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Helio Charging For FREE Youtube Access!

heliocity.net — Helio Ocean users trying to access the new Youtube Mobile are in for a surprise... a $6 per-month FEE just for accessing free content available anywhere else. This is sneaky (and insulting) on their part and should not be allowed!

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  • strax, on 10/11/2007, -13/+39what do you expect from a scientoloogy-founded company? (see: Sky Dalton, earthlink, scientology)
    • kupa, on 10/11/2007, -3/+16I'm all for anti-scientology, but what the ***** do they have to do with charging money to view youtube?

      I don't see this as being incredibly that under-handed -- depending on the bandwidth that is being sucked up by the youtube visitors and such. Though it is pretty ***** to charge $6 a month.

      Youtube Mobile does warn you though: http://m.youtube.com/ about using to much bandwidth or whatever.

      Why is this such a "disgusting" act? How much do you pay for internet access on your phone? Do you pay more for unlimited service? Does that service really mean unlimited? Can you max out at a certain level?

      bah whatever.

      edit: bypass it by going here first(zomg free mobile youtube?): http://m.youtube.com/?warned=yes
      • Scruffydan, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4If I am paying for a service that is advertised as unlimited, I better not be capped or be charged for accessing high bandwidth sites
      • Upsizer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1kupa has a point; if you're going to bash something, at least have a valid argument.
    • omarqaz7, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9Apple offers YouTube on the iPhone and Apple TV for free. I don't understand what you mean.
    • signal15, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5This is precisely what is going to happen if net neutrality laws are not passed. Your ISP could start charging you for "subscription" access to popular sites.
  • Peteostro, on 10/11/2007, -8/+48This is bull. How can they charge for access for something that is free. We need Net Neutrality
    • retral, on 10/11/2007, -1/+51 word (or is it technically 2?): Airtime.
    • david76, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6It's a bandwidth intensive site. They're just trying to recoop their costs.
      • zweben, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3If their base rate can't recoop their costs, they need to raise their rates or stop offering unlimited internet access (since it's not), not selectively limit access.
      • Caeles, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2They're playing with the consumer. Information like this should be mentioned in their plan statements
    • w3bsmith, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8You don't get youtube for free from your internet provider. You pay your internet service for the right of access. This kind of issue was a make or break issue for isp's in the early days. We're just seeing history repeat itself.

      Where did Net Neutrality come into play here? If you want a neutral net start one yourself.

      As a former Wireless ISP Founder and Owner, I know how easy it is to make new trunks completely independent of fiber. Get up and do something. Don't hold a gun to someone else's head and force them to comply with your wishes. That makes you no better than a car jacker.
      • Gnargnar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3"You don't get youtube for free from your internet provider. You pay your internet service for the right of access. "

        So, what are we paying for when we pay for Unlimited mobile internet access through Helio, if not the right of access? The right of access to the Internet-except-for-youtube?
        • BeatUntilCreamy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0If you don't like misleading advertising full of asterisks pointing to small text on the bottom of the third page of your contract explaining that you in fact do not get unlimited access, that it is in fact subject to the arbitrary whims of the ISP, then start your own! Don't use guns to force your will upon them; that makes you no better than a rapist.
    • theroyalweman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8helio's draw was that they offered unlimited data plans. saying, "oops, we didn't think that people would actually USE it," isn't a valid excuse. telling customers that they have to pay an additional fee is *fraud*
  • skeeve, on 10/11/2007, -11/+3Net Neutrality FTW!
  • thekangas, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10I have loved every interaction I've had with Helio prior to this. Now I'm mad. And seriously, why can't I access Facebook Mobile?
    • dbz253, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1so then you tried to access facebook mobile after you read this story?
  • stressdesign, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0thekangas..
    have you tried pointing your browser to m.facebook.com?
    • thekangas, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Wow, I've tried every week since I got my Ocean on launch day, and today is the first time it actually loads the page. Ok, I'm slightly less peeved now.
  • OGHelio, on 10/11/2007, -5/+5So much for Helio's "ALL IN" memberships giving you unlimited access to the web! They have some real brass charging customer for FREE content. Who pays for youtube??? That's sooo stupid!
  • Kevinwarren, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3Not a good move by Helio...youtube should definitely be free!
  • noisuf0, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11you know, i could see if they gave us a quality, feature-filled application that we had to pay for. but it's a mobile website that ANOTHER company created. we're paying helio for a site somebody else made? that sounds wrong to me.
    • RiverBelow, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2You're also paying your ISP for websites that OTHER people created. Is that BS? Yeah, it is, but we all shut up about it.
      • Gnargnar, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Nah - You're paying your ISP for access to the connection to the networks that host said websites. Which is what Helio customers already pay for with their mobile service packages with Mobile Internet.
        • RiverBelow, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1If you believe thats it legitimate to charge people for content that you did not create yourself, or had nothing to do with (which is the case with ISP's), then I believe its legitimate for Helio to charge its customers to view YouTube.

