Videotron Launching "Music Unlimited" - Good for Canadian Mobile Internet?

[quaz77]

 

For those of you who don't know Videotron, it is a Quebec-based telecommunications company. Just like Bell, Rogers and Telus, they offer Internet access, cable and mobile plans in Quebec. However, earlier this week, Videotron made a splash in the Quebec tel-co scene. They released their new "Unlimited Music" service that allows users to stream music form partner services without it counting towards their mobile data cap. Such partners include Spotify, Rdio, Google Play Music and others. Any user who currently has a Premium Plan (starting at $64.95) has access to "Unlimited Music" (Source: Videotron).

 

That sounds really good on paper. While I would be more than glad to use this service (my current plan with Videotron doesn't allow it), I can't help but think about the CRTC's ruling back in January. They specifically ruled that Bell and Videotron are not allowed to stream their mobile TV content without it counting towards the user's mobile data cap. Such practice would give an unfair advantage to Videotron's and Bell's own media companies and violate principles of net neutrality (Source: Net neutrality: CRTC bans Bell from subsidizing data usage for mobile TV app).

 

However, the situation is a bit different than what happened back in January. Videotron's partners in offering this service (Spotify, Rdio, etc.) are not owned by Videotron. Surely, this cannot be seen as an anti-competitive behaviour, right? Well, while Videotron is saying that any organization can become a partner and be streamed free of data caps, they do not say if there is a fee for these partners or if there is any other requirement (Source: Videotron bets on mobile streaming future, eyes new users with ‘Unlimited Music’). I personally think that an offer like this could deter newcomers in the music streaming world to enter the already small Quebec market if they have to pay to have access to Videotron's unlimited network. What if other tel-co join Videotron in this endeavour? Music streaming companies are either going to have to chose between the different carriers or pay every carrier for unlimited access which could ultimately lead them to charge more for access to their streaming services.

 

On the other hand, Videotron's offer could push competitors in offering more competitive services by, say, raising data caps without raising prices. I could be totally wrong and Videotron's new service is a step in the right direction for the Canadian mobile Internet. I guess we will have to wait for someone who's well-versed in net neutrality to stream music from a service that wasn't partnered with Videotron and see what happens.

 

What do you think? Is this a step in the right direction or a complete offense on net neutrality?

[qwertywarrior]

well i dont think this impedes net neutrality rules  since its not offering "faster lanes"

correct me if im wrong

[Aytex]

*soundcloud*

[Trik'Stari]

well i dont think this impedes net neutrality rules  since its not offering "faster lanes"

correct me if im wrong

Sounds to me like it's still someone shady, they're offering a service specifically to allow you to do something you can already do, but just removing how much it counts towards your data-cap.

 

Charging more money, to remove an arbitrary and pointless limitation, for one specific task.

[RagnarokDel]

. Such partners include Spotify, Rdio, Google Play Music and others. Any user who currently has a Premium Plan (starting at $64.95) has access to "Unlimited Music" (Source: Videotron).

So let me get this straight, the people who need the least to have free bandwidth because they have more then almost every other subscribers get free music data while people, like me who pay 50$ a month (+ tax) and only have 1 gb of data keep having to pay for music data? Thanks videotron but go F yourself.

[GoodBytes]

So let me get this straight, the people who need the least to have free bandwidth because they have more then almost every other subscribers get free music data while people, like me who pay 50$ a month (+ tax) and only have 1 gb of data keep having to pay for music data? Thanks videotron but go F yourself.

Wat? Music streaming uses the Internet, and therefor uses your data from your smartphone. So they use a lot. Those that uses streaming music obviously needs a lot of internet bandwidth. Also, Videotron has 6GB per month data plans.

[Ohlyver]

well i dont think this impedes net neutrality rules  since its not offering "faster lanes"

correct me if im wrong

even if it concerned faster internet lanes, it wouldn't impede net neutrality because its Canada and the Net-Neutrality act or whatever its called is supposedly only effective in the US territory and maybe some commercial partners from outside

 

EDIT: however we do have some laws protecting the consumers and we got the CRTC

[Deletive]

Quebec =/= all of Canada. It's good for quebec, not the rest of canada. 

[quaz77]

Quebec =/= all of Canada. It's good for quebec, not the rest of canada.

Why wouldn't it be? We have the same carriers the rest of Cabada have + Videotron. If the others decide to launch similar services, they would surely do it Canada-wide.

[Deletive]

Why wouldn't it be? We have the same carriers the rest of Cabada have + Videotron. If the others decide to launch similar services, they would surely do it Canada-wide.

This is Telus, Bell and Rogers, they own almost every other carrier in canada other then maybe wind which has unlimited data. I doubt they would ever launch a server like that without charging craptons more. 

[Warcony]

This is Telus, Bell and Rogers, they own almost every other carrier in canada other then maybe wind which has unlimited data. I doubt they would ever launch a server like that without charging craptons more.

I'm sure they will all eventually offer a service like this, if it is deemed acceptable practice by the CRTC. Probably will be bundled with "premium" smartphones (Galaxy, iPhone) which at this point requires you to have a $70 per month plan.

Aside: IMO, it does not violate net neutrality provided the carriers are open to negotiation with all streaming services. T Mobile offers this in the states I believe.

[RagnarokDel]

Wat? Music streaming uses the Internet, and therefor uses your data from your smartphone. So they use a lot. Those that uses streaming music obviously needs a lot of internet bandwidth. Also, Videotron has 6GB per month data plans.

I'm just saying that people who would benefit the most from this dont get it. They should just make it available for every client or not at all.

[dmegatool]

well i dont think this impedes net neutrality rules  since its not offering "faster lanes"

correct me if im wrong

 

It's not faster lanes but it's "free data". Pay us and you won't count toward user's data cap... If I was to choose between Spotify who doesn't use any of my data or that smaller company who use all of it, the choice would be simple. 

 

Anyway Videotron should focus on making their services better. I've been with there for 2 months now and it's terrible. I'm waiting another 4 months and I'll be able to take advantages of Bell's "new customers" offers.