Science/Tech

T-Mobile Clarifies, Not ‘Throttling’ YouTube but ‘Relegating’ It

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Jan 04, 2016 02:53 PM EST

A war of words has ensued between YouTube and T-Mobile over the meaning of the word throttle after the service provider started offering the Binge On service to its customers from November. YouTube does not participate in any kind of free video service with any cell carrier but accused T-Mobile of eating into its video streams, regardless and that too without taking the user's consent. T-Mobile is now furious over video platform, owned by Google's, choice of words that they call inaccurate. "Using the term 'throttle' is misleading," a T-Mobile spokesperson told DSL Reports in an email. "We aren't slowing down YouTube or any other site. In fact, because video is optimized for mobile devices, streaming from these sites should be just as fast, if not faster than before." So what should YouTube say instead? "Mobile optimized," T-Mobile says. "A less flattering 'downgraded' is also accurate."

Binge On, just like Music Freedom offered by Google releases some streaming video services such as Netflix, Hulu and HBO Go from consuming the data plan of the mobile user. However, the video quality offered by these video streams is "DVD-quality" at 480p. It doesn't matter if the company is a part of Binge On program or not, it automatically caps the video streams to 480p. This service was offered to all the T-Mobile customers by default who opted for at least 3GB data per month plan starting from 19th Nov. If you want to turn off this service, the user can do so from the company's website, as reported by The Verge

The dispute was initiated after FCC (Federal Communications Commission) started asking questions from T-Mobile, AT&T and Comcast about services like Binge On that violates the net-neutrality protection at some levels. FCC chief Tom Wheeler even praised Binge On last month as "highly innovating and highly competitive." Apparently, the use of zero-rating services may be close to being unacceptable, YouTube's use of the word 'Throttle' may instigate them to formally investigate the claim, as reported by Yahoo News

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