Is 4G worth the price? I say no...

[dfuser312553]

^^^+1 I was wondering that myself. I'm not in the boonies but I don't think I'll have it for 6 months to a year.

^I think the difference is that when you buy an HDTV you still get to choose what you're willing to pay for.

 

[KZIWarrior]

Sorry...I created a "beat-a-dead-horse" thread

I am sure they are making well enough now on us, to cover the expenses of their new 4g network, they are just using the 4g terminology to rip us off further, really how much faster can it be? Data speeds vary so much anyways. Also I do not care about browsing the web while I am on a phone call. I have a business idea, I am going sell tootsie rolls, add some more chocolate to them and the call them 4g tootsie rolls and charge more for them lol

To use your example if you put more chocolate in your tootsie rolls guess what CHOCOLATE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE INGREDIENT. Therefore your costs go up (meaning your profits per unit go DOWN)... your example is relevant in the fact that VZW would be providing MORE of their ingredients and since 4G-LTE uses more data more quickly (i.e. customers will be d/l more data, Hi-Def movies for instance) they will have to acquire far more bandwidth. In addition LTE is set to utilize the same data stream(s) for voice meaning they will have even more bandwidth they need to secure and contrary to what you obviously think bandwidth is neither unlimited or free (though you apparently are getting your chocolate for free). So if you don't want to pay DON'T. Go to walmart or cricket and get the phone and service you feel 'comfortable' with paying for.

 

[dfuser312553]

^ harsh...

 

[Stelv]

I am seriously considering getting a tablet that is not tied to a carrier and keep my d1 for like 3 years. Its not a matter of having a smart phone though, it's a matter of them gouging us more for a service that is only slightly better and will not even be offered in all areas. I can well afford the new service, but there needs to be some point when the increases stop. By 2025 we will be paying $500/mo for the Droid 32 or something.

 

[Detonation]

Sorry...I created a "beat-a-dead-horse" thread

I am sure they are making well enough now on us, to cover the expenses of their new 4g network, they are just using the 4g terminology to rip us off further, really how much faster can it be? Data speeds vary so much anyways. Also I do not care about browsing the web while I am on a phone call. I have a business idea, I am going sell tootsie rolls, add some more chocolate to them and the call them 4g tootsie rolls and charge more for them lol

How much faster can it be? The average LTE speeds being reported are faster than most people's home (wired) broadband internet. And all the 4g research & development, towers, marketing, etc wasn't free. Sure, Verizon is making a profit now on the 3g (its what businesses do), but its not like they were just going to take a hit on that amount and give us 4g for free.

 

[Stelv]

Sorry...I created a "beat-a-dead-horse" thread

I am sure they are making well enough now on us, to cover the expenses of their new 4g network, they are just using the 4g terminology to rip us off further, really how much faster can it be? Data speeds vary so much anyways. Also I do not care about browsing the web while I am on a phone call. I have a business idea, I am going sell tootsie rolls, add some more chocolate to them and the call them 4g tootsie rolls and charge more for them lol

Sadly you own example just proves how little you and other know and understand about business... to use your example if you put more chocolate in your tootsie rolls guess what CHOCOLATE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE INGREDIENT. Therefore your costs go up (meaning your profits per unit go DOWN)... your example is relevant in the fact that VZW would be providing MORE of their ingredients and since 4G-LTE uses more data more quickly (i.e. customers will be d/l more data, Hi-Def movies for instance) they will have to acquire far more bandwidth. In addition LTE is set to utilize the same data stream(s) for voice meaning they will have even more bandwidth they need to secure and contrary to what you obviously think bandwidth is neither unlimited or free (though you apparently are getting your chocolate for free). So if you don't want to pay DON'T. Go to walmart or cricket and get the phone and service you feel 'comfortable' with paying for.

Cricket has android phones lol. Alright you are right, my analogy was faulty. I realize that more bandwidth costs more, but how much more bandwidth are they giving us? My tootsie rolls only have 2% more chocolate but I tell everyone that they are filled with "blazing" amounts of chocolate, and that a magic lightening bolt will shock your tongue with flavor. I then charge $20 more for my special 4g lightening bolts, but it only cost me like $1 to upgrade my chocolate.

 

[KZIWarrior]

Sorry to come off a bit harsh on the last statement. Nothing personal. It that case (2% more) it would be uncalled for.

I am seriously considering getting a tablet that is not tied to a carrier and keep my d1 for like 3 years. Its not a matter of having a smart phone though, it's a matter of them gouging us more for a service that is only slightly better and will not even be offered in all areas. I can well afford the new service, but there needs to be some point when the increases stop. By 2025 we will be paying $500/mo for the Droid 32 or something.

