Sprint: Forget all we said about strangling your web video streams

US telco Sprint has killed off its attempt to strangle internet video streaming on its so-called "unlimited" phone plan. The carrier said its "All-In" $80 monthly plan will no longer impose a 600Kbps cap on streaming video speeds. "At Sprint, we strive to provide customers a great experience when using our network. We heard …

[Jeffrey Nonken]

If Sprint wants to become more relevant, then they need to find better ways to distinguish themselves from the big boys than finding cleverer ways of screwing their customers.

Sprint, what you need is more customers, not more money from the customers you have. Give your customers what they want at reasonable prices, add in good support and you'll grow your customer base.

[asdf]

/agree

Yep they need to quit pulling from Verizon's playbook because their network is such crap in comparison they can't get away with it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it because they oversold the bandwidth and capacity they have

Just sayin

[Dr Stephen Jones]

Re: Is it because they oversold the bandwidth and capacity they have

Cluestick:

All ISPs oversell the bandwidth and capacity they have. Just like gyms do. If everyone tries to go to the gym at once, not everybody can get in. If everyone maxes out the ISP's bandwidth, it will go slower. It's a limited resource.

Do you think the internet grows on trees? Just curious.

[asdf]

Re: Is it because they oversold the bandwidth and capacity they have

Yeah so ISPs should be allowed to advertise the max speed possible with only one client as their speed and then divide the bandwidth up by millions no problems right?

[Steve Knox]

Or did they actually expand the reach of their throttling with this change?

“During certain times, like other wireless carriers, we might have to manage the network in order to reduce congestion and provide a better customer experience for the majority of our customers.”

Now, it'll just be pure coincidence that your connection randomly gets selected for such when you happen to be viewing a video stream. Or anything else that they want to throttle.

[msknight]

Hella ... what?

Someone didn't check the urban dictionary before writing that sub-head methinks. Come on ... who was trying to be cool before having their first coffee of the day ;-) Own up!

[Timo]

isn't it enough for a small screen?

I'll probably be crucified for saying this, but on a small screen that might be enough to render a decent picture. Also Sprint seems to have tested it, it wasn't just something they made up.

Of course 600kbps is definitely not enough for the big screen, but it might work on the train.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: isn't it enough for a small screen?

Even small screens are HD. Your points stands as long as it's a small screen on a 5 year old phone.