Except that Siri isnt the problem for telco. Link (new window)

Riomp300: Except that Siri isnt the problem for telco. Link (new window)

Except that has nothing to do with the article. Please, tell us more about who Siri isn't a problem for? Is Siri a problem in Somalia? Is Siri a problem for pilots that like to scuba dive? I mean, really... don't just limit yourself to one off topic post. Let's keep it rolling. OWN your inanity.

Well, maybe carriers will use this increased demand as an opportunity to expand their networks through capital investment with the promise of future returns as a result of increased capacity.

HAHAHAHAHA. I crack myself up, I really do.

So, if I had an iPhone 4s, I could speak a few words into it, it would ship those words across the network, do some processing, and ship back a few words of response. The processing is cool and sophisticated and compute-intensive, but it all takes place in the cloud, imposing no burden on the cellular network.

It seems to me that this model uses a lot less tower time and bandwidth than, oh, say, a normal conversation. How exactly are five-second snippets of speech supposed to bring a network to its knees?

It's the fault of the carriers, I tells ya.

jfarkinB: So, if I had an iPhone 4s, I could speak a few words into it, it would ship those words across the network, do some processing, and ship back a few words of response. The processing is cool and sophisticated and compute-intensive, but it all takes place in the cloud, imposing no burden on the cellular network.

It seems to me that this model uses a lot less tower time and bandwidth than, oh, say, a normal conversation. How exactly are five-second snippets of speech supposed to bring a network to its knees?

Useful phones are useful and promote increased usage. Makes sense. However it's not a fail, it's an indication of success, showing that useful phones are used. :) One more time. Used.

Make the idiot hipsters pay more.

I have a first gen iphone. it was once upgraded to a 4, but then I had to hand it over to the husband, as I ran over his 3gs. I still dispute that running over a phone that shouldn't have been on the ground in the first place is actually my fault, but I digress.

As more and more apps no longer support first gen, and many of them don't do a check before upgrading themselves into non-functionality on my device, and as the data requirements for the functional apps has increased, even though I am limited to the meager edge network, my usage has plummeted. Even apps that don't need network are painful, as they assume a better processor than I have. My useful phone is no longer terribly useful, and thus even though I am a total iphone whore, I am not using it very much at all.

Capable phones are changing our daily lives. I would love metrics that show what Iphone users are doing with their devices, compared to android users, because phone utilization vs data required are two totally different things. If the iphone is a data hog because it is more USEFUL, that is a totally different thing than being a datahog because it's slovenly with it's data requests.

//too poor to plop down $200 for 4g,
///not willing to settle for 4.
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

As an owner of the i4s... Siri is a gimmick. Plain and simple. A gimmick. I turned that crap off within two weeks.

atheneschild: I have a first gen iphone. it was once upgraded to a 4, but then I had to hand it over to the husband, as I ran over his 3gs. I still dispute that running over a phone that shouldn't have been on the ground in the first place is actually my fault, but I digress.

As more and more apps no longer support first gen, and many of them don't do a check before upgrading themselves into non-functionality on my device, and as the data requirements for the functional apps has increased, even though I am limited to the meager edge network, my usage has plummeted. Even apps that don't need network are painful, as they assume a better processor than I have. My useful phone is no longer terribly useful, and thus even though I am a total iphone whore, I am not using it very much at all.

Capable phones are changing our daily lives. I would love metrics that show what Iphone users are doing with their devices, compared to android users, because phone utilization vs data required are two totally different things. If the iphone is a data hog because it is more USEFUL, that is a totally different thing than being a datahog because it's slovenly with it's data requests.

//too poor to plop down $200 for 4g,
///not willing to settle for 4.
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

Don't ever let that go!

Telcos can go fark themselves. This is the modern day, and people need data access. To say that "new things use more data" is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. Of course they do! That's the very history of all network traffic. Time goes on, usage goes up. Features take more and more. The amount of video we transfer would have been mind boggling not long ago, and now it's commonplace.

Idiots.

earthwirm: As an owner of the i4s... Siri is a gimmick. Plain and simple. A gimmick. I turned that crap off within two weeks.