          -Its a stretch but it could hold in court... right?
  • jc2o1, on 10/11/2007, -7/+0the situation is @ss!!!!
  • MannishBoy, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1I understand that this is upsetting, but isn't it still possible to log into YouTube. I mean I still have it on my Ocean. So if tha's the case I don't see what the hoopla is about. Just trying to look at the glass as half full here.
    • ryanchapelle, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If you bookmarked a page INSIDE of Youtube, it still works -- but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Helio blocks the whole domain. At this point it's merely a workaround.
  • drjekelmrhyde, on 10/11/2007, -12/+9Everyone wants ***** for free how do you expect Helio to make money off bandwidth hogs
    • itcomesinwaves, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Not my problem. They shouldn't have offered unlimited data (on almost every plan) if they weren't prepared to deal with people using it. You can't blame the consumer for a bad business plan.
    • knelto, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1This may be off-topic, but did you put the asterisks in in lieu of cursing or is that a product of the new Digg interface? I've seen a lot of those asterisks recently.
      • knelto, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3All right... now it says "*****"... what is going on with this new Digg interface?
    • thewebguy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2actually, the data speeds is so slow it would be almost impossible to use any costly amount of bandwidth.

      3G my ass, that ***** was almost un-usably slow.
  • stevenutjobs, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Seriously, I dont know what you guys are all complaining about, you can still go to mobile youtube for free on Helio and access video for free.
  • Gnargnar, on 10/11/2007, -3/+23It's not a matter of being able to get to it free. It's the fact that they're charging for something that is otherwise free, selectively. It's an objection to the principle and business concept at hand.

    Helio customers choose to go through Helio and pay 65 bucks a month for unlimited access to the Internet as part of their package. Helio states their Internet is "without walls". Blocking the main domain for a site with a demand for money is very much a wall. We're not asking for them to give us anything for free - we're asking for what we've paid for.

    Where does it stop? If everyone begins using some browser based mail application that isn't built into Helio's standard mailbox, should they start charging for access? Why not charge for news websites? Why not charge for Digg?

    And yes, we can *currently* get to mobile Youtube for free if we avoid using the main address. If this was an oversight on Helio's part, it'll likely be fixed. If it wasn't? That makes even less sense. Block the front gate but allow everyone in the side door?
  • tw0bit, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1"should not be allowed"...??? how about they can charge what they want?
    • Grayfox777, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2No... they shouldn't be charging for things like this... it's like ripping people off.
  • dougbarrett, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Don't they charge to go onto MySpace too?
    • theroyalweman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1nope. helio's "All-In" plans are for unlimited internet access and unlimited text messages.
  • smurf22, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Lets not let these bastards get away with this, I say we send tons of angry letters!
    • sabarsky, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2or you could just switch to a different carrier?
  • TheLoneWolf071, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1Hey! I work for helio and It's not that you are paying $6 for youtube... you are paying $6 so we can pay royalties to places like Fox and AdultSwim. Go ahead, try to get on youtube on your helio device, it will not work because the browser does not support it. But with the $6 "Tv Set" You get access to to actaul feeds which need to have royalties paid to them.
    • Gnargnar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Wrong package. You're thinking of the "TV Set" - This is the "Virus" package, and only relates to m.youtube.com.
    • schwartzon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0if its a Virus package, does that mean that i get to listen to Opie and Anthony as well??


