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It usually is "free-as-in-beer" since they are allowed to sell user statistics that way (the Dutch T-Mobile zero rated music being an exception due to law). The

by consp 8y ago

It usually is "free-as-in-beer" since they are allowed to sell user statistics that way (the Dutch T-Mobile zero rated music being an exception due to law). There is no way to opt out of that practice as it is included in most contracts by default. Setting up these methods are also not trivial for companies. The selection process is hidden (there is no information available), looking at the participating services most probably don't bother either due to cost, restrictions or administrative reasons. Streaming your own library is excluded in the contract, so it is not music, only what T-Mobile says is music. I call that censorship.

scarface74 8y ago
It usually is "free-as-in-beer" since they are allowed to sell user statistics that way (the Dutch T-Mobile zero rated music being an exception due to law). Why would the providers need to buy statistics on their customers? They already know who is listening to and watching what content. There is no way to opt out of that practice as it is included in most contracts by default. T-mobile has a setting where you can turn it off and on Setting up these methods are also not trivial for companies. Setting up adaptive streaming based on bandwidth available has been a solved problem since RealVideo in the late 90s. All providers do it now. Anyone can set this up with WireCast. The selection process is hidden (there is no information available), looking at the participating services most probably don't bother either due to cost, restrictions or administrative reasons. Every streaming provider in the US took advantage of it. Streaming your own library is excluded in the contract, so it is not music, only what T-Mobile says is music. I call that censorship. You can stream your own audio through Apple Music through the Music Match (?) Service. This is all really a moot point now that T-mobile only sells unlimited plans now and if you really want to opt out of compressed video you can pay $10 more.

by consp 8y ago

scarface74 8y ago

It usually is "free-as-in-beer" since they are allowed to sell user statistics that way (the Dutch T-Mobile zero rated music being an exception due to law). Why would the providers need to buy statistics on their customers? They already know who is listening to and watching what content. There is no way to opt out of that practice as it is included in most contracts by default. T-mobile has a setting where you can turn it off and on Setting up these methods are also not trivial for companies. Setting up adaptive streaming based on bandwidth available has been a solved problem since RealVideo in the late 90s. All providers do it now. Anyone can set this up with WireCast. The selection process is hidden (there is no information available), looking at the participating services most probably don't bother either due to cost, restrictions or administrative reasons. Every streaming provider in the US took advantage of it. Streaming your own library is excluded in the contract, so it is not music, only what T-Mobile says is music. I call that censorship. You can stream your own audio through Apple Music through the Music Match (?) Service. This is all really a moot point now that T-mobile only sells unlimited plans now and if you really want to opt out of compressed video you can pay $10 more.