Comments on: With Wireless Data, Smaller Carriers Must Mind the Gap

By: What the Current Wireless Plans Tell Us About Future Data Prices – GigaOM

What the Current Wireless Plans Tell Us About Future Data Prices – GigaOM — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:04:07 +0000

[...] little chart below, courtesy of a Deutsche Bank report out today. It made me realize that we have a two-tiered level of competition when it comes to mobile plans (three if we count prepaid), and voice has been utterly commoditized, [...]

By: Always On Real-Time Access » Chetan Sharma Consulting in the news in 2009

Always On Real-Time Access » Chetan Sharma Consulting in the news in 2009 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:01:02 +0000

[...] GigaOM - With Wireless Data, Smaller Carriers Must Mind the Gap [...]

By: Mobile Data and the Need for Metering – GigaOM

Mobile Data and the Need for Metering – GigaOM — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:03:11 +0000

[...] ramp up quickly as Android gains traction and superphones become more commonplace. Among carriers, the rich are getting richer thanks to that uptake, but they’re also beginning to experience the kind of network hiccups [...]

By: Scenna Tabesh

Scenna Tabesh — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:39:44 +0000

 Scenna Tabesh here, Director of Marketing Communications at the WiMAX Forum.
 There is no question that AT&T and Verizon are making profit off of their 3G data service offerings; there is also no dispute that these service providers are charging high prices for lackluster speeds and performance. WiMAX is more cost effective than 3G, with an open business model that allows carriers flexibility in pricing, service offerings and scalable bandwidth.
The time to offer mobile broadband service to consumers is now and Sprint (along with Clearwire, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and multiple other WiMAX providers) are the only U.S. operators doing that today. The author states that “increased usage is forcing carriers to accelerate their 4G strategies.” This really means that the other carriers are now going to have to play catch-up with Sprint with regards to optimizing their networks for the real mobile Internet.  We believe the people who think WiMAX timing is off are the same players simply trying to garner a profit from 3G investments while WiMAX carriers are offering faster, cheaper, better performing broadband today. With data usage rates up 193 percent over 2008, will VZW and AT&T be able to hold their lead once consumers get a taste of 4G speeds?
 We continue to see growth in the adoption of WiMAX technology throughout the world. Looking even beyond the achievements of Sprint and other players in the US, there are more than 518 live WiMAX deployments in 146 countries today.
 If anyone wants to continue this conversation please visit us our interactive site for 4G conversation at http://www.WiMAXTimes.com.

By: Protocol16

Protocol16 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:18:06 +0000

I spent 5 years in Germany and the market is MUCH different there. The wireless companies still have contracts, but things are less expensive in some ways and more in others. On top of this, everything is GSM based SIM, so you can move easily between all networks (ok, no SIM in the iPhone, but you get the idea).

I think WiMax is catching on in areas, like here in Portland, Oregon, but I think the roll out is going way too slow for it to matter. On top of that WiMax was touted as this savior of wireless and it just isn’t living up to it yet.

Interesting graph though. Watch out for TMobile over the next few years. They’ve cornered the European market and will probably start going hard in the US after the economy picks up.