Netflix Now Allows Shows to Be Streamed Without Consuming Too Much Mobile Data

People have become increasingly accustomed to using their mobile devices for all sorts of activities including streaming videos of their favorite shows while on the go. However, there is no such thing as one-speed-fits-all plan for data subscribers. For those without data caps, their concern is to stream videos at the highest possible speed. Those with limited data, on the other hand, would prefer streaming without consuming too much of their data allotments per month.

Getting out of this undesirable predicament has been tech consumers' ongoing concern regarding their stream speed. Since users have no control over the most suitable speed for their needs, Netflix is stuck with a mobile app that saves data usage but compromises video quality.

But this arrangement doesn't sit well with Netflix users, so the video streaming site has introduced a mobile data saving feature which enables users to choose their data usage without going over their data plans. In Netflix's updated mobile app in both iOS and Android devices, a Cellular Data Usage setting has been recently added, University Herald reported.

"Our goal is to give you more control and greater choice in managing your data usage whether you're on an unlimited mobile plan or one that's more restrictive," Netflix said as quoted from their official blog post.

But as per Tech Crunch, the company will still keep the default stream speed of about three video hours per gigabyte data amounting to 600 kbps. However, the updated 'App Settings' will now show 'Cellular Data Usage' where users can choose either a higher speed offering with higher video quality but more data consumption or a lower speed offering with low video quality but with less data consumption.

This decision comes after Netflix's controversial admission that it did send poor quality videos to AT&T and Verizon mobile subscribers. The issue came out in the open back in March when T-Mobile CEO John Legere said that the online video streaming company is sending better quality streams to their network users as part of their Binge On program.