Advertisement

Consumer Confidential: Bandwidth hogs, dangerous books, bad hammocks

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Here’s your willing Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

-- Attention, wireless hogs: AT&T plans to put you on a tighter leash. The company says it will crack down on wireless users who swallow too much bandwidth by watching videos on their handsets (particularly iPhones). AT&T hasn’t spelled out in so many words what it intends to do, but the most likely scenario is some sort of usage-based pricing that will charge higher prices to the heaviest bandwidth consumers. This seems reasonable, as long as the extra fees aren’t exorbitant -- and as long as wireless providers such as AT&T are doing everything they can to provide ample resources in a smart-phone world.

-- The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 142,000 ‘plush books’ for kids that may pose a choking hazard. The ‘Monday the Bullfrog’ book from publisher Simon & Schuster (and made in China) combines a little literature with a puppet frog. The safety commission says the frog’s plastic eyes can come loose. Parents should get the books away from their kids and call (800) 732-9531 for more info on free replacement products.

Advertisement

-- And here’s another heads-up: The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 24,000 Amby Baby Motion Beds, which pose a threat of suffocation to infants. The hammocks can entrap babies, and at least two fatalities have been reported. Call (866) 544-9721 for more info.

-- David Lazarus

Advertisement