James Enck points to a DSL broadband deal offering 8Mbps download speed and a 500Gb monthly cap. Compared to the competition, this is generous. But let’s put these scarcity business models in perspective, shall we? A 500Gb cap on an 8Mbps download means you can still only operate your DSL line at solid full-tilt for less than 6 full days a month. Would you buy a house where the heating only worked on Tuesdays and Thursdays?
Perhaps these services would be better advertised using two numbers, peak and mean speed. For BT’s basic broadband package with a 1Gb cap, would you be so keen on a “broadband” product than only allowed you less than ½ a kilobyte per second average transfer through the month - a mere fraction of an unlimited dial-up account?
UPDATE: On the other hand, the wireline operators don’t hold a candle to the wireless ones at spreading scarcity. If I wanted to use my pre-pay handset as a Bluetooth modem, that 1Gb would only cost me, um, £7600 (about US$14000). Bargain!
Posted by Martin Geddes at 09:42 PMTrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.telepocalypse.net/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/mgeddes/MT/mt-tb.cgi/445.
i think 500gb is perfectly adequate for a months usage. i used to be a pretty heavy leecher from numerous FTPs and i imagine youd have a job getting 500gb/month of warez (i cannot really see any other activity that is going to even come close to this). youd do far better to harp on about BT's rather inept broadband offering, with its horrendous 15gb cap
Posted by: at April 11, 2005 11:37 AM