A controversial Apple's app on the latest 4S handsets now appears to have more serious consequences than merely being a very expensive 'extra'. Attractive enough for millions of users to choose iPhone 4S over a nearly identical iPhone 4. At a substantial extra cost. If you are not an Apple enthusiast or you do not have the 4S, there is something you should know about Siri that can add on to your phone bill cost.
Siri is an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application for iOS. The application uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of web services. Apple claims that the software adapts to the user's individual preferences over time and personalizes results, as well as accomplishing tasks such as finding recommendations for nearby restaurants, or getting directions.
Sounds good, huh? How would it affect me though, if I do not have a Siri-phone?
Following an article in Washington Post we can learn how it can and most likely will affect everyone:
A study published this month by Arieso found that the Siri-equipped iPhone 4S uses twice as much data as does the plain old iPhone 4 and nearly three times as much as does the iPhone 3G. The new phone requires far more data than most other advanced smartphones, which are pretty data-intensive themselves.
Under most circumstances, this would seem to be someone else’s problem. Cellphone contracts are “tiered” so that those who use a network more than others pay more for the privilege. Cell and data networks are like any common resource; they have limits. And once they hit their limit, regardless of which group is using its share and then some, there’s no more to go around. This means that Siri’s data-hogging ways are a problem for more than just those willing to foot the bill. As networks become congested, everyone’s service deteriorates.
For years, cellphone companies and other network operators have expanded carrying capacity; they’ll undoubtedly continue to do so as long as demand is there. But those kinds of infrastructure improvements aren’t limitless, either; no matter how many cell towers we throw up, sooner or later we’ll bump up against the rigid limits of the electromagnetic spectrum, the invisible frequencies over which all electronic communications move.And building new capacity isn’t cheap. Everyone — not just the first-class passengers — ends up paying for it.
So prepare for higher cellphone bills.