I hear lots of people say otherwise - I asked around, although I haven't yet to get my hands on one and try it out. it would seem that reading and transcribing my texts and emails in the car alone would be worth it, not to mention the AWESOME that setting location-based reminders quickly and easily. I've got two kids and a husband, I never remember to do anything when I need to, and manually entering appointments and such (although I do it) is a pita. I guess a lot of it depends on what kind of a user you are.

INeedAName:
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

Don't ever let that go!

You are encouraging my addiction . . . ::sigh::

atheneschild: INeedAName:
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

Don't ever let that go!

You are encouraging my addiction . . . ::sigh::

I would love a family plan shared data feature. I have unlimited txt on the family plan why can't we have pooled data usage.

I would blame iCloud as much if not more than I would blame Siri

LasersHurt: Telcos can go fark themselves. This is the modern day, and people need data access. To say that "new things use more data" is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. Of course they do! That's the very history of all network traffic. Time goes on, usage goes up. Features take more and more. The amount of video we transfer would have been mind boggling not long ago, and now it's commonplace.

Idiots.

Just FYI, bandwidth is far less expensive now than it was 5-10 years ago. At least it is at the tier 1 level.

TNel: atheneschild: INeedAName:
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

Don't ever let that go!

You are encouraging my addiction . . . ::sigh::

I would love a family plan shared data feature. I have unlimited txt on the family plan why can't we have pooled data usage.

Better yet, why can't I give my first gen to my son, and have data disabled and not pay the iphone data plan for him? (Would then be a ipod touch, with phone call capabilities) I've owned this phone for 4 years, I'm so outta contract it's not even funny - but nope, an iphone detected on their network gets the dataplan added automagically. I would have to change the IMEI identifier to make the phone say it was not an iphone - and although I rooted it, and tried and tried, I was unsuccessful. (Bricked it like 5 times, restored, tried again . . . ) And there should be no reason to say that changing the IMEI is illegal - it may be, but that's stupid. The original phone, and the borrowed IMEI from a dumb phone that went through the wash are both owned by me, and it would be done to no longer be charged for data that was disabled on that account anyway. Grrr. AT&T, you suck sometimes.

atheneschild: INeedAName:
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

Don't ever let that go!

You are encouraging my addiction . . . ::sigh::

I'll second that, do whatever you can to keep grandfathered into your data plan.

Of course they use more. They have services which didn't exist on the old phones that take up more data. The phone companies are eventually going to have to use some of their revenues to build out networks. 3G can't be that expensive to deploy any more. The buzz over LTE is great, but until I can go across Missouri without loosing voice and data coverage, I really don't care how fast it goes in a major city with a new LTE network. It's flat out retarded that there are places in this country without cell service.

Some questions: were all running iOS 5? How's this compared?

Also, any of you know of a data monitor application for Windows Phone 7?

Marine1: Of course they use more. They have services which didn't exist on the old phones that take up more data. The phone companies are eventually going to have to use some of their revenues to build out networks. 3G can't be that expensive to deploy any more. The buzz over LTE is great, but until I can go across Missouri without loosing voice and data coverage, I really don't care how fast it goes in a major city with a new LTE network. It's flat out retarded that there are places in this country without cell service.

Some questions: were all running iOS 5? How's this compared?

Also, any of you know of a data monitor application for Windows Phone 7?

I don't know what's out there, but if possible, go with a app from the phone company itself. AT&T's app is much more accurate than any other monitors you can get for the iPhone. (May not be accurate to the phone, but is accurate to what you will be charged - which is what we really care about, right?)

The problem for me with Siri is that when I have tried to use it... I usually get "Can't process request". It becomes a major annoyance. The time saved is nil and I don't need my VOICE transcribed to TEXT..

I'll just make a phone call.

The i4s is a good phone on all other accounts. Better camera, faster internet, etc. I'll get the 5 when it comes out, I just hope that att doesn't force me out of my GFathered unlimited data plan to get an LTE iPhone. If so, I'll use that as an opportunity to jump carriers when the time comes.

atheneschild:

Better yet, why can't I give my first gen to my son, and have data disabled and not pay the iphone data plan for him? (Would then be a ipod touch, with phone call capabilities) I've owned this phone for 4 years, I'm so outta contract it's not even funny - but nope, an iphone detected on their network gets the dataplan added automagically. I would have to change the IMEI identifier to make the phone say it was not an iphone - and although I rooted it, and tried and tried, I was unsuccessful. (Bricked it like 5 times, restored, tried again . . . ) And there should be no reason to say that changing the IMEI is illegal - it may be, but that's stupid. The original phone, and the borrowed IMEI from a dumb phone that went through the wash are both owned by me, and it would be done to no longer be charged for data that was disabled on that account anyway. Grrr. AT&T, you suck sometimes.

