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According to a report from the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative (OTI), U.S. citizens cough up a minimum of $59.99 every month for a complete mobile phone package that includes voice, text, and data. The only country that pays more is Canada, whose residents pay a minimum of $67.50.
"We researched cell phone voice, text, and data services for prepaid, regular postpaid, and unlimited postpaid plans provided by prominent cell carriers in 11 countries," New America Foundation explains. "We consider unbundled services using rates available to individual consumers."
On the flip side, users living in India pay the least amount at $12.90, followed by Hong Kong at $13.50 and Japan at $18.60.
The U.S. ranked third in per minute costs for postpaid voice plans ($0.18/minute) and first in unlimited text plans at up to $20/month.
See the full report here.
Comments are closed on this article
scabbynacker
October 18, 2010 at 10:06am
Let's see... Canada and the US both have really low population densities... and the three cheapest countries have really high population densities...
That couldn't have anything to do with it, though.
POMF2K
October 19, 2010 at 10:53pm
The fact that we pay subsidized prices for our hardware couldn't have anything to do with this could it?
If you ask me it's crazy that we purchase hardware from the service provider. Then again, in many cases we don't have much choice.
LatiosXT
October 18, 2010 at 7:09am
I find it funny that Japan is the most "advanced" country of the three cheapest countries with cellphone plans.
See? They're doing something right. I would switch to a Japanese carrier in a heartbeat if they provided service here [/wishful thinking]
suniahk
October 18, 2010 at 6:11am
Not to be a smart*** or anything, but when did Canada shift away from North America...?
suniahk
October 18, 2010 at 6:42am
The post was updated. :P
Also, I can see it now... *US Marches across the border* "You guys are American now." *Canadians look surprised* "Wait, wha...? Ok..."
Peanut Fox
October 18, 2010 at 12:04pm
I don't know. Frenchameranadian doesn't really roll off the tongue.
bloodgain
October 18, 2010 at 11:58pm
No, but being called a French 'Merinadian would make you sound delicious.
P.S. MaxPC, why do I have to do a CAPTCHA to *edit* something I already posted? Isn't the point to block spambots? Making manual posts and sending my spambots back to edit them wouldn't be a little more difficult than copy/paste?
Caboose
October 18, 2010 at 2:00pm
The US would kick Quebec out before Quebec would have a chance to try and seperate!
Caboose
October 18, 2010 at 8:59am
You think we'd give up that easily? Most of you yanks wouldn't last a week in our winters!
You'd be drunk off your ass after one drink of our alcohol too!
Peanut Fox
October 18, 2010 at 11:56am
The United States sits farther North than Canada. I'll just go ahead and say that Alaska is our 49th state. It's also our largest state. You want to talk about cold winters.
Now beer on the other hand. Cheers mate.
Caboose
October 18, 2010 at 2:04pm
Actually, if you look at the map of North America, we extend up in to the north pole. Well above Alaska.
But that's beside the point. Lets go for a pint eh!
aviaggio
October 18, 2010 at 5:41am
Woooo!!! We're #1! We're #1!!! North America is #1!!!! WE RULE!!! YEAH!!!
Oh wait...
