Mobile data plan minefield. Example 1.

I have a feeling that this title is going to be used again and again so I’ve numbered it!

James Kendrick reports on a new set of Terms and Conditions that Verizon has just put out for its EVDO unlimited data customers. The plan includes 5GB of data but the original plan included some very tight rules. From ArsTechnica:

the EVDO service is “unlimited” only for certain things. Those things are spelled out in the user agreement, and include “(i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force and field service automation).”

Verizon prohibits most other activities, saying that its service cannot be used “(1) for uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music or games, (2) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, Voice over IP (VoIP), automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, or (3) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections.”

Automated machine-to-machine connections? Does that mean auto-updating web pages are banned? How in the world is a user going to control that?

For anyone out there trying to choose a data plan, I feel for you. I’m doing the same at the moment and am finding it impossible to compare like-for-like. One service appears to be http port-80 only, another is UMTS (384/64) only, another permits tethering, others don’t.

There’s an opportunity here for 2nd-tier cellphone/contract resellers. They have the overview and information available to be able to put the best deals together for customers but at the moment, I don’t see anyone doing a good job of it. Only yesterday I was browsing a resellers site for offers on the HTC Shift. They were offering over 50 different voice plans for it but the device doesn’t even have voice capability. There wasn’t a single unlimited data plan available. Missed opportunity, especially as I’m prepared to put down 50 euros per month for the right service.