AT&T relents on 'unlimited data' plan limits

[Capt Caveman]

Still crappy.

Link

NEW YORK—AT&T Inc. backed away from an unpopular service policy after smartphone subscribers complained that the company placed unreasonable limits on its "unlimited data" plans.

The cellphone company said Thursday that it will slow down service for "unlimited data" subscribers after they reach 3 gigabytes of usage within a billing cycle.

The change relaxes a previous policy under which AT&T had been throttling service when subscribers entered the heaviest 5 percent of data users for that month and that area.

Under the now scuttled program, there was no way for subscribers to find out what the limit was ahead of time. AT&T would send a text message warning to people who approached the limit. The data throttling would then kick in a few days later. Thousands of subscribers complained about the policy online.

"Our unlimited plan customers have told us they want more clarity around how the program works and what they can expect," AT&T said in a statement Thursday.

According to a 2011 Nielsen study, the average smartphone user consumes about 435 megabytes of data each month. A person would have to use roughly seven times that amount to hit AT&T's 3 gigabyte throttling milestone.

An Associated Press story two weeks ago cited subscribers whose data service had been throttled at just over 2 gigabytes of data use. The story included others who had received warnings that throttling was imminent. The 2 gigabyte barrier was lower than AT&T's current "limited" plan provides. One person said his phone was practically useless for two weeks out the month because the data service was slowed so drastically.

AT&T stopped selling "unlimited data" plans nearly a year ago, but existing subscribers were allowed to keep it. The company charges $30 per month for the plan, the same amount it charges for 3 gigabytes of data on a new "tiered" or limited plan.

AT&T has about 17 million "unlimited" smartphone subscribers, most of whom use iPhones.

AT&T's reversal comes less than a week after iPhone user Matt Spaccarelli won a small claims lawsuit against the company for slowing down his service. A Simi Valley, Calif. judge awarded Spaccarelli $850, agreeing that "unlimited" service shouldn't be subject to slowdowns. AT&T argued that it never guaranteed the speed of the service, just that it would provide unlimited downloads. The company said it will appeal the decision. It bars subscribers from bringing class action suits.

As part of the new policy, the Dallas-based phone company said subscribers with "unlimited" plans and smartphones capable of using the new "LTE" data network would see the slowdown at 5 gigabytes rather than three. The LTE network is faster and doesn't have many users yet.

T-Mobile USA is already up front about the usage levels where throttling kicks in for its data plans. Verizon Wireless has a "5 percent" formula similar to AT&T's, but doesn't throttle unless the particular cell tower a heavy user is communicating with is congested at that moment. By contrast, AT&T and T-Mobile throttle speeds for the rest of the billing cycle, regardless of local conditions. Verizon's policy has drawn few complaints.

Alone among the Big Four national wireless carriers, Sprint has an unlimited data plan that isn't subject to throttling. However, it reserves the right to cancel service for those who use excessive amounts of data.

In a similar incident last fall, Verizon abandoned a planned fee for settling phone bills through last-minute credit-card payments after customers complained.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

3 freakin gigs? this is terrible. screw this company

 

[gsaldivar]

3GB for 3G, 5GB for 4G

Still crappy though.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Its just SO damn easy to hit that now that I have LTE. I mean insanely easy. I dont tether at all, I just want to stream some music while I'm at work. Now I can't do that. What options do I have if I want unlimited wireless data now? Seems to me the only option is Clear and the like.

 

[ultimatebob]

I believe that T-Mobile and Verizon have been caught throttling their power users as well.

How about Sprint... is their "Truly Unlimited" plan legit?

 

[swanysto]

I believe that T-Mobile and Verizon have been caught throttling their power users as well.

How about Sprint... is their "Truly Unlimited" plan legit?

sprint IS truly unlimited. I hit over 6gb ever month and have never been throttled on 4g, i don't use 3g so i can't comment on that.

However, e everyone likes to bitch about sprint, but i have never had service issues, maybe cause I'm in a large market, i don't know.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

I just want to reiterate...I really think this is BS. I mean I can't stream music on pandora or shoutcast now. I have to constantly be worried about big brother watching me and throttling the data that I rightly paid for. It seems to me that there would be a ton of people who would want to stream pandora while they work...I dont understand how they can get away with this. Well I do...but I dont.

Perhaps I need to look into Sprint more intently.

 

[gsaldivar]

I have to constantly be worried about big brother watching me and throttling the data that I rightly paid for...I dont understand how they can get away with this.

Every provider has an "acceptable use" clause in the TOS that gives them the ability to set limits on "unlimited" service. Yes, even Sprint.

This is nothing new. The only difference here is that AT&T is now explicitly stating what the bounds of "acceptable use" are, with respect to data. Truly unlimited data does not exist, regardless of what you've seen in commercials.

 

[Kenmitch]

I have att unlimited. I peaked at 1.4gb's when I first got my sgs2. Norm for me is about 3-400mb's it looks like. The last 12months is what I looked at.

 

[gsaldivar]

sprint IS truly unlimited.

Only if you stay within the limits.

