloaded to Spotify? Done on WiFi, because it's 200x faster than the 3G connection in my new location.
A) I'm not sure why you have an attitude. I wasn't being derogatory towards you. Seriously I can't fathom how you would have took offense to my post.
B) Even by you're own stats you use nearly 4 GB a month between wi-fi and mobile. That's DOUBLE 2 GB last time I checked. If not for wi-fi and if you were on a 2 GB plan you would have paid $20 in overages. And not everyone has wi-fi since many people live in areas where mobile is the only internet they can get.
And if you use under 2 GB on mobile why hold on so tightly to unlimited? if you were on a 2 GB plan you wouldn't go over. I read so many complaints from people on unlimited about Verizon's forcing them to pay full price for phone to keep unlimited then it turns out they don't even use 2 GB a month like you.
Of course not everyone uses more than 2 GB but the act is form the study the amount of data use has DOUBLE in 1 year. At that rate within 2 1/2 years the AVERAGE amount of data used will be 2 GB and that's with people using wi-fi.
Now I understand why these companies can't offer unlimited. But the fact remains their caps, pricing and overage are ridiculous. And honestly what's the point about bragging about great brand new 4G service if people can barely use it and have to rely on wi-fi for most of their data? It's pointless. Spending billions to upgrade network to 4G and the average customer can only use it on average for 45 seconds a day. And that's not hyperbole that's factual. | |
| | | | | LightSPremium
join:2005-12-17
Greenville, TX Reviews:
·Time Warner Cable
| Re: I don't use 2gb. Because I don't like you assuming why I do things. Putting words into my mouth, or giving me your reasoning for my actions..
I do use a decent bit - 4gb - and I'm sure i might be able to do that with my 3G if I so desired (No 4g here yet.) However, the reason I hold on so tightly to unlimited is so I don't have to worry about my data, man! I don't like having to set a "budget" on the bandwidth that I consume.
As far as he complaints go; I'm not sure.. I never do my purchasing from a corporate store, so I don't know if that's corporate or the resellers doing that. I've never had any push to get me off of unlimited through a store - which is kind of surprising, to be honest.
As far as it goes - I understand most people don't have WiFi available... however, I do, and I still like my unlimited. If I didn't have WiFi available, I would cling to it until the life leaves my hands, haha.
Also, I agree with your last statement in full; 4G is awesome, but if you can blaze through it (my usage was including 4G when I lived in an area that had it, however, the area im in now doesn't have it). | |
|
Reviews:
·Shaw
| Caps artificially lower average usage statistics. Would average usage be as low if there were no caps? A year from now I'm guessing the average used on the unlimited providers will be higher than the capped providers.
My current usage habits have me looking for free wifi in a lot of places. I only get 1gb a month. I have to be careful how much video I used on the plan. I only run updates from a wifi connection.
If I were on an unlimited plan, I really wouldn't put so much effort into watching my consumption and looking for free wifi hotpsots. | |
| | Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
·Sprint Mobile Br..
| Re: Caps artificially lower average usage statistics. Sprint 3G Data Unlimited 1,160,577 --
Sprint 3G Data Roaming Unlimited 1,400 --
Sprint 4G Data Unlimited 14,188 --
Sprint 3G Data - 07/25 to 07/25 Unlimited 9,611 --
Sprint 3G Data Unlimited 1,392,082 --
Sprint 3G Data Roaming Unlimited 151,186 --
Sprint 4G Data Unlimited 0 --
I'm always under 2gb but look at June and July... It has consistently gone up since the beginning of the year. I suspect that happens as you find more things to do with your phone. So at this rate I will be over 2gigs by the end of the year and I suppose i'm not the only one and I know for sure I don't want to have to babysit something I pay alot of money for already. I overpay for unlimited everything so I don't have to worry about it.
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| |
| | | | | | I have a Mifi and hotspot on my phone and I am lucky enough to not have to worry about the bill (or going over) on either. That being said I think I've hit about 1gig on both devices since the last billing period.
