Author Topic: Internet Caps and Microstock (Read 4035 times)

Whiz · « **on:** April 02, 2009, 18:35 »

Since Internet providers like AT&T are increasingly using Internet caps, do you think this will affect microstock in any way? I suspect this would affect huge file download sizes and video sales mostly.

madelaide · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2009, 19:54 »

What is internet caps?

Whiz · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2009, 20:06 »

Quote from: madelaide on April 02, 2009, 19:54

What is internet caps?

It's when Internet providers limit you to something like forty gigabytes per month for downloading and uploading stuff online. Also known as bandwidth caps.

ichiro17 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2009, 20:14 »

From a buyer's perspective, they don't care. they are using it as part of their business and they will download no matter what. Besides, XXXL files are max 20MB so you have to download a lot of those files to get to maxxing out.

sharpshot · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2009, 01:48 »

Would a business have a capped internet connection? Perhaps a small business might but they aren't going to spend much anyway.

RaFaLe · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2009, 02:22 »

This depends on the country.
In South Africa (for example), Non-leased line broadband connectivity is ALL capped by default.

DSL, 3G, Wi-Fi etc are generally capped at about 1GB for general public, but one can opt for a larger cap (and simply pay about $8 more per month per GB).
Businesses using DSL usually have a cap of about 10GB, but can also opt for a larger cap.

There are also uncapped options available, but then line speeds are reduced dramatically to protect the ISPs.

I guess for most folk in the US and in most of Europe, this is not likely to be an issue, since bandwidth is FAR cheaper than in 3rd world countries.

stormchaser · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2009, 22:46 »

I do know one of the major providers is trying out a cap system in Texas, or at least was planning the cap trial. They are mainly after those people who sit and DL video & stuff 24 hrs a day.

I believe Cricket Broadband has something in the fine print of their terms. But from what I remember when reading it, you'd have to be * bandwidth all the time for them to restrict you. For Cricket, it's really a judgment call on their end. Have a couple of reasoably heavy usage days, no prob. Do it all the time and they'll restrict you.

Even if you upload 1000 imgs a week caps they are proposing would have little to no effect on a stock uploader.

Karimala · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2009, 04:14 »

Quote from: stormchaser on April 03, 2009, 22:46

I do know one of the major providers is trying out a cap system in Texas, or at least was planning the cap trial. They are mainly after those people who sit and DL video & stuff 24 hrs a day.

I believe Cricket Broadband has something in the fine print of their terms. But from what I remember when reading it, you'd have to be * bandwidth all the time for them to restrict you. For Cricket, it's really a judgment call on their end. Have a couple of reasoably heavy usage days, no prob. Do it all the time and they'll restrict you.

Even if you upload 1000 imgs a week caps they are proposing would have little to no effect on a stock uploader.

Comcast works the same way for home users. Business users can get the caps lifted.

null · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2009, 02:39 »

Quote from: Chris.Alleaume on April 03, 2009, 02:22

I guess for most folk in the US and in most of Europe, this is not likely to be an issue, since bandwidth is FAR cheaper than in 3rd world countries.

Really? In Belgium I pay 44.4 euro p/m for a connection with max 30 gig p/m, and in the Philippines I pay 999 pesos p/m (13 euro) for an unlimited connection.