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Why are we paying for voice/text/data when it is essentially all just data? We should just be paying for data plans. It shouldn't cost extra to tether either.

by lotusleaf1987 16y ago

Tyrannosaurs 16y ago
Surely what you mean is the only additional cost for tethering should be the additional data you use as a result? It's not unreasonable for the carriers to charge those who use their networks more extra. It's all data but the differences between top end and bottom end users is massive.
- lotusleaf1987 16y ago
  If you're paying for a data plan it shouldn't matter how you use the data. Especially if they are charging you for a set amount say 5GB, what does it matter if that data is coming from tethering or streaming Netflix on an iPhone?
  - thenduks 16y ago
    The problem is that while they're happy to sell you 5GB, they will do pretty much anything and everything they can to make sure you don't actually use 5GB.
    - orangecat 16y ago
      Walmart of all entities may be disrupting this dysfunctional market: http://money.blogs.time.com/2010/09/14/introducing-walmarts-new-no-contract-family-wireless-plan/ http://money.blogs.time.com/2010/09/14/introducing-walmarts-.... $40 per GB which sounds expensive, except that it doesn't expire. If like most people you use a few hundred MB or less per month, that's a great deal. It looks like it's only available on their crappy phones for now, but hopefully the idea of paying only for data that you actually use will spread.
- MartinCron 16y ago
  This is what annoys me so much about AT&T and their data plans that don't allow tethering without an additional fee. You should either restrict what I can do (e.g. no tethering on basic "unlimited" plans... I understand that) or meter what I use and charge appropriately. Doing both just seems greedy and wrong.
drpancake 16y ago
A mobile telco's entire business model only works because of this distinction. Infrastructure and licenses are expensive. It costs a lot more to shift data than you might imagine. (I work for a very large global telco)
- artsrc 16y ago
  Surely if you work for a large global telco you understand that bureaucracy and empire building cost a lot. In many markets payback time for mobile infrastructure is a few years. If no-one bid high prices for licenses, then they would be cheap. It is surely the expectation that consumers will over pay that creates the problem.

Why are we paying for voice/text/data when it is essentially all just data? We should just be paying for data plans. It shouldn't cost extra to tether either.

Tyrannosaurs 16y ago

Surely what you mean is the only additional cost for tethering should be the additional data you use as a result? It's not unreasonable for the carriers to charge those who use their networks more extra. It's all data but the differences between top end and bottom end users is massive.

lotusleaf1987 16y ago
If you're paying for a data plan it shouldn't matter how you use the data. Especially if they are charging you for a set amount say 5GB, what does it matter if that data is coming from tethering or streaming Netflix on an iPhone?
- thenduks 16y ago
  The problem is that while they're happy to sell you 5GB, they will do pretty much anything and everything they can to make sure you don't actually use 5GB.
  - orangecat 16y ago
    Walmart of all entities may be disrupting this dysfunctional market: http://money.blogs.time.com/2010/09/14/introducing-walmarts-new-no-contract-family-wireless-plan/ http://money.blogs.time.com/2010/09/14/introducing-walmarts-.... $40 per GB which sounds expensive, except that it doesn't expire. If like most people you use a few hundred MB or less per month, that's a great deal. It looks like it's only available on their crappy phones for now, but hopefully the idea of paying only for data that you actually use will spread.
MartinCron 16y ago
This is what annoys me so much about AT&T and their data plans that don't allow tethering without an additional fee. You should either restrict what I can do (e.g. no tethering on basic "unlimited" plans... I understand that) or meter what I use and charge appropriately. Doing both just seems greedy and wrong.

drpancake 16y ago

A mobile telco's entire business model only works because of this distinction. Infrastructure and licenses are expensive. It costs a lot more to shift data than you might imagine. (I work for a very large global telco)

artsrc 16y ago
Surely if you work for a large global telco you understand that bureaucracy and empire building cost a lot. In many markets payback time for mobile infrastructure is a few years. If no-one bid high prices for licenses, then they would be cheap. It is surely the expectation that consumers will over pay that creates the problem.