Extra services, extra charges - GPS, music, now cable coming to a handset near you

Iria · Nov 7, 2005, 03:20 PM

A collection of ring tones from the likes of the Backstreet Boys. A handful of video games. Throw in mobile Internet access, and it all helps push Chelsea Ozawa's monthly cell phone bill up to about $100, almost twice the national average.

The 21-year-old San Francisco State University student doesn't question the need for any of her add-on mobile services. They've become part of her lifestyle, shaping how she projects her persona, how she perceives the world and how she whiles away her free moments.

"I like the ring tones of my favorite artists, and I assign them to different friends, so I know who's calling," said the Daly City resident. "The games are fun, too. I play them when I'm bored in my class."

Ozawa is part of a small but growing class who use their cell phones in ways unheard of years ago. The expanding universe of services comes with a catch: Users have to figure out how they are going to pay for it.

And yet, customers like Ozawa are barely scratching the surface of what's available. Even as they latch on to texting, ring tones and picture mail, the large constellation of mobile services is expanding, offering everything from music downloads to live television, GPS navigation and even social networking services.

Fueled by advances in cell phone hardware and new DSL-fast data networks, carriers and their mobile content partners are offering a mind-numbing array of mobile choices that are limited less now by technology than by price, ease of use and consumer awareness. Increasingly, they see mobile data revenue as a way to bolster their bottom line and tap new cash streams that will be the key to future profitability.
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Read More / Source: SFGate

Nov 7, 2005, 03:20 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Extra services, extra charges - GPS, music, now cable coming to a handset near you A collection of ring tones from the likes of the Backstreet Boys. A handful of video games. Throw in mobile Internet access, and it all helps push Chelsea Ozawa's monthly cell phone bill up to about $100, almost twice the national average. The 21-year-old San Francisco State University student doesn't question the need for any of her add-on mobile services. They've become part of her lifestyle, shaping how she projects her persona, how she perceives the world and how she whiles away her free moments. "I like the ring tones of my favorite artists, and I assign them to different friends, so I know who's calling," said the Daly City resident. "The games are fun, too. I play them when I'm bored in my class." Ozawa is part of a small but growing class who use their cell phones in ways unheard of years ago. The expanding universe of services comes with a catch: Users have to figure out how they are going to pay for it. And yet, customers like Ozawa are barely scratching the surface of what's available. Even as they latch on to texting, ring tones and picture mail, the large constellation of mobile services is expanding, offering everything from music downloads to live television, GPS navigation and even social networking services. Fueled by advances in cell phone hardware and new DSL-fast data networks, carriers and their mobile content partners are offering a mind-numbing array of mobile choices that are limited less now by technology than by price, ease of use and consumer awareness. Increasingly, they see mobile data revenue as a way to bolster their bottom line and tap new cash streams that will be the key to future profitability. ___________ Read More / Source: SFGate