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Report: U.S., Canada See Priciest Wireless Service
Whoo Hoo! Number one again!
Ars Technica directs our attention to a new New American Foundation report that found that United States and Canadian consumers consistently pay significantly more for wireless service. The study tracked prepaid, unlimited, and postpaid plans in 11 countries, and found that the U.S. and Canada were consistently the most expensive for complete plans (SMS/Voice/Data) and SMS. The U.S. fares slightly better in mobile data, ranging from thoroughly mediocre to very pricey:
quote:
In the case of unlimited data plans, the U.S. is in the middle tier of service rates. The U.S. offers a plan of $29.99 per month which is cheaper than Canada ($72.90/month), Japan ($52.60/month) and Hong Kong ($38.00/month). On the contrary, Sweden offers much cheaper unlimited data plans for $13.80 per month, followed by India ($19.00/month), and Taiwan ($26.60/month). For prepaid data plans, the U.S. has the most expensive rate at $10.24 per MB, whereas India offers $0.0004/MB, $0.43/MB in South Korea and $0.50/MB in the U.K. Several other countries that also have cheaper rates are $1.64/MB in Taiwan and $1.70 in Denmark.
It's not entirely clear what guided the Foundation's 11-country selection, or why countries like France and Spain were left out of the analysis. It's also not clear how much a broader sample base would help, given that several studies have shown that Canadian and U.S. consumers tend to pay consistently more for lower quality wired and wireless service than many developed countries. We're going to go out on a limb and guess that these prices don't include all of the assorted fees, taxes, and "unfees" carriers tack on below the line.
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FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

1 recommendation

FFH5

Premium Member

Poor measuring system

Instead of just quoting costs per month for a wireless service in each country, it would be much more meaningful if it was quoted as a percentage of monthly income for those countries.

For example India is $19/mo. But that price may be 15% of the average persons income level per month. While the US is $30/mo and that is 2% of the average US persons income level per month. Which price is REALLY lower?

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

Very true.
There is a significant difference between Canada and US in that case.
Canada, in general on wireless 'can' be quite expensive with virtually all providers charging long distance on both incoming and outgoing calls.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by en102:

Canada, in general on wireless 'can' be quite expensive with virtually all providers charging long distance on both incoming and outgoing calls.
I was wondering how that worked. My sister lives in Misssissauga, ON and told me not to call her cell phone from here in New York because she would be billed long distance. My jaw dropped when she told me that. I asked her if she was serious. You pay extra for an incoming LONG DISTANCE call?

Canada really needs some regulatory reform or better competition. The telecom cabal up there is really sticking it to Canadians.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

Yeah - its crazy on the incoming.

Outbound LD - calling any number outside of your local area (duh) - essentially non-existent outside of mom/pop wireless. What adds a unique twist to this is the 'where you are' piece. If I have Toronto number and I'm in Toronto - no LD. If I in Vancouver (with a Toronto number), and call Toronto - I pay LD. If I'm in Vancouver (with a Toronto number) and call a local Vancouver number, no LD.

Inbound LD - this is the painful part. In most countries in the world (besides US), it just costs MORE to call a mobile number. In Canada since LD is fixed, they charge the receiver (gack).
If you have a Toronto number, and someone in Toronto call you - no LD. If you're in Toronto (with a Toronto number), and someone outside of Toronto calls you - you pay LD. Here's an interesting twist... if you're in Vancouver, and someone from Toronto (or with a Toronto cell - eg family) calls, you won't pay LD to receive.

Its a twisted system. Fortunately, there's a few bolt ons with 'unlimited LD'.

Gone
@cgocable.net

Gone

Anon

Re: Poor measuring system

said by en102:

If you're in Toronto (with a Toronto number), and someone outside of Toronto calls you - you pay LD.

Here's an interesting twist... if you're in Vancouver, and someone from Toronto (or with a Toronto cell - eg family) calls, you won't pay LD to receive.
Both of these are totally and completely incorrect.

You only pay incoming long distance if you're outside your EAS. If you're in your EAS and receive a call from someone outside your EAS, you don't pay long distance.

EveryName
Premium Member
join:2001-12-05
Montreal

EveryName to en102

Premium Member

to en102
There is zero truth to this.

It all has to do with calling areas. If you're outside of your local calling area and receive ANY call, it is long distance.

