Microsoft MVNO hype.
The other day, I speculated ways in which Microsoft, moving into providing mobile services could be amazing. And consequently dismissed those as idle hopes. Shortly thereafter it was more or less confirmed. A lot of articles however either don't seem to have enough of the story or are over hyping this. The move isn't very broad and isn't very exciting at all.
Firstly, this isn't for mobile it seems. Looks like, initially at least, that this is aimed at PCs with LTE connectivity. A segment which, today, is notably VERY small. It is also data-only, a caveat which isn't super meaningful given that we're talking laptops and tablets and not phones. And lastly, while the company they are dealing with works in multiple countries, the data plans don't "roam". The SIM and data are still only good in the country purchased.
Maybe they will expand on this in the future. But what I'm reading about today won't make a big splash and isn't a huge deal. It barely makes them a competitor with other network operators and MVNOs. Most people don't actually buy data plans for their non-phone devices. They either tether or simply use them where there is WiFi.
If there is something that could help boost the limited potential it would be to make sure supported laptops and tablets ship with a SIM card, that the sign-up process is painless and that an internet connection isn't needed to get a plan (IE - allow users with your SIM to access payment portal even without a plan).
While the segment is small, I think it could see a bit of growth if people always have what they need to sign-up at the time they need it. Done right, Microsoft could dominate that tiny market. Don't get me wrong, I still don't think the market will ever be big, even if they can get all possible sales... and history has taught us that Microsoft is terrible at advertising products and services.
If they can get it on mobile as well and bundle it with skype minutes and an MMS solution then a traditional cell plan could be replaced for many despite being data only. That move would make them viable competition for some of the offshoot mobile operators like Wind, Koodoo, etc... up here in Canada. In fact, MMS and Data is all a lot of people use these days.
Lastly, if they can work out a way to roam that data they will become much more appealing to businesses and travelers. Roaming options today are still expensive and if not part of your plan hard to anticipate. If the data in these plans were able to roam it would make quite a difference.
And, as stated before, if the above were done and were combined with either device financing or subsidies, then it could serve as a platform to make any LTE device as "affordable" as a smart phone.
Firstly, this isn't for mobile it seems. Looks like, initially at least, that this is aimed at PCs with LTE connectivity. A segment which, today, is notably VERY small. It is also data-only, a caveat which isn't super meaningful given that we're talking laptops and tablets and not phones. And lastly, while the company they are dealing with works in multiple countries, the data plans don't "roam". The SIM and data are still only good in the country purchased.
Maybe they will expand on this in the future. But what I'm reading about today won't make a big splash and isn't a huge deal. It barely makes them a competitor with other network operators and MVNOs. Most people don't actually buy data plans for their non-phone devices. They either tether or simply use them where there is WiFi.
If there is something that could help boost the limited potential it would be to make sure supported laptops and tablets ship with a SIM card, that the sign-up process is painless and that an internet connection isn't needed to get a plan (IE - allow users with your SIM to access payment portal even without a plan).
While the segment is small, I think it could see a bit of growth if people always have what they need to sign-up at the time they need it. Done right, Microsoft could dominate that tiny market. Don't get me wrong, I still don't think the market will ever be big, even if they can get all possible sales... and history has taught us that Microsoft is terrible at advertising products and services.
If they can get it on mobile as well and bundle it with skype minutes and an MMS solution then a traditional cell plan could be replaced for many despite being data only. That move would make them viable competition for some of the offshoot mobile operators like Wind, Koodoo, etc... up here in Canada. In fact, MMS and Data is all a lot of people use these days.
Lastly, if they can work out a way to roam that data they will become much more appealing to businesses and travelers. Roaming options today are still expensive and if not part of your plan hard to anticipate. If the data in these plans were able to roam it would make quite a difference.
And, as stated before, if the above were done and were combined with either device financing or subsidies, then it could serve as a platform to make any LTE device as "affordable" as a smart phone.
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