YouTube •

T-Mobile Free Video Streaming Plan ‘Binge On’ has drawn criticism from both customers and content providers.

After unveiling Binge On plan, critics lashed out at T-Mobile because the free video streaming plan comes at a price. Though the program pledges that Binge On users would be able to watch their favorite videos without it affecting their data allotment, there is a downside.

Videos would be available only on low-resolution, and users who would rather watch videos in higher quality will need to pay for the data. Binge On is available only to customers who had opted for data plans of 3GB or more.

The company argued that there is no need for full resolution since most of its users watch the videos from their smartphones whose screens are too small for viewers to spot the difference. The quality of videos will be affected in the case of customers that do not have a 3GB data plan, as well.

But the plan has already drawn criticism from both content providers and customers for completely different reasons. Some content providers such as YouTube and Facebook complain that the company is deliberately throttling data without asking for users’ consent. Other providers told the federal regulators that T-Mobile is not following net neutrality rules since it discriminates between Internet service providers.

T-mobile’s recently unveiled that the free data plan works only with 24 content providers such as ESPN and Netflix, while YouTube and Facebook aren’t included.

Because streaming video content at full resolution eats up a lot of mobile data, the company will sacrifice video quality of videos of all content providers, regardless whether they are part of Binge On or not. T-Mobile explained that an hour of watching a video at its top quality can consume up to 1GB of data on a phone.

So, instead of providing HD quality, T-Mobile will offer DVD quality. The telecom giant hopes users will now be able to watch thrice as many videos on Facebook, Amazon, and YouTube than they normally would on HD.

Customers also complained. They said that they do not have access to HD quality unless they disable the free video streaming feature. The low-quality mode is the default, so anybody who wants higher quality will have to make the change via a phone call to T-mobile, the company’s website, or the mobile account app.

T-Mobile recently said that it was on the talks with other content providers for future Binge On partnerships. But critics say that more partners in the plan won’t mean that the company doesn’t infringe net neutrality rules. There will always be other video services that would be left out.
Image Source: Flickr

After the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) confirmed that the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures was in fact coming from North Korea and following an additional and far more sinister threat, the movie at the center of attention, “The Interview”, was pulled from theaters.

However, when Sony Pictures announced their decision to give into the threats made by North Korea’s Guardians of Peace, there was a tremendous backlash and a lot of mocking. Many celebrities and other high-profile people to include George Clooney felt the United States caved in, giving the attackers exactly what they wanted rather than stand strong.

Even President Obama criticized the way in which Sony Pictures handled the process of pulling the movie. To make matters worse, people around the country who voiced concerns felt strongly that by showing weakness, Sony would soon receive all types of copycat threats.

Facing such strong criticism from Americans, Sony finally decided to release the movie on YouTube, as well a number of other online venues starting Christmas Eve. Following that move, the company said The Interview would be released in certain theaters throughout the country, which it did.

According to the FBI, a criminal scheme was started by North Korea’s Pyongyang government and the result of the attack will cost Sony Pictures at least $100 million. In addition to the huge financial loss, the bigger issue is all the confidential emails and other company secrets that have now been exposed for the world to see. However, in talking to people on the street, the consensus is the same – the bullies lost.

At this time, it is reported that roughly 300 independent theaters showed The Interview on Christmas day. The movie is a comedy about a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. While it sounds horrific, people who have seen the movie agree it is actually quite comical and not threatening in any manner to Jong-un or North Korea itself.

In a statement from Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, the company is extremely grateful that people came out to see The Interview even though it was released in an unconventional way.

Although less than 10% of the theaters that were scheduled to show the movie actually allowed moviegoers to see it, theaters were sold out and the film earned more than $1 million in a single day.

T-Mobile’s Free Video Streaming Plan Comes at a Price

Sony Pictures Finally Does the Right Thing

Categories