Re: An Attempt at Economically Rational Pricing: Time Warner Trial

[Jeff Shultz <jeffshultz () wvi com>]

Mikael Abrahamsson wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Jan 2008, Rod Beck wrote:
>
> > http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/61251.html
>
> So, anyone but me think that this will end in disaster? I think the 
> model where you get high speed for X amount of bytes and then you're 
> limited to let's say 64kilobit/s until you actually go to the web page 
> and buy another "token" for more Y more bytes at high speed? We already 
> have this problem with metered mobile phones, which of course is even 
> more complicated for users due to different rates depending on where you 
> might be roaming.
>
> Customers want control, that's why the prepaid mobile phone where you 
> get an "account" you have to prepay into, are so popular in some 
> markets. It also enables people who perhaps otherwise would not be 
> eligable because of bad credit, to get these kind of services.
>
> I'm also looking forward to the pricing, all the per-byte plans I have 
> seen so far makes the ISP look extremely greedy by overpricing, as 
> opposed to "we want to charge fairly for use" that is what they say in 
> their press statements.


I think that all those people who think their kids spend a fortune on 
their Cell Phones are in for a very rude awakening... when their "plan" 
runs out of bandwidth on the 6th of the month.

Flat rate text messaging was created for a reason... this is fighting 
that reason.

--
Jeff Shultz