Will AT&T cap my data usage?

[zylander]

Ive been streaming movies from my home server to my iPhone over WiFi and 3G. Will AT&T cap my data usage if I stream too much over 3G? I had a co-worker tell me the other day that AT&T has been targeting users who stream media over 3G and will cap people who use too much data every month. I know the iPhone has an 'unlimited' data plan but it wouldnt supprise me if they started capping people. Is what my co-worker said true? Should I worry about getting my data usage capped?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: zylander
Ive been streaming movies from my home server to my iPhone over WiFi and 3G. Will AT&T cap my data usage if I stream too much over 3G? I had a co-worker tell me the other day that AT&T has been targeting users who stream media over 3G and will cap people who use too much data every month. I know the iPhone has an 'unlimited' data plan but it wouldnt supprise me if they started capping people. Is what my co-worker said true? Should I worry about getting my data usage capped?

I believe that by 'unlimited' what most all of the companies mean is '5GB/month'.

 

[Rottie]

Why would they have to cap people who enjoy streaming with iPhone? Kill AT&T!!

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Rottie
Why would they have to cap people who enjoy streaming with iPhone? Kill AT&T!!

Because American cell phone companies in particular absolutely love to nickle and dime people. $0.20 for a text message? Really? 'Unlimited' really means 'Unlimited if you are sticking to the older smartphone usage model, email with light browsing, otherwise it is actually 5GB per month'.

The situation is (to my eyes) that the iPhone became a runaway success, even if it hasn't moved as many units as <insert phone here>, it sure does have the mindshare. From that we now have Android, WebOS, the new Blackberry OS, and a renewed interest not just in making fancier hardware, but fancier software for mobile devices. So now you have an average person that suddenly discovered, 'hey I have this device in my pocket that is like a little computer, and with I can do computer-y things, like stream video or internet radio or things of that nature. And damn, it sure is easy to do, and now I want to buy all these apps, cuz look how fancy and touchable they are!'.

You have a popular device that is seeing more data usage than AT&T ever thought would happen, a lack of delivery on their (AT&T's) part to improve their network significantly enough to compensate for this, and of course, the fact that now all these people have the internet in their pocket to complain about it online.

AT&T caps the data because they can, and if you go over their arbitrary cap, they charge you OUTRAGEOUSLY

 

[TheWart]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Rottie
Why would they have to cap people who enjoy streaming with iPhone? Kill AT&T!!

Because American cell phone companies in particular absolutely love to nickle and dime people. $0.20 for a text message? Really? 'Unlimited' really means 'Unlimited if you are sticking to the older smartphone usage model, email with light browsing, otherwise it is actually 5GB per month'.

The situation is (to my eyes) that the iPhone became a runaway success, even if it hasn't moved as many units as <insert phone here>, it sure does have the mindshare. From that we now have Android, WebOS, the new Blackberry OS, and a renewed interest not just in making fancier hardware, but fancier software for mobile devices. So now you have an average person that suddenly discovered, 'hey I have this device in my pocket that is like a little computer, and with I can do computer-y things, like stream video or internet radio or things of that nature. And damn, it sure is easy to do, and now I want to buy all these apps, cuz look how fancy and touchable they are!'.

You have a popular device that is seeing more data usage than AT&T ever thought would happen, a lack of delivery on their (AT&T's) part to improve their network significantly enough to compensate for this, and of course, the fact that now all these people have the internet in their pocket to complain about it online.

AT&T caps the data because they can, and if you go over their arbitrary cap, they charge you OUTRAGEOUSLY

I agree with what you had said up until the end - to my knowledge no one has been charged for this unless they were using lots of data while outside of the country. If I am incorrect, then I would be most interested to see something like this happening. IIRC people have been capped, but not charged beyond what their monthly rate is.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Rottie
Why would they have to cap people who enjoy streaming with iPhone? Kill AT&T!!

Because American cell phone companies in particular absolutely love to nickle and dime people. $0.20 for a text message? Really? 'Unlimited' really means 'Unlimited if you are sticking to the older smartphone usage model, email with light browsing, otherwise it is actually 5GB per month'.

The situation is (to my eyes) that the iPhone became a runaway success, even if it hasn't moved as many units as <insert phone here>, it sure does have the mindshare. From that we now have Android, WebOS, the new Blackberry OS, and a renewed interest not just in making fancier hardware, but fancier software for mobile devices. So now you have an average person that suddenly discovered, 'hey I have this device in my pocket that is like a little computer, and with I can do computer-y things, like stream video or internet radio or things of that nature. And damn, it sure is easy to do, and now I want to buy all these apps, cuz look how fancy and touchable they are!'.

