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The only thing I can think of is that you must not live in the US.

Here's a comparison demonstrating the crappy sound of our cell phones:

http://www2.windmobile.ca/en/Pages/network.aspx

Much of the world has already adapted HD Voice but not the US where we are stuck with the crappy standard cell codecs and bitrates.

This is why Hutchison 3G is the fastest growing mobile carrier in the UK. Shameless plug, because I use it and think it's the best thing since punch cards, for £15/mo and no contract you get 300 voice minutes on any UK network, 3,000 SMS texts and the ONLY TRULY UNLIMITED INTERNET* of ANY UK carrier.

Another shameless plug from a satisfied customer on the other side of the pond.

Wind Mobile has/had a plan that I signed on with: Cdn $40/m for unlimited talk & text North America wide(!), unlimited global SMS, and unlimited internet (with a fair-use policy, which throttles after about 5 GB/m, which is fair), also allows tethering. No contracts, free Android phone (Huawei 8600(?)) on their "WindTab" where they knock off 10% of monthly bill from the retail price after each bill is paid - terminating service requires paying off balance of phone. Also, after 3 months service, they provide the unlock code for free (network unlock).

I can't help but think that your Hutchison provider will eventually stop giving unlimited internet connections: 6 GB per day is extraordinary!

All in all, seems some good providers out there, if one looks hard enough (and is not locked into a multi-year contract with another provider).

If you're in a major Canadian city then you have another choice until Christmas at least.

http://www.windmobile.ca/en/Pages/Holiday-Miracle.aspx

Well.. Almost.

Wind mobile, mobilicity and their like are small bit player with extremely limited coverage areas and even fewer handset options than even T-Mobile in the US. They really are pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I would never consider an AWS carrier because of the lack of hardest availability and the lack of coverage outside of major metropolitan areas.

Well.. Almost.

Both Wind Mobile and Mobilicity offers $10 unlimited data add-ons. If you don't want any voice plans then their data-only plans would cost $30 and $40 respectively.

No credit card is needed for either of these providers. Cash and carry. So it doesn't matter if you're Canadian, American, or Pastafarian.

Some carriers in Canada aren't as asinine about unlimited data, but they still charge way more than a similar plan in Europe or Asia would be.

They do it in Canada, too. $0.15 per incoming text, with most carriers. You pay extra to add text packages.

It's not *quite* as bad as that, though... most voicemail/call display packages include a small number of text messages. 100/month is more than enough texts to cover accidental texts, and messages from people who don't realize you pay for texts. Upgrading from the entry-level plan to the next step up gets you 1000 texts/month, which is more than enough for most users. Additionally, most non-entry level plans will get you included texts as well.

With some carriers, about $50-$75/mo will get you unlimited north american long distance with unlimited data. With the big providers, that'll cost you about $125/mo at a minimum (unless you threaten to cancel... Rogers lowered my bill to $75/mo when I threatened to go to Wind... :P that gets me 400 anytime minutes, unlimited evenings/weekends from 6pm-7am, 500mb data, unlimited north american LD, texting, call display, call waiting, voicemail, etc., and better coverage than I'd get with the smaller players... important, because I live in the sticks.)

Mobile service is still disgustingly overpriced in NA when you compare it to what's available in Europe and Asia, but from what I understand, it's much worse in the USA. :(

My idea for a compromise: Have a maximum limit of bandwidth, and throttle (not kill) to EDGE speed once a user hits it.

Already done

Depends on the carrier. But some of them actively encourage you to bring your existing unlocked phone to their network:

http://www.windmobile.ca/

Coincidentally, they're currently the only game in town that offers unlimited data/voice packages... I'm just waiting for them to put in a new tower in my town (they say it'll be up before the end of the year) to switch... I can get the same service I have now for less than half the cost. And no, I don't work for Wind. Actually, I work for Bell....

The N900 will work on Windmobile's network at full speed. Wind is rumored to be selling the phone soon but for now they say you can use your own N900 with their SIM cards. Dave Wireless is supposed to run on the same frequencies as Wind but Dave is not on line yet.