Dvorak: Rethinking the Mobile Internet

[Brad]

Summary:
1. The wireless telco's have failed to live up to their promises.
2. Sprint might be on to something with it's rollout of wimax (aka Sprint 4G)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rethinking-the-mobile-internet-2010-12-03?siteid=rss&rss=1

Is Dvorak right or is this moose p##p?

[rcjordan]

About a month ago I was reading an article by techcrunch or some vc that said that what they REALLY wanted was a dumb phone capable of tethering to an ipad-like device.  I think this makes a lot of sense.  Wish I could find that article again.

Virgin is getting the pricing right.  $40/mo prepaid, unlimited (capped if 'unreasonable') data

What I want is to be able to buy gigs of data but not have it expire monthly, or with a minor monthly 'keep active' fee. Say, $5/mo account fee + $30 for 10 'forever' gig.  

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/broadband2go.html

[Drastic]

I'm hoping wimax works out, but haven't followed any of it at all.

Lately I'm irritated with Verizon: Our plan is due for renewal, which is usually cool since we get 2 new phones. Except now, they are trying to push everyone to plans with a data package. If you buy any type of smart phone, you have to get this. Amy and I never get online on the phone, and I don't need anything special. She just likes a qwerty kb for texting. There is only 1 POS model available with some serious technical issues, without getting the data plan.

If I'm forced to buy something I really didn't want to start with, you better believe I will start using the crap out of it. Could be a silver lining after all.

[4Eyes]

About a month ago I was reading an article by techcrunch or some vc that said that what they REALLY wanted was a dumb phone capable of tethering to an ipad-like device.  I think this makes a lot of sense.  Wish I could find that article again.

I read that too - totally agreed with it.

Think I got my link to the article from theRegister.co.uk - will see if I can find it again

[grnidone]

Isn't Dvorak a keyboard?  Am I high?

[4Eyes]

RC, was it this:

http://www.reghardware.com/2010/11/10/replacing_the_iphone/

[rcjordan]

No, that's not the one.

[Brad]

>>Virgin

I will never again lock myself in to one carrier like I did with ATT on my iPad 3G.  I love the iPad, but my next one will be Wifi only combined with that Virgin Mobile no contract mifi.

In general I'm going to try to avoid these two year contracts wherever I can going forward.

[rcjordan]

>>> Virgin

BTW, I'm pretty sure VM uses the Sprint backbone.

[Brad]

>>>>Virgin

They do use Sprint and I think Cricket does too.  I had a Virgin Pay as you go phone 3.5 years ago (pre-iPhone) ago.  Not bad. 

[mivox]

I love the iPad, but my next one will be Wifi only combined with that Virgin Mobile no contract mifi.

In general I'm going to try to avoid these two year contracts wherever I can going forward.

I don't mind the contract for my phone since AT&T is the only GSM company up here... by the time that changes, they probably won't be the exclusive iphone carrier anymore either. heh

But with the ipad, I did go wifi only & use my phone as the router. If I'm paying for "unlimited data transfer" on the iphone plan, by golly, I'm gonna use it however I want.

[Brad]

2 months or so after I bought the iPad ATT dumped the "unlimited" 3G service option on the it.  That was one of the selling points for me. Felt too much like a bait and switch.

[mivox]

You mean they didn't let existing subscribers keep their unlimited plans? They let me 'grandfather' my unlimited data plan to my new iphone 4 contract. Maybe the ipad just wasn't around long enough to make them feel obligated to be decent about it. 

[Brad]

Sorry mivox I wasn't clear.  They did grandfather me in, but since service is month to month, if I drop it for a month, when I renew it will be under the new limited terms.  Not a big deal and not the end of the world, but left a bad taste.

[Travoli]

they do let you keep unlimited if you keep the same plan rolling I believe.