I have all internet turned off of one of the lines on my plan so it is possible, that person can't get picture sms but that's their fault for using the internet without a plan. Thankfully ATT took off all of the charges (some $100 worth).

TNel:

I have all internet turned off of one of the lines on my plan so it is possible, that person can't get picture sms but that's their fault for using the internet without a plan. Thankfully ATT took off all of the charges (some $100 worth).

AT&T told me they would put the plan there, even though I have data disabled for his line, no matter what, end of story. How'd you talk them around it? Did you stop using that phone? (Oh so helpfully, first gen doesn't get pic sms anyway, so that's not even a concern for me with my unlimited plan.)

jfarkinB: So, if I had an iPhone 4s, I could speak a few words into it, it would ship those words across the network, do some processing, and ship back a few words of response. The processing is cool and sophisticated and compute-intensive, but it all takes place in the cloud, imposing no burden on the cellular network.

It seems to me that this model uses a lot less tower time and bandwidth than, oh, say, a normal conversation. How exactly are five-second snippets of speech supposed to bring a network to its knees?

Siri uses the data network; normal conversations don't. The data network is where the capacity problem is.

Was it just me or was that guy writing the article off his Ritalin?

The article barely mentioned the increased data load but spent most of the time bouncing back and forth between various facts around the IPhone.

It sorta reminded me of a student writing a Term Paper and straining to meet the minimum word count so he throws in anything he can to make sure he bulks up the count

I find it very funny b/c they refuse to expand/upgrade their networks and keep passing the issue on to the consumer.

Telcos: "We want to create a phone that does it all, and the average consumer will buy into the idea, and use the phone for everything!"

Consumer: "We want to spend more money, keep using the phones, but your networks suck...upgrade them."

Telcos: "But we caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnn'ttttt" (counting cash)

FinFangFark: I find it very funny b/c they refuse to expand/upgrade their networks and keep passing the issue on to the consumer.

Telcos: "We want to create a phone that does it all, and the average consumer will buy into the idea, and use the phone for everything!"

Consumer: "We want to spend more money, keep using the phones, but your networks suck...upgrade them."

Telcos: "But we caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnn'ttttt" (counting cash)

Ironically, the one company that doesn't charge you out the ass to use its network is the company that could most use the money to stay in business... Sprint, of course.

INeedAName: atheneschild: I have a first gen iphone. it was once upgraded to a 4, but then I had to hand it over to the husband, as I ran over his 3gs. I still dispute that running over a phone that shouldn't have been on the ground in the first place is actually my fault, but I digress.

As more and more apps no longer support first gen, and many of them don't do a check before upgrading themselves into non-functionality on my device, and as the data requirements for the functional apps has increased, even though I am limited to the meager edge network, my usage has plummeted. Even apps that don't need network are painful, as they assume a better processor than I have. My useful phone is no longer terribly useful, and thus even though I am a total iphone whore, I am not using it very much at all.

Capable phones are changing our daily lives. I would love metrics that show what Iphone users are doing with their devices, compared to android users, because phone utilization vs data required are two totally different things. If the iphone is a data hog because it is more USEFUL, that is a totally different thing than being a datahog because it's slovenly with it's data requests.

//too poor to plop down $200 for 4g,
///not willing to settle for 4.
////wondering if I could stand a dumb phone for a little while, but then I would have to release my grandfathered unlimited data plan . . .

Don't ever let that go!

This. Honestly, assuming that it's possible to transfer cell plans (probably not), you could probably sell the unlimited plan for a couple grand and buy a bunch of iPhones.

/Am on family plan with unlimited data on Verizon. If need be, will take over both lines and just pay for them both.
//Probably give the other one to Dad, since he uses maybe 4 minutes per month.

atheneschild: TNel:

I have all internet turned off of one of the lines on my plan so it is possible, that person can't get picture sms but that's their fault for using the internet without a plan. Thankfully ATT took off all of the charges (some $100 worth).

