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Are we paying too much for data?

I would say that people are overpaying. But a lot of that could be attributed to wireless carrier pricing schemes that con or force people into paying a lot. Take Verizon for example. Changing from their old system to the Share Everything plans for single line users is horrific. You could have 450 minutes, no texting, and 2gb of data for like 70 dollars where the data package was 30 out of that 70. Now, you have unlimited minutes and texting for 40 dollars, but the smallest smartphone data package is 50 dollars for only 1GB!. That's 20 dollars more for half the data! Or is your wanted the same 2GB, it would be 60 dollars. In other words, double the money for the same data.
 
Quite right, I currently have a 300 mb plan. I've never gone over that. I have gone close a couple of times, but stopped just short of that limit. Next month, I'm up for an upgrade so I have to switch to the new share everything plan. Though, looking at it, it's not much more than what we're paying for. I wish that they still offered lower plans for those who rely mostly on wifi.
 
Prices have been edging back up (/ allowances down) the last few years, it's not as expensive as it was maybe 6 or 7 years ago - back then it was mobile data was so expensive it was actually cheaper to just buy a house with broadband everywhere you were ever likely to go ..

One thing we can actually thank Steve Jobs for: getting mobile data prices down .. for a while anyway ;)
 
It depends, we've got some networks over here that offer really great deals when it comes to data allowances.

One of our networks are charging just over a tenner for a SIM only plan with unlimited data. They've said when they make the switch to 4G, they won't charge any extra for their plans either. Their 2year contracts aren't bad either,
 
Forget that and take a look at this:

If your carrier charges you 20 cents per text (as in if you go over your allotment, do not have a text messaging plan, etc.) and you use the maximum of 160-characters (which equals 160 bytes) that equals $1,310 per megabyte for text messaging!
 
gtbarry said:
Forget that and take a look at this:

If your carrier charges you 20 cents per text (as in if you go over your allotment, do not have a text messaging plan, etc.) and you use the maximum of 160-characters (which equals 160 bytes) that equals $1,310 per megabyte for text messaging!
Click to expand...

Yeah, true. Which is why a lot of irate parents do this :banghead: when the phone bill comes. Nice perspective.
 
I pay 15 euros (like 20 dollar?) for 2 gb, 1 hour a day free calling and 2000 texts. I'm really happy with it.
 
The reason phone companies are overcharging is because they can. Harsh as it sounds they are companies and if people pay, they will charge. I no longer use high speed internet on my phone, I have wifi at home and 2G speed on the road.
 
We pay what we agreed to pay for data so the actual answer is no. However they do charge a lot for the different plans and My bill is up there. So in what they charge then yes its to much. We will continue to pay high rates until we the people let these companies know that they need us more than we need them. but until that happens pay it because in the end it's worth that much to us.
 
I cant speak for any countries other than UK and US and just from what i read online, i think the US get a terrible deal. I think maybe people are stuck in the habit of subsidised phones and maybe in the habit of sticking with one carrier for life. This means the carriers can totally mug you because theres no room for competition.
Remember we used to pay for sms lol, now data is the cash-cow. Data can be provided much more cheaply than they charge and the sheer profit these carriers make per/user is disgusting imo.

On a plus side, you americans seem to get your electronics much cheaper than us *jealous* :beer:
 
From what I see, you guys got a terrible deal. My current contract costs approx 50$, it counts as unlimited data+tether (I reach 30GB some months and don't get throttled) plus $20 worth of credits for calling and texts. A text message here costs 2cents, and a call costs 18cents/min. No blocks as well, if I go over the $20 credit, it just adds up to the base $50. Plus every 2 years, I get a $500 discount on devices.

My sister has got an even better plan: $40 for unlimited internet and unlimited texting and calling(to same carrier). Only texts and calls to other carriers get charged additional. Almost all her friends are on the same network anyway. Downside is it only has a $250 discount on devices for upgrade every 2 years.

Comparing that to the deals you got, you guys really get skimped on pricing. The advantage you guys get is that you guys have more LTE covered areas and get those stuff earlier.

EDIT: Oh yeah, we don't get billed for receiving messages. That still shocks me.
 
chanchan05 said:
From what I see, you guys got a terrible deal. My current contract costs approx 50$, it counts as unlimited data+tether (I reach 30GB some months and don't get throttled) plus $20 worth of credits for calling and texts. A text message here costs 2cents, and a call costs 18cents/min. No blocks as well, if I go over the $20 credit, it just adds up to the base $50. Plus every 2 years, I get a $500 discount on devices.

My sister has got an even better plan: $40 for unlimited internet and unlimited texting and calling(to same carrier). Only texts and calls to other carriers get charged additional. Almost all her friends are on the same network anyway. Downside is it only has a $250 discount on devices for upgrade every 2 years.

Comparing that to the deals you got, you guys really get skimped on pricing. The advantage you guys get is that you guys have more LTE covered areas and get those stuff earlier.

EDIT: Oh yeah, we don't get billed for receiving messages. That still shocks me.
Click to expand...
I got billed 10 dollars by Verizon once for receive a spam message that was classified as a premium message. Needless to say I was irate and gave the CS rep hell, lol
 
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