If you're inside your local calling area and receive ANY call, it is local.

If you're outside your local calling area, and you call the area that you're in (ie. Local calling area is Toronto, but you're in Vancouver calling Vancouver) it is local.

If you're outside your local calling area, but call another area than the one that you're currently in, it's long distance.
Bobcat79
Premium Member
join:2001-02-04

Bobcat79

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by EveryName:

If you're outside of your local calling area and receive ANY call, it is long distance.

If you're inside your local calling area and receive ANY call, it is local.

If you're outside your local calling area, and you call the area that you're in (ie. Local calling area is Toronto, but you're in Vancouver calling Vancouver) it is local.

If you're outside your local calling area, but call another area than the one that you're currently in, it's long distance.

That sucks. My cell phone plan allows me to call to anywhere / from anywhere in the US & Canada with no long distance charges. NJ to Canada, no LD. Hawaii to NJ, no LD.

EveryName
Premium Member
join:2001-12-05
Montreal

EveryName

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by Bobcat79:

said by EveryName:

If you're outside of your local calling area and receive ANY call, it is long distance.

If you're inside your local calling area and receive ANY call, it is local.

If you're outside your local calling area, and you call the area that you're in (ie. Local calling area is Toronto, but you're in Vancouver calling Vancouver) it is local.

If you're outside your local calling area, but call another area than the one that you're currently in, it's long distance.

That sucks. My cell phone plan allows me to call to anywhere / from anywhere in the US & Canada with no long distance charges. NJ to Canada, no LD. Hawaii to NJ, no LD.
Canada is very behind when it comes to the way long distance is billed.
Bobcat79
Premium Member
join:2001-02-04

Bobcat79

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by EveryName:

Canada is very behind when it comes to the way long distance is billed.
I wonder if long distance charges are why my in-laws in Montreal keep mentioning Internet phone services like Skype and Google something-or-other.

I'm like, "I can call anywhere in the US and Canada at no extra charge using my cell phone, why would I bother with these other services?"

Gone
@skycomp.ca

Gone to Bobcat79

Anon

to Bobcat79
said by Bobcat79:

That sucks. My cell phone plan allows me to call to anywhere / from anywhere in the US & Canada with no long distance charges. NJ to Canada, no LD. Hawaii to NJ, no LD.
Plans like that exist in Canada too, they're just not the default. Usually $5/month more or something like that. With Wind Mobile, all LD is free from what I understand, or at least within the province. One merely needs to shop around.
Bobcat79
Premium Member
join:2001-02-04

Bobcat79

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

Just within the province? That must suck for people in Prince Edward Island.

Delvec
@teksavvy.com

Delvec to n2jtx

Anon

to n2jtx
There is a lot of confusion on Cellular LD in Canada. No, you are not charged long distance to receive a cell phone call unless you are out of the area where your phone is based. Lets call this "Call Delivery". Not all plans would charge this in the case where (for at least one new carrier that I can think of) all LD for either the province (state) or nationwide are included.
Bobcat79
Premium Member
join:2001-02-04

Bobcat79

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

So if my phone number is from Toronto, but I'm in Vancouver, and my friend who lives in Vancouver calls me from across the street:

1. He gets to pay LD from Vancouver to Toronto, and
2. I get to pay LD from Toronto to Vancouver,

Even though the call was simply routed between a couple central offices and/or cell towers in downtown Vancouver.

What a rip off!

EveryName
Premium Member
join:2001-12-05
Montreal

EveryName

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by Bobcat79:

So if my phone number is from Toronto, but I'm in Vancouver, and my friend who lives in Vancouver calls me from across the street:

1. He gets to pay LD from Vancouver to Toronto, and
2. I get to pay LD from Toronto to Vancouver,

Even though the call was simply routed between a couple central offices and/or cell towers in downtown Vancouver.

What a rip off!
That's exactly it, however if you called your friend it would be local for both.
Bobcat79
Premium Member
join:2001-02-04

Bobcat79

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

Simply asinine.

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

For example India is $19/mo. But that price may be 15% of the average persons income level per month.
whats the population of india?

Ben
Premium Member
join:2007-06-17
Fort Worth, TX

Ben

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by ArrayList:

said by FFH5:

For example India is $19/mo. But that price may be 15% of the average persons income level per month.
whats the population of india?
     What does that have to do with anything?

