The mobile web is still a toy.  Ignoring the business uses for such devices, and the ROI one can argue for it, the consumer end apparently stinks to high heaven.  Try to find a clearly defined "data only" plan then define what the word "unlimited" means  and then try to work out if an instant message on that plan is "data" or a separate charge.  

Yet is this really such a good offer that you are required to  sign up for 2 years  (not just to get the phones  this is just for the service at some carriers)  guessing that nothing better, more useful and cheaper is going to appear while you are under contract. So given the topic is mobile, and that I can't build arguments on draft one, let's take a peripatitic punch at the space.

When I was with Obongo (consumed by AOL) we had started investigating WAP  as a means of offering our service (an  account aggregator where you would only need to know one password ( in an ideal world)) .The idea that people would be happy to spend 10 mins entering and waiting  to login to their Amazon account so that they could buy a book on the way home  seemed silly then and I'm not sure much has changed in the intervening years. 

While phones are more capable , having better display and input devices ,had the web remained static since 2000 they would probably rock  It hasn't and nearly everything I want to do online is still  a basic service; mail, message, news and directions. I  wouldn't mind being able to arrange for that without  wading through tonnes of sub clauses AND on most carriers being forced to carry voice too. 

Tickets,  reservations for dinner and directions in most cases can be resolved in less time, with less cost by...

Using the phone. Even with a crummy voice response system, or an operator whose tertiary language is English.

It shouldn't be that way.  We know where the phones are, there's so much that could be done to present relevant data to where you are and offer choices based on what you're most likely to need. e.g I'm standing outside an AMC ,  hit the just invented  "local actions" button and  the ability to buy a ticket  appears, press a button , confirm it,   walk in , display on phone  has ticket, money goes through the carrier or an account I've already set up.   Same with reservations,  same with special offers as I am walking by Circuit City.  It's MOBILE why the hell are all the offerings global?   K problems. I am only interested in the ads that are relevant at the time of MY request.  Not anything the carrier wants to push at me. Seemingly they think that a cell phone sized screen  can carry unobtrusive ads but that's , there's no way to mitigate it, fucking stupid.  judging by the comments from this article  we're going to see a lot of stupid.   

Operators say preserving a good customer experience is paramount. They also agree that any advertising they allow on their networks will have to be useful to consumers.

Useful is requested, useful is offsetting our bills in an OVERT fashion useful is not deciding what  you think we'd like and holding us prisoner for two years while you work it out.