maemo.org - Talk - Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

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Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

If I may play devil's advocate (and I do so on a pretty regular basis)...
Why not charge people who use the internet and draw more data than other users? Sure, while the cost of shaking electrons and sending packets is minimal, there is still the limitations of the network. And charging the end users (indeed, "the consumers") directly for the data used would be a good way to either curb certain habits, or to more fully fund the service they use.

We get charged by the watt for our electricity, we get charged by the gallon for water and fuel, and data is another resource that we should regard in the same manner. Sure, the website isn't going to run out, but it takes energy (real measurable energy) to run the networks and host the sites; maybe those who draw the most energy should pay for it.

Plus, if we moved to an incremental charge, light users would have less of a barrier to data plans, or internet access. Potentially, with the end users paying for their actual traffic, this would lead to true net neutrality, since you pay for what you use and the carriers would be less inclined to force every content provider to pay for their traffic (which would risk crippling every small homepage that gets too many "diggs").

In addition, people who write lean/economicial code would be rewarded by more people using their efficient creations instead of resource and bandwidth hogs.

Now, I do agree that there needs to be more competition in the market place. One company setting prices is going to hurt consumers enough. But charging "by-the-byte" will not be the end of the world.

Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashandDie (Post 697242)

Go back to the mental institute mate.

I reported your post and hope some current moderators takes action.

I am also VERY surprised to not see any warning about how you worded yourself here from moderator(s) posting in this thread as that is common when someone is abusing other members.

Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

Re;

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashandDie (Post 697242)

Go back to the mental institute mate.

CrashAndDie, my email box is filling up with complaints about this comment and similar ones elsewhere. If for no other reason, consider cutting the thing some slack. Please be more civil to other members.

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvermountain (Post 703861)

I am also VERY surprised to not see any warning about how you worded yourself here from moderator(s) posting in this thread as that is common when someone is abusing other members.

We do what we can, when we can.

My plate overfloweth right now. There's no way of overstating that.

Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texrat (Post 704426)

Re;

CrashAndDie, my email box is filling up with complaints about this comment and similar ones elsewhere. If for no other reason, consider cutting the thing some slack. Please be more civil to other members.

Your PM inbox is full.

Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvermountain (Post 704818)

Your PM inbox is full.

I'm well aware of course. I'm so swamped lately that pruning it is just not an option. I do what I can, when I can.

Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerbick (Post 697268)

AT&T raised the price because they want more money. It's that simple. Hopefully some of that money will be used to create a better network.

The pricing on eBooks did slightly raise, but the disputes with some publishers and Amazon's Kindle probably sparked that months before the Apple iPad.

The electronic periodicals though - Wired, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the others are just too damn high to begin with.

But this is a move on AT&T's part. Ma Bell is always out for more money. Oh... and if you have unlimited plan now, you can keep it even if you upgrade. But if you want to tether (not applicable to the iPad, only iPhone) then you have to pay more and switch to the new two-tiered, limited plans.

Just wait until Skype hits people for 3G calls in 2011 and other deals that are being worked out - Conde Nast, Hulu, O'Reilly press (rumored), MTV (rumored), Joost (rumored) and some others all come out with their increases for periodical and/or subscription based stuff changes next year or so.

It's all about making people richer.

i agree at&t is out for cash jut iek every one else..however they cant control the market single handedly. there is waaaay too much competition for that kinda price fixing (i call it price fixing in my opinion). new tech comes out. its expensive at first but just like everything else it eventually comes down. if they do start charging for data and doing away with the unlimited it wont last long. too much comp out there.

I could see if they were a health insurance company or a petroleum copany or something where there isnt that much to compete with and the four of these companies can get together and set the bar for prices but thats not the case here. not when you have boost mobile. cricket. tmo and all the other lil guys out there just waiting to take a part of the market.

i woudln't be too concerned with this. it wont last long.

prime example i left at&t. not just for the n900 but because tmo was waaay cheaper ! when it comes down to it the "have nots" out number the haves and the majority of people will go for certain sacifices in the name of stretching the all mighty dollah dollah bill yall!

Re: Crackdown on Heavy Internet Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Ben (Post 703796)

y not just keep things as they are? its not like the cell phone carriers are barely making it and struggling like some mom and pop store. they are getting over anyway. and perhaps if they start selling service plans (i know that sounds like a radical idea) instead of getting customers based on the merits of the cell phone manufactures and the latest new gadget from apple there would be good honest competition and prices would stay reasonable. they wouldn't need to find other ways to make even more money if they just sold good service at a reasonable price. its not fair to charge people by the byte for internet service and give them no option for unlimited. have you visited the internet lately? how the heck are you suppose to track data transfer in real time or even better before you actually visit the page to keep track of your money? it would be a pain in the butt. and it would not be an enjoyable experience. what is the point in having a iphon or nokia n900 or mytouh slide if you dont have full freedom over the internet.

not to shoot down your idea though. for some it would be great. those of us who are not that data heavy probably wouldnt care. but for the rest of the world who got smart phones for there wonderful capabilities which require internet it would totally suck