AT&T to Introduce Stream Saver Feature in 2017

Almost every decision made by service providers about consumer data consumption turns on video entertainment demand, as that is the application that drives most data consumption, by most consumers.

Starting in early 2017, AT&T will introduce AT&T Stream Saver, a free feature, user controllable, that reduces mobile data plan consumption by converting video content to 480p resolution. That feature will work for most, but not all video, as some providers deliver video in ways that can be converted, AT&T says.

Decried by some as unwanted “throttling,” the “Binge On” feature that likewise reformats mobile video to 480p is loved by consumers, T-Mobile US says. In fact, Binge On got a 99-percent approval rating by consumers, in a study by Strategy Analytics.