AT&T increases throttling threshold to 22GB

AT&T recently announced on its website smartphone customers on unlimited data plans can now use up to 22 GB a month before throttling kicks in.

Several reports indicated that the threshold was previously 5 MB before AT&T would slow down the rate of transmission.

AT&T said customers will be notified when they have used up 75 per cent of their 22 GB, or 16.5 GB.

Data costs limit mobile-video consumption: Ericsson

A new report from Ericsson AB shows that while people are increasingly consuming video on mobile devices, the cost of data limits many from taking advantage of what the technology makes possible.

The report released Thursday from Ericsson's ConsumerLab division — based on research involving more than 22,500 people in 20 countries including Canada and the United States — said there has been a 71 per cent increase in the number of people viewing video on smartphones since 2011.

PIAC launches complaint against Videotron music service

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is asking the CRTC to direct Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to change the price structure of its new music service, which exempts data consumed through some music streaming apps from data caps.

Videotron “favours its own mobile service by making it more attractive and less expensive to use at the expense of all other [Internet] use and in particular any other non-covered audio content, streamed or otherwise,” PIAC said in a Part 1 complaint filed Tuesday.

Sprint offers free service to DirecTV customers

U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Corp. is offering free service to customers of DirecTV, the satellite-TV provider that was recently purchased by AT&T, a competitor to Sprint in the mobile market.

Sprint said in a press release that between Aug. 28 and Sept. 30, DirecTV customers who opt for Sprint mobile service, or add additional services with Sprint, can receive unlimited talk and text for a year and 2 GB per month of data on up to five lines, if using a non-subsidized smartphone.

Cogeco creates new Internet plans for Ont. community

Cogeco Cable Inc. announced Thursday that new residential and business Internet packages are now available in Lindsay, Ont.

Court rules against Videotron in Internet-cap lawsuit

The Superior Court of Quebec has ruled against Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron in a class action lawsuit over usage caps Videotron imposed on what it had billed as unlimited Internet plans.

Quebec's Union des consommateurs said in a press release Tuesday that, in a decision rendered Aug. 21, the court ruled that Videotron had unilaterally changed the terms of the contract and imposed illegal charges.

CNOC fights Eastlink on wholesale prices

The Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC), representing independent Internet service providers, has asked the CRTC to prevent Eastlink from changing the way it calculates wholesales costs for use of its network.

CNOC said in an application that appeared on the CRTC's website Tuesday that Eastlink has made it known it plans to change the way it determines prices for cable retail Internet access on a wholesale basis, starting next month.

Sprint provides free roaming in Canada, Mexico

U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Corp. announced Monday free roaming in Canada, Mexico and other countries.

Sprint said in a press release that under its Free Open World program, which customers can access at no additional cost, calls and texts to Canada and Mexico come at no extra cost to customers, and calls and texts can be made from within these and more than a dozen Latin American countries with no roaming charges.

Data revenue bolsters Telus numbers

Telus Corp. on Friday reported a 5.1 per cent year-to-year revenue gain in its second quarter, boosted by more data-generated cash from both its wireless and wireline operations.

Bell mobile-TV opponents call it OTT service