Examples of prohibited data uses: Sprint data services are provided solely for purposes of web surfing, sending and receiving email, photographs and other similar messaging activities, and the non-continuous streaming of videos, downloading of files or on line gaming. Our data services may not be used: (i) to generate excessive amounts of Internet traffic through the continuous, unattended streaming, downloading or uploading of videos or other files or to operate hosting services including, but not limited to, web or gaming hosting; (ii) to maintain continuous active network connections to the Internet such as through a web camera or machine-to-machine connections that do not involve active participation by a person; (iii) to disrupt email use by others using automated or manual routines, including, but not limited to "auto-responders" or cancel bots or other similar routines; (iv) to transmit or facilitate any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, telemarketing, promotional materials, "junk mail", unsolicited commercial or bulk email, or fax; (v) for activities adversely affecting the ability of other people or systems to use either Sprint's wireless services or other parties' Internet-based resources, including, but not limited to, "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; (vi) for an activity that connects any device to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for the purpose of transmitting wireless data over the network (unless customer is using a plan designated for such usage); or (vi) for any other reason that, in our sole discretion violates our policy of providing service for individual use. Unlimited Use Plans. If you subscribe to rate plans, services or features that are described as unlimited, you should be aware that such "unlimited" plans are subject to these Sprint Prohibited Network Uses.

That being said...

"Reports that Sprint throttles the top 1 percent of data users are false," the company continued. "Sprint is the only national carrier offering smartphone users truly unlimited data with no throttling, metering or overages while on the Sprint network." Sprint said it will contact customers who "abuse our network" to reach a workable solution. But "engaging in such uses will not result in throttling for customers on unlimited data-included plans for phones," Sprint said.

 

[Bateluer]

Only if you stay within the limits.



That being said...

Back when Sprint launched their WiMax network and some users were pulling 50GBs in a month, they cancelled their service. No throttling, or warning, just 'We can't support your needs, bye!'.

 

[swanysto]

I only read part of those stipulations, but i can tell you i have downloaded and steamed a lot of data, and have gone into the 20gb range a few times and never saw a slow down or even a peep out of sprint.

 

[iahk]

isn't that just talking about using wifi tethering without a plan?

 

[Lyfer]

You guys have way too much time on your hands to be hitting 3gb (or even 2gb) consistently on a phone. My total usage for last month on my 4S was 8mb's on Verizon's grandfathered unlimited.

But from what I've been told by VZW rep's is that their throttling only occurs on high congested area's where you're on 3G.

 

[vshah]

might be because i'm on a grandfathered plan but i've hit up to 10-15 gigs on tmobile a couple times without being throttled

 

[Sheep]

You guys have way too much time on your hands to be hitting 3gb (or even 2gb) consistently on a phone. My total usage for last month on my 4S was 8mb's on Verizon's grandfathered unlimited.

I call B.S. Even if all you did was check email, Facebook and browse the web, you'd break 8mb in half an hour. If your data usage is all on wi-fi, it must be nice to never go anywhere without it, which 99.99% of the world simply can't do.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I call B.S. Even if all you did was check email, Facebook and browse the web, you'd break 8mb in half an hour. If your data usage is all on wi-fi, it must be nice to never go anywhere without it, which 99.99% of the world simply can't do.

I hit 1gb a month just using youtube HD here and there. Doesnt help when your nexus plays 720p videos.

Looking at my data counter on my Nexus, ive used 1gb with Chrome, 1gb with Youtube, 600mb with Facebook, and 500 mb with iheartradio.

With tethering, my total for the month is 55gb.

I love Verizon. They dont throttle LTE.

 

[hans007]

I hit 1gb a month just using youtube HD here and there. Doesnt help when your nexus plays 720p videos.

Looking at my data counter on my Nexus, ive used 1gb with Chrome, 1gb with Youtube, 600mb with Facebook, and 500 mb with iheartradio.

With tethering, my total for the month is 55gb.

I love Verizon. They dont throttle LTE.

Once lte is saturated they will. You are the reason companies eventually throttle. You are the guy eating the entire buffet

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Once lte is saturated they will. You are the reason companies eventually throttle. You are the guy eating the entire buffet

Not counting my tethering I dont even think Im using my phone more than normal. With Sprint I never went over 3gb because my data speeds were as good as 56k but with LTE im speeding through things faster than wifi.

 

[Piano Man]

Rhapsody and Google Music put me at about 6-7GB/month, and I use Wi-Fi 100% of the time at home. That's mostly commuting plus exercising.

Glad I'm on VZ (for now).

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Once lte is saturated they will. You are the reason companies eventually throttle. You are the guy eating the entire buffet

I heard they can't throttle 4G like its physically impossible. Don't remember where I read it .

 

[bearxor]

Yeah, I'm pretty much done with AT&T now that they've TMobile'd me.

I'm just hoping that this years iPhone has LTE and that Sprint's planned transition of iDen to LTE in my area in June goes as planned. If it doesn't then I'll wait for the iPhone 5S because EVDO speeds do not compare to HSPA+

 

[Red Storm]

This doesn't surprise me at all, AT&T has been the pioneer in finding new ways to piss off its customers.

Verizon is still unlimited, I haven't had any kind of throttling.

 

[alent1234]

Its just SO damn easy to hit that now that I have LTE. I mean insanely easy. I dont tether at all, I just want to stream some music while I'm at work. Now I can't do that. What options do I have if I want unlimited wireless data now? Seems to me the only option is Clear and the like.

pay $50 a year to slacker radio and you can cache their stations on your phone, no data needed

or pay for spotify

 

[Wonderful Pork]

this is a (small) step in the right direction. But AT&T needs to make up its mind, either they have enough capacity to offer everybody what they advertised (in this case, unlimited with no tethering, etc) or data plans shouldn't be mandatory with smartphones.

I wouldn't mind keeping the data plan if I could share it across devices (iphone, 3g ipad, etc), or better yet across my family plan. I'd probably up it to the 5GB/month plan, and get my parents an iPhone. Its not worth it right now due to the extra $20/mo which they'd hardly use.