-
Website
http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/ -
Original page
http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/08/are_operators_blocking_free_us_mobile_broadband.html -
Subscribe
All Comments -
Community
-
Top Commenters
-
PatrickatJPR
80 comments · 6 points
-
South77
119 comments · 1 points
-
MarkW
127 comments · 1 points
-
MartinSFP
86 comments · 7 points
-
David Carrington
75 comments · 1 points
-
-
Popular Threads
-
Calling all Nokia & Symbian geniuses: Am I wrong?
2 weeks ago · 36 comments
-
Mobile Industry Review turns into a weekly newsletter next Friday
2 weeks ago · 29 comments
-
What’s the best backpack a geek can buy?
1 week ago · 16 comments
-
The future is dire for Nokia & Symbian applications: Dead by 2012?
2 weeks ago · 20 comments
-
Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul
2 weeks ago · 20 comments
-
Calling all Nokia & Symbian geniuses: Am I wrong?
We've had attempts at 'free' wireless data before. Most recently, the steaming pile of FAIL that has been municipal WiFi. Nice idea, pity the laws of physics, user expectations and market forces got in the way.
You get what you pay for, and if you pay nothing that's what you'll get. So unless you are happy for your taxes to pay for 'free' data (there's a can of worms right there regarding market distortions) no-one's going to bankroll it.
It just doesn't work. Think about it - Say some MNO is forced to offer truly free mobile data as part of their licence. So everyone piles on in - it's truly free, right? Tragedy of the Commons ensues. The customer experience is then abysmal. Only the utterly skint would be prepared to put up with it. Everyone else realises they like paying a bit for QoS. Back they go to their previous supplier.
Ho hum.