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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Exceptionally high mobile internet users now being blocked by giffgaff

Mark Bridge writes:

giffgaff, the virtual mobile network created by O2 in the UK, has admitted that its unlimited mobile data service is unsustainable in some instances. The MVNO notes that less than 1% of users account for over a third of its total mobile internet data use; a figure that has parallels with recent research by Arieso.

In a blog post last week, community co-ordinator Craig Ting said “The way in which these users are using their data is simply not economically sustainable for us - both in the cost of the data they are using, and in the business time spent on investigating and working with these cases. This is all time and money we could be spending elsewhere to improve and develop giffgaff as a service and community for you.”

The network is introducing new data usage checks that “will involve checking more frequently for patterns of use of our mobile internet services that are likely to affect other service users and the business, and for behaviour that is not genuine mobile internet use.”

It says the vast majority of customers who have a ‘goodybag’ tariff option with unlimited mobile internet access - which has no formal ‘fair use policy’ - won’t notice any difference.

However, it seems that the lack of any clear usage guidance has frustrated some giffgaff users. The original blog post has now been updated this week to advise “we'll be looking at starting a deeper discussion on unlimited mobile internet use on a Goodybag, and our communications processes around users who are judged to be breaking the terms and conditions on their service use”.

We spoke to Heather Taylor, former social media and PR manager for giffgaff, in our podcast on 28th January 2011. Click here to listen using the audio player on our website, find the podcast via iTunes or download the MP3 directly.
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Opinion Articles

SpinVox visit offers a few clues about the technology

Mark Bridge writes:

So, dear reader, let’s start at the beginning. Once upon a time, a mere five years ago, there was SpinVox. A company created with help from entrepreneur Christina Domecq – whose surname offers a clue to her family’s background – and Daniel Doulton, the man behind the Psion series 5. (Sherry and portable computers; two of my favourite products. But I digress).

The company’s promise was simple: to turn voicemail messages into SMS text messages.

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That just about covers it

Mark Bridge writes:

In my last article I looked forward to a world of cyborgs… but feared that decent battery life could stifle my dreams. And this week I’m on a similar theme, despairing that the UK’s mobile coverage problems probably won’t be solved before the Silver Jubilee of Vodafone and Cellnet’s networks.

To illustrate my worries, let me tell you a story.

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What price for a hands-free conversation?

Iain Graham writes:

When you get up tomorrow morning and get in the car, why don't you screw up three £20 notes and lob 'em out of the window?!  Oh, and whilst you are at it, take out your driving licence, and put three points in the penalties column!!

Why would you do that, I hear you ask?

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The Singularity is… errm… on its way, I think

Mark Bridge writes:

I’m an optimist. I’m not quite sure why I’m wired that way but I’m perfectly happy with it. Much as you’d expect, I suppose. And although I tend not to tap-dance in the gutter when it’s raining, I firmly believe that life is like a musical.

That’s probably why I’m such a fan of what’s become known as ‘the Singularity’; a point when technology and evolution are expected to combine. As computers become smarter, so they’ll be able to build smarter computers themselves – and before you know it they’ll be repairing people and improving the design. If all goes well I’ll look like a combination of Robocop and Jude Law.

“Fascinating”, I hear you say. “Bring on the medical nanobots. But what’s all this got to do with mobile phones?”

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Web Browser vs. Application Stores

James Rosewell writes:

Anyone involved in the mobile industry will have hardly failed to notice the hype surrounding mobile application stores led by Apple. Application stores provide a really simple way for consumers to install applications on their mobile phones. They’re so simple I heard Iain Graham had used one the other week!

However they don’t solve the fundamental problem of handset compatibility.

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