Why do the cellphone co's charge so much for internet?

PAULHUSKER · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 15

I've always wondered why Alltel charges $59/mo for internet w/ one of their wireless cards. Will it ever go down as technology improves? If they would lower their price to be more competitve w/ DSL and cable, wouldn't they get more subscribers? They already have the infrastructure in place w/ the towers. Why not sell the wireless cards at a decent prices, offer a more affordable internet pkg & make even more? This is especially in light of everybody liking their laptops and hooking up to a wifi in their house anyhew.

My first guess as to why they don't is that they probably are trying to make as much as possible now before they are forced to lower the price.

frostedflakes · EVDO User Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 35

Same reason texts are so expensive, people are used to the high prices and seem to be willing to pay for it. And with future wireless packet technologies they may be interested in trying to compete with DSL/cable companies, but current EVDO does not even try to compete with them. Right now it mostly seems to be marketed to businessmen and professionals who require internet access on the go. Because of the low bandwidth and high latency, it's not good for gaming, VoIP, high-bitrate streaming, and other stuff that people expect to be able to do with their high speed cable or DSL. Give it a few years, though, and that will all change. Smile

At least that's my take on it. And FWIW, Alltel does offer cheaper plans. For example, you can tether a regular handset for $25/mo, or a smartphone for only $10/mo. Same service as the $60/mo datacard plan, just connects in a different way. I don't know what will happen to these plans after the Verizon buyout, though.

childsj27 · EVDO User Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 37

GREED

Krileon · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

Simple answer: Because they can.

They know we don't have DSL or Cable or we need mobile internet. So they take advantage of that.

It's better to have a phone plan and add unlimited data for 10/month then just tether. Just getting the modem is a rip off. You can buy a modem off ebay then plugin the info. Tada! 10/month unlimited internet.

PAULHUSKER · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 15

Krileon · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

Jimbob111 · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject: plug in the data?

I don't understand. I bought my modem off ebay but I still pay for a data plan...and it's $59.99.

just "plug in the data"? What exactly does that mean?

Are you saying get a phone plan then use the esn from the modem for the phone?

I guess I don't understand.
JB

twinsfan · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

They know what type of a device you have based on the ESN. There are audits ran to make sure the type of device you have has the correct rate pan associated with it.(happen to my line when purchased a smartphone, it needed to be the primary number and it wasn't.) I'm sure you could start a line, add the $25 tether and change the ESN to any USB/PCMCIA modem. But that may last for a small time period until the audit is run and your card doesn't work.

mjhampstead · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: $10.00 per month data plan?

Atmega · EVDO User Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 67