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Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

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Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#91

Post by freehunter »

maxerickson wrote: post #51
freehunter wrote: post #41

I agree that data should be data and having companies pay (or otherwise sign up to be exempted) should be considered anti-competitive in such a regulated industry. But that belief won't stop me from using the exemption until the minute the FCC requires otherwise. My carrier (T-Mobile) exempts streaming music services. It doesn't charge for the exemption and any music service can sign up for it, but it's still against…

Isn't that then more of a preference and less of a principled disagreement?

I disagree with their policy in principle. In practice, I use the hell out of it. I frequently drive long distances (over an hour each way) streaming music from Spotify the entire way.

I would rather have no data cap the same way my home Internet connection has no data cap. I would rather they not make exemptions for music specifically, since that shows they don't need the caps in the first place. But as long as they offer it (and I used T-Mobile long before they announced it), I will use it to my advantage.

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#92

Post by kmax12 »

bduerst wrote: post #84
jakejake wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have a problem with different types of content being treated differently. It's still a fair playing field for all providers of streaming music. I've always thought that carriers should be allowed to prioritize content based on it's type in order to keep their networks running optimally. The problem for me is when specific companies can be prioritized over others.

Bytes are bytes. Why should carriers be allowed to prioritize (or deprioritize) your data differently than other data?

T-Mobile doesn't treat all music apps the same though. They only apply free streaming to their list of 27 app [1]. Depending on how fair they are to adding small companies to the list. this system is essentially prioritizing larger companies over smaller ones.

http://www.t-mobile.com/offer/free-music-streaming.html

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#93

Post by jschwartzi »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #4
SixSigma wrote: post #2

My mobile contract in the UK is $20 per month for 1000Gb on 4G with tethering permitted, 5000 voice minutes to the same carrier, 2000 voice minutes to any other carrier and 5000 text messages. It is not just the Zero Rating that is evil.

I'm paying $50/month in the states on T-Mobile for unlimited text/voice and 2.5GB of data, no tethering permitted. EDIT: Yes, I still tether, I stated it for completeness. You can get around the tethering nag by using SSL or VPN when tethered.

Tethering is included in your rate plan if you have a Simple Choice plan. I pay the same amount per month and tethering is included in my rate plan.

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#94

Post by jschwartzi »

chimeracoder wrote: post #61
mwsherman wrote: post #50

This article seems to equate two things – that which is true today, and that which the writer imagines for the future. The future is not fact. The fact of zero rating is that it is beneficial to consumers, and progressive – the poorer one is, the more zero-rating is likely to help. That is factual, observable, measurable. The speculation is a slippery-slope argument, and not factual. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong, but…

> Zero-rating is free shipping. I don’t know of anyone that considers free shipping anti-competitive, though one could make the same argument. That's a bad analogy. A better analogy would be USPS[0] providing certain shippers with free shipping, and not others[1]. Imagine the disastrous effects this would have on small sellers, who would certainly not have the means to negotiate these rates with USPS, whereas a large…

UPS does actually do something like this. If you buy a UPS label online without an account, you pay what's called "list price," which is the full advertised price for shipping. However, if you're a shipper with an account, UPS will discount your shipping below list price if you do a lot of business with them. I've seen up to a 20% discount for parcels shipped UPS Ground on a small company's account.

I don't have any data on this, but I suspect that some combination of the list price discount and some special contractual arrangements are what allow Amazon to offer services such as Prime for such a low price. List price for a 1 lb next day air shipment were on the order of $50.00 last time I shipped anything.

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#95

Post by frizzlebox »

whyaduck wrote: post #29
frizzlebox wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Adding to this, the T-Mobile FAQ claims they're willing to add legal services if you contact them: http://www.t-mobile.com/offer/free-music-streaming.html Will you add more streaming providers over time? Absolutely! Any lawful and licensed streaming music service can work with us for inclusion in this offer, which is designed to benefit all of our Simple Choice customers. And we want to hear from you! Who do you thin…

Yes, definitely anti-competitive (he says as he changes Spotify's streaming quality to "Extreme" on his T-Mobile serviced phone).

I honestly wrote that "anti-competitive" bit so it wouldn't look like I was defending anyone. You caught me trying to preempt being called a shill. It didn't work.

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#96

Post by kennyledet »

freehunter wrote: post #41

I agree that data should be data and having companies pay (or otherwise sign up to be exempted) should be considered anti-competitive in such a regulated industry. But that belief won't stop me from using the exemption until the minute the FCC requires otherwise. My carrier (T-Mobile) exempts streaming music services. It doesn't charge for the exemption and any music service can sign up for it, but it's still against…

A better way around this problem: Go Sprint and get unlimited (to an extent) data ;)

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#97

Post by kennyledet »

freehunter wrote: post #41

I agree that data should be data and having companies pay (or otherwise sign up to be exempted) should be considered anti-competitive in such a regulated industry. But that belief won't stop me from using the exemption until the minute the FCC requires otherwise. My carrier (T-Mobile) exempts streaming music services. It doesn't charge for the exemption and any music service can sign up for it, but it's still against…

A better way around this problem: Go Sprint and get unlimited (to an extent) data ;)

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#98

Post by kennyledet »

freehunter wrote: post #41

I agree that data should be data and having companies pay (or otherwise sign up to be exempted) should be considered anti-competitive in such a regulated industry. But that belief won't stop me from using the exemption until the minute the FCC requires otherwise. My carrier (T-Mobile) exempts streaming music services. It doesn't charge for the exemption and any music service can sign up for it, but it's still against…

A better way around this problem: Go Sprint and get unlimited (to an extent) data ;)

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#99

Post by zachlatta »

kennyledet wrote: post #96
freehunter wrote: post #41

I agree that data should be data and having companies pay (or otherwise sign up to be exempted) should be considered anti-competitive in such a regulated industry. But that belief won't stop me from using the exemption until the minute the FCC requires otherwise. My carrier (T-Mobile) exempts streaming music services. It doesn't charge for the exemption and any music service can sign up for it, but it's still against…

A better way around this problem: Go Sprint and get unlimited (to an extent) data ;)

T-Mobile also has a truly unlimited plan, to an extent.

Re: Exempting popular apps from data charges is anti-competitive

#100

Post by maxerickson »

freehunter wrote: post #91
maxerickson wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that then more of a preference and less of a principled disagreement?

I disagree with their policy in principle. In practice, I use the hell out of it. I frequently drive long distances (over an hour each way) streaming music from Spotify the entire way. I would rather have no data cap the same way my home Internet connection has no data cap. I would rather they not make exemptions for music specifically, since that shows they don't need the caps in the first place. But as long as they…

I'm whining about your phrasing. I wish people only used "principle" to describe very strongly held beliefs.

You are weighing your belief that 'data is data' against, basically, a trivial convenience (you have many options, among them: no music, downloaded music, cheap streaming violating the principle, expensive streaming respecting the principle). That action says something about how strongly you believe in 'data is data'.

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