NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] AT&T's new data plans may decimate mobile video -- and more
AT&T's new data plans may decimate mobile video -- and more I'll note first that I agree with the assessment that psychological factors may tend to significantly affect how far users will cut back on data usage, when forced into AT&T's new limited data plans. Once you start thinking about limits and major overage fees, there is a strong tendency to cut back on usage even if your prior usage didn't even approach the limits present in the new paradigm. The mere existence of a limit, even if you never actually get near it with your own usage, will likely have a major effect. But the real impacts will be dramatic also. While AT&T keeps throwing around numbers suggesting that only small percentages of their users -- *using current usage figures as the metric* would be impacted by the new capped plans that will be the only choice for new users (and for existing users too eventually, one might bet) -- this fails to take into account the rapid increases in data usage now taking place with new devices, like the iPad. Gizmodo's new calculations for "How Much Video Can You Actually Stream With AT&T's New Data Plans?" are significantly depressing: http://bit.ly/chhzpN (Gizmodo) Meanwhile, AT&T's Mobile Video information page (referenced by their current smartphones plans' terms and conditions) still insists that Mobile Video users must subscribe to "Data Unlimited" packages -- that no longer exist for new customers! http://bit.ly/9uXLfC (AT&T) Bottom line: What a mess ... --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator