Why No One Uses GPRS

If you read Unstrung regularly, you'll notice that high GPRS prices are one of their main irritants. Four months after their first complaint and nothing has changed. GPRS is still too expensive and lacks any kind of predictable billing. Not only that, most European carriers' networks are already so busy that heavy GPRS usage would only cut into voice capacity. Carriers are caught in a classic chicken and egg situation. They need GPRS to increase data revenues, but if they price the service for broader appeal, the network will get overwhelmed. The answer is don't drop prices. Change plans to be more generous and predictable and offer applications that subscribers are willing to pay a premium for. Picuture messaging is a good start.

Filed Under: 2.5g