--
I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
| |  MoracCat god
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
kudos:1
·Comcast
| I have a grandfathered unlimitted plan from AT&T and I pretty much never exceed 1 GB on my iPhone (sometimes makes me wonder why I hold on to it). My iPad 2 has a 2 GB and when I first got it I tried my hardest to make sure I used all 2 GB every month, but that wasn't as easy as it seems (even streaming Netflix). I normally don't exceed 1 GB on that either.
The primary reason for this that WiFi is available in most places I go (work, home, friends, etc) and I don't use public transportation for commuting.
--
The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired. | |
|
 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Tail Wagging Dog People know they are gonna pay out the wazoo if they exceed their data caps, so most people reduce their consumption.
Once 1GB caps like those offered by Verizon become the norm, expect this usage to drop even more.
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | | Re: Tail Wagging Dog There comes a point though when the costs are so punitive that everybody just stops using data.
Verizon seems to want to push the envelope and get us there. | |
| | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: Tail Wagging Dog said by osravens:There comes a point though when the costs are so punitive that everybody just stops using data.
Verizon seems to want to push the envelope and get us there.
Agreed. I cannot afford to re-up my wife's smartphone with Verizon when her contract is up, assuming she wants a new phone.
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | | | | Re: Tail Wagging Dog Sprint and T-Mobile for Marylanders without access to US Cellular have to look pretty good right now. | |
| | | | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: Tail Wagging Dog said by osravens:Sprint and T-Mobile for Marylanders without access to US Cellular have to look pretty good right now.
I'm looking into Virgin Mobile. I figure if I have to sacrifice network footprint I am gonna shoot for a rock-bottom price.
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | | | | |
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
 ·DIRECTV
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision
1 edit | Capped plans cause this. I agree that capped plans cause this, data usage was growing steadily over the years and I expect it still is, just because 2GB is sufficient today doesn't mean they will be next year, that's what verizon and at&t are hoping for.
But the reality is times are tough money wise, people lose their unlimited data and learn to conserve, I certainly did, after I lost unlimited because I wouldn't bend over for Verizon anymore I switched to straight talk to save some money, it's a good deal but their definition of unlimited is basically anything much over 2GB is abuse and could get you kicked off. So I've learned to conserve, only update apps on wifi, look for wifi before watching video or just wait till I get home.
This is just a corporate fluff piece designed to make the big two look good, when t-mobile allows real unlimited again it's quite likely I'll jump ship to them, their prepaid contract of course. I bought a GSM Galaxy Nexus so I could quit signing contracts and use AT&T or T-mobile either directly or through a mvno. Which is perfect for me, Sprint's network is still way too slow and LTE won't get to me anytime soon and I've left Verizon because their prices are too high, AT&T ain't much better but at least they give 3GB instead of 2 for individual plans. | |
| | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: Capped plans cause this. This is the same "reasoning" that we hear when we are told that very high speed broadband to the home (like Google in the Kansas Cities) is not popular... of course, it costs ~$300 a month if you get it from Verizon or Comcast.
If it is $50 a month, then it becomes very popular.
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
·DIRECTV
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision
| Re: Capped plans cause this. For the most part it wasn't a price issue there were many factors.
I have an AT&T hspa+ phone for work and for 99% of taks you can't tell the difference between that and lte.
CDMA phones and especially CDMA lte phones are the slowest to get updates if they get them at all because of how CDMA works.
I wanted a nexus that would get updated right away.
I had wanted these things for awhile and when Verizon went to share everything and started treating existing unlimited customers like red headed stepchildren I couldn't take it anymore, to keep unlimited data i had to buy phones at retail knowing the poor update history of CDMA phones I did not want to do that, or accept a 2gb tier for the same subsidized phone that would have problems getting updates.
Or I could leave Verizon and their battery hogging phones that have horrible update records, pay half what I was paying to Verizon and buy a gsm galaxy nexus that guareented updates first, and I went from 450 mins to unlimited, 500 texts to unlimited and have roughly a 2gb cap. at this price I could buy the new nexus every year and still be saving money and getting more than I did at Verizon.
