Allow me to rephrase my point (and my best understanding of how this system works), then, to avoid any confusion...

If you do NOT have an ethernet connection in your home (or wherever it is you want to set up your X1), but you DO have internet on your mobile device in that location, your X1 can access the Microsoft authentification servers through that device, thus allowing you to play your games.  HOW the X1 connects to the mobile device is the key; if it requires your phone to have mobile hotspots, then yes, I guess it would cost iPhone users money (and maybe others, I don't know), and that would suck.  IF, however, the X1 connects to your mobile device through Smartglass, a FREE app on iPhone, then no, you wouldn't need to pay any extra.  Considering how much emphasis they've put on Smartglass as a key part of the Xbox experience, I'd guess that this is the direction they would go, but that's just speculation.

Also, I am NOT trying to imply that you can access online multiplayer or any sort of "cloud processing" through your mobile device.  I wouldn't think that would be possible, but I'm not a tech guy, I don't work for Micrososft, and Microsoft didn't say that one way or the other in their statement, so I don't know.

It's not the same at all.

The internet is absolutely necessary to access VGC.

The internet is not necessary to play a single player game. It's just imposed.

It takes a month for you ISP to fix your interent when its down? Wow, i would find a better company.

Anyways yea it always been ironic TBH. I think people need to take a step back and realize how much the internet is involved in their everyday lives. The connecting every 24 hours is not a problem and to be honest should not be a issue for MOSTpeople, especially the users on this site since they seem to post multiple times during various points of the day. 

Most people complaining on the internet about this have interest access. 

I also find it funny when someone says they are on their smartphones. If you can afford a smartphone with a data plan you can afford internet.

I  understand everyones situation is different and some people simple do not have internet at home, but honestly most of people need to calm down. I find it really hard to believe that most of people have crappy unstable internet connect all of a sudden. If  you did why is this the first time we are hearing about it? Why wasn't steam bash for requring you to have internet access to buy and play your games?

Its only happening because its a console. Embrace the future people this is the age of the interent whether you like it or not.

After hearing that; I am literally laughing my a$$ off!! HAHA!

He makes it very hard to believe his claims that he isn't heavily biased toward MS, that's for sure.  The length he's going to defend anything from them...

How did you get all that from that statement....? Also don't you need to have wifi/wired to have your Xbox connected? I honestly don't know but the description on the App Store seems to suggest it?

The craziest thing about this whole DRM thing is that all the people that HAVE internet will effectively kill this console, even though microsoft designed it for them. People that have internet, and use it regularly, know IT too well to believe that it is reliable enough to put their entire entertainment library on it. NO WAIT!!! you can still watch blue-rays and tv on it..... THATS IRONY

My internet cuts off because my provider is incompetent and I go fucking nuts because I can't use a website. It just puts me on a bad mood. Imagine if that was my entire gaming library? hmmm

What about the blissful random idiot that does not have internet and have just been buying a gaming console to play games for the past hmm....30 years?!

He will see the Xbox One on his TV (because microsoft has a shit load of money, so obviously they will not spare any expenses on the TV ads, he WILL see it) and "think those graphics sick! i gotta get one!"

Goes to Gamestop but finds that it is not for sale because gamestop does not share the same philosophy ($$$) as/with microsoft. After a 50 mil drive, he finds a walmart and IT is for sale (because honestly what the hell do they NOT sale?) Buys three games, hooks up his system, but cannot play a single game... no internet...what then?

My question to you jay is what does our blissful idiot does then? Does he go to the comcast store and sets up internet at his house... or just goes back to walmart and returns his purchase?

I wonder if the TV ads will state that an internet connection is REQUIRED for the system??... I wonder

Dont you ever get tired of saying the same thing over and over?  lol  It's like you have a mission to tell people about hidden agendas lol  Ifind it amusing XD

Get a real phone. Also, get a service with a data cap of more than 100mb.