VERIZON WIRELESS LAUNCHES NEW THROTTLING SYSTEM

Verizon Wireless is launching a new network management and throttling system today. The company says that these practices include caching less data, using less capacity, and sizing video content "more appropriately" for smartphones. But according to the memo, the new system (which not coincidentally arrives with Verizon's launch of the iPhone) also involves throttling data throughput using a new "proactive management" system that Verizon claims will only impact the top 5% of wireless broadband users:

Verizon Wireless strives to provide customers the best experience when using our network, a shared resource among tens of millions of customers. To help achieve this, if you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5% of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand. Our proactive management of the Verizon Wireless network is designed to ensure that the remaining 95% of data customers aren't negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few users.

Unfortunately, Verizon doesn't specify what kind of consumption you need to be guilty of to find your connection throttled. [BGR]