Usually when a carrier comes out with a new shtick, I tend to gloss over it because it either A.) doesn’t affect me or B.) isn’t very useful. However, recently this hasn’t completely been the case. AT&T recently got rid of data overage charges on their Mobile Share Advantage plans, something that my family has a tendency of doing (usually accompanied by some bickering about who, exactly, felt so entitled to extra data this month). But even carriers that I’m not a part of are conjuring up some interesting solutions to consumer problems. Verizon, for example, just came out with a new service called PopData, which allows for unlimited (and yet, limited) data use in 30 or 60-minute increments.
For $2, a Verizon Wireless user can stream 4G LTE without limits for 30 minutes. For $3, you can double that limit to 60 minutes. The charges will be billed directly to your account, and the data used won’t count against your monthly data bucket.
So, at a glance this sounds pretty gimmicky. Dig through the details and you'll find that it is pretty gimmicky, and it isn’t the best solution for those wanting unlimited 4G data with Verizon. But for some people – and probably not a lot of people, mind you – this feature could still come in handy.
I have heard from people on both sides of the fence about this. On the one hand, Verizon is taking advantage of micro-transactions, and that sucks. I agree that Verizon could stand to be less greedy with their data, and that a micro-transaction "solution" is not a good look for the company. On the other hand, I know people that do a lot of traveling that swear by Verizon, and that it’s the only network that keeps them consistently connected in places where they wouldn’t otherwise have any cellular or data access (usually in-between cities). For the rare occasions where they may need to download or use a significant amount of data when traveling through these parts, PopData could serve as a good solution without having to finagle with their monthly plan.
Due to its cost and limited access, I don’t think most people would want to use this as a common solution to data problems, and I don’t think it’s meant to be used a lot. It’s meant for short bursts of intense data that you might need when you're out of options, and fortunately it works through tethering as well. While it's good for streaming when you need it, a more practical use for it would be for downloading data for offline use later. If you need to download a large file or update on the fly, this could be a decent solution. If you want to download big playlists from Spotify, Apple Music, or Google Play Music, this could be a decent solution. You could also download YouTube videos for offline viewing later (if you have YouTube Red), and if rumors hold true, you may even be able to download Netflix videos for offline viewing before the year’s end as well.
I do think PopData has some flaws that need to be reconsidered, such as being able to pause the service if you don’t need to use the entire 30 or 60-minute allotment, or if you’re experiencing a huge dip in performance. The service is continuous and cannot be stopped. It’s also only available to post-paid consumers, and this seems like a service that all Verizon customers should be entitled to, including prepaid.
Overall, I feel that it’s a service that will work in a pinch, and is in fact useful for some people, but I’m not a fan of micro-transactions and I think there are some issues with the service that need to be addressed. Furthermore, PopData seems like an undersized bandage for a much bigger issue (customers wanting real unlimited 4G LTE data plans). PopData has a place in the world, but a different solution is needed for real unlimited data.
Readers, what are your thoughts on PopData? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!