WiFi Hotspots to Cost Wireless Carriers $12B 222
j.e. writes "Commercial WiFi hotspots and open WiFi networks will take about $12 billion out of wireless carrier revenue pie, says Starategy Analytics. With high prices of mobile data services from wireless carriers, the users are more prone to use a cheap WiFi connection, if one is available."
Outside the US (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Statistics Bullshit (Score:3, Informative)
Exactly what I was thinking. When I read the headline I was imaginging that cellular data use was way more popular than I imagined and that WiFi hotspots are eating into that side of the business.
Just because the wireless carriers projected ridiculous revenue from their own WiFi hotspots that they won't make doesn't mean the carriers are "losing" anything since they never had the money in the first place.
I have a suggestion for the wireless carriers to "regain" some of the money they never had to begin with. Charge competitive rates for your WiFi services and you will get more of that business.
Re:Boo hoo! (Score:3, Informative)
Obviously completely incorrect because people will use it A LOT at the lower price, and almost NOT AT ALL at the higher price. Smells like RIAA and MPAA maths to me.
Re:An analogy (Score:4, Informative)
Yes, things were still mostly analog, with a few early adopters having digital, but for roaming your analog service was virtually seamless, especially along major interstates.
I recently drove west along I-10 with a digital phone, and spent literally hours where I could not get a call out. Yes it was in some of the "mountain" areas, but it was an area that used to have analog coverage that worked (because I drove it and know).
It really infuriates me what they've done. I spent several years building cellular (analog) networks, even in some mountain areas. I know the service is possible in these areas, but since the "new and improved" digital phones include the ability to restrict what services the phones may roam on (and in some cases, the newer phones won't even do analog), we've gone BACKWARDS. It's pathetic!
Re:Having used Cingular's EDGE plan. (Score:2, Informative)
The good news is that we are seeing much reduced latency with 3G, down to about 200ms. OK, that is still not wonderful compared to a good broadband connection, but is a big improvement.
But as another response indicates, there are going to be limits to how low we (or rather our suppliers) can get the latency.
Re:wireless overpriced (Score:4, Informative)
They wanted three cents per kilobtye.
That's $30 a Meg - are those motherfuckers crazy?
Download one really good porn avi or mpg and you are talking about $20,000. For $20,000 you should have dozens of real live women delivered to wherever you happen to be using your cell phone, lubed up and ready for sex.
To Find These Hotspots (Score:2, Informative)
Misleading Title (Score:5, Informative)
It's the same logic the RIAA and MPAA use, and it's fallacious.
It's not their money. It's not being taken from them. It's not costing them shit. It's just diverting money they think should be theirs to other, more worthwhile. uses. But there's no real evidence that it ever would have been spent on what they have to sell, rather than saved, or spent on any other thing in the world that can be bought.
These people's sense of entitlement to what they haven't earned is sickening. Bunch of corporate welfare scroungers. Next they'll go whining for the government to seize the money for them.
Re:Just so you know.. (Score:3, Informative)
> > > > And 33.23456% are made up right there on the spot.
> > > And 74.3572% are made up on the spot
> >
> I'm not sure your figure is precisely correct.