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Despite concerns over the major carriers switching to limited data plans, most smartphone users don't consume nearly as much data as expected, according to a story out yesterday from Consumer Reports.
Analyzing information obtained from 23,000 different cell phone bills, CR found that the average bill from February 2010 to February 2011 did show a fair amount of data consumed per month--274 megabytes for T-Mobile subscribers, 360 MB for AT&T users, and 449 MB for those on Verizon.
But that average was pulled high by a small percentage of heavy data users and so doesn't give a truly accurate picture, according to the story. Looking instead at the median smartphone user (midpoint on the scale), the magazine found considerably less data use--48 MB per month for T-Mobile users, 120 MB for those on AT&T, and 158 MB for Verizon subscribers.
The results indicate to CR that most existing Verizon subscribers who stick with the company's all-you-can eat $30-per-month plan and most new customers who choose the 2 GB-for-$30 plan will end up the same since neither group will approach that 2GB threshold.
In contrast, most AT&T subscribers who pick the 200 MB-for-$15 plan should be in the clear, as will most T-Mobile customers who opt for the carrier's 200 MB-for-$10 plan.
The move by T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon to tiered pricing leaves Sprint as the only major U.S. carrier to still offer unlimited data plans...at least for now.
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Analyzing information obtained from 23,000 different cell phone bills, CR found that the average bill from February 2010 to February 2011 did show a fair amount of data consumed per month--274 megabytes for T-Mobile subscribers, 360 MB for AT&T users, and 449 MB for those on Verizon.
But that average was pulled high by a small percentage of heavy data users and so doesn't give a truly accurate picture, according to the story. Looking instead at the median smartphone user (midpoint on the scale), the magazine found considerably less data use--48 MB per month for T-Mobile users, 120 MB for those on AT&T, and 158 MB for Verizon subscribers.
The results indicate to CR that most existing Verizon subscribers who stick with the company's all-you-can eat $30-per-month plan and most new customers who choose the 2 GB-for-$30 plan will end up the same since neither group will approach that 2GB threshold.
In contrast, most AT&T subscribers who pick the 200 MB-for-$15 plan should be in the clear, as will most T-Mobile customers who opt for the carrier's 200 MB-for-$10 plan.
The move by T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon to tiered pricing leaves Sprint as the only major U.S. carrier to still offer unlimited data plans...at least for now.
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