Everyone Wins With Limited Plans

Members of the ISP-Marketing list discuss the value of time-limited pricing plans. These cheaper services can be a boon to both subscribers and service providers.

[November 2, 2001]

On the ISP-Marketing list in October, FB inquired,

"Does any know how much time the average user spends on the Internet? I am trying to determine a reasonable dialup access hourly cap."

A number of respondents offered some basic statistics:

[RL offered] "You will find that average usage ranges from 30-40 hours per month. The issue is not the average, but the actual number of end users and hours that exceed the limit."

[JS recalled] "A recent study said that during an average month over the past year, men went online 20 times, spent 10 hours and 24 minutes online in total, and viewed 760 web pages. The comparative figures for women were 18 sessions, 8 hours and 56 minutes online, and 580 pages."

[JG added] "Lots of good research, including the information you seek, can be found at the Pew Charitable Trusts' Internet and American Life web site: http://www.pewinternet.org."

RL suggested there's no point in offering a limited access plan:

"Why would you want an hourly cap when so many providers will give you unlimited usage?"

Others claimed it's a very viable option:

[ML noted] "I sell unlimited dialup for $14.99 per month, and I still get people who ask me if we offer a limited access plan for less money. We don't, but there still is a market for it."

[JB agreed] "We offer limited access packages, marketed to families that feel their kids spend way too much time on the Internet as opposed to getting outside. We offer 200 and 300 hour packages that shut down automatically every month and do not re-enable until the first of the next month."

—End