Take your foil hat off for a second and recall that Google opposed the government on that request and instead gave them a lot less information then they wanted, plus it was all unidentifiable information at that.
It's true that once you see that it's happening, it's too late. However, that doesn't mean you should automatically assume it will happen.
I actually read the article that slashdot links to. There are only certain uses you're allowed to use this specific plan for.
"Unlimited Data Plans and Features (such as NationalAccess, BroadbandAccess, Push to Talk, and certain VZEmail services) may ONLY be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). The Unlimited Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose."
"Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections"
So, I'm just pointing out most of the arguments here don't make sense. If you want to make an argument, detail how you'd easily go over the 5gig limit based off of only using allowed services. If its impossible to go over that limit based off of the allowed usage, then technically its unlimited use. I mean, technically there's only 720 hours in a month (based off a 30 day month). Yet, ISPs will say unlimited access as opposed to saying 720 hours of usage. Technically its not unlimited, its just that you can't go over the theoretical limit and therefore is unlimited.
If you can use over 5gigs and not breach the contract, then its wrong and you should complain its not as advertised. But thats not what most of the people here are talking about. So, its not necessarily right, but its not necessarily wrong based off of a huge portion of the arguments here.
again, you already stated you "assume" its fair access. It very well may not be. If they assume that going over 5 gigabytes means you're breaking the terms of service, they obviously have rules on what you can use the access for. Therefore, its also reasonable to assume that doing those allowed things shouldn't bring you over 5gigs. I did just remember the commercial stating in fine print you can't use it for video (but that was awhile ago, it may have changed). I assume that means you can't use it for a lot of other things too.
Its true that we have to hold companies accountable. But we also have to remember we can't re-interpret things to mean what we want them to or think something should be allowed just because it'd be cool.
I believe that using it for broadband access is actually a different service entirely. I may be wrong though, I don't have the article that stated that the uses are limited. I'm under the assumption its unlimited use of its *limited* uses (sounds confusing, but it really isn't). Yea, it should be more clearly stated. But technically, its not wrong if that truly is the case.
You all keep pointing out how big dvd *.iso's are or how big a patch for a video game is... but are you really downloading these things to your phone? we're talking about a cell phone here, not a normal computer. It's possible that they say the bandwidth can only be used for certain things (i vaguely remember reading that, but unfortunately i cannot recall, so i can't say its fact) and even if you do those allowable things 24/7, you can't hit the 5GB limit. Therefore, it builds a solid case that you're using it improperly if you go over the limit. i assume there are rare exceptions where that may not be the case, but i'm not quite sure what the cases may be.
i lived in a town where everybody was proud of the football team. if you were on the football team, you were pretty much famous. however, if you were smart and received good grades, you were either cast aside, beaten up, or left alone. maybe its cause they ruined the grade curves, who knows. but i went to a private high school for that reason. there is plenty of anti-intellectual attitude. more than enough to deter them from trying their best. the teachers aren't the only influence on a student.
There's a huge difference between PSP and the PS3. The comparison means absolutely nothing. Comparing how people bought a PSP as a game machine instead of a UMD-player is a lot different than buying a PS3 as a game machine WITH a blu-ray player. UMD was never going to succeed as a format on its own. It was proprietary to the PSP. You couldn't buy a standalone UMD player. The PS3 is a different story. I bought a PS3 for the gaming system. A neat side effect is that I get a blu-ray player along with it. No extra money to spend on it. Seeing as how I would have purchased the PS3 with or without the blu-ray player, I look at it as a no risk for me with going for blu-ray. I'm not purchasing something that's obsolete. Even if blu-ray loses, I still have the gaming system and will always be able to play the blu-ray movies I now own. If i purchased a standalone player of either format and that format then lost, well, its a huge loss for me as well. That player will now only play what I already own and new stuff will never come out for it. I'll then have to purchase another player and either keep them both hooked up or re-purchase my blu-ray collection.
So the PS3 will be a very big influence. Comparing it to PSP and UMD is just plain silly.
