Mobile Internet: High-Cost Data On The Move

[savramesh 37]

Source

Attempts made by new entrants like Aircel to popularise the use of mobile internet have drawn attention to this particular communication platform. Aircel’s Pocket Internet offers mobile internet services at Rs 14 (for three days) and Rs 98 (for a month).

Other telecom players are actively considering more data packages. But why all this action when, according to data from the Internet & Mobile Association of India, only 4 per cent of the 36 million active internet users in India access the net over their cell phones once a month? The answer lies in the fact that, while these numbers are small, the usage of internet through cell phones has more than doubled from last year. But it’s only recently that serious mobile internet users began to realise that mobile data costs can get overwhelming.

One such user is Kushal Shah, the 25-year-old co-founder of Resorcetek Systems, who browses the internet on his Nokia E63. More than official mails, Shah uses mobile internet for personal mails, social networking and for booking movie tickets. Shah has opted for Vodafone’s Rs 499 monthly data plan, which does not include voice calls.

“You need a high-speed data plan on a smartphone. Now, if you exhaust your monthly data usage limit, be prepared to shell out an extra Rs 5 per MB of data exchanged,” he says. One bright side of paying a little more, according to Shah, is that he gets to use his handset as a data card when connected to a laptop. “I can connect my laptop to the internet and get connection speeds of up to 160 Kbps,” says Shah.

Still, with telecom operators launching data plans, especially for high-end devices like Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry, a consumer is forced to opt for a mobile internet service that’s expensive. Arwa Pande, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher, had to opt for a data plan at Rs 499 a month to be able to use mobile internet on her iPhone.

“I was told that, with iPhone, I cannot avail any of the cheaper data plans that start at Rs 99,” she says. The result? Pande ends up paying upwards of Rs 1,500 per month, half of which goes as data charges. “Fixed data charges for specific smartphones can really inflate the bill. I end up paying something similar to the rate for a PC internet connection, where both the speed and user experience is much better,” she laments.

Telecom operator BSNL became an exception recently when it launched new data plans for existing users. It brought down its charges to 3 paise per 10 KB, even as most telcos continue to charge 10 paise per 10 KB. Dirk Lewis, a PR professional and Blackberry user, says his present enterprise plan from Airtel has made mobile internet usage costlier. Lewis pays Rs 1,000 per month (exclusive of voice calls) for the plan.

“Of this, Rs 899 is for free unlimited uploads and downloads and Rs 101 for voice services,” he says. “I use up to 25 MB in emails per month, which includes text emails as well as emails with attachments. If I calculate by the pay-per-use model of 10 paisa per 10 KB, then my bill should be around Rs 250 per month. Even after adding another Rs 250 for other data, I still end up paying an extra Rs 399,” he says.

Although telecom players like Tata DOCOMO, too, have launched GPRS-on-demand services for as low as Rs 5 per pack, they come with their own limitations. The plan allows data download of up to 10 MB and is valid for just one day.

[commonman 228]

I think BSNL & MTNL 3G are the cheapest mobile data service @ 1p /10 KB, that too at avr. of around 1 mbps speed.

Reliance 1x @ 599 unlimited is also not bad at all.

Edited February 8, 2010 by commonman

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

comparing wired broadband plan cost of 1x data plan is always higher ,

but if you think of the mobility then any one will prefer 1x data plan on mobile.

for data on move just 600 rs per month plan fullfuills almost all needs.

[basheerbr 18]

i am using htc s720 in l4 plan now i cannot using internet on laptop using network sharing please reply the solution.

[rkburra 1]

I am little confused about this article.

Unlimited mobile internet is 299/- PM for reliance.It is much cheaper than any operators.

Source

Attempts made by new entrants like Aircel to popularise the use of mobile internet have drawn attention to this particular communication platform. Aircel’s Pocket Internet offers mobile internet services at Rs 14 (for three days) and Rs 98 (for a month).

