Verizon joins AT&T in launching sponsored data access, raises net neutrality concerns
Verizon on Tuesday officially announced FreeBee Data, a service that will let businesses sponsor data access so subscribers can load some apps, websites, or downloads without it impacting their monthly limits.
Two versions will be available, the basic one covering data on a per-click basis, Verizon said on Tuesday. A movie studio, for instance, might sponsor access to a movie trailer, or a local business might sponsor an app download. FreeBee icons should appear next to such material.
FreeBee Data 360 however will operate on a per-gigabyte model, making it suitable for a sponsoring an entire app or website. As of today, 360 is in fact already available to businesses in beta form -- the per-click option will only enter a beta trial on Jan. 25 with partners like Hearst and Verizon's own AOL.
Full commercial availability for the per-click option should happen later in 2016.
FreeBee is similar to AT&T's Sponsored Data, which likewise allows companies to buy their way around customers' data caps.
Both services could potentially run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules, which mandate that all Internet traffic be treated equally. Businesses that can't afford to sponsor data could seen as having an unfair handicap.
The FCC is in fact already probing AT&T, as well as Comcast's Stream TV and T-Mobile's Binge On.
Two versions will be available, the basic one covering data on a per-click basis, Verizon said on Tuesday. A movie studio, for instance, might sponsor access to a movie trailer, or a local business might sponsor an app download. FreeBee icons should appear next to such material.
FreeBee Data 360 however will operate on a per-gigabyte model, making it suitable for a sponsoring an entire app or website. As of today, 360 is in fact already available to businesses in beta form -- the per-click option will only enter a beta trial on Jan. 25 with partners like Hearst and Verizon's own AOL.
Full commercial availability for the per-click option should happen later in 2016.
FreeBee is similar to AT&T's Sponsored Data, which likewise allows companies to buy their way around customers' data caps.
Both services could potentially run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules, which mandate that all Internet traffic be treated equally. Businesses that can't afford to sponsor data could seen as having an unfair handicap.
The FCC is in fact already probing AT&T, as well as Comcast's Stream TV and T-Mobile's Binge On.
Comments
Pathetic.
Good luck getting the rules repealed, since most people who supported them fail to see how it was their fault.
Don't worry about it, according to this CNET article, if Obama is elected, he plans on making net neutrality rules a priority in his first year of office.
-kpluck
So no, I don't think this should raise eyebrows UNLESS the carrier then want to diminish access for non-paid content. But here they are just giving you the same content, but doing it with the added benefit of free to the user.
"Here's Why You're Going To Hate Net Neutrality"
http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/why-you-will-hate-net-neutrality/
I'll tell you...pin-head politicians thirsty for control of the Internet and hungry for a new agenda.
What do you think?
Quite frankly it would be nice to down grade my VZW plan to 1 GB if everything was paid for by the companies whose services I use and websites I visit.
BUT, I know that if say FB and Instagram and Netflix and ESPN and Spotify all offer "free data" for me, I have ZERO reason to use any competitors service because they simply cannot compete on the fact that they will not pay for my data therefore I will not use their service. This is totally lopsided for any startup as they will never be able to compete.
Also have we all forgotten the beautiful era of unlimited AT&T where they were desperate to get everyone off because they couldn't handle the capacity? Have their networks been so massively overhauled that they can handle streaming strain of millions of users?
Sorry but no dice, only a full blown imbecile would believe that somehow this isn't going to come back to bite you in the ass for letting it happen.