C-Spire Wireless to charge extra for streaming

[tomservo]

I hope this doesn't start a trend with wireless carriers.

Regional CDMA carrier Cellular South recently rebranded themselves as "C Spire Wireless" and part of the push was "to have plans to fit everyone's needs better." Well, apparently part of 'fitting everyone's needs' better means keeping all the pricing the same. Which sounds good, until you check out the fine print on their Smartphone plan, which includes "unlimited calling, unlimited texting and unlimited mobile web"… The Infinity Unlimited Internet feature DOES NOT INCLUDE STREAMING anymore. This includes radio (Pandora et al), TV (Hulu, YouTube), Movies (Netflix) and even uploading JPEG pictures to any site (Dropbox, Facebook, etc.)

There are tiered pricing levels for streaming, like a 2 hour (a month) pass for $5. Unlimited streaming access will now run an extra $30 a month.

Do you guys think this sort of pricing structure could spread to the other carriers? I know no one pays much attention to the regional players anymore, but once an idea like this takes hold, it could see greater adoption. Then there's the question relevant to this forum, which is: will this cut into streaming numbers? Their CDMA 3G here is sorry — EV-DO rev 0 that usually runs about .75 Mbps — but it's plenty fast for streaming internet radio. But there's no way on God's green earth I can see anyone paying $30/month on top of the existing plan cost just to listen to Slacker or Bob's Basement Radio. And it really puts subscription services like Spotify, Sirius or Netflix out there in cost. You pay to stream, you pay to subscribe… it just adds up in a hurry.

I know on-the-go streaming is still sort of "gee whiz" at this stage, but this is where the growth is… listening in the car or on the train. I can't help but think this extra charge is going to turn a lot of people off, even if the total cost would still be in line with other carriers who don't break out that feature.

FWIW this is my carrier and I've got one year left on a contract, so I'm grandfathered in to the unlimited plan that really is unlimited, with no caps or restrictions of any kind. But then the contract is up I'll either have to swap to the new, more expensive plan or go elsewhere. I was hoping to stay with them a while, but they really screwed the pooch with me and a lot of other people who have been venting frustration on their Facebook page.

So, what say ye? Does something like this worry anyone about the future of mobile streaming?

 

[Casey]

Interesting how they word that. Technically from the way I have always seen it, youtube does not stream. Downloading a file as fast as you can until completion is not streaming, yet this is exactly what Youtube does. Pandora does the same, plus it takes it a step further. I suppose it is all in how you interpret streaming.

Major companies like Slacker, Rhapsody, and Spotify won't feel this much, due to their caching capabilities. You can cache on wi-fi and avoid having to stream. Pandora, Netflix, Hulu, etc. will feel this more.

I do think we will see mobile data costs continue to rise for the time being. At a time when it should be dropping. But I guess as long as customers put up with it, then why not charge more? Many will complain, but nearly as many will pay it anyway.

 

[d21ofnj]

I admit, I'd be one of those to pay the extra $30 a month, that's because I hardly listen to terrestrial anyway. Besides, with the Tunein Radio app, a lot more selection than the Sirius/XM service. Granted, I do get dropouts in some spots, but I mostly drive in major highways where I get no dropouts.

 

[Casey]

I admit, I'd be one of those to pay the extra $30 a month, that's because I hardly listen to terrestrial anyway. Besides, with the Tunein Radio app, a lot more selection than the Sirius/XM service. Granted, I do get dropouts in some spots, but I mostly drive in major highways where I get no dropouts.

You would pay $30 more just for web radio?

I'll admit, I would pay $20. But I wouldn't go for $30. For $30 more I could just as easily download all the songs played on radio and after a few years, probably be further ahead.

 

[tomservo]

YouTube was specifically mentioned as a "streaming service" by one of the C Spire reps online the other day, even though it's more of a download service.

Wifi is definitely an option for preloading but just from talking to a lot of smartphone users locally, almost no one uses the wifi feature at all, especially people on Verizon and AT&T, who have the best local coverage. I found that surprising since even the most basic wifi hotspot tends to outperform the carrier's 3G, especially the CDMA networks.

If people are too lazy to setup wifi on their phones to connect to their own home networks, they aren't going to be very enthused about pre-caching music. I certainly wouldn't want to do it. And considering you have to pay a monthly fee just to access Spotify on your phone NOW, they would stand to lose if this scheme takes off on other carriers.

 

[KeithE4]

Wifi is definitely an option for preloading but just from talking to a lot of smartphone users locally, almost no one uses the wifi feature at all, especially people on Verizon and AT&T, who have the best local coverage. I found that surprising since even the most basic wifi hotspot tends to outperform the carrier's 3G, especially the CDMA networks.

At least on the older Motorola Droids, the WiFi circuit is a very poor performer. The connection in the bedroom, about 20 feet from my router in the living room, is intermittent - even though my other wireless devices in that room (a netbook PC & Roku box) have excellent connections. Same goes with hotspots - they rarely work well and lose the connection often.

Motorola needs to do better (and the WiFi issue isn't the only reason I'm not happy with them).

 

[Casey]

YouTube was specifically mentioned as a "streaming service" by one of the C Spire reps online the other day, even though it's more of a download service.

Wifi is definitely an option for preloading but just from talking to a lot of smartphone users locally, almost no one uses the wifi feature at all, especially people on Verizon and AT&T, who have the best local coverage. I found that surprising since even the most basic wifi hotspot tends to outperform the carrier's 3G, especially the CDMA networks.

If people are too lazy to setup wifi on their phones to connect to their own home networks, they aren't going to be very enthused about pre-caching music. I certainly wouldn't want to do it. And considering you have to pay a monthly fee just to access Spotify on your phone NOW, they would stand to lose if this scheme takes off on other carriers.

