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Charter Launches Mobile Service, Throttles All Video To 480p (arstechnica.com)

Posted by msmash on from the closer-look dept.

Charter Communications launched its mobile broadband service on June 30, and it's throttling all video streams to DVD quality. From a report: "DVD-quality video streaming is supported. Video typically streams at 480p," Charter notes in the "Pricing & Other Info" section of its mobile sign-up page. The quality limit is similar to one just imposed by Comcast, which previously did not impose any video quality limits on its mobile service. Comcast is letting existing customers get 720p video streams "on an interim basis at no charge," and the company announced plans to charge extra for longer-term access to HD quality. But Charter hasn't announced any plans to let customers stream in HD over its mobile service, for free or otherwise. HD video "is not currently an option for Spectrum Mobile," a Charter spokesperson told Ars. Wirefly has a Spectrum Mobile review.

6 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Not network neutrality issue. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1, Insightful

    They are throttling all video. So perfectly compliant with NN.

    Get off your pulpits.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    1. Re:Not network neutrality issue. by MasseKid · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Video data is treated differently than data. Treating any data differently than any other data violates the principle of net neutrality.

    2. Re:Not network neutrality issue. by luther349 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      watching 480p on your 6 inch phone your not going to see the difference.

  2. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    This is good. Small mobile screens with higher than perceivable resolutions are fucking retarded and the average phoneposter is on average more cancerous than laptop and computer posters, there's also a higher prevalence of underage on phones than on laptops and desktops.
    All in all, limiting phoneposters from Internet features not only helps websites and servers but also helps the quality of the Internet because phoneposters are worthless scum and need to be put down. Phoneposting is a sin, and i hope Charter Communications continues limiting the abilities of phonecancer and all other companies take up its philosophy as well.

  3. Re:It's just one way to get mobile internet. by mystik · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google + Netflix do not get "free" internet.

    They pay handsomely for their interconnects, infrastructure, caching edger servers + what not.

    Consumer ISPs do not get to charge them twice for connections + data customers are requesting.

    --
    Why aren't you encrypting your e-mail?
  4. Not about data usage by ddtmm · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is definitely not about data usage because if it was then they would be restricting bit rates. But they're instead restricting resolution.