Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

http://mobile.slashdot.org/mobile/07/11/26/068204.shtml

This should clear up a few confusions that have arisen in discussions on this forum.

"All you can eat" data plans are still unusual in Europe, but we have other benefits, such as the ability to receive text messages without paying (why would you pay to receive something?).

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

You are right. It makes no sense, except for the bottom line of the wireless carriers. I certainly hope this changes, and soon.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Hahaha, on my local carrier here in the States, Sprint, unlimited EVDO data (yeahhh baby!!) is $15/month and unlimited text is $10/month.
I looked at some plans from O2/Vodafone/Orange/Tmobile U.K/3 and so forth, and i asked myself tearfully if i needed *vaseline* !!

Why so high tariffs?

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Want to see even worse? Take a look at Canadian data rates.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Because the US is a huge country.

Because the UK is a small island.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Some carriers don't charge for incoming texts or for incoming calls, but they tend to be not 'data centric' carriers.

I think that when you look at the cost for voice, adding 'ulimited' data and unlimited texting, you'll still find that it's cheaper in the states. I can't believe how some parts of the world pay through the nose for data.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Yes, the USA is huge, but the population is quite spread out (important to consider when deploying a wireless network). For example, the UK is only slightly larger than the state of Kansas (and thus, has high population density). So there's more to the prices than just big/small, lots/few people etc. And yes, Zerojay, we Canadians are really getting hammered with data rates; perhaps the upcoming sales of new wireless spectrum will change things (although I doubt it).

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

That must be for non-tethering data plans. "Unlimited phone as modem" costs $40/mo above and beyond your voice plan. Compared to $20/mo as an add-on to a T-mobile plan.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

This article is obviously written by somebody who has only a very limited knowledge of the European market.

First of all, the situation in Europe is quite varied. You can get unlimited data plans and large SMS packages in Germany (and you see people sending 3 messages a minute in public transport...). I don't think you can in France. Every country is different.

Secondly, one major difference between Europe and the US is that being in a different country happens much more often (the countries being smaller) and that roaming charges can be very, very steep. Voice roaming charges were actually so outrageous that the European Commission stepped in and passed a legislation on a max price this summer. Data roaming charges are still outrageous (as high as 40€ per MEGAbyte, yes!) and the Commission is discussing changing that as well. Still, this is still a problem with data-centric phones, like the iPhone (and I think that some users will have a bad surprise at some point...).

What is uncommon is what you have in the US where customers must pay to receive an SMS. We don't have that (but it existed for roaming and of course you still pay to receive a call abroad). OTOH, it can sometimes prove very difficult to know in advance how much calling a given number will cost you.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Virtually all voice plans in the UK include generous free outgoing text message allowances (and definately no charge to receive!) and both 3 and T-Mobile UK offer unlimited* 3G 3.6Mbit/s data plans for £5/$10 and £7.50/$15 month respectively.

Those prices seem to compare well with the US, actually better than the US. It's the data plans offered by O2/Vodaphone/Orange that are extremely poor, but then these networks view data provision as a cash cow and seemingly have no immediate plans to compete with 3/T-Mobile.

* Unlimited in this sense is a capped allowance of 1GB/month which is usually more than enough for a small hand held device such as a mobile phone, and should still be more than enough for a tethered phone/tablet combination. :)

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

I tether with the $15 plan nonetheless. Even at $40 (officially for phone-as-modem) i'll still pay that than stand T-mobile's sloooow network, anyday. Seriously, Tmobile U.S.A is a bad joke, 2007 and still no 3G. Even regional carriers have 3G..

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Please, if you're capped at 1GB a month, then where is the comparison with a carrier like Sprint, whose unlimited IS unlimited? (Verizon, the shady one, is somewhere around 5GB, rumor has it).

Your prices don't compare with the U.S at all. Here, data is targeted for more than just email, there's T.V, music, navigation and so forth, which leaves no room for your 1GB cap. Heck i chew through 1GB in a week on my Treo with my version of regular use (web, email, Orb, Sprint TV, internet radio, YouTube, tethering to N800 and so on). $25 for unlimited data and text...doesn't compare at all.

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Many people will struggle to exceed a 1GB cap when using a small handheld device where web browsing behaviour is completely different to that on the desktop which is dominated by large downloads, something you won't do so much of on a handheld device which is used for occasional browsing. I realise 1GB isn't unlimited but to all intents and purposes it's way more than most people need. Now if you're hooking up your dekstop to the internet via your phone that's a different story... :)

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Couldn't agree with you more! :)
I am on the old 1X network on a Treo650 and they are still charging full price, same as newer users/units on the EVDO higher speed. So for $25 bucks I get 4mbs of data. $30 per mb after that if I go over the package max. A few 1mb web pages and your DONE.
Forget about if you dare to send an image 'file'-jpg. That is considered somehow different and charged additional.
Text messaging is just a crime here. Its like the game of blocking and then charging you extra for your call-display to work(approx $60per yr). The hardware itself was already inherently capable of knowing the incoming call number.:rolleyes:

The signal is already digital in the first place be it audio for voice or so-called text messaging which to me is a 'down grading' from the switching already needed for real time audio voice. Yet they are getting away with charging "extra" for these 'features'?

In Canada, a lot of this 'infrastructure' has been in place for some time now, so the argument that is often peddled by these carriers about population and costs of 'development' etc. is bogus. Profit Mongering is the motive and I find being a client service specialist myself, they are missing the real point here, dragging behind the States by easily a decade. Really there is no reason for that. We invented and manufacture half this stuff in the first place, here in Canada!

Public access hotspots?! In Ottawa, good luck with that, and to think this is the nations capital. :o ( read as sarcastically light hearted)

Re: Interesting article on data plans in Europe/North America
 

Probably unrelated, but when in Canada (well, Ottawa really) I don't even dare to use the hotel phone for phoning another room, for fear of being charged, after the time I had do make a few short, very important calls over to Europe. For some reason the connection failed for 4 out of 5 calls, I was still charged 40 dollars for a non-connecting call..! After that the hotel phone became to me a bit like those mini-bars with sensors where you're charged just by looking at the goods.. I won't go near it (if you ever saw the Dilbert cartoon about hotel minibars you'll see what I mean.) :D