I have a somewhat technical question someone here is bound to know the answer:
Can you tether to a wireless router instead of a computer? Ie: can an unlimited data connection realistically replace a home broadband internet connection while supplying a wireless network with 4-5 clients connected?
Now it starts to make a bit more sense if right now you have a DSL connection at home and you just use on the house PC for browsing and e-mail.
I'm not sure what speeds you'll be able to achieve, but this might be a workable alternative to a wired connection at home. Suddenly, $35/month for data you can take with you seems pretty good.
Now it starts to make a bit more sense if right now you have a DSL connection at home and you just use on the house PC for browsing and e-mail.
I'm not sure what speeds you'll be able to achieve, but this might be a workable alternative to a wired connection at home. Suddenly, $35/month for data you can take with you seems pretty good.
Hmm that's a nifty little machine, but it doesn't support WiFi /N, only b/g... so until a newer router comes along, it's not really a solution - I really need that wireless N network.
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Originally Posted by James.P
Hmm that's a nifty little machine, but it doesn't support WiFi /N, only b/g... so until a newer router comes along, it's not really a solution - I really need that wireless N network.
Plug into it with wire. 100 megabit or 1 gigabit full duplex trumps wireless n anyway.
802.11g is fast enough to keep up with the Internet connectivity of the device.
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You are NOT paying more for data with Wind. You are paying less to get data ACCESS on incumbents. There is a very clear difference, but simply having data access without any real ability to use it is completely pointless. And the overage charges also make it dangerous.
My opinion is that $35 7.2mbit unlimited mobile data blows the crap out of my $30 5mbit 200gb landline dsl, and that is already an amazing deal. Its also $10 less than my most optimistic estimate.
I imagine the reason they don't have cheaper data options for lower users is because of simplicity. If you start making up arbitrary data caps to sell for lower price points, you lose the simplicity of having unlimited. On top of that, they'd either have to cut off people who go over or charge them, which ruins the experience. Lighter users paying more per gb of data than heavy users (just because they use less) offsets the cost of heavy users.
In addition, google voice, or any other voip provider might be a viable option now and supplant the voice plans entirely. Being able to get *everything* for $35/mo in the future is at least a possibility on this network.
[Side note: There is the $10 Social Blackberry option; although it doesn't make it fully clear, if you have access to facebook and myspace wouldn't general browsing be implied part of that too? Or would they limit it to those two sites?]
[Side note: There is the $10 Social Blackberry option; although it doesn't make it fully clear, if you have access to facebook and myspace wouldn't general browsing be implied part of that too? Or would they limit it to those two sites?]
Telus and Bell have something like this. "BlackBerry Social" where there's no web browsing.
If the $10 also included email that'd be cool, but we don't have confirmation yet.
You are NOT paying more for data with Wind. You are paying less to get data ACCESS on incumbents. There is a very clear difference, but simply having data access without any real ability to use it is completely pointless. And the overage charges also make it dangerous.
My opinion is that $35 7.2mbit unlimited mobile data blows the crap out of my $30 5mbit 200gb landline dsl, and that is already an amazing deal. Its also $10 less than my most optimistic estimate.
[Side note: There is the $10 Social Blackberry option; although it doesn't make it fully clear, if you have access to facebook and myspace wouldn't general browsing be implied part of that too? Or would they limit it to those two sites?]
I have a couple problems with your argument. One, i'd rather have for cheaper than unlimited, I will never use more than 500mb. You might, I will never.
I believe windsider said in another thread that after 5gb you get throttled, so it wouldn't be much better than a dedicated ISP.
and no, bb's can restrict what you can do so they'll only have service books for FB/MS
The beauty of these plans is they are perfect for familys or groups of friends. $15 a month to keep your kid in contact with you or if you are really motivated slowly convert your friends over to the Wind network to take advantage of the unlimited W2W feature.... This strategy is pure genius to get people to switch to your network. And if you do not have a family or friends then you need to spend $35 to get the unlimited talk and replace your home phone.... Wind just made Christmas a whole lot more enjoyable.
Interesting plans. I have 3 accounts in my family using corp plans and just on face value I could save $20 a month by switching and get MORE use out of my phones since we mostly call each other.
Might actually save more depending on the cost of:
International LD rates? Or Intl discount plan?
International txt rates?
Including caller ID, call forward, and call waiting makes sense because they are included in the phone system by default anyway.
Extra $5 for voicemail is the cost of storage needed for the messages...logical cost structure that makes sense to me. And I wouldn't have to get it.
Telus and Bell have something like this. "BlackBerry Social" where there's no web browsing.
If the $10 also included email that'd be cool, but we don't have confirmation yet.
Ok, if you get unlimited texts with this it would be acceptable for some people.
re: expensive smartphones..
Build cost for most is <200, and they are eventually sold in the 250-400 range (see Hero for example). Its a purchase on par with buying a netbook. Contract prices are creating these inflated 500-800 prices, especially since the few retail places to get them charge exorbitant markups on already exorbitant markups.
Unsubsidized hardware sales directly to millions of customers via Wind stores pressures manufacturers to compete directly on hardware costs. They will drop, mark my words. A year from now, I doubt any device you find in a Wind store will be over $500, even though you can easily spend twice that now for an HD2.
Plug into it with wire. 100 megabit or 1 gigabit full duplex trumps wireless n anyway.
802.11g is fast enough to keep up with the Internet connectivity of the device.
Technically all true, but not suited to my needs.
The wireless N network is needed in my place because I have a file server (a NAS) that host the multimedia and several computers, a media center TV and an xbox 360 throughout the house that all need to have access to these files - on wireless g, if 2 clients are accessing the NAS simultaneously, lag shows its ugly head... not enough intra-network speed. Therefore the need for N.
But at the same time, can't just tether by plugging it in a computer - all those clients (other comps, xbox) need internet access too, quite often at the same time. Besides I really don't want to go through the hassle of plugging/unplugging all the time...
I think a lot of people are being fairly short sighted.
Of course they are going to subsidize phones some how. It just hasn't been announced yet. Even these plans are leaked and unofficial.
Fact is... If you were looking for a price break, you won't get it. Prices are competitive to what the Big 3 offer, BUT they are made to offer you more. You can get 1GB on the Robbellus for $35, same alledged price on WIND just U/L.
WIND's price plans are amazing if you don't ever want to worry about overages. It is worry free wireless communication. I drop $70 a month with Telus, for $10 more I can get tethering and U/L Canada Wide Calling. Its more expensive, but I get more out of the service.
Originally Posted by James.P
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