AT&T told me they would put the plan there, even though I have data disabled for his line, no matter what, end of story. How'd you talk them around it? Did you stop using that phone? (Oh so helpfully, first gen doesn't get pic sms anyway, so that's not even a concern for me with my unlimited plan.)

Sorry I should have explained better, it wasn't on an iPhone. They make you have the plan to subsidize the cost of the phones.

Marine1:
Also, any of you know of a data monitor application for Windows Phone 7?

Check Data Usage from Your Wireless Phone
Dial *DATA# (*3282#) from your wireless device.
Press the Send key.
A text message detailing your data usage will be sent to your phone.

I don't have an app, I have the 2GB plan but barely use 300mb so I don't often check. There might be one out there but I don't know of one off hand.

TNel:

Sorry I should have explained better, it wasn't on an iPhone. They make you have the plan to subsidize the cost of the phones.

Except that the phone is 4 years old. It has been well paid back. :P I'm sure their cost models never included idiots like me, still using the first gen this far out. The reason is so they can make money, but the rationale doesn't hold water.

meyerkev:
/Am on family plan with unlimited data on Verizon. If need be, will take over both lines and just pay for them both.
//Probably give the other one to Dad, since he uses maybe 4 minutes per month.

Can I ask how much you pay? I've got 4 lines, three of them iphones, unlimited texts, and am pushing $260 every month. It hurts. I've looked at the other companies, but best I can figure out, the numbers end up coming out about the same.

Marine1: The buzz over LTE is great, but until I can go across Missouri without loosing voice and data coverage, I really don't care how fast it goes in a major city with a new LTE network. It's flat out retarded that there are places in this country without cell service.

That would matter if there was ever any reason to be in flyover country...

atheneschild: meyerkev:
/Am on family plan with unlimited data on Verizon. If need be, will take over both lines and just pay for them both.
//Probably give the other one to Dad, since he uses maybe 4 minutes per month.

Can I ask how much you pay? I've got 4 lines, three of them iphones, unlimited texts, and am pushing $260 every month. It hurts. I've looked at the other companies, but best I can figure out, the numbers end up coming out about the same.

I honestly don't know. My Mother's fiancee and I are sharing a 700 minutes/unlimited text/unlimited data plan, and I'm just paying the $20/month for data. Of course given that LTE runs about 2x as fast as the fastest possible land internet in my area, it's pretty much worth it no matter how much it costs, especially once the crackers figure out how to get tethering working again.

/I plead poverty caused by being in college.

atheneschild: TNel:

Sorry I should have explained better, it wasn't on an iPhone. They make you have the plan to subsidize the cost of the phones.

Except that the phone is 4 years old. It has been well paid back. :P I'm sure their cost models never included idiots like me, still using the first gen this far out. The reason is so they can make money, but the rationale doesn't hold water.

It's the same thing as when cities raise taxes to fix a bridge but the tax never goes away. Once you are used to paying something why take away the payment.

atheneschild: earthwirm: As an owner of the i4s... Siri is a gimmick. Plain and simple. A gimmick. I turned that crap off within two weeks.

I hear lots of people say otherwise - I asked around, although I haven't yet to get my hands on one and try it out. it would seem that reading and transcribing my texts and emails in the car alone would be worth it, not to mention the AWESOME that setting location-based reminders quickly and easily. I've got two kids and a husband, I never remember to do anything when I need to, and manually entering appointments and such (although I do it) is a pita. I guess a lot of it depends on what kind of a user you are.

I'd watch out if I were you. If you live somewhere that doesn't allow use of a cell phone while driving then the act of holding the phone could be enough to get you a ticket. Where I live the law says that if you're holding a phone in a position where it can be used then you're breaking the rules.

meyerkev:
/I plead poverty caused by being in college.

While we were in college, the MIL paid our joined bill too - and now that we are out we pay for her. We have 1400 minutes (she has a MUCH richer social life than I do . . .::sigh::) but even if I chopped that to 700, it would only drop the bill by $20. Freaking rape.

initial Line, 1400 minutes $80
3 additional lines - $30
My grandfathered Data Plans (2) - $60
1 additional normal data plans - $25
Unlimited Text and Mobile to Mobile - $30
Taxes on everything: $30

- $255 total.
No home phone lines, so there's some savings, but still. This is really hard to justify. And I am an _admitted_ fanboi.