You have a popular device that is seeing more data usage than AT&T ever thought would happen, a lack of delivery on their (AT&T's) part to improve their network significantly enough to compensate for this, and of course, the fact that now all these people have the internet in their pocket to complain about it online.

AT&T caps the data because they can, and if you go over their arbitrary cap, they charge you OUTRAGEOUSLY

I agree with what you had said up until the end - to my knowledge no one has been charged for this unless they were using lots of data while outside of the country. If I am incorrect, then I would be most interested to see something like this happening. IIRC people have been capped, but not charged beyond what their monthly rate is.

I was getting the smartphone data plans and the smartphone data+tethering confused. They will charge you for domestic overages if you tether.

 

[TheWart]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Rottie
Why would they have to cap people who enjoy streaming with iPhone? Kill AT&T!!

Because American cell phone companies in particular absolutely love to nickle and dime people. $0.20 for a text message? Really? 'Unlimited' really means 'Unlimited if you are sticking to the older smartphone usage model, email with light browsing, otherwise it is actually 5GB per month'.

The situation is (to my eyes) that the iPhone became a runaway success, even if it hasn't moved as many units as <insert phone here>, it sure does have the mindshare. From that we now have Android, WebOS, the new Blackberry OS, and a renewed interest not just in making fancier hardware, but fancier software for mobile devices. So now you have an average person that suddenly discovered, 'hey I have this device in my pocket that is like a little computer, and with I can do computer-y things, like stream video or internet radio or things of that nature. And damn, it sure is easy to do, and now I want to buy all these apps, cuz look how fancy and touchable they are!'.

You have a popular device that is seeing more data usage than AT&T ever thought would happen, a lack of delivery on their (AT&T's) part to improve their network significantly enough to compensate for this, and of course, the fact that now all these people have the internet in their pocket to complain about it online.

AT&T caps the data because they can, and if you go over their arbitrary cap, they charge you OUTRAGEOUSLY

I agree with what you had said up until the end - to my knowledge no one has been charged for this unless they were using lots of data while outside of the country. If I am incorrect, then I would be most interested to see something like this happening. IIRC people have been capped, but not charged beyond what their monthly rate is.

I was getting the smartphone data plans and the smartphone data+tethering confused. They will charge you for domestic overages if you tether.

Ah ok. Yea, I wouldn't be surprised if they stick it to you for doing that, especially if they plan on charging extra for tethering in the future.

 

[zylander]

Thanks for the replies, most of the streaming I do is over wifi. I don't think I would hit 5gb Ina month.

 

[boomhower]

All of that streaming is over WIFI so AT&T could care less, It is whn you hit 5GB over their 3G network they start get irritated.

 

[zylander]

Originally posted by: boomhower
All of that streaming is over WIFI so AT&T could care less, It is whn you hit 5GB over their 3G network they start get irritated.

Ya I know. I dont think I do even close to enough over 3G to hit 5gb in a month.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Rottie
Why would they have to cap people who enjoy streaming with iPhone? Kill AT&T!!

Because American cell phone companies in particular absolutely love to nickle and dime people. $0.20 for a text message? Really? 'Unlimited' really means 'Unlimited if you are sticking to the older smartphone usage model, email with light browsing, otherwise it is actually 5GB per month'.

The situation is (to my eyes) that the iPhone became a runaway success, even if it hasn't moved as many units as <insert phone here>, it sure does have the mindshare. From that we now have Android, WebOS, the new Blackberry OS, and a renewed interest not just in making fancier hardware, but fancier software for mobile devices. So now you have an average person that suddenly discovered, 'hey I have this device in my pocket that is like a little computer, and with I can do computer-y things, like stream video or internet radio or things of that nature. And damn, it sure is easy to do, and now I want to buy all these apps, cuz look how fancy and touchable they are!'.

You have a popular device that is seeing more data usage than AT&T ever thought would happen, a lack of delivery on their (AT&T's) part to improve their network significantly enough to compensate for this, and of course, the fact that now all these people have the internet in their pocket to complain about it online.

AT&T caps the data because they can, and if you go over their arbitrary cap, they charge you OUTRAGEOUSLY

I see...thank you I dont watch streaming video that much that is good thing

 

[corkyg]

Y'all seem to forget, or are unaware of the fact that streaming video is a growing problem in that it consumes huge amounts of a provider's bandwidth. If everyone were to do that at the same time, the Internet could be literally strangled. Capping is simply the easiest way of rationing bandwidth consumption fairly.

BW

Maybe down the road, technology will create something like our electric meter - then the user will simply pay for what is used. What could be fairer than that?

 

[james1701]

I picked up my first Iphone last weekend. Before I left the AT&T store, I asked them if there was any kind of data cap I needed to worry about and they said no, its completely unlimited.