SMS wrote:
> George wrote:
>
>> But frankly I find the business model of raping customers when they go
>> over just plain wrong. Just imagine if other services operated in a
>> similar fashion. Say you needed to cross a bridge every day and you
>> could buy a monthly pass that cost say $50 that entitled to cross once
>> each day. You are a loyal customer and have been using the bridge for
>> years. Some event happens where you need to cross more often and they
>> charge you $7 for each additional crossing. I doubt anyone would put
>> up with it.
>>
>> Cell phones are no longer something magical. The days of having to
>> accept whatever is offered are winding down..
>
> Well I hope that the winding down doesn't mean moving to an unlimited
> model at $99 from a metered use at various tiers. I don't like the model
> of high overage charges either, but the alternative may be worse for
> relatively low-usage users.

It seems that is the direction it is going.

I am sure that the tiers will be just as disingenuous as the various
current ones are now. I imagine the "cellphone buffet" when I read the
prices. This month's special is one serving on a 3" plate for $9 or
unlimited for $10.50 .

I am a heavy user but unlimited is of no value to me because of free
m2m. All of my family and most of my friends and associates are on VZW.
So an unlimited package would cost me even more.


>
> If I were a new low-usage user then I wouldn't be a postpaid customer.
> T-Mobile and PagePlus offer reasonable per-minute rates (5.3-8.8¢). The
> downside is no free nights and weekends, but in reality the only reason
> people talk so much on their cell phones on N&W is because it's free.
> They could get a 2¢/minute long distance service and still be better off
> in most cases.