This conundrum of more apps / video and data use = deterioration of network profitability speaks directly to the potential promise of a broadcast environment for video on mobiles.
While there are still many who focus on the slow uptake of services powered by DVB-H and FLO TV, the undeniable fact is that these services are not a drain on the 3G and upcoming 4G networks. Once the right mix of content and free ("freemium" with ads?) is struck, end users can use the service without the fear of pricing tiers by megabyte usage.
Despite all the noise from onlineWSJ about carriers facing a bandwidth crisis, the unlimited plans are actually in favor of the carriers. The costs to reliably track and bill data megabytes for session detail would not be justified by the number of users. Also, the cost of customer support for billing disputes undermines the margin for billing by megabyte. The megabyte price would be too high to attract users. AT&T is tactically pushing messaging for that high volume, low bandwidth, frequent email user. And if texting passes as a "fad", AT&T and Verizon want email as the data revenue.
Amethon is a specialist provided of analytics solutions for mobile operators and content publishers and we released a report following the launch of the iPhone 3G in Australia last year which showed that iPhone users are consuming six times the amount of data per browsing session compared with traditional handset owners.
We have also been working with operators on the impact of the iPhone on their network capacity and found that data consumption associated with the Google Maps applications increased significantly when Street View was made available in the November software update.
If you would like a free copy of our report, please request it through our website:
Since 2004 operators fought to not be dumb pipes for (and continue). But yet they really provided no compelling mobile applications (except for email) that made it worth paying any fairly large monthly fee for data. The vast majority of them fought app developers who tested their vending machine mentality as there was always fear their revenue streams would be pinched and that their pipes would overload. Well, that did not happen.
This is a "problem" (more like an opportunity) that they should welcome. The big question is can the operators actually become more than dumb pipes and figure out how to market more than minutes and devices…
Ah, T's network can't handle it, huh? Switch to Sprint. The Pre is a better device. The Now Network is more reliable (won't have to hunt for WiFi all of the time) and the plans are cheaper. Sprint has always been the best network innovator. I'd rather have a great network that can support my demand for data and wait for the phone (e.g. Pre) than have a phone (e.g. iPhone) and wait on the network. Welcome to the Now Network, welcome to Sprint. Can anyone say 4G? Guess who is ahead of the pack?
Data was supposed to be the carrier
This conundrum of more apps / video and data use = deterioration of network profitability speaks directly to the potential promise of a broadcast environment for video on mobiles.
While there are still many who focus on the slow uptake of services powered by DVB-H and FLO TV, the undeniable fact is that these services are not a drain on the 3G and upcoming 4G networks. Once the right mix of content and free ("freemium" with ads?) is struck, end users can use the service without the fear of pricing tiers by megabyte usage.
face it AT&T you are a dumb pipe just like the Time Warner and Comcast
now please stop charging 20c for a 160 character email…
Despite all the noise from onlineWSJ about carriers facing a bandwidth crisis, the unlimited plans are actually in favor of the carriers. The costs to reliably track and bill data megabytes for session detail would not be justified by the number of users. Also, the cost of customer support for billing disputes undermines the margin for billing by megabyte. The megabyte price would be too high to attract users. AT&T is tactically pushing messaging for that high volume, low bandwidth, frequent email user. And if texting passes as a "fad", AT&T and Verizon want email as the data revenue.
Amethon is a specialist provided of analytics solutions for mobile operators and content publishers and we released a report following the launch of the iPhone 3G in Australia last year which showed that iPhone users are consuming six times the amount of data per browsing session compared with traditional handset owners.
We have also been working with operators on the impact of the iPhone on their network capacity and found that data consumption associated with the Google Maps applications increased significantly when Street View was made available in the November software update.
If you would like a free copy of our report, please request it through our website:
http://www.amethon.com/Content_Common/pg-Contact-Us.seo?source=moconews
Since 2004 operators fought to not be dumb pipes for (and continue). But yet they really provided no compelling mobile applications (except for email) that made it worth paying any fairly large monthly fee for data. The vast majority of them fought app developers who tested their vending machine mentality as there was always fear their revenue streams would be pinched and that their pipes would overload. Well, that did not happen.
This is a "problem" (more like an opportunity) that they should welcome. The big question is can the operators actually become more than dumb pipes and figure out how to market more than minutes and devices…
Ah, T's network can't handle it, huh? Switch to Sprint. The Pre is a better device. The Now Network is more reliable (won't have to hunt for WiFi all of the time) and the plans are cheaper. Sprint has always been the best network innovator. I'd rather have a great network that can support my demand for data and wait for the phone (e.g. Pre) than have a phone (e.g. iPhone) and wait on the network. Welcome to the Now Network, welcome to Sprint. Can anyone say 4G? Guess who is ahead of the pack?