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by Ben:

said by ArrayList:

said by FFH5:

For example India is $19/mo. But that price may be 15% of the average persons income level per month.
whats the population of india?
     What does that have to do with anything?
i forgot :P
RiverMerger
join:2007-12-19
Hinsdale, IL

1 edit

RiverMerger

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

Let me remind you, It was so you could see what your residual income would be from all those internet connected phones;. Although I am much more impressed with the income from your other invention/.

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by RiverMerger:

Let me remind you, It was so you could see what your residual income would be from all those internet connected phones;. Although I am much more impressed with the income from your other invention/.
Thanks. I appreciate that you appreciate my invention while you use my invention.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

1 recommendation

fiberguy2 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
You beat me to the punch line...

I've been adding this very sentiment into my posts over the past few days actually. We can always compare one aspect of our lives to other countries but no one ever bothers to take a moment to compare the "why" we compare as we do.

Many countries have different priorities over us. Hell, some of these other countries also don't obsess over music and television like we do in the U.S. - we also have some of the fattest people in the world.. we make more money than most other countries, we have more people owning bigger homes than other countries,... many of our people have 2, 3, or more televisions in the home..

We are NOT other countries.. and as you said, based on what people can afford.. I don't see why people in the US who get so much out of the internet would complain over paying $30 and $40 a month for their connections.

I loved the day that gas started to shoot up to $2.00 a gallon,.. there are countries paying $8 a liter for fuel.. where was the outrage from Americans then? where were all the BBR folks here who complain about how other countries have cheaper broadband prices and why were they not bitching that we SHOULD pay more for gas,.. because other countries pay more? I mean, if people want to be like India or south Korea on internet, why not be like them in ALL aspects in life..

You gotta take all or nothing.. this is why I say if these people want cheaper internet, then move to that country that offers it. They have different rates and prices on certain goods and services for certain reasons. One can't just "cherry pick" the good out of one's society and think that they can have it here, with every other cog that makes up the entire economic fabric.

FreedomBuild
Well done is better than well said
Premium Member
join:2004-10-08
Rockford, IL

1 recommendation

FreedomBuild

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

Yep, we are a gluttonous consuming bunch and we also harbor some of the most greediest, underhanded, anti consumer, conniving, fatcat corporations. After all they are part of this 'gluttonous consuming bunch' too.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

1 recommendation

battleop to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
You make some valid points. The problem is that your method won't produce negative head lines.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

1 recommendation

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by battleop:

You make some valid points. The problem is that your method won't produce negative head lines.
Thats 100% correct. As we all know, DSLR wont post articles without a "sky is falling", anti-US, anti-business, negative punchline.
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

I'm pretty sure that DSLR is not requiring you to come here and read their headlines and participate in their discussions.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by Skippy25:

I'm pretty sure that DSLR is not requiring you to come here and read their headlines and participate in their discussions.
Who said they were?

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK to wifi4milez

Premium Member

to wifi4milez
Or it could be they are sick of people wrapping themselves in the flag while sticking it to the people and citizens as hard as they can and undermining the very nation they claim to care about so much.

ahedge
Premium Member
join:2002-05-14
Surprise, AZ

ahedge to battleop

Premium Member

to battleop
said by battleop:

You make some valid points. The problem is that your method won't produce negative head lines.
Oh But I can help with that..

Let's add a comparison of price per kilobit per second in each country, and we will start to see apples lined up with apples. As it is the survey is a waste of time, unless the reporters missed the boat entirely.
ahedge

ahedge to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

Instead of just quoting costs per month for a wireless service in each country, it would be much more meaningful if it was quoted as a percentage of monthly income for those countries.
are you saying that providers charge as much as they can get away with? Point well taken

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

1 recommendation

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by ahedge:
said by FFH5:

Instead of just quoting costs per month for a wireless service in each country, it would be much more meaningful if it was quoted as a percentage of monthly income for those countries.
are you saying that providers charge as much as they can get away with? Point well taken
ALL goods and services, with the exception of those subsidized by the government, are priced at market rate. Market rate is the price the public is willing to pay for said goods and services. That is the way 'the economy' has worked since man first learned to walk on two legs. If you and I will pay X for an item, then that item will be priced at X. What sense does it make for a retailer/service provider/company/etc to charge less??

