I’m an Internet Junkie….there I finally admitted it.
What I really mean is that I’m constantly connected. Through my laptop at home, my mobile phone or even my new iPad, I’m constantly connected. The amount I’m connected is probably an order of magnitude higher than the average person as I work in the Internet industry. Each one of the devices I connect with basically does the same thing; Emails, web browsing, Intranet access and even VoIP calls. The only difference is the context in which I use them.
At home I have a full communications package with phone, fax and Internet connectivity from Deutsche Telekom. They are a very good provider, very few (if any) outages and the speed is always first rate. I have T-Mobile for my mobile phone and the service there is also top notch. The mobile data speeds are better than I expect, most of the time, and the network coverage is excellent. Recently I procured an iPad and the experience there mirrors the experience of my mobile phone.
With all that said, you would think that I have nothing to complain about. On the contrary, I have an issue with the contract. More specifically, I have an issue with paying more than once for the same service!
All of these various devices are a demarcation point for access to the Internet. In the case of Deutsche Telekom, all IP traffic goes over the same network, regardless of where it’s originated. This means all DSL, Ethernet, Business Services and Mobile IP traffic is serviced by the same routers, switches and access gear. Once a packet…always a packet….
This is the same with just about every market and carrier across the planet. The recent drive to consolidate various services onto an IP infrastructure has yielded all IP networks in nearly every Carrier on the globe. These all IP networks carry all types of service, Voice, Data, Internet, Intranet. Furthermore most of these carriers have plans to streamline their business process to integrate all of their various business units into a single entity (if they haven’t done it already)
With this in mind I’d like to know why a company like Deutsche Telekom cannot offer me a flat rate IP service that covers all of my IP devices? I’d like to see DT charge me a single rate for IP service regardless of the amount of devices I use to access the network……let’s just add this to the long list of wishes 
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
John, I think the problem is that we, and I am certainly included, are in the top echelon of users of bandwidth as well. It is simply a revenue game for the providers. AT&T, which I used in the US religiously as you do with DT here, just announced no more unlimited plans for the mobile network. This may not have much impact on say the bottom 85% of users…but it is going to ding the top 15% in a huge amount.
I, like you, would love to have a single data package…an all you can eat buffet, anywhere you are! I mean this across ALL their group companies. For you, that would many T-Mobile access in every county not just Germany!
And as another note, I can’t stand having to watch my data usage. Today, it is primarily when roaming out of my home country of France…it would be worth it to pay a single package fee that would take this pain away! Yes, definitely on my wish list as well….
Justin, Like you I can not stand (nor believe anybody would) like to watch data usage bits and bytes. I still believe the All you can eat buffet wins. See my blog post for more details why I believe so.
All you can eat Mobile data will prevail – NSN to the rescue
http://managed-ethernet-access.blogspot.com/2010/06/all-you-can-eat-mobile-data-will.html