It's not like 300 mbit service, Because honestly the difference in day to day experience is the same, better actually because my gsm phone gets 5+ hours of active usage where my Verizon phone was lucky to get 3.
Verizon isn't worth the premium price they think their worth.
T-mobile offers a good value for data and soon will be going unlimited, and sprint users will probably use the network a lot more if they can get decent speeds, I'm hoping the network vision program is the success they expect.
It's not just me, prepaid wireless is the fastest growing sector because the big two are getting too greedy and not providing additional value for their premium price. Why do you think AT&T has opened their network to so many mvno's, even Verizon has mvno's though less compelling options admittedly.
Because they know their pushing customers away | |
|
the niTzPremium
join:2004-07-05
Sahuarita, AZ Reviews:
·Cox HSI
| unlimited ftw
lowest for the year |
| |
| | | | Re: unlimited ftw People don't realize what they miss out on till they have a taste of it. Then they never want to go back. In example, I'm sure that there's a significant amount of the population who would be just fine with dial-up. But they got a taste of broadband. You think that after getting such, even at just 1.5MBPS, they'd be willing to go back to 56k?
The same logic is applied to data usage. You have no data cap, you grow accustomed to using significant amounts of data if it becomes available for you; and it's quickly becoming easier and easier to do so on mobile. Between games (and they're getting bigger and bigger for phones and tablets), video (whether it be YouTube, Hulu, HBO GO, Netflix, or remote video such as Vulkano (Hava), or Slingbox), remote desktop, etc., let's face it: Data usage is increasing.
Hell, Comcast (and I think, but though don't quote me on this, Time Warner offers it as well) advertises the ability to remotely watch programming on mobile devices.
Then there's the olympics and streaming that over phones...
Data caps, let's face it, are antiquated relics of a past generation of mobile providers charging .25 cents per megabyte. | |
|
Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| Where's my violin? seemingly oblivious to the possible impact $15 per gigabyte overages could have on the heavier users
As usage patterns change the caps will change. As the market matures the carriers will be forced to compete on price, right now they don't have to because it's a growth market with new customers flocking in by the droves.
The sky is not falling, despite all claims to the contrary. | |
| QLR
join:2009-06-23
Tallahassee, FL Reviews:
·Comcast
·Verizon Wireless..
| My data usage has only increased since upgrading to LTE I used to average between 1.5 and 2.5 GB when I had a 3G phone. The most I've ever used was 5GB. With this RAZR MAXX, I don't think I used less than 2 GB in a month. Last billing cycle, I used 5 GB; and I just went past the 4 gb mark yesterday with 1 week left in the cycle. I used 6.5 GB in one month (although I was on the road with no land line data options). I use Wifi at home. There is no free Wifi for the peons at work. I occasionally look for free Wifi while out and about, but the LTE and 3G networks are faster than the Wifi. So I use data when I'm not home | |
| |  jgkoltPremium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH | Re: My data usage has only increased since upgrading to LTE i find it funny how we are promoting and positively reinforced for using wifi instead of the service we pay for. | |
|
 Jon GebWal-Mart Sucks
join:2001-01-09
Howell, MI | Sprint nearly the lowest and unlimited Sprint is so slow that using data is IMPOSSIBLE.
I was with Sprint non stop from July 2001 till December 2011. I had no choice but to leave when speeds struggled to do much beyond timing out. | |
|  tmh
@verizon.net | It's the North Korea mentality quote:
new data suggests that most users still don't really (yet) need unlimited data plans.
If you've never had freedom, you probably don't realize you need it either. | |
|  skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2
·Cox HSI
·Clear Wireless
| Ah, good... ...even less justification for capped service.
Carriers also make the similar claim, doesn't affect the vast majority of users. Great, then they don't need the caps since it is only a tiny minority using more than 2GB.
