AT&T’s data growth spreading like wildfire
The most important landmark current cellular carriers in the U.S. need to reach, aside from getting up to speed on innovative handsets, is convincing customers to sign onto data plans. Whether it is the data network that sells the handset or the handset that sells the data network, AT&T has managed to increase customer usage of its 3G data network in impressive fashion.
According to Engadget Mobile, AT&T has sizably built a following on its 3G network. In fact, sizable is a bit of an understatement — AT&T has increased its data revenue by 52% in the last quarter alone.
Of course, included in that 52% is standard messaging; however, I really don’t believe that a massive number of AT&T customers just decided to start texting last quarter. That doesn’t seem to be the answer.
An obvious answer would be that every iPhone owner is required to purchase a data plan, and the release of the iPhone 3G certainly brought a whole new fleet of willing participants to AT&T’s 3G data network.
Still, it is an impressive feat that AT&T has been able to increase usage of its data services so significantly, iPhone 3G or not. With an unlimited data plan coming in at $20, its certainly easy to see how the recession-conscious might be more easily swayed into purchasing data with AT&T.
I believe pricing is the largest factor holding back consumers from adopting smart phones and data capabilities. U.S. markets are still charging an arm and a leg for mixed talk and data plans, and some carriers (like T-Mobile) are charging ludicrous rates for outdated EDGE data networks.
But then, perhaps T-Mobile’s fleet of lackluster handsets are contributing to poor data adoption rates (or vice versa). When you have a handset like the iPhone, you could sell data plans for much more than you could if you’re hottest unit is an outdated Blackberry.
Carriers need to start pricing data plans competitively so that consumers start adopting smart handsets. Once smart handsets become more standardized, consumers will demand faster data networks. The two items go hand in hand, and it is an equation AT&T has seemed to nail down solidly.
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July 24th, 2008
Yet another worthless post from Triston. We get it, you hate T-Mobile and you hate Microsoft. You love Sony and you love AT&T with her crippled and feature-lacking iPhone.
I’ve read a large sampling of these “stories” and I keep thinking that Triston shouldn’t quit his day job.
July 24th, 2008
Amused,
If you hate my pieces so much, stop commenting. I actually don’t mind T-Mobile (and prefer it to AT&T, which I dislike greatly). I think Microsoft is an unethical company, and I could really care less about Sony.
I’m sure you had a mother at some point in time…she probably told you something about what you should do if you don’t have anything nice to say.
In response to your comments on my Sidekick article, the handset is a dead beast with a technologically-naive following. I can’t even believe you would say the iPhone and Sidekick are of similar quality because your iPhone only does a couple things right where Sidekicks (though you’ve never owned one) does many things decently. Perhaps you should spend less time commenting and more time on your day job.