ahedge
Premium Member
join:2002-05-14
Surprise, AZ

ahedge

Premium Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by wifi4milez:

said by ahedge:
said by FFH5:

Instead of just quoting costs per month for a wireless service in each country, it would be much more meaningful if it was quoted as a percentage of monthly income for those countries.
are you saying that providers charge as much as they can get away with? Point well taken
ALL goods and services, with the exception of those subsidized by the government, are priced at market rate. Market rate is the price the public is willing to pay for said goods and services. That is the way 'the economy' has worked since man first learned to walk on two legs. If you and I will pay X for an item, then that item will be priced at X. What sense does it make for a retailer/service provider/company/etc to charge less??
said by wifi4milez:

said by ahedge:
said by FFH5:

Instead of just quoting costs per month for a wireless service in each country, it would be much more meaningful if it was quoted as a percentage of monthly income for those countries.
are you saying that providers charge as much as they can get away with? Point well taken
ALL If you and I will pay X for an item, then that item will be priced at X. What sense does it make for a retailer/service provider/company/etc to charge less??
I am not willing to pay more but there is no competition worth of mention, so bear with me if I strip all your delusional "market rules" spiel

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

1 recommendation

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by ahedge:

I am not willing to pay more but there is no competition worth of mention, so bear with me if I strip all your delusional "market rules" spiel
No one is forcing you to buy wireless service. If you disagree with the price or product being offered, then go without it.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK to wifi4milez

Premium Member

to wifi4milez
Wrong. Sounds great in theory, but market theory is based on the idea that competition can freely enter and exit the market at will.

Since that doesn't happen, fair market pricing doesn't happen, either. It's a failed theory just as communism was a failed theory.
oktiri
join:2003-01-05
Montreal, QC

1 edit

oktiri to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
not really. Germany has a higher GDP/capita than the US.

Alakar
Facts do not cease to exist when ignored
join:2001-03-23
Milwaukee, WI

1 recommendation

Alakar

Member

Re: Poor measuring system

said by oktiri:

not really. Germany has a higher GDP/capita than the US.
Not according to this:

»www.cia.gov/library/publ ··· nk=37#gm

US - $46,000 Rank 11th
Germany - $34,100 Rank 37
rob316
join:2005-10-17
Carteret, NJ

rob316

Member

#1 Yea Baby.

At least we are number one in something.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

4G Even Worse

The move to digital TV and the looming 4G competition presents an interesting dynamic in the US. Networks like LightSquared will make for some better competition here, but the reality is we won't see fair consumer prices until the FCC regulates special access pricing and breaks up AT&T and Verizon.

Breaking them up into 2 companies each would create a much more efficient allocation of market resources and healthy competition.

The fact is there is such an enormous economy of scale to be had in the US that prices here should be significantly lower than in European countries.

•••

adisor19
join:2004-10-11

adisor19

Member

Who's surprised ?!

With companies like : Bellus, Robbers and Videoblows, I am not surprised at all.

Just another day in the unregulated wireless market in Canada.

Thank you CRTC for being staffed chock full of Hell and Robbers ex employees that don't give a rat's a** about consumers and only care about their ex employers.

GG

Adi

••••
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

We're better than that...

The numbers in that survey are old.

You can get unlimited voice, text and web for $45 (Straight Talk) if you don't mind not using a smartphone. If you want a smartphone, Virgin Mobile has what you want for $60.

Of course, if you break unlimited data out into its own line item, the $30 figure is correct for Verizon. AT&T doesn't offer unlimited anymore. Sprint's unlimited data plan is $20-$30 depending on how you look at it (it's $20 more than Voice + Messaging, $30 more than voice alone but you get unlimited Any Mobile). T-Mobile is similar to Sprint if you're getting a smartphone; unlimited voice, messaging and data is $30 more than unlimited voice alone. Throw in CricKet and things get interesting...if you compare their unlimited Android plan to their other plans it's about $20 more than the carrier's base plan, and adds more than just web...

For PAYG data OTOH you have to try pretty hard to get $10.24 per MB these days. Many carriers do data by the day (Boost, T-Mobile, Verizon) or the month. Otherwise, you're looking at $1.20 to $1.50 per MB. Or, if you know where to look, 10-29 cents per MB.

