End near for endless data usage on smartphones

When Verizon Wireless killed off its unlimited data plan for new smartphone customers on Thursday, it marked another blow for endless web surfing and video streaming. The move by the nation's largest wireless carrier has long been anticipated. More people are switching to smartphones and using an increasing amount of data for all manner of wireless activities. The shift could help wireless carriers ensure that they can handle the traffic flowing over the new higher-speed "4G," or fourth-generation, data networks they're rolling out. AT&T and T-Mobile have already set limits on monthly data usage. AT&T uses tiered data plans like the one Verizon is rolling out, while T-Mobile slows data speeds for unlimited data plan customers who use up their monthly allotment. Sprint Nextel still offers an unlimited plan. The death of unlimited wireless data is happening as service providers see an explosion in data usage, due mainly to an ever-growing number of smartphone users. According to market researcher comScore, 77 million people in the US had smartphones in the first three months of the year — up 11 per cent from a year earlier. And according to a Nielsen study, smartphone users' average data growth climbed 89 per cent to 435 megabytes in the same time frame. Article continues below Simply put, there's more profit to be made with capped data plans. Steve Clement, a Pacific Crest Securities analyst, said this growth just won't work with a fixed-pricing model over time, so to make money from the surging traffic the carriers have to try something else. Verizon Wireless' current unlimited plan costs existing users $30 (Dh110) per month. With the new plans, smartphone users will choose between paying $30 for 2 gigabytes, $50 for 5 gigabytes or $80 for 10 gigabytes of monthly data usage. Customers who use more than their allotment will be charged $10 more for each additional gigabyte. AT&T, meanwhile, charges $25 per month for 2 gigabytes of data and $45 for 4 gigabytes. The over-allotment fee is the same. Verizon and AT&T say much of the move away from unlimited data plans has to do with making users pay for the data they really use. "If you drive a car, you drive 50 miles, you pay for gas for 50 miles," Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Brenda Raney said. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said customers told the company that they wanted a choice instead of just having one unlimited plan for $30. Carriers can profit more from heavy users By moving away from unlimited plans, the carriers can profit more from the heaviest data users. And, as RBC analyst Jonathan Atkin pointed out, by offering low-level data packages — such as the 200 megabyte plans that T-Mobile and AT&T offer — they can bring in more smartphone users. Part of the move to capped data is to get consumers accustomed to the idea that data isn't a limitless resource. If carriers didn't move to usage-based data plans while rolling out newer speedy data networks, the networks would get abused, Zachary Investment Research analyst Patrick Comack said. And while the pricing of Verizon's network is higher than AT&T's, its service is speedier, so it can charge a premium for now.