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US and Canada have most expensive cell phone plans

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On October 16, 2010, 11:19 AM

Citizens of the US and Canada tend to pay the most expensive bills for a complete cell phone package, according to a new report from the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative (OTI, via Ars Technica). Meanwhile, users in India and Honk Kong pay the least for their mobile usage.

After examining prepaid, unlimited, and postpaid plans in 11 countries to determine the minimum cost for a complete cell phone package (voice, text, and data), OTI concluded that countries with more competition and more regulation usually have the best pricing. "Cost structures and business models undoubtedly vary as a result of the level of competition and innovation in each country and it is essential that in the countries that have high prices such as the U.S., we carefully consider additional steps that could be taken with respect to encouraging competition or imposing regulation such that the US becomes an engine of innovation for better and more competitively priced service offerings," the report concluded.

Mobile users in the US need to pay at least $59.99 for a complete cell phone package while users in Canada must pay $67.50. India and Hong Kong came in with the cheapest complete plans, at $12.90 and $13.50 respectively.


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User Comments: 36

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  1. Find out the same data for our Cable and Internet Companies and I'm quite sure you'll see the same thing.

  2. Well you did not check Chilean plans =P

  3. US and Canada have most expensive cell phone plans

    Wow, there's a ********* big surprise...!

  4. Yeah... no surprise there...

  5. I wish it was under $20 a month for everything, yikes

  6. For comparison, my UK network (t-mobile) works out £20-00 per calender month for the following:

    900 anytime, any number minutes (to any fixed landline or mobile in the UK)

    Unlimited SMS

    Unlimited internet usage/tethering (Its an Android phone)

    In USD, its $31.98

  7. Leeky, are your, (British) cell phones laden with germs, bodily fluids, and the potential for infection the same as ours? Because if they are, I think that you should be paying the same price for service as we do. After all, it's no fair getting all the "perks", with no extra charge...!

  8. Leeky, are your, (British) cell phones laden with germs, bodily fluids, and the potential for infection the same as ours? Because if they are, I think that you should be paying the same price for service as we do. After all, it's no fair getting all the "perks", with no extra charge...!

    "waiter...waiter...there's a fly in my soup!

  9. Thus Spake Captaincranky.......

    (From a trance-like state, acting in his capacity as a medium for Verizon).

    "waiter...waiter...there's a fly in my soup!
    Yeah well, as long as it's not stuck to your cell phone, I think you'll be OK. 'cause if it was, then I'd have to charge you extra.

  10. Its hard to believe that in countries like Colombia - south america I pay like 40 dollars for a good all-in-one plan... It even includes 4 gigabytes through 3G access, which, for me is just too much for one month!

  11. Its hard to believe that in countries like Colombia - south america I pay like 40 dollars for a good all-in-one plan... It even includes 4 gigabytes through 3G access, which, for me is just too much for one month!
    Put the extra bandwidth to good use, download yourself some decent porn...

    (OK, let's see a show of hands, how many of you here think that, "decent porn", is an oxymoron)?

  12. *raises hand*

    Sorry, did you mean both hands? 'cause the other one is err...otherwise occupied...at the moment.

  13. The sound of one hand clapping............

    *raises hand*

    Sorry, did you mean both hands? 'cause the other one is err...otherwise occupied...at the moment.

    May the force be with it....!

    (Sorry, I don't mean to brag but, I'm left handed, but mouse with my right)

  14. Stop measuring cell phone time by minutes locally and I'll consider using one. As for long distance rates there is very little excuse to charge an arm and a leg for that. I couldn't care less for 'data plans' right now; that's just bells and whistles. Bottom line: If i can make all the phone calls I want on a cell phone and get charged the same as a very basic landline then I'm set.

  15. Stop measuring cell phone time by minutes locally and I'll consider using one. As for long distance rates there is very little excuse to charge an arm and a leg for that. I couldn't care less for 'data plans' right now; that's just bells and whistles. Bottom line: If i can make all the phone calls I want on a cell phone and get charged the same as a very basic landline then I'm set.
    The proof of this is, regardless of the global location of a server, internet charges are fixed. And that's with DSL, about which I hear tell, goes through the phone lines.

    Have you of heard of "Magicjack"? Not judging, suggesting, or condoning, but merely asking.

  16. It's ******* ridiculous over here. And it isn't just cell phones. 3mbps cable net from rogers is 36 bucks a month, plus the modem rental(buying=no replacement for breaking) and that's only if you have their phone and TV too. Without the bundle its $41+the $5 modem rental.

  17. Leeky, are your, (British) cell phones laden with germs, bodily fluids, and the potential for infection the same as ours? Because if they are, I think that you should be paying the same price for service as we do. After all, it's no fair getting all the "perks", with no extra charge...!

    You crack me up!

    P.S. My mobile (cell to you) phone was certified free of biohazardous waste just last week. I've sneezed on it a few times now though....

  18. Leeky, have you seen the "One Night in Paris", Paris Hilton video?

    Sorry, I'd love to chat, but I gotta jet, I think I hear my toilet ringing.....

  19. Leeky, have you seen the "One Night in Paris", Paris Hilton video?

    I could say no... BUT...there isn't a lot my 50mb connection hasn't discovered of that nature if I'm going to be entirely honest!

    I don't back up my "collection" though, so maybe I'm only half serious.... haha.

  20. Alternate happy ending.....

    Sorry, did you mean both hands? 'cause the other one is err...otherwise occupied...at the moment.

    May the force be with it....!

    "Luke...I was almost your father!"

  21. +1

    "Luke...I was almost your father!"

    Although, see if, "Luke, I thought ha, ha, ha, ha, harrrrrd, about being your father", works as well.

    So the girl says to the guy she just met, (in the Biblical sense), What will we call our child? Nonplussed, the gentleman replied, "let's call him "Houdini", if he gets out of this one"....!

  22. I used to get by with two tin cans and a long piece of string.

  23. The back...and front story

    Although, see if, "Luke, I thought ha, ha, ha, ha, harrrrrd, about being your father", works as well.

    It's a little known fact that the helmet worn by Lord Vader is actually a neck brace needed from years of enthusiastically nodding his head in a "yes, yes" fashion.

  24. I'm not a Witch, I'm You............

    Hmmm, I suppose that explains the voice box as well! Too many years of trying to talk with his mouth full.

    You'll all have to excuse me for about five minutes, I'm going to give the old, "left hand salute" to a picture of Christine O'Donnell. Holy water will take the stain off afterwards, won't it?

  25. My god you should see the prices in mexico, mexico should be on that chart in 4th place , we have the richest man on earth, and he owns like 90% of the telecomunications in mexico....and he keeps high prices for cellphones, cellphones plans, internet, TV, etc

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