Slashdot Mirror
Take your foil hat off for a second and recall that Google opposed the government on that request and instead gave them a lot less information then they wanted, plus it was all unidentifiable information at that.
It's true that once you see that it's happening, it's too late. However, that doesn't mean you should automatically assume it will happen.
I actually read the article that slashdot links to. There are only certain uses you're allowed to use this specific plan for. "Unlimited Data Plans and Features (such as NationalAccess, BroadbandAccess, Push to Talk, and certain VZEmail services) may ONLY be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). The Unlimited Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose." "Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections" So, I'm just pointing out most of the arguments here don't make sense. If you want to make an argument, detail how you'd easily go over the 5gig limit based off of only using allowed services. If its impossible to go over that limit based off of the allowed usage, then technically its unlimited use. I mean, technically there's only 720 hours in a month (based off a 30 day month). Yet, ISPs will say unlimited access as opposed to saying 720 hours of usage. Technically its not unlimited, its just that you can't go over the theoretical limit and therefore is unlimited. If you can use over 5gigs and not breach the contract, then its wrong and you should complain its not as advertised. But thats not what most of the people here are talking about. So, its not necessarily right, but its not necessarily wrong based off of a huge portion of the arguments here.
again, you already stated you "assume" its fair access. It very well may not be. If they assume that going over 5 gigabytes means you're breaking the terms of service, they obviously have rules on what you can use the access for. Therefore, its also reasonable to assume that doing those allowed things shouldn't bring you over 5gigs. I did just remember the commercial stating in fine print you can't use it for video (but that was awhile ago, it may have changed). I assume that means you can't use it for a lot of other things too. Its true that we have to hold companies accountable. But we also have to remember we can't re-interpret things to mean what we want them to or think something should be allowed just because it'd be cool.
I believe that using it for broadband access is actually a different service entirely. I may be wrong though, I don't have the article that stated that the uses are limited. I'm under the assumption its unlimited use of its *limited* uses (sounds confusing, but it really isn't). Yea, it should be more clearly stated. But technically, its not wrong if that truly is the case.
You all keep pointing out how big dvd *.iso's are or how big a patch for a video game is... but are you really downloading these things to your phone? we're talking about a cell phone here, not a normal computer. It's possible that they say the bandwidth can only be used for certain things (i vaguely remember reading that, but unfortunately i cannot recall, so i can't say its fact) and even if you do those allowable things 24/7, you can't hit the 5GB limit. Therefore, it builds a solid case that you're using it improperly if you go over the limit. i assume there are rare exceptions where that may not be the case, but i'm not quite sure what the cases may be.
i lived in a town where everybody was proud of the football team. if you were on the football team, you were pretty much famous. however, if you were smart and received good grades, you were either cast aside, beaten up, or left alone. maybe its cause they ruined the grade curves, who knows. but i went to a private high school for that reason. there is plenty of anti-intellectual attitude. more than enough to deter them from trying their best. the teachers aren't the only influence on a student.
There's a huge difference between PSP and the PS3. The comparison means absolutely nothing. Comparing how people bought a PSP as a game machine instead of a UMD-player is a lot different than buying a PS3 as a game machine WITH a blu-ray player. UMD was never going to succeed as a format on its own. It was proprietary to the PSP. You couldn't buy a standalone UMD player. The PS3 is a different story. I bought a PS3 for the gaming system. A neat side effect is that I get a blu-ray player along with it. No extra money to spend on it. Seeing as how I would have purchased the PS3 with or without the blu-ray player, I look at it as a no risk for me with going for blu-ray. I'm not purchasing something that's obsolete. Even if blu-ray loses, I still have the gaming system and will always be able to play the blu-ray movies I now own. If i purchased a standalone player of either format and that format then lost, well, its a huge loss for me as well. That player will now only play what I already own and new stuff will never come out for it. I'll then have to purchase another player and either keep them both hooked up or re-purchase my blu-ray collection.
So the PS3 will be a very big influence. Comparing it to PSP and UMD is just plain silly.