Other telecom players are actively considering more data packages. But why all this action when, according to data from the Internet & Mobile Association of India, only 4 per cent of the 36 million active internet users in India access the net over their cell phones once a month? The answer lies in the fact that, while these numbers are small, the usage of internet through cell phones has more than doubled from last year. But it’s only recently that serious mobile internet users began to realise that mobile data costs can get overwhelming.

One such user is Kushal Shah, the 25-year-old co-founder of Resorcetek Systems, who browses the internet on his Nokia E63. More than official mails, Shah uses mobile internet for personal mails, social networking and for booking movie tickets. Shah has opted for Vodafone’s Rs 499 monthly data plan, which does not include voice calls.

“You need a high-speed data plan on a smartphone. Now, if you exhaust your monthly data usage limit, be prepared to shell out an extra Rs 5 per MB of data exchanged,” he says. One bright side of paying a little more, according to Shah, is that he gets to use his handset as a data card when connected to a laptop. “I can connect my laptop to the internet and get connection speeds of up to 160 Kbps,” says Shah.

Still, with telecom operators launching data plans, especially for high-end devices like Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry, a consumer is forced to opt for a mobile internet service that’s expensive. Arwa Pande, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher, had to opt for a data plan at Rs 499 a month to be able to use mobile internet on her iPhone.

“I was told that, with iPhone, I cannot avail any of the cheaper data plans that start at Rs 99,” she says. The result? Pande ends up paying upwards of Rs 1,500 per month, half of which goes as data charges. “Fixed data charges for specific smartphones can really inflate the bill. I end up paying something similar to the rate for a PC internet connection, where both the speed and user experience is much better,” she laments.

Telecom operator BSNL became an exception recently when it launched new data plans for existing users. It brought down its charges to 3 paise per 10 KB, even as most telcos continue to charge 10 paise per 10 KB. Dirk Lewis, a PR professional and Blackberry user, says his present enterprise plan from Airtel has made mobile internet usage costlier. Lewis pays Rs 1,000 per month (exclusive of voice calls) for the plan.

“Of this, Rs 899 is for free unlimited uploads and downloads and Rs 101 for voice services,” he says. “I use up to 25 MB in emails per month, which includes text emails as well as emails with attachments. If I calculate by the pay-per-use model of 10 paisa per 10 KB, then my bill should be around Rs 250 per month. Even after adding another Rs 250 for other data, I still end up paying an extra Rs 399,” he says.

Although telecom players like Tata DOCOMO, too, have launched GPRS-on-demand services for as low as Rs 5 per pack, they come with their own limitations. The plan allows data download of up to 10 MB and is valid for just one day.

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

^^^

299 per month for mobile internet ?

which plan in which circle ?

[rkburra 1]

^^^

299 per month for mobile internet ?

which plan in which circle ?

As said I have little confusion between Mobile Internet Data plans and High speed internet data plans (Using data card).

Reliance is offering unlimited mobile internet data plans for 299/-. Where as high speed internet plans using data card is expensive. Can we get similar speed ,if we connect the laptop with mobile data card with unlimited plan.

[dkaile 1,051]

^

If you are talking of the Unlimited mobile internet plan here - http://www.rcom.co.in/main.html then kindly be aware that it is NOT TRULY UNLIMITED and 5Rs/Mb NUC applies on cdma connections besides the 299/-... JFYI...

[rkburra 1]

^

If you are talking of the Unlimited mobile internet plan here - http://www.rcom.co.in/main.html then kindly be aware that it is NOT TRULY UNLIMITED and 5Rs/Mb NUC applies on cdma connections besides the 299/-... JFYI...

Thanks Dhiraj. I assume that there is no NUC for Reliance GSM. Can I assume that it is truly unlimited?. If I subscribed for 299/- in reliance GSM, can I use it for pushmail for Gmail and/or office exchange mail?

[dkaile 1,051]

^

Yes