Pop quiz.
Name a product or service that is half the price it was ten years ago (accounting for inflation) but offers an experience exponentially better?
If you said wireless phones, you are correct.
In their report on wireless competition, the GAO last week said consumers are generally “getting more wireless services for lower costs” than they did in 1999.
Some good reaction but not much news because, well, did you need a hundred page government report to tell us what we know intuitively?
Your candy-bar 90’s era phone worked okay, connected calls sometimes, and looked innovative when compared to the brick phones they replaced. But remember per-minute prices, outrageous roaming costs, and coverage that was more miss than hit?
Now look at the phone you carry today. Chances are it’s capable of more while on a backwoods campsite than your 1990’s self was capable of, chained to a desktop PC.
Visual voice mail, speech-to-text email, GPS location awareness, shoot-and-upload HD video. 1990’s science fiction is now science fact – at half the cost.
Now the report isn’t all rosy. But there are some things about the wireless ecosystem that are working. Important things.
Almost every American owns a cell phone. That roar of approval from the American consumer says exactly how affordable and integral they are to everyday life.
Yes, we can do better. But the future is bright, and holds the promise of even better things.
Verizon is about to improve our already-impressive 3G coverage with the lightening quickness of 4G.
Phones are now Mensa-smart thanks to innovations like the Android operating system.
The Administration and the FCC are sending the right message with their support for releasing additional spectrum to those who bid for it.
Like I said, it’s not perfect, but we should be aware of what is working.
And when the American public is getting more service at a lower cost for a product they almost universally embrace – something very right is going on.