    • Underdog83, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I apologize for this person who "works" for Helio. I'm assuming this person sells Helio in an indirect channel, through another company. This means this person is not an actual Helio employee. I actually work for Helio direct, and can assure you these are two different services. The TV Set and Video Virus. TheLoneWolf071 is misinformed. Your concerns are valid.
  • freebsdmike, on 10/11/2007, -6/+9Here's an idea. It's their network. If you don't want to use their network then don't use them for service.
    • centinall, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6Here's another idea. Create a service promising something. Get a whole bunch of customers. Then change the Terms of Service on them.

      I know what you're saying, and I agree with you when it comes to new customers. But this is not right for those that signed up for something that was promised.
  • monkeyrun, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3I would understand it if they are charging for the application they wrote for accessing youtube, but monthly fee?

    btw: Am I the only one who prefers the old "simple" digg interface?
    • spudnic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I hate having to click to load replies, that's just a pain in the arse.
      Is there a setting somewhere to get it to automatically load them? If not I hope someone makes a greasemonkey script for it.
      They could have added nested comments and kept everything else the same, this feels cluttered and slow
    • killerofkiller, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4no
      it's way to busy and wtf is this "Please wait.. fetching comments...* BS*
      if it aint broken dont fix it
    • sc0tt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I hate it already. :|
    • killerofkiller, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1seriously, i like to go back to pages i've commented on to see my score and i usually just search for my name.. now i have to find the parent name or click options-> display tree and wait for it to reload.. it's rather annoying
  • DCJoeDogaswell, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7"Don't call us a phone company..."

    well you sure act like one, and if it looks like a duck, smells like a duck and quacks like a duck then it's a duck, no matter how much you deny it.
    • Underdog83, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Miss the point. Marketing, my friend, marketing. And brilliant marketing at that...everyone remembers the slogan, including you.
  • knelto, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7Don't call us a phone company. Call us an unfair, greedy PHONE company that's probably funneling funds into Scientology.

    Helio doesn't want to be called a phone company about as much as Scientology doesn't want to be called a cult.
  • w3bsmith, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Wow, and people were pointing to Helio as the iPhone alternative. What a joke. People should look at stuff like this when they make such broad claims about phones. I am tired of having to ok every freaking page I load on my phone!

    The iPhone, if it works as demonstrated, will be like a breath of fresh air to me.
  • G3omega, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3This is another great example of why America is so far behind in the mobile phone market! Greed over innovation!
    • schwartzon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0i wanna go to a hug factory
      where are they?
      i bet its amsterdam...

      they get everything....cheap legal pot, hookers, and now hug factories

      no fair!
    • Skovacs13, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0ha ha!
  • BeeWolf, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Apple struck a deal with Youtube to provide slick H.264-encoded video to iPhone users. I doubt there will be a monthly fee to do so.
  • n0xz, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5I think Youtube should let Helio access their network for a few months, then block the entire Helio netblock and charge Helio for access. That'll teach them a lesson.
    • DCJoeDogaswell, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1atleast until Youtube, deservedly, gets a cut of the access fee that Helio is charging
  • BLAM8, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2Some facts here: There is a work around for free YouTube access. Just enter "m.youtube.com/?s=srf" into your browser to get read access to YouTube on a Helio device. Helio won't block this, either. The $5.99 is just for youtube upload (from the phone). Buried as inaccurate.
    • chrismok, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Why should you need a work around? Free internet from your phone is free internet from your phone. "Just for upload?" More ***** charging for something you are already paying for.
    • TheExtendedName, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I have a helio ocean and was going to bury as inaccurate but haven't tried to upload directly from the phone. chrismok is right I already paid for net access so why should I pay again to use it.
    • ryanchapelle, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Sorry, but that's not the case here. Helio is blocking access specifically to m.youtube.com -- the gateway into their WAP site. This has NOTHING to do with uploading videos. (can you even upload videos through the mobile site?) Yes, there's a workaround, but I'd bet my life savings that it's only because Helio hasn't realized this yet. Otherwise, what's the point? Would say it seems even more suspicious on their part if you can easily get around it.
  • mjhstudios, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2And who actually uses Helio?

