Stating The Obvious: Unlimited Data Plans Increase Usage

from the you-think? dept

Sometimes it's fascinating to see the type of research reports that analyst firms put out. For example, one firm has put out a report supposedly warning all these wireless firms hyping up "unlimited" plans that unlimited plans tend to increase usage. You think? Really? One would have hoped, given the long history of unlimited usage plans in other fields, that the mobile operators would have understood the basic economics equation in moving to such plans. Of course, what this also ignores is that the same "unlimited" usage often helps create much greater value because it opens up the possibility of new applications and services that simply weren't possible before. If the internet had remained a pay-per-hour solution (as it was for many in the early years) it never would have become nearly as useful, and the value of having an internet connection would have been significantly lower. So, yes, it can increase the strain on a network for providers who aren't prepared (or unwilling to understand the basic incentive structure), but it also tends to increase the overall value of having access. And that should only mean good things for the firms that offer such access.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: service, unlimited plans, usage


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    John, 10 Apr 2008 @ 7:00pm

    You should fix the title

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Hulser, 10 Apr 2008 @ 7:10pm

      Re: You should fix the title

      >Unlimted Data Plans Increase Usage
      Hmmm, maybe that's how they get you...

      "But I paid for unlimited usage!"

      "Check again, chump. The contract says 'unlimted'."

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 10 Apr 2008 @ 7:53pm

      Re: You should fix the title

      Oops. Fixed.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lol, 10 Apr 2008 @ 7:10pm

    yeah you really should hahahaha

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Unlimpted bsket, 10 Apr 2008 @ 7:17pm

    AOL tried that. It didn't work out so well.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jake, 10 Apr 2008 @ 8:05pm

    Moral Of The Story

    I think ISPs can learn two things from this:
    1. It might be advisable to be more up-front about the fact that 'unlimited access/space/whatever' actually means 'as much access/space/whatever as we can give you before our servers collapse under the strain'.
    2. You can bet your bottom dollar that someone somewhere will push you to those limits and very possibly beyond if you don't stay on your toes, even if it's because they're doing something you thought only ever happened on 'The Daily WTF?'.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    crypto, 11 Apr 2008 @ 8:09am

    why are U wining

    Carriers make money on time with voice. talk 15 min billed for 15min of usage of the network. Data connect under unlimited. Revenue is based on total 30day data KB used divided by month fee. The more use the less bandwidth is available for voice less money they make per bandwidth used. Which with voice the more of the network bandwidth is used more revs are generated. not so with data. plus they are not participating in rev associated with the value of the data being transported on their network. don't get me wrong I do not have sympathy for them but the value metrics you state. Where is it for the transport? There is no comparative value to voice for the carrier to provide any data on the networks. They do it because they have to. .

    hey once we are at ip v6 then all data on any network will be giving a value per kb. Wait till we the bill for that. And state taxation associated with it. Does anyone think that this anarchy of free internet data on a public network will continue forever. If carriers actually sold unlimited data cheaply you would be calling your office and get a fast busy because the network would be filled with data instead of voice calls. You say build more towers and buy more bandwidth. 600,000.00 per cell site and give it away with data. Even if they sectorize the site the maximum number calls or data connection on that site do not justify it’s build. Lengthen the ROI for it allowing large amount of data on it. No matter how you slice it data doesn’t make the same $ per bandwidth as voice. They are just showing the reluctance to data integration by high prices. My two cents anyway.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2008 @ 9:25am

    Left/Right Hand

    CEO to Marketing:

    "Raise sales. That's your prime objective."

    "Ok... when we advertise unlimited, we get a 20% increase."

    "Good Job!"

    CEO to Networking Staff:

    "Keep it running smoothly. That's your prime objective."

    "But... we don't have enough infrastructure for all the bandwith our customers are using."

    "You're failing! Do SOMETHING, or you're out of here."

    "Uh... I guess we could implement hidden bandwidth caps..."

    I see different departments in companies working at cross purposes all the time. It's one of the things that drags down large corporations (I'm looking at you, SONY).

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.