[News] Verizon to start throttling all smartphone videos to 480p or 720p

[StyM]

https://arstechnica.com/information-...-480p-or-720p/

Verizon Wireless will start throttling video streams to resolutions as low as 480p on smartphones this week. Most data plans will get 720p video on smartphones, but customers won't have any option to completely un-throttle video.

1080p will be the highest resolution provided on tablets, effectively ruling out 4K video on Verizon's mobile network. Anything identified as a video will not be given more than 10Mbps worth of bandwidth. This limit will affect mobile hotspot usage as well.

Verizon started selling unlimited smartphone data plans in February of this year, and the carrier said at the time that it would deliver video to customers at the same resolution used by streaming video companies. "We deliver whatever the content provider gives us. We don't manipulate the data," Verizon told Ars in February.

That changes beginning on Wednesday, both for existing customers and new ones. The changes were detailed today in an announcement of new unlimited data plans.

Starting August 23, Verizon's cheapest single-line unlimited smartphone data plan will cost $75 a month, which is $5 less than it cost before. The plan will include only "DVD-quality streaming" of 480p on phones and 720p on tablets. (Tablet data service is priced as an add-on to smartphone plans and costs $20 a month.)

[alfaunits]

I know the US is an extremely large country (possibly the largest in terms of area that needs to be covered by 3G/4G signal? Since Russia and Canada need not cover a lot of their ice ), but... how * are US folks to pay such ridicolous prices, but even more important those stupid "let us rob you" addons?


*I am not sure what word to use here... since I guess they are forced in many places.

[AliG]

In fairness, I really don't think the average customer would know the difference between 720p and 1080p on their smartphone.

Having said that, Verizon needs to either reduce their pricing or make it unlimited. Doesn't seem fair to just offer less for the same price.

[StAndrew]

In fairness, I really don't think the average customer would know the difference between 720p and 1080p on their smartphone.

Having said that, Verizon needs to either reduce their pricing or make it unlimited. Doesn't seem fair to just offer less for the same price.

I think they did: "...$75 a month, which is $5 less than it cost before."

[AliG]

I think they did: "...$75 a month, which is $5 less than it cost before."

lol $5 discount. Woo.....

[Sparky]

Hey, that's an extra Starbucks coffee per month!

[AliG]

Hey, that's an extra Starbucks coffee per month!

Or a 1lb bag every 2

[alfaunits]

That's some really low quality bag, you're buying :P

[kromosto]

I think verizon should also stop offering phones that have a screen with more than 720p resolution.

[Revv23]

Curious. As a Verizon customer I went unlimited for a few months, I just couldn't find a way to break 10gb. Even streaming 32 camera sec system feed over data. The only way I could think to do it would be to hotspot my phone into my TV and start watching Netflix and things like that. I switched back to a much less expensive capped plan and don't feel bad about it. When people complain about the price of the plan I don't think they realize that there are less expensive plans that will work for 90+% of everyone.

[AliG]

Curious. As a Verizon customer I went unlimited for a few months, I just couldn't find a way to break 10gb. Even streaming 32 camera sec system feed over data. The only way I could think to do it would be to hotspot my phone into my TV and start watching Netflix and things like that. I switched back to a much less expensive capped plan and don't feel bad about it. When people complain about the price of the plan I don't think they realize that there are less expensive plans that will work for 90+% of everyone.

Are you a single person? The problem becomes when you're on a family plan, and you're still capped when someone goes way over. Everyone has that family member that refuses to wait for WiFi to stream video.

[RoadconeTuning]

I hope Phablets are put in the 1080 list... my pixel XL has a large enough screen to make the difference between 720 and 1080 noticeable. I always have WAY more data usage from facebook, instagram and Spotify tho. on average i use around 12gb. up to 20 at times.