Wireless carriers may nickel and dime customers more

[Velgadess]

If it belongs in Tech, my bad go ahead and move. I think it's b.s. people will bitch. already paying for data access and now they wanna charge per app usage on top of that? I hope it doesn't come true. posting from work so link to audio won't show/load for me but it's at link itself.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/19/w...#disqus_thread

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....19-10allot.jpg

That slide above is no joke -- it comes from a marketing webinar put on by two companies that count Verizon, AT&T and Vodafone as clients, and it describes a system that identifies customer internet activity and charges a different rate for using Facebook than watching YouTube, while allowing access to Vodafone services for free. Yes, that's basically the nightmare scenario for net neutrality advocates. The two companies behind the slide are Allot Communications and Openet, which sell subscriber-management tools to carriers around the world -- tools that Allot's director of marketing says can scan even encrypted packets to determine what service customers are using and charge accordingly. We're not making this up -- here's the direct quote from the webinar:

[We use] a number of different methods to accurately identify the application -- methods like heuristic analysis, behavioral and historical analysis, deep packet inspection, and a number of other techniques. What's key is that we have the best application identification available on the market, which means that even applications that are encrypted or use other methods to evade detection will be correctly identified and classified... We essentially feed this real-time information about traffic and application usage into the policy and charging system. Each subscriber has a particular service plan that they sign up for, and they're as generic or as personalized as the operator wants.


Yeah, that's not how anyone actually wants the internet to work -- except carriers, who've been saying increasingly insane things about charging even smartphone manufacturers for customer data usage lately. What's more, it's rumored that the FCC will cave to Verizon and AT&T and exempt wireless internet service from major parts of net neutrality regulation it's expected to pass next week, so this nonsense could very well hit the US sooner rather than later. We'll be keeping a close eye on things -- we'll let you know. Meanwhile, listen to the webinar yourself immediately below.

[GRT]

brilliant idea

so what's up BG? drafting that plan to charge 5 cents per thread click?

[kuronosan]

Brilliant idea? People already don't have money as it is. This is a perfect example of greedy fucks just trying to wring as much money out of hardworking citizens as they possibly can.

This is what's fucking wrong with companies.

[Antithesis]

Not to mention the USA has some of the highest wireless carrier charges in the world right now (and shitty service to boot.) No wonder Europeans look at the retail consultants with disgust when they say their bill will be $83.56.

[Callisto]

Couldn't this be circumvented by just using the web browser to view fb/yt/etc? I don't use any apps for existing websites really, most of them are junk anyways..I have a Pre so I'm forced to not use certain sites due to lack of a Flash player, but still I can use the majority of them just fine without any sort of standalone app.

[Callisto]

also wth at using Skype from your phone, it's a fucking phone, use it to make a goddamn phone call lol

[Antithesis]

also wth at using Skype from your phone, it's a fucking phone, use it to make a goddamn phone call lol

Many "Unlimited" plans come with unlimited text and data but have like 350 - 500 minutes a month limit. Skype can be kind of useful for calling someone if they also have a smartphone with Skype and use data to talk instead of minutes.

[Ohemgee]

Also the fact that they have to SERIOUSLY convince people that this is cheaper than what they're used to paying.

And I use a lot of data on my iphone.

[archibaldcrane]

also wth at using Skype from your phone, it's a fucking phone, use it to make a goddamn phone call lol

International calls.

[Kerberoz]

I want a godsdamn plan with 0 minutes and unlimited data. Why doesn't this exist??

[jinkazama]

this is just as bad as comcast wanting to charge more for netflix..

I pay for internet/Data on my computer/phone already, i should be able to use it as I please.

[tyven]

I want a godsdamn plan with 0 minutes and unlimited data. Why doesn't this exist??

this is my dream + unlimited text

[kuronosan]

this is just as bad as comcast wanting to charge more for netflix..

I pay for internet/Data on my computer/phone already, i should be able to use it as I please.

That's the entire point. These companies are mad because their products are being used, but they're not making any money off of what they're being used for.

So here they are wanting to charge for access that is pretty much free and doesn't cost them anything, so they add all these extra charges that nobody argues.

Am I the only one who finds it concerning that America is moving towards such a tight pay-for-everything-including-air economy? Pretty soon we're going to be charged for what we choose to use hot water for.

[SephYuyX]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/...756cd713f3.jpg

[Minions]

I want a godsdamn plan with 0 minutes and unlimited data. Why doesn't this exist??

It does at least on sprint, it is just not really for non-deaf people. That is not to say you can't get it.

http://www.sprintrelaystore.com/data_only_plan.htm

Enjoy, it's also cheap as fuck $30/mo ($40 w/ 4g)