AT&T changes smartphone data plans

[simonizor]

This is very stupid! Why on earth would ATT not offer an unlimited plan? Perhaps because the network that ATT brags about can't handle it? It makes me glad that ATT isn't even an option here; they seem to be charging outrageous prices just because they have the iPhone. Maybe they're just trying to get all of the profit out of the iPhone people that they can before they all jump ship when it's released on another network.

 

[TheWart]

This is very stupid! Why on earth would ATT not offer an unlimited plan? Perhaps because the network that ATT brags about can't handle it? It makes me glad that ATT isn't even an option here; they seem to be charging outrageous prices just because they have the iPhone. Maybe they're just trying to get all of the profit out of the iPhone people that they can before they all jump ship when it's released on another network.

Don't fool yourself, Verizon is going to do the same thing unfortunately.

Verizon's CTO said this last week:

Melone hinted that the biggest issue with rolling out a 4G network is all-you-can-eat data plans. "As much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change."

Verizon might not do it for a month - or maybe even a year - but they are going to have metered plans as well.

 

[sswingle]

Don't fool yourself, Verizon is going to do the same thing unfortunately.

Verizon's CTO said this last week:


Verizon might not do it for a month - or maybe even a year - but they are going to have metered plans as well.

They have pretty much flat out said that 4G will be metered.

 

[zerogear]

I honestly don't understand the concept of giving you more bandwidth, while placing a cap on it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Actually the tethered crap pisses me off. Because most phones in the US are locked/carrier branded and crap, AT&T can easily load bloatware that restricts you left and right.

Tethering is a device-capable thing only. I tethered on my Sony Ericsson W810i. It was more like a modem then, but with my Nokia N82, and Milestone it was more of using it as a mobile hotspot. The point is these devices are fully capable. AT&T cannot in any way regulate what I do with my own device.

Sure they can claim to impose an AUP that states you can't do that unless you pay $20 or whatever the hell, but I feel for the iPhone users who open the tether screen and get bombarded with an AT&T warning saying that you can't use it unless you have it enabled in your account.

That's like charging SUV drivers a fee at the gas station because they guzzle gas. If you need more gas, you pay for it at the pump, not through an extra fee... but because your car uses more. Similarly, if you tether full desktop browsers probably eat more bandwidth. You'll pay for it through data usage. 2GB is 2GB. Tether or no tether, it doesn't make a difference to AT&T.

Of course they'll make us pay for something thats inherently a phone feature (like GPS).

 

[TheWart]

They should have at least thrown customers a bone and only charge those who stay on the $30 unlimited data plan the $20/month for tethering. That way, if you get the $25/2GB plan, tethering is free, but if you choose to be grandfathered in on the $30/unlimited plan, you have to pay $20 for tethering.

That would still be lame, but much better than this new structure imo.

 

[Spoooon]

What sucks is that, technology wise, we're moving towards easier and higher quality consumption of data. Now we get stuck with pricing that limits our usage of it.

I wonder how long Verizon's free mobile hotspot with the Pre and Pixi will last.

 

[TheWart]

What sucks is that, technology wise, we're moving towards easier and higher quality consumption of data. Now we get stuck with pricing that limits our usage of it.

I wonder how long Verizon's free mobile hotspot with the Pre and Pixi will last.

True, but we at least we are seeing improvements in codecs/compression algorithms and delivery systems that reduce the bandwidth needed.

The one good thing to come of these changes is that someone like my mom who has wanted an iphone can get one for $55 ($40 voice+$15 data) whereas before she would have had to pay at least $70 a month.

 

[her209]

I honestly don't understand the concept of giving you more bandwidth, while placing a cap on it.

You don't understand the concept of squeezing more money out of customers?

 

[zerocool84]

True, but we at least we are seeing improvements in codecs/compression algorithms and delivery systems that reduce the bandwidth needed.

The one good thing to come of these changes is that someone like my mom who has wanted an iphone can get one for $55 ($40 voice+$15 data) whereas before she would have had to pay at least $70 a month.

Which is good for someone who hardly uses the internet but then she probably doesn`t need a phone like the iPhone then. For us people who actually use their devices a lot it sucks and if a new customer wants the iPhone but is a power user they are stuck with a stupidly low cap.

 

[SunnyD]

Hmm.. here's my question - can I get these prices as DATA ONLY for my smartphone without a calling plan?

 

[pm]

Which is good for someone who hardly uses the internet but then she probably doesn`t need a phone like the iPhone then. For us people who actually use their devices a lot it sucks and if a new customer wants the iPhone but is a power user they are stuck with a stupidly low cap.

While I hear what you are saying, it's not a cap. You can get each additional GB for $10 more. So for $5 more than the current unlimited plan, you can get 3GB. For $55/month you can get 5GB per month - which was pretty much the old soft cap anyway.

 

[Rottie]

att is so selfish i wish att shouldnt cap data when iphone 4g with video chat. video chat requires alot of data.

 

[jlee]

att is so selfish i wish att shouldnt cap data when iphone 4g with video chat. video chat requires alot of data.

lmao...welcome to the world of business...

 

[jpeyton]

For $55/month you can get 5GB per month - which was pretty much the old soft cap anyway.

So for $55/month, you can get what previously only cost $30/month.

AT&T already has some of the highest monthly smartphone rates of any network, despite ranking the worst in dropped calls and still struggling with their nationwide 3G coverage.

Does not compute.

 

[AstroManLuca]

While AT&T's new plans are unquestionably a worse deal than their old data plan (with the possible exception of the $15/200 MB one for light users), you could actually argue that they are the only carrier that is definitely uncapped. Before, the 5 GB limit was actually a limit - go over, and they may charge fees, throttle you, or threaten to disconnect you. Now there isn't actually a limit anymore. They just keep charging you the more you use.

 

[jpeyton]

iPhone OS 4: Now With Tethering

Old plan w/ tethering: $60/month for unlimited smartphone data, 5GB-cap tethering data

New plan w/ tethering: $45/month for 2GB SHARED cap for smartphone AND tethering data