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Or, AT&T's new data plans will empower the future of mobile by making mobile app developers use bandwidth intelligently rather than wastefully. If bandwidth is

Or, AT&T's new data plans will empower the future of mobile by making mobile app developers use bandwidth intelligently rather than wastefully. If bandwidth is free, there's no reason to focus on preserving it. The result is a tragedy of the commons where apps use more bandwidth than they have to, slowing the network for everyone and making some apps impossible to run in crowded (SXSW) or remote environments. Maybe a challenge to use bandwidth wisely will spur innovation.

maukdaddy 16y ago
This! Same concept can be applied to water in countries like the US. Our water is insanely cheap or free in more places, giving consumers no incentive to conserve or otherwise limit their consumption.
- Raphael 16y ago
  Digital bandwidth can be expanded indefinitely, whereas most water is so salty that it is undrinkable.
dbrannan 16y ago
Oh yes, now everything mobile will look like Craigslist. Gee, what a step forward for everyone!
- bokchoi 16y ago
  Or hackernews?
- Raphael 16y ago
  CSS doesn't take much space. That gives you colors, fonts, and layout.
aquark 16y ago
I'd expect performance to be a much more immediate driver for bandwidth conservation than cost. Consumers would have a hard time connecting a single app with their monthly bill, but know how responsive the app feels when the use it.