32 percent of mobile operators already are offering application-aware charging models, a new study by Allot Communications suggests. “Our findings show that operators have responded to this challenge (differential demand imposed by growing video bandwidth consumption) by implementing usage and application-aware charging models and service plans,” Allot says.
Also, mobile operators increasingly are moving to such plans to monetize over-the-top application usage, as well as to personalize offerings and manage network capacity, Allot says.
The mobile plans often feature zero-rating options for popular appliations such as social media or partner or operator-endorsed applications, to encourage usage. Most operators also use traditional volume-sensitive pricing as well. About 89 percent of mobile operators employ volume charging models, the report says.
Since pricing plans typically are offered on a “capped” basis, “over-quota” pricing also is required. Subscribers using more data than is offered by their current plans often are offered volume top-up options or a service plan upgrade option.
Fully 51 percent of mobile operators sampled do not offer “unlimited” or “flat rate” pricing plans at all.
http://www.allot.com/MobileTrends_Report_H1_2011.html?campid=701D00000004YRW