Also, I'm not sure where they get their India per-MB number from. Seems awfully low; that's 40¢ per GB, compared with a per-GB cost of $10 on US mobile broadband these days (overages on AT&T and the new Verizon MiFi plan).

Bill Neilson
Premium Member
join:2009-07-08
Alexandria, VA

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

Well, I love my FiOS and it is very fast

but I would not be surprised to see me paying much more as the coming years progress
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

ripoff

even the prepaid services are a ripoff!

$7 a month with prorate of 120 minutes is a ripoff. based on the retail price for minutes and an incoming phone number the rate should be 5 cents per minute or less... except it's much higher on average
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: ripoff

Hrmmm.. now you're going on pre-paid? ... the people and the market have decided that what we have today works for us.

Pre-paid customers wanted no commitment. So for that, you pay a higher price. You want the bargain, commit to the company.. reduce the marketing cost and cost to have your business and you'll get a better rate. But, if you want to be johnny come lately and give them nothing to predict and budget on, in a competitive
market, well, that's what you get.

AS MUCH as I HATE contracts and what phone companies do with contracts and such, at least I understand the reason why and concept behind the contract and why those customers pay less than the no-commit/no-contract pre-paid customers.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

The article is dumb

For 40 zl per month in t-mobile Poland (era) , you only have 100 min and have to pay 0.39 or so fo calling stationary phones.
And the average income there is much lower than in the US

Many people there make only around 1000 zl per month.
You figure out how much you have left when you convert to USD.
Everything there cost more.

Tamarisk
@impulse.net

Tamarisk

Anon

It's All Relative

Yes, service might be expensive in Poland, but look at the flip side also, incoming calls and texts are free. This is true for most (all?) of Europe also. I mention Poland because my parents retired there because they could not afford to live in US anymore. Mom is Polish and dad English. Internet is cheap - they have a 1Mb wireless connection for $25 a month.

runzero
join:2005-09-16
DC

1 edit

runzero

Member

Re: It's All Relative

said by Tamarisk :

they have a 1Mb wireless connection for $25 a month.
Cheap? Geez, that's some expensive pricing for just a 1 Mbps internet connection!

Coke
join:2009-07-17

Coke

Member

Wow..

People are seriously arguing "it's ok to rip us off because we can afford it"?

Judging from the recent housing crisis, 'people can afford things' doesn't seem to be the case, instead most people are just uninformed suckers or have no self control, which fits pretty well with our idea of capitalism/consumerism.
pb2k
join:2005-05-30
Calgary, AB

pb2k

Member

Re: Wow..

said by Coke:

People are seriously arguing "it's ok to rip us off because we can afford it"?
No, In can/us ( ), the employees for the wireless company cost more, so therefore the service is going to cost more (hence why call centers are being shipped off the continent). Never mind the massive difference in population density.

mb6
join:2000-07-23
Washington, NJ

mb6

Member

Capitalism

has run amok! Just take a look around.

DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey

DaveDude

Member

Re: Capitalism

Thats because we never had a free market. There is no free market.
keason
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Ann Arbor, MI
·Comcast Business
·T-Mobile

keason

Premium Member

Pricing is off

Most of the rest of the world charges the caller for inbound calls at extremely high pricing - $0.15-$0.20 /min. It's unreasonable not to include this in the charges.

In addition, most of the Euro zone charges LD for calls even within the EU. Add roaming charges whenever you cross a border too.

Even worse, most Canadian carriers charge roaming whenever you leave your home city, plus long distance for any calls

The study is right that India is the cheapest.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Pricing is off

said by keason:

Most of the rest of the world charges the caller for inbound calls at extremely high pricing - $0.15-$0.20 /min. It's unreasonable not to include this in the charges.

In addition, most of the Euro zone charges LD for calls even within the EU. Add roaming charges whenever you cross a border too.

Even worse, most Canadian carriers charge roaming whenever you leave your home city, plus long distance for any calls

The study is right that India is the cheapest.
they also charge different rates for landlines vs mobile, vs calls to OTHER mobile networks.
tiger72

tiger72

Premium Member

Network sizes

Wonder what network size plays into it. The countries with the cheapest rates also tend to have smaller networks to support. Sweden's population is heavily concentrated around its cities, for example, and they have a nationally subsidized fiber infrastructure. Their networks span geographically smaller areas.

