[Idiom] The difference between "communication company" and "carrier"

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jasmin39

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I have 2 questions: 1.Are the words " a communication company" and " a carrier " the same?

2.Which one is more commonly used?

Thank you in advance:-D
 

bhaisahab

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I have 2 questions: 1.Are the words " a communication company" and " a carrier " the same?

2.Which one is more commonly used?

Thank you in advance:-D

No, they are not the same. Which one you use depends on what the company actually does.
 

jasmin39

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Thank you for your response!

Would you do me a favor?
I'd like you to choose a correct word for this sentence.


The data transfer fee depends on the price plan offered by the [ communication company / carrier ] a user select.

And if possible, would you tell me how the two words are different?

Thank you again!!:-D
 

bhaisahab

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Thank you for your response!

Would you do me a favor?
I'd like you to choose a correct word for this sentence.


The data transfer fee depends on the price plan offered by the [ communication company / carrier ] a user selects.

And if possible, would you tell me how the two words are different?

Thank you again!!:-D

Of the two "communication company" is correct. However, "service provider" is more usual in that context. We usually use "carrier" to describe a company that physically moves merchandise from one place to another.
 

emsr2d2

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Mobile phone providers seem to be called "carriers" sometimes. I think it's more prevalent in the US but I have heard it in the UK.

- My mobile service keeps cutting out.
- Who's your carrier?
- Vodafone.
 
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bhaisahab

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Mobile phone providers seems to be called "carriers" sometimes. I think it's more prevalent in the US but I have heard it in the UK.

- My mobile service keeps cutting out.
- Who's your carrier?
- Vodafone.

I've never heard that term used before.
 

MikeNewYork

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Mobile phone providers seems to be called "carriers" sometimes. I think it's more prevalent in the US but I have heard it in the UK.

- My mobile service keeps cutting out.
- Who's your carrier?
- Vodafone.

Yes, "carrier" is used often in the US for that meaning.
 

jasmin39

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Thank all of you!!

Now I understand that the word "carrier" is not always accepted as a mobile phone provider.

After all, would you tell me what term is the most usually used in the 〔  〕 below?
  ↓
The data transfer fee depends on the price plan offered by the [   ] a user select.

Thank you again in advance:-D
 

MikeNewYork

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Thank all of you!!

Now I understand that the word "carrier" is not always accepted as a mobile phone provider.

After all, would you tell me what term is the most usually used in the 〔  〕 below?
  ↓
The data transfer fee depends on the price plan offered by the [   ] a user select.

Thank you again in advance:-D

If you have followed the posts in this thread, it should be clear that the answer depends on the variety of English you are interested in.
 

jasmin39

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I used "communication company" first in the translation document,
but my co-worker (a Japanese native) told me that I should use "carrier."
He is more familiar with IT than me, so I corrected the sentence as he said.

So I just want to know "communication company" is OK or not;-),
please tell me OK or not!!

According to bhaisahab's comment, I understand "service provider" is better than "communication company".
So I'll use service provider instead of communication company.

Thank you again in advance:-D
 
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MikeNewYork

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My original question is which word I should use in that context.

Honestly, I used "communication company" first in the translation document,
but my coworker (a Japanese native) told me that I should use "carrier."
He is more familiar with IT than me, so I corrected the sentence as he said.
But I still don't understand which one is better.
Or you say that both terms ( carrier and communication company ) are OK?
According to bhaisahab's comment, I understand "service provider" is better than "communication company".
So the best (= common ) expression here is "service provider"?

Thank you in advance:-D

"Service provider" works in BrE and AmE.
 

Tdol

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Now I understand that the word "carrier" is not always accepted as a mobile phone provider.

I use carrier for airlines not mobile phone providers. (BrE speaker)
 

emsr2d2

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I use carrier for airlines not mobile phone providers. (BrE speaker)

For me, the usage has been attached to mobile phone service providers so frequently that I now use it that way too. I used to use "carriers" for airlines when I worked at an airport but as a "civilian" (for want of a better word), I just use "airline".
 

jasmin39

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Thank you very much:lol:
 

Rover_KE

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Your appreciation is welcome, jasmine, but there is no need to write a new post to say thank you. Simply click the Like button on any posts you find helpful. It means that we don't have to open the thread again to read your new post and then find that it doesn't include any new information or an additional question.​


 
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