Data Calling Plans

location based services

One of the elements that is undoubtedly holding back heavier use of the mobile web is the cost. It’s been a bit of a theme here at MobHappy that mobile browsing is not only expensive but the cost is shrouded in mystery - it’s like going to a restaurant and only being shown the prices at the end of the meal. Is that sandwich going to cost a couple of bucks or £85 ($157), like the one pictured above and recently launched at Selfridges in London?

The solution to this is the fabled all-you-can-eat data plan, which is more prevalent in the US and the main reason why we’re going to be left behind in Europe unless we make some changes. However, going from where we are now to the other extreme might be difficult to swallow for mobile operators. While I can quite happily promise them more money in the long run by getting people to rush to use the mobile web, what do I know?

So I was thinking. How about having a data plan - a bit like friends and family calling plans, that prove to be both successful at stimulating more calls of all types, as well as being popular with customers.

What the operator would do is allow people to nominate their top 10 web sites they want to use. All data charges when using those sites would be free, or available for a nominal charge - $2 - $5 a month, say.

If people don’t really use the mobile web right now, no problem. The operator can tell them the top 10 sites on their network generally, or if they get clever about it, based on the user’s profile.

As people start to use the mobile web more, they’ll find out more and more sites they want to visit, tell their friends about the experience and start sharing good mobile websites. Then they’ll find that 10 websites is no longer enough and you hit them with an all-inclusive plan where operators can make some money, if they don’t get too greedy.

But the all-inclusive can be decided later. For now, let’s put the mobile web in danger of being used, or more importantly, being used more frequently. It’s time to let mobile data usage finally explode.

Does anyway know of anything similar to this being launched or proposed? I don’t pretend to be the fount of all knowledge, so please leave a comment if you know something I don’t or have an opinion on this you’d like to share.