American networks have to span vast spanses of geography with low population densities and extremely low ROI.

There are numerous factors which play into wireless pricing.
stufried
Premium Member
join:2003-10-13

stufried

Premium Member

US & Canada in One Breath? Hmm!

I just cancelled my three year Rogers contract for Canada. I was paying CN$65 a month for 100 minutes a month, free incoming in my home area (Windsor/Detroit), caller-id, voicemail, and A-List (nationwide) for five numbers. I didn't have to leave Southwest Ontario to hit roaming (while still on the network).

In the US, you could get unlimited nationwide voice and text for that (and possibly data if you are a smart shopper). Roaming in Canada is where the US was in 1999. On my US iPhone, I'm paying a little over $120 a month for international unlimited data (iPhone international) and 1000 minutes (with A-List, nights and weekend, etc). Voice over 3g calls work in most places in the world for free.

India has great bucket of minute plans, but you have the same roaming problems you do in Canada, the same in Russia,Mexico, and China. The US is one of the few truly large countries not to charge domestic roaming. (Canada has a few nationwide roaming packages, but they are premium packages. I presume other countries also have such plans, but they are the exception, not the rule).

Saudi Arabia, Oz, and Greenland all have no roaming. I think we can safely exclude Greenland because of its small population.

I think rates are too high. (Who thinks they don't pay more than enough taxes?)

•••••
33358088 (banned)
join:2008-09-23

3 edits

33358088 (banned)

Member

a true mathematical valuation

ok true cost of an internet account.
A) 5 megabit - they give us max of 4 megabit ( BCE dsl wholesale and they cant figure out that there are 8 bits to the byte instead they think there are ten ROFL go ahead phone a bce support person and ask them how many bits to the byte....BE READY FOR A SURPRISE)
B) your throttled to 25Kbytes/sec for 10hrs of day 41.6% of day you actually have 200kilobit speed

thus the avg overall speed in a day and of the BROADBAND account is 2.4megabit and were paying after taxes 60$
so its about 25$ a megabit

thats how you weight throttles now once BCE gets the capping onto whole sale that 25$ per megabit will shooooooot through the roof tooo.....

when you consider the above to be unlimited at those rates now your done using your net basically in 1.5 days so take (1.5/30 ----what percent you can use now versus before the cap or 5%) and then ( 100%/5%= the number you can say it now costs per megabit)multiply by the above rate of 25$ per megabit.....500$ a megabit.....BOY aren't caps a great value.....
OR it would cost me 500$ in dryloops and phone lines to get what i had before the cap just to get there crudey throttled account.

it also means they can be a lazy good for nothing company while the population increases for the next 50 or so years as canada's population increases roughly only two percent a year.
It will however mean that the cost to repair will get more and more expensive as fewer and fewer places make the OLD hardware to fix and keep this antiquated hunk a junk going....

remember in high school when you had to do averages and weights of things and mediums? the above takes into consideration that BCE dsl for wholesellers is not 5 megabit and at best is 4 megabit ( i have had at best 4[500kbytes/sec])
and its part of the scam to tell people its ten bits to the byte not 8....i wish id have recorded that piece a fraud.....

then the throttle speed of 200kilobits
and its time weighted into a day

then what happens after a cap you get zero?
thus the cost after the bce cap is soo great its not a vaul to have interent any more.

from 75$ to BCE to zero
good job shareholders you must be rich....

mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC

mgbaker

Member

Flawed, flawed and flawed

Did I mention this article and the assumptions are flawed?

Come on, Karl. The bashing is getting a bit overdone and so transparent. There are so many places where products and services are priced based on what the general population can afford. Since you must know this, you've just taken the opprotunity for a quick cheap shot.
33358088 (banned)
join:2008-09-23

33358088 (banned)

Member

not to mention

they have cracked wireless hardcore and the hacker tools are flying around in whirlwinds......you invest in that tech at your peril....it is just an accident waiting to happen

DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey

DaveDude

Member

too many standards

the problem is too many standards, cdma, gsm, iden, etc. Its harder for the customer because they have to buy new equipement if they change carriers. LTE should be mandated as the new standard.