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+--- Thread: Can some MBA explain this to me? (/showthread.php?tid=123266)
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - mrbigstuff - 09-08-2011
I'll withhold judgement until you use it to chop an onion.
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - Seacrest - 09-08-2011
Sprint's tethering fee is $30.
A month.
A tad excessive?
It's not a new feature so much as an old feature that would seem to have the potential to become popular.
Again, this is a fee that only gets the payer the option to incur more fees (in the form of bandwidth costs); and you pay it whether you use the feature or not (it is optional to pay it, but AFAIK, not pro-rated or available “on-demand” or “a la carte”). The only other analogy that makes sense to me for it is a use tax.
The texting/SMS thing I find pernicious as well, but the cost is somewhat more reasonable, and there are inexpensive per-usage options for the occasional user.
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - RgrF - 09-08-2011
silvarios wrote:
[quote=mrbigstuff]
completely agree with silvarios
Yes, yes, that is fantastic, but how do you feel about my MacBook Air quip? MBA…MacBook Air…not comedy gold?
Can't get a chuckle at AS, so Nate practices for one here. :thumbsup:
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - Trouble - 09-08-2011
Another thing to consider is what does AT&T mobile actually sell? Connectivity. Tethering allows multiple devices to connect so it seems reasonable to have a surcharge.
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - RgrF - 09-08-2011
Trouble (aka Slash and several other nicks) will always find a way to defend the establishment. Greed is good!
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - Chakravartin - 09-08-2011
Trouble wrote:
Another thing to consider is what does AT&T mobile actually sell? Connectivity. Tethering allows multiple devices to connect so it seems reasonable to have a surcharge.
Reasonable to pay twice for the same data-service?
Do you think that you should pay twice your monthly metered water bill for those months when you used water in the kitchen sink to wash both glassware and dishes?
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - Trouble - 09-08-2011
Chakravartin wrote:
[quote=Trouble]
Another thing to consider is what does AT&T mobile actually sell? Connectivity. Tethering allows multiple devices to connect so it seems reasonable to have a surcharge.
Reasonable to pay twice for the same data-service?
Do you think that you should pay twice your monthly metered water bill for those months when you used water in the kitchen sink to wash both glassware and dishes?
But it isn't the same service. The customer is connecting two devices or more devices. The opposing argument is that "if the plan allows 2 GB of transfer then I should be allowed to serve that 2 GB to as many devices as I want." However AT&T isn't selling transferred data, they are selling connectivity. A customer pays to get their device on their network. AT&T says that if you pay another $20, you can add as many devices as you like.
The water analogy doesn't really work because the customer pays for the water they bring into their dwelling. They aren't paying for water out of a single faucet and there is unlimited water to bill. Two completely different situations.
I guess a better analogy would be someone paying a flat fee for access to a buffet for a month. If you weren't hungry at lunch, or ate somewhere else, I don't know any restaurant manager that would allow you to give your ticket to some other person for that meal. Or allow you to bring someone with you and give them a plate of dinner rather than eat the two full plates you normally would. You could make the argument that the overall amount of food eaten would be the same, but that wasn't the deal.
Another example is someone bought a package of 10 bowling games a day for a month. If that person couldn't make it that day, I'm sure the owner would have a problem with that person giving those tickets or allowing someone else to bowl instead.
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - Trouble - 09-08-2011
RgrF wrote:
Trouble (aka Slash and several other nicks) will always find a way to defend the establishment. Greed is good!
Stop being a jerk. I'm not who you think I am. This is my one and only account here. Stop baiting.
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - Bill in NC - 09-08-2011
jailbreak your phone, add an unapproved app, and tether for free?
Re: Can some MBA explain this to me? - sekker - 09-08-2011
If you are buying connectivity, then the data caps need to be much higher than you get now.
If they are selling bandwidth, the tethering tax is ridiculous.
I think the companies want it both ways, which is why there is all the fuss.