Why are these cellphone companies doing the "share everything plans"?

[kas23]

I think they're trying to steer more people into family plans with these data sharing plans. Family plans are less likely to jump ship to another carrier.

 

[eastercat]

The countries in Europe have great, regulated mobile service and they pay less than we do.

I hear the mobiles and plans in North Korea are great. The international calling feature is restricted under penalty of death, but other than that...

 

[ollyb]

It's easy to forget how good we have it in the UK until you see threads like these. We've got 4 national networks, with about 99% population coverage each. I've currently got 300mins, 3000 texts and unlimited data for £15 ($25) per month, with no contract. And if I do want to jump ship, regulation ensures it's really easy for me to port my number across networks.

I guess that's an advantage of having 1/40th of the land area, but 1/5th of the US population - greater population density makes networks cheaper to operate!

 

[617aircav]

It's easy to forget how good we have it in the UK until you see threads like these. We've got 4 national networks, with about 99% population coverage each. I've currently got 300mins, 3000 texts and unlimited data for £15 ($25) per month, with no contract. And if I do want to jump ship, regulation ensures it's really easy for me to port my number across networks.

I guess that's an advantage of having 1/40th of the land area, but 1/5th of the US population - greater population density makes networks cheaper to operate!

In the past 2 weeks I've been in england, Switzerland and Nigeria. And in all these countries I bought local sim cards for my unlocked phone, and I get incoming calls and text for free. In the USA they nickel and dime us making both parties pay for all texts and calls. Greedy.

 

[Mr Hill]

They know you aren't using minutes, that's why they want to give you unlimited. They know data is being used more everyday so they want to put caps on it and make it easier to add more devices to the plan along with free tethering to encourage more use on our tiered plan. They aren't doing what's in the customers best interest, they are doing whats in the best interest of their bottom line.

Yup and they're hoping you tether and go over your data cap so that you either pay the $15 overage or change to a plan with a higher data cap and increase your monthly bill. Complaints will start pouring in as more people get on these family share plans.