    Don't call it a phone...it just makes calls and stuff like that.
    • thewebguy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1no, it's "don't call it a phone, because it gets ***** reception and is basically useless"
    • schwartzon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0ummm....no
      i get better reception with my helio then i have with any other phone i have ever used.
      even standing in the middle of a big box store, like home depot...my treo would crap out...but not my ocean

      ummm sorrree....try again
    • Underdog83, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Gotta love the comments from people who make uninformed statements. ***** reception? It's running on the Sprint network, and roams(free) when needed on the Verizon network, reception is not an issue. All carriers will have bad spots, but the coverage is great. The devices themselves get great reception. Who uses Helio? Right about 100,000 people in just a year of being around. Ouch. Read up bro, you're sounding ignorant.
      • Ignathius, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1a whopping 100,000 in a a year 'eh? hell US Cellular got more customers than that in a year. what you wanna bet the iPhone+att/cingular signups beat that in a week? *and* that's on a 600$ phone, not some generic 60$ hunk they give away with signup.
      • mjhstudios, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Not to rehash an old issue, but it looks like the iphone signed up aprox. 500K in one weekend. 100,000 is not that big of a number.

        And I mostly disagree with their marketing strategy by calling something that is primarily used to make phone calls "not a phone." I'll drive my car to work today, but don't call it a car.
  • chrismok, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Who do they think they are? Verizon Wireless?
    • orangetiki, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Nice. and I take it your refeering that that lawsuit about disabling the bluetooth in the phones and making peopel buy plans to transfer info or something. I honestly forget
  • thewebguy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1helio is useless anyway. i tried it for a week because the ocean has gmail support, but it is horrendous.

    gmail downloaded my 100 newest messages (unead or read) and stopped. the only way to download new messages was to delete those (which then ended up in my ***** trash on my actual gmail account).

    still waiting on my refund for the piece of ***** device..
    • justinb8470, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0That's actually your fault. You need to change the settings at gmail.com, because it works perfectly for me
  • AggieTales, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1ok first off, its not free, I for one pay $40 a month for my DSL line, so $6 is better than most other companies will charge for data plans
    • Gnargnar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Please note: This is on top of the $65 dollars a month we pay for Phone/Data. Data is described as "Unlimited", "Without walls", etc.
  • etx313, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Piss. I just hit my 30 days with them so it will be harder to cancel. But if this is true, I'm going to call and complain or cancel.
  • bubba9999, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I really like the looks of the Ocean, but this is more than enough to prevent me from signing up with them. If Tmobile tries to pull some stunt like this, I will go from one service to another until I either find one who doesn't charge extra for it, or I'll drop web service altogether.
  • avktm, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Helio is still alive?
  • File13, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Dont call us a phone company, call us a pathetic attempt at a mobile media device company.
  • williamdyer, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Helio is swirling the drain, right behind Amp'd. Did either of these companies have a plan?
    • orangetiki, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1So that's why they have that logo. It's crap swirling down the toilet
  • vsLAN, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1It might be a little slower, but has any one tried to get around it with a proxy server etc...? A service like http://larrym.net/p
  • stormryder, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1bad move Helio!!
  • flarn2006, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I know it's off topic, but it's a cool new feature with subreplies!
  • capevapor, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1it's OK because they're not a phone company..
  • lemur, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1It seems like a way to keep prices down for the "average" customer by levying fees on the "heavy bandwidth" users who are threatening to clog the network. This type of deal is good for Helio and customers who don't use Youtube, but it's bad for people who love Youtube. Since this is Digg and we all love Youtube, this news comes off as overwhelmingly negative. :)

    Hopefully the dissatisfied customers will leave them for another provider.
    • XBassGuitarX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I agree. While it is a bummer, they are covering their asses from the people that will use HEAVY data transfer on a casual basis.