OR, people are used to caps and don't bother exploring services that are data hungry. | |
| |  espaethDigital PlumberPremium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
kudos:2
·Vitelity VOIP
| Re: Ah, good... said by skeechan:...even less justification for to complain about capped service. Yep. | |
| | | skeechanAi OtsukaholicPremium
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·Clear Wireless
1 edit | Re: Ah, good... Yep, the Mr. Bumbles at the carriers can stop lying about how they need to limit the gruel, charging $10/spoonful. This shows that if you starve a person long enough, they stop asking, "Please sir, may I have some more?" | |
|
|  andybPremium
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario
kudos:1 | No they just dont use it much because because they dont want bills in the 100's of dollars for overages that costs the ISP less than a six pack | |
|
| | See the details I would love to see the details of this study. If wireless broadband is your only option I wonder how much data you use. I would like to see if people jump off to wi-fi and if they do add that to the amount of data used. I did a test about a year ago using Netflix. It was taking about 300 mb per show watching. If Netflix and others have their way of only internet watching. 5GB will be gone in no time if wireless broadband is your only option. | |
|  El QuintronResident Mouth BreatherPremium
join:2008-04-28
Etobicoke, ON
kudos:2
·TekSavvy DSL
·WIND Mobile
| ~3GB I have an unlimited plan, and I use about 3GB monthly, strangely enough I attribute to change my public transit option to an above-ground train, because most of my mobile data is used during transit.
It was a bit harder to do when I took the subway and there was no mobile internet available.
EQ
--
Support Bacteria -- It's the Only Culture Some People Have | |
| BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Karl... ... is oblivious to the effects that unlimited data would have on Verizon and AT&T's networks. | |
| aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| I used to use 2GB or less each month.. until I got an LTE phone with Verizon. Then with the 25X to 30X faster speeds I could do much more. I could finally start using the Amazon Cloud drive for my music since it could easily download fast enough for me to listen to the music without any pauses.
So I recently uploaded most of my music, and I used 9GB last month from me listening to it. And September will probably be 14GB to 20GB of use.
I'm still grandfathered on unlimited data. And the only time I would connect to Wi-Fi is when I'm home since that FiOS connection is much faster than a 4G connection. A typical Wi-Fi connection in the wild is extremely slow. So unless I'm on 3G or have no signal, I'll keep using data from the 4G connection. | |
|  VegasManAre We There Yet?Premium
join:2002-11-17
Schaumburg, IL | I'm Virtually No one. I still have a week left for the month and I'm already at 7GB. I have Verizon 10GB/mo plan. I am right at the limit every month also and have went over just once.
My wife has the unlimited plan and uses 1-2GB/mo but now we tether our Nex 7's to her phone so the usage will definitely go up.
--
In need of a Vegas vacation.
| |
| | | What about Wifi So the average use is less than 2GB is that a snapshot of all data consumed both via the carriers and wifi or just through the carrier? I ask because I'll use about 2GB per month via Sprints network but I also use upwards to 20+ GB per month on wifi networks...and yes its all legit.
I would like to know if they're taking into account the amount of data people are using on wifi networks. | |
| | Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
·DIRECTV
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision
| Re: What about Wifi Their not, it's just wireless data that counts towards a user's cap. my wireless vs wifi usage looks similar to yours, I have my phone set to autoconnect to wifi at home and at work to save me from my cap.
I'm a perfect example, on Verizon LTE i used to use 6 - 8 GB a month because I was on unlimited data, then they decided that you can't get an upgrade subsidy and keep unlimited data, so they lost me as a customer and I'm now paying less than half for unlimited voice, text and 2GB of data. If I'm going to be forced into a cap I wanted a big savings.
I've been able to work it out, by using wifi now I use between 1 and 1.7GB a month and the rest of my traffic is offloaded to wifi, my phone says about 5GB right now for this month.
Lesson: when people are forced into tiered or capped data plans they learn to adjust, that doesn't mean they wouldn't use more if they didn't have to worry about overages. I beat you'll see t-mobile's numbers shoot up fast after they go unlimited, Sprint's numbers aren't that high because their current network is so slow. | |
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