:rofl3: that would be a bit steep but at some point market elasticity will come into place. Again as someone else point out this is 'new' tech and therefore overly inflated (remember how expense Plasma and other HD TVs were just a few years ago, now they are dirt cheap and even the HIGHEND ones are less than the 'basic' models from then). I'm considering similar to you though, getting a wi-fi tablet for all my 'data' needs and then just a basic phone for calls. But we'll see what comes down the pipe.

 

[dezymond]

^^^+1 I was wondering that myself. I'm not in the boonies but I don't think I'll have it for 6 months to a year.

^I think the difference is that when you buy an HDTV you still get to choose what you're willing to pay for.

Well the real difference is you can buy an HDTV and not get any service at all, not the same with a cell phone No contracts to buying a new tv.

But why buy an HDTV without at least planning on getting HD service? Surely a standard TV is much cheaper, albeit harder to find. I mean if the TS is in it for the hardware then by all means go for it. But if you're gonna buy the best HDTV money can buy and not pay for the HD service, then I don't know why you'd buy the TV in first place

just my two cents

 

[UrbanBounca]

It's hilarious because this is the same complaints I heard from people when DSL was available, and people didn't want to pay extra for faster broadband.

If you want fast, you pay extra. If you don't like it, get a dumb phone. I, for one, can't wait for 4G. We have no broadband in my area, and 4G will be the fastest. I use my 3G to access the internet at home right now.

 

[dfuser312553]

^^ ps3!!!!!

 

[cereal killer]

My tootsie rolls only have 2% more chocolate but I tell everyone that they are filled with "blazing" amounts of chocolate, and that a magic lightening bolt will shock your tongue with flavor. I then charge $20 more for my special 4g lightening bolts, but it only cost me like $1 to upgrade my chocolate.

Capitalism is a beautiful thing : )

 

[KZIWarrior]

My tootsie rolls only have 2% more chocolate but I tell everyone that they are filled with "blazing" amounts of chocolate, and that a magic lightening bolt will shock your tongue with flavor. I then charge $20 more for my special 4g lightening bolts, but it only cost me like $1 to upgrade my chocolate.

Capitalism is a beautiful thing : )

^:icon_ banana::icon_ banana:

Also have to remember that VZW is a publicly traded company and shareholders will not tolerate declining (or even flat) profit margins. If they didn't do everything possible to keep, if not raise their profits they would be devalued quickly and go bust. Likewise w/o generating such profits they can't continue to get the capital they need to expand their offerings and secure their position in the market (again, basic economics folks... not to turn this political but stop listening to socialist media about "big greedy companies" and think for yourselves, besides you want your 401Ks to increase right... economics 101, invest in the companies and products you use/purchase and then your 'paying yourself').

 

[Detonation]

Cricket has android phones lol. Alright you are right, my analogy was faulty. I realize that more bandwidth costs more, but how much more bandwidth are they giving us? My tootsie rolls only have 2% more chocolate but I tell everyone that they are filled with "blazing" amounts of chocolate, and that a magic lightening bolt will shock your tongue with flavor. I then charge $20 more for my special 4g lightening bolts, but it only cost me like $1 to upgrade my chocolate.

If you want some numbers, the average 3g download bandwidth is around 1-1.5Mbps. The reported 4g bandwidth is 5-12Mbps, but some people have said they're getting 20+. I don't know about you, but thats a pretty big gain from my point of view. As a point of reference, the average home broadband speed in the us is probably around 4-7Mbs.

And you still don't get the business part of it. Its not about how much it costs to upgrade, its about how much they can still it for while still being competitive and maintaining customers.

 

[dezymond]

Question: Does anyone actually know the pricing plans for Verizon 4g? (I haven't really been keeping up)

What I do know is the speed difference between 3g and 4g is pretty significant and I would gladly pay extra to get those speeds. Right now I'm sure we all pay the standard $30/mo, and since I don't know the pricing of 4g I would think they'd charge probably $50-$55/mo. For as much as I use my phone, and sometimes for tethering, I would happily pay the extra $10-$15 for those speeds? However, this is just my guess, Verizon could easily bring it up to $60/mo, is it worth it then? Yes I do think it is, but I won't pay for it as I am more than happy with my Incredible and 3g service.

Stelv, you just seem to want new hardware. 3g isn't going anywhere, and I'm more very sure that companies are still going to be pumping out better 3g-only phones. All the talk of dual-core and better screens goes to 4g because 4g is a new technology and companies want to take advantage of that hype. 3g is long from forgotten and 3g will still be strongly supported until 4g becomes a standard (2-3 years hopefully).

 

[Stelv]

5-20mps is fast, but is overkill in my opinion and not needed unless one needs to download large files from a server quickly, ftp a huge huge file to a client immediately from ones cell phone, etc. Its not a practical speed for smart phone users. It may be great for streaming hd movies, but verizon will charge you more to tether (unless rooted - good luck with future moto phones)