3G services largely unused: report

[LizKat]

Well if most cell purchasers are like me, I have several 3G phones but no 3G service. So yes I can see that less than a third use 3G services.

Yep that's me too. I am used to it by now. Gotta get in the car and drive the phone to the service, that's what it amounts to. "Service" belongs in quotes. I could get 3G if I drove about 160 miles I guess.

In fact I just noticed the other day that the little phone to which I upgraded my other ATT line does have 3G capability... and I've had it for months!! I wasn't even looking for 3G, just some flip-phone with a menu I could stand and some way to drag a little music onto it from a Mac (i.e. either a removable chip or an internal setup that would let me mount it USB and format the space to Mac). Anyway i ended up with a LG CU-515, it's very fine but its 3G talents are completely wasted on me.

 

[BongoBanger]

I kind of agree with this and I think it gives credence to the lack of 3G was never a major reason for the iPhone's relative lack of success in Europe which seems more down to pricing and carrier ties.

Which, of course, isn't exactly good news for the 3G model when it comes out unless it the pricing model improves.

 

[question fear]

As for Sprint retaining customers, I would need proof of that as well as the neglected network. They are the premier business provider, and second would be Verizon. They have the fastest networks around.

Sprint posts abysmal numbers

Qwest drops sprint

Sprint will be lucky if they remain independent in a year. They're struggling badly in a market where their competitors all have deeper pockets and corporate masters. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if the rumored Deutsche Telekom merger occurred, OR if instead t-mobile overtook Sprint for #3.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Sprint posts abysmal numbers

Qwest drops sprint

It ain't looking good for mobile service nowadays.

Soon all we will have is the money grubbing scrooges at AT&T and Verizon to deal with.

 

[LizKat]

It ain't looking good for mobile service nowadays.

Soon all we will have is the money grubbing scrooges at AT&T and Verizon to deal with.

Yes, the economics of our times are making people look to shove things like Cable TV and Cell Phone into the luxury category, to help feed that gas hog parked in the driveway.

So pretty soon we'll have two big dogs squabbling over an empty dish. I hadn't been taught that unfettered capitalism would model out that way... isn't the dish supposed to have a bone in it?

 

[needthephone]

I kind of agree with this and I think it gives credence to the lack of 3G was never a major reason for the iPhone's relative lack of success in Europe which seems more down to pricing and carrier ties.

Maybe your'e right but I think it hasn't done so well in 3G markets is because so much publicity was given to it being old 2G technology that it was perceived as being slower and out of date. I think people think 3G networks are more reliable and give a better signal, rightly or wrongly. Its not just because you can use the internet with 3G.

People may not use the 3G services but it doesn't have the 'show room' appeal in the fist place. People may not use all their features in the cars but these features are used to sell it in the first place.

 

[senorFunkyPants]

Maybe your'e right but I think it hasn't done so well in 3G markets is because so much publicity was given to it being old 2G technology that it was perceived as being slower and out of date. I think people think 3G networks are more reliable and give a better signal, rightly or wrongly. Its not just because you can use the internet with 3G.

People may not use the 3G services but it doesn't have the 'show room' appeal in the fist place. People may not use all their features in the cars but these features are used to sell it in the first place.

In the UK at least its simple, peeps don't use 3G because its way too expensive for what you get, a third rate Internet browsing experience. When the 3G iphone comes out 3G useage will rise because of the "all you can eat" data plan that comes with it but I doubt it will improve sales much unless they market the iphone substantially cheaper.

 

[mkrishnan]

So pretty soon we'll have two big dogs squabbling over an empty dish. I hadn't been taught that unfettered capitalism would model out that way... isn't the dish supposed to have a bone in it?

This is the reason I think the Sprint/T-Mo merger might pan out as more than a rumor... Three is a nice size, and it might reinvigorate the combined company to fight AT&T and Verizon more seriously.

And I think you are perhaps giving in a little bit too much to the gloom and doom engine. I have never heard of anyone deciding to go without a cell phone because of the current economic problems, nor have I seen any evidence that this is happening. At worst, there is evidence of slight growth stagnation, which is hardly surprised since the cell phone market is saturating, and would likely have happened even without a downturn (and is worse in Europe than the US). And perhaps people are choosing slightly more economical plans, but that's hardly turning the US cellular into an "empty bowl."