I honestly don't think Spotify stands to lose anything. A lot more people use the offline/cache/download/etc. functions than you would think. Unless you are don't have much space nor an SD card, there really is no reason not too. It saves on traffic and battery life.

Pandora has a lot to lose on this one. Slacker has some. Spotify/MOG/Rhapsody/etc. have very little.

 

[tomservo]

At least on the older Motorola Droids, the WiFi circuit is a very poor performer. The connection in the bedroom, about 20 feet from my router in the living room, is intermittent - even though my other wireless devices in that room (a netbook PC & Roku box) have excellent connections. Same goes with hotspots - they rarely work well and lose the connection often.

Motorola needs to do better (and the WiFi issue isn't the only reason I'm not happy with them).

I hate to hear that because my Samsung Galaxy S also suffers from poor wifi reception with almost exactly the same symptoms you describe. Except on this phone, turning the wifi on — even if it's not connected to anything — really hammers the cellular signal. I can go from 4-5 to 0-1 bars just by activating wifi. Out and about, wifi hotspots are all but useless to me.

 

[tomservo]

Just an update, I was playing around on Spotify's website today. Syncing music for offline use is a premium feature and costs $9.99/month. The "unlimited" tier is $4.99 and does not include any offline/streaming access for phones. Free users can only play/sync their own personal library and search Spotify, not download, listen or anything.

$40/month for unlimited Spotify on the go? No thanks.

 

[Casey]

Well if you use the offline feature, then you won't need to pay the $30 per month for streaming.

You will need to integrate with Facebook if you are a new subscriber. This alone will keep me and many from considering paying for Spotify, even though I already have an account that did not require integration.

 

[audiomusiclover]

Casey,
Would you explain the Facebook aspect of the streaming feature you meantioned above? I have heard some overview info but do not yet understand the features and what advantages it gives over other music applications. Also, if using FB, does it broadcast my music selections to the world? I would hope that is an elected feature and would be a deal killer for me if not elective.

 

[Jay Peninger]

Many Cellular and wireless companies are ditching unlimited plans and charging for extra bandwidth and the reasons are pretty much the same as they were back in the early days of the Internet... In order to manage the explosive growth and keep their networks within their current capacity they are slowing down the growth by charging these fee's and placing limits on bandwidth and things....

As their networks are upgraded and capacity added the pendulum will swing back the other way and companies we be offering cheaper rates or once again unlimited packages....

I suppose you can blame it all on Steve Jobs and his damn iPhone....

 

[tomservo]

As their networks are upgraded and capacity added the pendulum will swing back the other way and companies we be offering cheaper rates or once again unlimited packages....

Or they could just continue to pocket the extra profits and pretend there's a shortage when in reality they sit on more bandwidth than any other spectrum user in the world.

 

[Jay Peninger]

As their networks are upgraded and capacity added the pendulum will swing back the other way and companies we be offering cheaper rates or once again unlimited packages....

Or they could just continue to pocket the extra profits and pretend there's a shortage when in reality they sit on more bandwidth than any other spectrum user in the world.

Touche' All though anyone who lived on the East Coast and has or had ATT as their wireless provider can tell you the numerous issues ATT had while the iPhone was exclusive to them and they were one of the first carriers to drop their unlimited plans etc...

I won't go as far as to say it wouldn't or doesn't happen that way but in general capacity issues with wireless carriers tend to be the result of to few towers or older infrastructure not available network bandwidth...

 

[JeeperOne]

I admit, I'd be one of those to pay the extra $30 a month, that's because I hardly listen to terrestrial anyway. Besides, with the Tunein Radio app, a lot more selection than the Sirius/XM service. Granted, I do get dropouts in some spots, but I mostly drive in major highways where I get no dropouts.

I not only use TuneIn but I also use iHeartRadio & Live365 on my Cricket smartphone & I've never had problems with my carrier (Sometimes I'd even put the phone on 3G when I'm at home when I feel I need ALL of my home bandwidth for something & stream radio FOR HOURS on end)

Cheers & 73

 

[tomservo]

TuneIn's a nice app. I got the pro version for free from the Amazon Free App of the Day program a while back. Unfortunately since Clear Channel and CBS pulled their stations from general streaming, the app has become a wasteland of "this station doesn't stream" listings in some American markets.

I have Radio.com and iHeartRadio but never use them. The balkanization of streaming means I'm ignoring those streams completely now.

 

[JeeperOne]

I have Radio.com and iHeartRadio but never use them. The balkanization of streaming means I'm ignoring those streams completely now.

I have Radio.com too but I find myself bouncing between all three

In fact, if I'm up early enough, I'll open up iHeartRadio & tune into WLIT-FM 106.7 in NYC for the morning show. Afterwards, I'll open up Radio.com & tune into KYXY 96.5 in San Diego for the morning show there. After that, it's off to Hawaii via TuneIn & KRTR 96.1 for the morning show there. By the time KRTR 96.1 wraps up its morning show, it's about 2:00 PM Denver Time at which time I'll tune into anything I find interesting or turn on the TV (The real one not the fake one ;D )

Speaking of streaming video, I'm not able to pass judgement on that because all the big apps (CNN, ESPN, etc) aren't compatible with my phone & the NEITHER of the Comcast Xfinity apps support video for the Android OS REGARDLESS of device (The rep told me as much once). Makes me wonder why they made both of them available on Android Marketplace (The other app they have just gives you the listings & has other functions)

Last time I checked, that's a form of DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING & CONSUMER FRAUD (But then again, the law doesn't apply to big companies like Comcast. Just small business & other people like me )

Cheers & 73

 

[nd2023]

A simple solution is to connect to a VPN. Then all traffic is encrypted so they can't figure out what kind of traffic it is. Until they charge for encrypted traffic, which will drive the business users away.