Mobile Networks

[Mercutio]

... and of course tomorrow Verizon, ever the master of finding new ways to charge people for crap, will start shaking down existing customers for an extra $30 every time they actually do upgrade their current phone and sign a new service contract; there's no longer going to be a "free" phone upgrade from there.

I suspect Virgin mobile would be a lot more popular if they just had a couple nicer phones available. $35 for "unlimited" data and SMS + 300 minutes is a pretty decent deal, especially without a service contract.

 

[MaxBurn]

I thought it was $35 for phone activation at verizon, they charge activation even if you bring a handset. This is one of the things I just don't like about CDMA, no SIM card to move so you have to contact them so of course they will make you pay. Also if it is a CDMA from another network they don't allow that at all.

I'm switching to Straight Talk. $45/mo for unlimited everything but rumors say they cut you for abuse significantly over about 100MB/day or 2GB/mo and the terms specifically say no streaming audio/video or tethering.

 

[MaxBurn]

Branding FTL what a mess. I'd prefer to just call it what it is but obviously people are too dumb to handle that.

Apple on Australian 4G: You’re Branding It Wrong
http://allthingsd.com/20120420/apple-on-australian-4g-youre-branding-it-wrong/

 

[Chewy509]

Branding FTL what a mess. I'd prefer to just call it what it is but obviously people are too dumb to handle that.

Apple on Australian 4G: You’re Branding It Wrong
http://allthingsd.com/20120420/apple-on-australian-4g-youre-branding-it-wrong/

WTF. So Apple believes that 4G is merely defined by speed, not the underlying technology??? Can someone bash the marketing people at Apple with a clue stick...

 

[MaxBurn]

I was thinking that Apple was merely getting their arms twisted by AT&T when they showed 4G on all the iPhone 4S's. But now it looks like they bought the hype and are ready to defend it. Unfortunately the way the standards are written they will probably win.

 

[MaxBurn]

I don't know if this applies to US or other countries visiting a EU member? I get the feeling it doesn't.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/...mobile-roaming-prices-including-data-services

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18017383#?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[ddrueding]

I have a "Tri-Fi" hotspot on the way...it will be interesting to see what service I am able to get where.

 

[MaxBurn]

On Sprint?

 

[ddrueding]

Yup.

 

[LunarMist]

So it works on only one carrier? I'm not seeing the wonder.

 

[ddrueding]

Sprint (which I am stuck with) has a mess of a network; three different technologies for high speed internet alone. Up to now you've needed different products to get on the different parts of their network. This will let me get on all of them and better map the connection options for some of my users.

 

[MaxBurn]

Right, that was my concern but that thing sounds like it's going to make a pretty good try to make the best of it.

 

[LunarMist]

FFS, why isn't there one standard for all carriers? It's not like you have to buy a different TV for NBC compared to ABC or CBS.

 

[Stereodude]

Because they want to lock you in.

 

[Mercutio]

Basically the whole rest of the world has one standard. Just not the USA.

 

[LunarMist]

Well, most of the population has not MasterCard the metric system.

 

[MaxBurn]

I have no fucking clue why we don't get our act together and switch to the metric system.

 

[Handruin]

I have no fucking clue why we don't get our act together and switch to the metric system.

Other than to be like everyone else, do we really need it?

 

[Mercutio]

Other than to be like everyone else, do we really need it?

You don't see value in universal acceptance of a standard system of measurement that can be derived from fundamental, observable principles?

 

[Handruin]

You don't see value in universal acceptance of a standard system of measurement that can be derived from fundamental, observable principles?

Sure, that's what I'm using now. I just don't want to change.

 

[time]

You do realize that inches, feet and miles haven't had their own standard measure for more than 50 years? They are actually defined in terms of metric units.

SI has advantages in everyday life, not just in science and engineering:

* How heavy is a 9 liter bucket of water? 9 kg
* How many buckets do I need to fill one cubic meter? 111 (1 m³ = 1000 L)
* How many 40 cm lengths can I cut from a 3 m length of timber? 7
* If my A/C flows 100 liters/second, how many air changes an hour will I see in a room 4 x 3 x 2.4 meters? 32

Easy peasy.

Hanging on to imperial units because you're comfortable with them is exactly the same as hanging on to pounds, shillings and pence.

 

[Handruin]

I honestly didn't care. I'm just too lazy to bother learning a new unit of measurement.

 

[Mercutio]

The only metric scale I dislike is temperature.

 

[Mercutio]

I honestly didn't care. I'm just too lazy to bother learning a new unit of measurement.

You presumably had real science classes in high school and college. Why would you have to learn anything at this point?

 

[Handruin]

The only metric scale I dislike is temperature.

Oddly, that's probably the only metric scale where I have some understanding.

 

[Mercutio]

I understand it just fine. I just prefer the greater precision of degrees F.

 

[Handruin]

You presumably had real science classes in high school and college. Why would you have to learn anything at this point?

High school and college were a long time ago.

 

[time]

I agree, 1°C is too coarse, but I also think that the decades in °F map out better to human comfort, eg >100 intolerably hot, 90-99 hot, 80-89 warm, 70-79 comfortable, 60-69 cool, 50-59 cold, 40-49 colder, 30-39 freezing, 20-29 below freezing, 10-19 bloody freezing, 0-9 CougTek comfort zone.

 

[MaxBurn]

This actually surprised me.

46% say yes to a data only smart phone plan.

http://i.scoople.it/p/4954-would-you-get-a-data-only-plan-and-do-voice-v

 

[time]

Oatmeal has the right idea about imperial measurements

 

[MaxBurn]

Anyone notice how verizon took the opportunity with the shared data plans to completely shaft us price wise?

http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/06/pr2012-06-11e.html

Two phones and 1GB of SHARED data is now $130/mo.

 

[Mercutio]

Everyone who uses Verizon knows that they're paying extra for the assrape and that Verizon is neither gentle nor considerate about it.

 

[MaxBurn]

Everyone was looking for a savings in moving to shared data and we get this. You know AT&T will follow suit as well.

 

[Handruin]

Everyone was looking for a savings in moving to shared data and we get this. You know AT&T will follow suit as well.

That'll stink. Once AT&T follows Verizon, it'll leave only the other two crappy mobile providers of Sprint and T-Mobile. Neither of which I'd consider due to lousy service.

 

[Stereodude]

I'm pretty sure I'll just stick with my no texting / no data VZW plan that gives me 700 minutes a month between 3 phones and costs under $80 out of pocket every month.

 

[MaxBurn]

I'm pretty sure I'll just stick with my no texting / no data VZW plan that gives me 700 minutes a month between 3 phones and costs under $80 out of pocket every month.

I guess coming from that it's no big deal because you pay 90 for unlimited calling and texting for those three phones now. That's all I read it anyway with no data.

 

[Stereodude]

I guess coming from that it's no big deal because you pay 90 for unlimited calling and texting for those three phones now. That's all I read it anyway with no data.

As I read it, the new plan is $100 for 3 lines with no texting or data.

 

[LunarMist]

Plans are very confusing. I suppose they change for that reason.

 

[MaxBurn]

AT&T to Face Net Neutrality Complaint Regarding FaceTime Over Cellular Limitation

I think they might be in trouble given that all the other carriers said no problem you can do this, don't think they would do that if they thought they could charge for it and get away with it. I also don't understand the installed application reason given, like they are laying claim to the built in apps like they try to charge you for carrier crapware on android.

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/09/18...-regarding-facetime-over-cellular-limitation/

 

[MaxBurn]

As I look at this I am reminded there seems to be a reason why the prices are much higher at Verizon.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/21/3367602/iphone-5-lte-markets-cities