When purchasing online, most of us go with retailers that offer free shipping, even though the items can be more expensive.  Though we know it’s just a clever gimmick, we’re still able to save a few bucks.  What if network carriers offered something like this?  Would you go for it?

AT&T thought it would be wise to charge apps for data consumption so users won’t have to pay for data when using apps.  Techland Time explains AT&T’s plan: “if Spotify pays a bunch of money to AT&T, a Spotify user with a 3 GB per month data plan won’t get any closer to his or her limit when streaming music through the service.”

AT&T executive for network and technology John Donovan, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, likened what they’re proposing to toll-free calling for the mobile-broadband world.

“A feature that we’re hoping to have out sometime next year is the equivalent of 800 numbers that would say, if you take this app, this app will come without any network usage,” Donovan said.

The point for AT&T is–if apps shoulder the data consumption charge, consumers would be using and downloading apps.   But the problem falls on those app developers that don’t have the means to pay carriers, tipping the market in favor of app publishers with deep pockets.

Other Networks’ “Sensible” Data Plans

Verizon’s Shared Data Coming Really Soon

According to a report, Verizon’s shared family data plan may be launching sometime in the middle of the year as hinted by Verizon CTO Fran Shammo.

But the launch won’t be as simple as unveiling the shared family data plan to the public asit is “a very complex equation because we have to make sure that it’s good for Verizon and it’s also good for the customer,” said Shammo.

“It’s important to realize that the day we launch this account billing, everbody won’t be migrating to the account billing day one. This is going to be a long-term migration into where we want to get data plan sharing, but this will be more of a 4G play.”

Verizon’s plan is to offer shared data plans for families, since not every member is hungry for data.  So for example, instead of paying $30/month for 2GB of data for every family member, the head of the family could choose to pay $70/month for 6GB of data that members of the household could access.

Juniper Networks’ 2012 Plan For Innovation

At Mobile World Congress, Juniper Networks CEO Kevin Johnson outlined their plans for 2012 which will define and demonstrate the major opportunities to create innovation and value in the mobile industry during the next decade.  Their plan is guided by three key imperatives:

• Establish a cross-industry Trusted Mobility(TM) initiative to allow subscribers, enterprises and operators to protect, manage and secure their data from the device to the data center.
• Create an Open, Programmable Network to develop and deploy innovative, personalized and profitable new mobile services.
• Build a Symmetrical Internet, where the upload of data and video is supported equal to the download.

Juniper presents a great theory, but there’s no telling how and when something like this could be put into action.  As AT&T and Verizon continue to battle it out for users and determine the best balance for data fees and infrastructure, something’s gotta give.