Google May Build Bandwidth Throttling Feature Into Android
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Google's "bandwidth throttling" for mobile devices enables wireless [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue ! important]carriers[/COLOR][/COLOR] to set usage thresholds for data that is transferred during a certain timeframe and directly react with a bandwidth reduction. When the bandwidth cap is reached, the device can automatically limit the maximum bandwidth to a level that is permitted by the carrier. Filed in October 2011, the patent clearly speaks toward a trend that sees [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue ! important]wireless [COLOR=blue ! important]carriers[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] abandoning unlimited data plans and moving toward tiered data plans that occasionally include bandwidth throttling.
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The upside of such a feature, as opposed to hard caps which automatically purchase another data volume package and potentially surprise the user with a high bill, is that a user may actually notice that an unusually large amount of data is transferred. The technology would also allow for a carrier to offer the user to purchase additional data volume upon request.
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Servers and their infrastructure would seem to have limits; and they are in the business to make money while providing a service; they can't operate on the slim margins oil and gas companies do, as an example.
I can see reasonable aspects to both sides of this, but in the end, user caps and throttling may be the most survivable business model in such a competitive marketplace.
YMMV, of course. . .