Volantis' Mobile Web

This morning Vodafone announced that all new and current customers on monthly plans will now have an Unlimited Data Package thrown in for free. Until now Vodafone had charged £7.50 to add their Unlimited Data package to a monthly plan.

Of course in the Mobile Industry “Unlimited” is always finite and limited by a fair-use policy. In the past Vodafone have set this limited at a thrifty 120MB but the announcement indicates that the limit has been raised to a more useful 500MB. Vodafone included some little download stats which indicate 500MB would let you view 25k Mobile Web pages, over 300 90 second videos clips from YouTube or use Google Maps to find direction to a restaurant 830 times.

I’ve always believed that for the Mobile Web to really take off, Unlimited Data plans had to be readily available. Without an unlimited plan customers are always thinking about the cost of viewing things on the Mobile Web, much like users of the internet in the mid-90’s when modem use was charged by the minute. Vodafone have done one better and have removed the need for customers to a) Be aware that an Unlimited Data options exists and b) Decide whether they would need to have one.

One less barrier to using the Mobile Web really is a big deal and I hope that other Operators take notice of what Vodafone are doing. Other UK operators do already provide Unlimited Data packages to their customers so it isn’t inconceivable that they take the next step. After all it does look like Unlimited Plans do increase customer satisfaction.