Required Smart Phone Data Plans

Does anyone else think it unfair?

Why are we required to buy a data plan for a smart phone? That is like saying that your all in one printer / fax / scanner being required to send faxes. Okay, so that is not a great analogy, but I think you get the point. While you may have a DVD/VCR Combination at home, that does not mean you will be watching a VHS tape this weekend.

When I purchased my first iPhone, I was on T-Mobile and was unable to use it as a phone, but it functioned quite fine as a iPod touch (with phone capability). After a year I decided to take the “brick risk” and free the phone from AT&T. I used it for 3 years on T-Mobile before upgrading to a new phone and switching to AT&T due to a customer service issue with T-Mobile.

Pre-Paid Monthly No Contract Plans

When looking to get a local number I checked out the monthly cell phone plans. I really did not want to have a contract for 2 years and was happily surprised to discover that it cost less money per month without a contract!

Why is that?

No discount on phones
Lower data plan rates

Hmm..that list was much smaller than I thought it would be.

Reasons not to sign a contract

Lower monthly rate
No contract
No data plan requirement

WiFi is Everywhere and Free!

Once in a while I do wish I had a data plan, but at the current prices, have not even considered it. You can’t use a GPS function without it, but that just means you need to plan your route and print a map or get a GPS for you car which does not have a service charge.

Unlike data plan restrictions and rate increases, the number of free WiFi hotspots seems to be increasing. Businesses realize that customers want the convenience and competition has dictated the need.

FiOS Expansion Halted?

I have heard rumor that the expansion of FiOS has stopped. Service providers are focusing on wireless Internet access at high costs over the faster, lower priced hard wired cable and phone company connections. Sure, satellite will always be an alternative to Cable TV, but will we have any options for Internet access in the future?

Help from the FCC?

I believe it was the Federal Communications Commission that has required GMS phones to be unlocked. While it does take a little prodding from them, you will be provided unlock codes when available. While I don’t believe it, AT&T claims there are no unlock codes for iPhones, though you can buy unlocked iPhone 3Gs for $350, 4G for $550, and 4Gs for $650 from a provider or Apple directly.

Why does the government not step in a stop the rapid increase in data plan rates and the tightening data use restrictions? I am convinced there is price fixing going on between the various carriers. I also believe they have worked out an “understanding” to require those who purchase a “smart phone” to buy their expensive slow data plans.

Should we lock in on an Unlimited Plan before they are gone?

For now I am happy I am not locked in, but as the data plan costs go up and the amount of data is being reduced, I wonder if I should quickly lock in a low priced unlimited data plan before they are gone. Not many companies still offer them, or if they do, they “throttle” down your data speed the more you use.

Free WiFi seems to be abundant, and someone near you on the bus probably has a Data Plan you can mooch if you need to 🙂

2012-03-172021-01-26

Multi Use Path Courtesy

Since today was beautiful, took a rather scenic walk with the dog through Rock Creek Park by the Smithsonian National Zoo. Of course, you simply needed to walk outside of you did not check the weather forecast to know that it is shorts and t-shirt weather 🙂

“Passing on your left”

Proper trail etiquette dictates that when you are passing someone, usually from behind, you always pass on the left side and provide an audible signal to that effect. Since bells are required in the District of Columbia and many other states, a simple “ping” is all that is needed. Of course, saying “Passing on your left” will help those unaccustomed to the bell signal.

Tally

Here goes. The list of those who signaled they were passing when approaching from behind.

Cyclists

Yes 7 33%

No 14 67%

Runners

Yes 0

No 11 100%

One runner had to stop because my dog was in the way and shook his head in disgust as he continued running. Hmm…had you let me know you were coming and passed on the left and not the right, you might not have been inconvenienced by my dog.

Moral of the story

When you are passing someone in a car, on a bike, in a stroller, or jogging, kindly signal that you are passing and always pass on the left side. 🙂 Not only will it make your trip more enjoyable, you will avoid 99.9% of crashes t00!

2012-02-222021-02-05

Did you see Nightline last night?

Wow…am I lucky!

After watching the Nightline episode last night, one has to wonder, how much would it “really” cost for an iPhone if the workers were paid more than $2 an hour! Average wage earned is $427 a month or $14 a day. The Nightline report mentioned that for $17 a month you can live close by in a 8 person bunk-bed room. While not looking very nice, they apparently are much nicer than the homes those workers came from. Workers also have the opportunity to take education classes and have a soccer field nearby.

More than 1 million workers

MacRumors in a discussion reports that Foxconn employs over 1 million workers of which about 10,000 are on the production lines for Apple. Productivity is very high as the units produced each day are impressive to me, but if you were to increase wages to $8 an hour, a 75% increase, working 40 hours each week, that would be an increase in labor cost of 12.5 Billion US dollars. It probably would not drive “retail” prices up 75%, but I certainly would think it would cost us a few more pennies.

Should we be paying 50% more?

According to The Atlantic it would cost more than $1100 to buy an iPad 2. That is close to double the cost.

US Poverty??

It does make you think more about poverty level globally. In the US, if you are living alone making less than $10,890 you are below poverty level. It is good we have assistance programs in place to provide food since a box of healthy cereal costs you $5 these days! Granted we are quite materialistic in this country, so maybe you can live on a very little amount in other countries, but for the wages paid, it would be impossible for any worker to actually own the product they are making!

Miss the report?

Watch the episode online here: ABC Nightline Video Archives

Wrap-up

So most consumers would probably not like paying twice as much for our imports, but seriously, after seeing that report it makes me wonder any way if I really need everything I buy. Sure I single handedly cannot help those workers in other countries, but together I would think we could all make a difference.

There really is a dilemma here…should we push to have all manufacturing and assembly happen in the US and only buy American? Do we lobby for better wages in foreign nations? Either way, people will lose jobs. Sure more will be created elsewhere, but for those currently working for $2 an hour, a mandated wage increase for them could mean a factory relocation or layoffs if another supplier is able to produce products for even just a penny less.

This has probably been my most passionate and heartfelt post ever and I hope that it can help in some way.

2012-02-132021-01-26

Expedia Poor Customer Support

60+ Minutes on Hold

I will elaborate later, but after waiting close to an hour to talk with a representative to perform a “Phone Only” operation, in this case refunding the Expedia Car Insurance, I plan to close my account if I get to person.

Must call Customer Support.

After canceling the related car reservation, you get prompted with a nice reminder that “You must call customer service to cancel car insurance.” One would think this would be a given, and certainly no require a phone call to do.

Account Closure

With so much competition out there, no need to have that account around! I found a FAQ while I was waiting which detailed how to mange your account, including closing, but when I clicked on the link, was given an error basically saying I did not have permission to delete my account. Guess I have to wait on the phone for this too!