T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans • Hacker News Board

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#121

Post by zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 7:47 AM UTC

wmf wrote: post #117

zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly is lying to the consumer about what you are selling them consumer-friendly?

I mean slowing traffic instead of cutting them off or charging huge overage fees is consumer-friendly.

So, you mean that if they offered a product where bandwidth is reduced after a certain amount of traffic per month that would be a consumer-friendly product as compared to a product with huge overage fees?

Well, maybe.

But given the context, it's like if a car dealer had sold you a new car, then delivered an old and rusty one, and you'd be saying that delivering an old and rusty one is consumer-friendly practice as compared to billing them double what was agreed for the new one.

Also, no, this is not about "marketing language". This is about contract language. Would you also agree that there was a discussion to be had about the "marketing price" that the customer agreed to pay? I mean, the customer only intended to pay half of what they agreed to, so why should they be required to pay the full amount? Marketing language is the catch phrase that you clarify in the fine print. Contract language is what you actually agree to.

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#122

Post by germanier » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 8:06 AM UTC

gingerlime wrote: post #72

I'm still confused why the largest data plan in Germany is 5gb (with some options to top-up). And all data plans are bandwidth throttled after you use your quota. There's no unlimited options at all.

This not true (anymore). Telekom offers its unlimited "MagentaMobil XL Premium" for around 200€ a month.

Plans for more than 5GB have been available for quite some time and if one were calling the business hotline all networks could offer even larger non-public plans.

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#123

Post by takingflac » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 2:11 PM UTC

oh_sigh wrote: post #80

jlarocco wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't trust that page. I checked my apartment and it's shown solidly inside a 4G LTE coverage area. In reality, I'm lucky to get 2 bars of 3G, and I avoid talking on the phone because it'll drop the call.

What's your connection like outside? There can be 4G coverage, but if you live in a faraday cage, it won't do you much good.

This is why I wish more cell phones could take advantage of VoiP using Wifi. Having the option to use wifi for calls is nice if you have terrible cell signal but great wifi thanks to the faraday cage you live in.

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#124

Post by maxerickson » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 2:20 PM UTC

kevincox wrote: post #115

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 1 month multiplied by the maximum speed of the technology Sure, that's obvious. > the actual capacity of the network Shouldn't that be enough to handle at least the actual usage given that not everyone uses it at full capacity all the time? Probably there's some capacity at which they're mostly capable except the rare event that brings in an extremely large num of users. Probably not obvious? > the fact that they t…

> > the actual capacity of the network > Shouldn't that be enough to handle at least the actual usage given that not everyone uses it at full capacity all the time? Probably there's some capacity at which they're mostly capable except the rare event that brings in an extremely large num of users. Probably not obvious? That sounds about right. I would expect to get my promised speeds the vast majority of the time. Now…

I'm pretty sure I don't want to pay for an SLA.

I guess if you did somehow get one they wouldn't guarantee much of a connection.

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#125

Post by oarsinsync » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 3:38 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #57

rifung wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry since I know you're exhausted already but can you share why you think not all bits are created equally? I always thought it was bizarre how companies charge for tethering, especially after data caps were introduced. Aren't they all the same to the carrier?

> but can you share why you think not all bits are created equally? Streaming video is different than the tool who decides he's going to torrent tens of GBs over their cellular connection. You're streaming 780p or 1080p content to a device that can't display the additional resolution over 480p? You've just wasted that bandwidth on the local tower (which matters if you're in urban areas). (Spotify does this right in t…

> Non-mobile devices can generate a higher volume of data than a mobile device alone. You can go eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but they don't let you bring a wheelbarrow with.

> Don't take my word for it though: http://twinprime.com/lte-has-slowed-by-50-in-the-us/

The link shows a graph demonstrating that while data usage has gone up each year, smartphones are the majority users of data, while 'Data Capable Units' continue to lag behind.

While you're absolutely right that non-mobile devices (presumably non-smartphones) can (and in many cases do) generate a (much much) higher volume of data than a mobile device (presumably smartphone) alone, the data in the link supplied seems to indicate that as a whole, smartphones continue to be the majority users of data.

Or rather, while a few people may bring in wheelbarrows, few of them are actually filling them up, and the majority of people are just gorging themselves.

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#126

Post by rifung » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 9:08 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #57

rifung wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry since I know you're exhausted already but can you share why you think not all bits are created equally? I always thought it was bizarre how companies charge for tethering, especially after data caps were introduced. Aren't they all the same to the carrier?

> but can you share why you think not all bits are created equally? Streaming video is different than the tool who decides he's going to torrent tens of GBs over their cellular connection. You're streaming 780p or 1080p content to a device that can't display the additional resolution over 480p? You've just wasted that bandwidth on the local tower (which matters if you're in urban areas). (Spotify does this right in t…

> You've just wasted that bandwidth on the local tower (which matters if you're in urban areas).

But with tiered data plans, we paid for that anyway. I would understand if they offer this as a service we can enable to lower how much data we use, but making it mandatory is weird.

Non-mobile devices can generate a higher volume of data than a mobile device alone. You can go eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but they don't let you bring a wheelbarrow with

Sure, but with data caps, why do they care how I use my data? If I want to use more by using my laptop, what difference does it make to them?

Re: T-Mobile will pay a $48M fine for throttling ‘unlimited data’ plans

#127

Post by gingerlime » Sat, Oct 22, 2016, 3:35 PM UTC

germanier wrote: post #122

gingerlime wrote: post #72

I'm still confused why the largest data plan in Germany is 5gb (with some options to top-up). And all data plans are bandwidth throttled after you use your quota. There's no unlimited options at all.

This not true (anymore). Telekom offers its unlimited "MagentaMobil XL Premium" for around 200€ a month. Plans for more than 5GB have been available for quite some time and if one were calling the business hotline all networks could offer even larger non-public plans.

200€ a month?!

well, it's a start.