      While it makes enough sense, it's annoying enough that their entire sales pitch is the whole "Don't call it a phone", all-inclusive package thing. Since it is their main gun, they have to really stick to it.

      *proceeds to "Are you human? Enter the text you see in the image."*
  • alexray0, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Don't call it a phone, call it a "***** ass-***** ***** face dick ***** mother *****"
  • ross., on 10/11/2007, -3/+3What do you what them to do, just let everyone rape their mobile network for free?? They're charging for the bandwidth, not the service. If you don't like it, ***** off.

    Digg down.
    • theroyalweman, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2"What do you what them to do, just let everyone rape their mobile network for free??"

      helio offers unlimited data plans:
      "At Helio we don't believe in limiting your ability to surf - you can easily access any mobile-optimized site, and we streamline sites that aren't as mobile-friendly. It's your Internet. We haven't built any walls around it."

      "Go anywhere on the web, anytime".

      using your cell phone to access youtube when you have an unlimited data plan isn't raping their mobile network. helio charging extra to access youtube is *fraud*
    • noisuf0, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1that's like saying if comcast's unlimited cable internet service charges you $6 extra a month to go to www.youtube.com , that it will be OK
  • livevil, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I was going to purchase a Helio Ocean, but forget that *****.
  • tony4moroney, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1on a totally unrelated note:

    got to absolutely love the new digg comment threading system.
    • orangetiki, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Not me. Usually some of the replies are funnier then the first post. Now I got to click around finding replies. I do like however how you type in the reply. No need to scroll.
  • sherifffruitfly, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Not to mention the forced-upselling of service features. All I want is some minutes and unlimited text messaging. The only thing they offer is the "super deluxe" package or whatever they call it. ***** them. I'd rather get an iphone than have those ***** force me to buy ***** I don't want.
    • noisuf0, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0well the service is obviously not for you if you only want minutes and texting. the service is about using their 3g technology, using their mobile data applications, gps, mms, sms, ETC-- all to the fullest extent, unlimited. --those are their selling points (even though buddy beacon sucks on the ocean and doesnt have a landscape mode, amongst many other horrible things about helio devices).

      if you've got a phone with all those features and no way to use them, what's the point? get a normal phone that just does texting and phonecalls well from another company. in my opinion, the all-in plans are great. that IS, if they were really ALL-IN (NOTE: YOUTUBE=$). although i do agree, they should have more plan options.
  • lensdigg, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Maybe I'm just too old to understand what the Heliohype is about, but why do I *never* see anyone inside the Palo Alto Helio store but (bored looking) sales people. Contrast that with the Apple store across the street. One day I went into the Helio store and asked a "too-cool" employee, "I have a Verizon account. Tell me why I should switch to Helio". All I got was a blank stare. The last thing we need is another service provider with a business plan forged around how to squeeze monthly fees.
  • snugsoho, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1This $6 fee actually makes sense providing Helio waiver the cost of data transfer from m.youtube.com over their network - so effectively, and assuming this is what they're doing, they're offering customers the chance to pay $6 up front for as much access to YouTube as they like per month without having to worry about an enormous bill at the end of the month or all their pre-pay credit being sucked up in one swoop because they wanted to watch a 30 sec video of a cat falling off a table.
    • noisuf0, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0we shouldn't have to worry about any enormous bills anwyays, since all of helio's plans include UNLIMITED internet access.
  • locojones, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Watching youtube on your home pc is stupid enough, but on your cell phone? I think the story missed the point...
  • csshyamsundar, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1From the Site !!!

    Note: As noted around the internet, there is an unofficial workaround. Helio is just standing at the front door trying to get a cover charge. Type in http://m.youtube.com/?blah (or pretty much anything after that ?), and you should be able to access Youtube Mobile. In other words: as long as you don’t go to the main page (which most people would), they haven’t blocked it (yet?). Hopefully this was intentional - we’re still waiting for any sort of word from Helio.
  • AlbinoRaven, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3You are all surprised by a cell phone company screwing you?

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