Oh no. What shall we ever do. Our networks are being overloaded. Should we add more capacity to handle the increase that isn't going away?

No, that costs money. But, if we remove unlimited data plans and charge them more they'll quit overloading the network.

Crap. Now even more people have smart phones and the networks are overloaded again. Should we increase capacity?

No, just charge them even more. And, reduce service for the top 5% of data users.

This keeps going. I wonder if they'll ever bother to build the network to support what people are asking of it.

It's not Siri that's causing the spike in data usage; it's the better antenna.
Ars did some actual testing [Link (new window)] and found the average Siri query they did used about 63KB each.

So, if you did 100 a day (roughly one every 10 minutes if you're not doing them in your sleep) then Siri usage will represent less than 10% of your 2GB data plan (Assuming you got the 2GB one. If you have smaller, you probably also don't have an iPhone 4S)

Of course, if you're doing a Siri query every 10 minutes, rather than having a problem with data usage, it seems you have problems with loneliness.

It seems that the reason iPhone 4S users use more data is because of the better antenna: They download a lot faster, so they download more.

NBSV: Oh no. What shall we ever do. Our networks are being overloaded. Should we add more capacity to handle the increase that isn't going away?

No, that costs money. But, if we remove unlimited data plans and charge them more they'll quit overloading the network.

Crap. Now even more people have smart phones and the networks are overloaded again. Should we increase capacity?

No, just charge them even more. And, reduce service for the top 5% of data users.

This keeps going. I wonder if they'll ever bother to build the network to support what people are asking of it.

Hopefully Sprint succeeds. They seem pretty committed to unlimited data (non-marketing executives have indicated this), and they're building up their capacity. Hopefully this turns them around; I'd hate to see them fail.

earthwirm: As an owner of the i4s... Siri is a gimmick. Plain and simple. A gimmick. I turned that crap off within two weeks.

speak for yourself man. i use it all the time while i'm driving

atheneschild: earthwirm: As an owner of the i4s... Siri is a gimmick. Plain and simple. A gimmick. I turned that crap off within two weeks.

I hear lots of people say otherwise - I asked around, although I haven't yet to get my hands on one and try it out. it would seem that reading and transcribing my texts and emails in the car alone would be worth it, not to mention the AWESOME that setting location-based reminders quickly and easily. I've got two kids and a husband, I never remember to do anything when I need to, and manually entering appointments and such (although I do it) is a pita. I guess a lot of it depends on what kind of a user you are.

Love how it's mostly APPLE users who believe that Siri invented speak to text. As if it hasn't been around for 2 decades. What the hell, you already have this capability.

MyRandomName: atheneschild: earthwirm: As an owner of the i4s... Siri is a gimmick. Plain and simple. A gimmick. I turned that crap off within two weeks.

I hear lots of people say otherwise - I asked around, although I haven't yet to get my hands on one and try it out. it would seem that reading and transcribing my texts and emails in the car alone would be worth it, not to mention the AWESOME that setting location-based reminders quickly and easily. I've got two kids and a husband, I never remember to do anything when I need to, and manually entering appointments and such (although I do it) is a pita. I guess a lot of it depends on what kind of a user you are.

Love how it's mostly APPLE users who believe that Siri invented speak to text. As if it hasn't been around for 2 decades. What the hell, you already have this capability.

You mean His Royal Highness Jobs didn't pluck the idea from the gods to deliver it to man? LIES!!!!!!

The bigger problem is what this does to the battery life.

1000 Ways to Dye: NBSV: Oh no. What shall we ever do. Our networks are being overloaded. Should we add more capacity to handle the increase that isn't going away?

No, that costs money. But, if we remove unlimited data plans and charge them more they'll quit overloading the network.

Crap. Now even more people have smart phones and the networks are overloaded again. Should we increase capacity?

No, just charge them even more. And, reduce service for the top 5% of data users.

This keeps going. I wonder if they'll ever bother to build the network to support what people are asking of it.

Hopefully Sprint succeeds. They seem pretty committed to unlimited data (non-marketing executives have indicated this), and they're building up their capacity. Hopefully this turns them around; I'd hate to see them fail.

I love Sprint so much. I use about 15 GB of data a month and my bill is around $80 every month. Suck it, ATT/Verizon/Tmobile/US Cellular. Suck it hard.