Quote :

" AT&T Inc. is lowering prices on some of its wireless-calling plans for a second time in six months and moving to a model of charging users based on the amount of Internet surfing they do and email traffic they generate on devices like the iPhone. The move, while it lowers the cost of entry-level plans, means heavy data consumers will have to pay more for service unless they cut back their usage. It kicks in June 7, when Apple Inc. is expected to announce its latest iPhone. AT&T's $30 unlimited-data plan for smartphones will be eliminated for new users. Starting next week, it will be replaced by new plans costing $15 a month for 200 megabytes of data traffic or $25 a month for 2 gigabytes. AT&T says 98% of its customers use less than those amounts. Users who exceed 2 gigabytes of usage will pay $10 a month for each additional gigabyte. The new plans will lower the cost of an entry-level voice and data plan for smartphones by $15, to $54.99. Existing users will have the option of sticking with their current plans. The company is also dropping the current, $30 unlimited data option for new buyers of Apple's wireless-enabled iPad and replacing it with the $25 a month 2-gigabyte plan. Executives at AT&T and Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, have said this year that consumers are going to have to start paying for the amount of data they use as devices become more sophisticated and traffic explodes. AT&T is currently scrambling to improve its network in New York and San Francisco, two cities where the crush of data use from the iPhone has hurt call quality. In January, AT&T and Verizon cut the price of their unlimited voice plans by 30% in part to pull more subscribers into data plans. Growing data revenue at AT&T has offset the erosion of voice plans. The company said the new data plans would only have a minor impact on revenue and said they don't affect its announced financial projections for the year. Analyst Philip Cusick at Macquarie Securities said AT&T may see lower growth in data revenue in the short term as a result of the changes, but will gain leverage over the heaviest data users, improving its ability to manage its network and charge for capacity. Tiered plans may also pull more customers into data plans, he said. Separately, AT&T said it would allow iPhone users to use their devices as modems starting June 7, a practice called tethering."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575282173014134754.html?mod=WSJ_Tech_LEFTTopNews

Basically they want people to start using wifi is all this amounts to.

Many people do not even turn on wifi due to its reputation for draining battery. I would imagine 2/3 of peoples data use is within range of an open wifi connection.

6/2/2010 9:30:05 AM

Quote :

"Starting next week, it will be replaced by new plans costing $15 a month for 200 megabytes of data traffic or $25 a month for 2 gigabytes. AT&T says 98% of its customers use less than those amounts. Users who exceed 2 gigabytes of usage will pay $10 a month for each additional gigabyte. "

Thats pretty reasonable imo

6/2/2010 9:41:44 AM

On the other hand, AT&T didn't really need to do anything to tweak their customers. There are viable iPhone alternatives now, and Apple has a lot of good reasons to work with more domestic carriers.

I don't know how you can spin "we're going to place limits on you" as a good thing.

6/2/2010 10:07:17 AM

Here's my usage over the past 6 months

nov 09 - .6 GB
dec 09 - .8 GB
Jan 10 - .5 GB
feb 10 - .6 GB
mar 10 - .8 GB
Apr 10 - 1.1 GB

So I guess a 2GB cap wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for me, but I'd only be saving $5 per month which isn't a very good value proposition for me...especially with uVerse readying their app to watch DVR content on your iPhone.

6/2/2010 10:27:16 AM

I think this is an excellent move by AT&T. Too many of us are paying $30/unlimited and barely using 500-1gb of data a month. Other than money, I don't know that this will have any impact on network traffic at all since most people don't use near that much anyway...there are just a lot of people with iPhones in any given area.

That might all change for me come June 7th so we'll see.

6/2/2010 10:36:59 AM

so wait will we keep our unlimited plans, or will we be forced into the 2GB plan or something like that?

^ well at&t complains that 3% of the users are using 40% of than bandwidth or something like that. so if you accept that, then placing some limits on what the 3% do might...help things?

6/2/2010 10:39:25 AM

exactly. go after the three percent, don't bother everyone else. the problem is that mobile data usage is growing in general, so what doesn't affect you right NOW probably will at the end of a new 2-yr contract.

wouldn't surprise me to see at&t phase out the $30/unlimited option for people when they come to renew their contracts.

6/2/2010 10:43:22 AM

Quote :

"o wait will we keep our unlimited plans, or will we be forced into the 2GB plan or something like that?"

you can keep what you have.. only mandatory for new customers.

6/2/2010 10:45:39 AM

Quote :

"exactly. go after the three percent, don't bother everyone else. the problem is that mobile data usage is growing in general, so what doesn't affect you right NOW probably will at the end of a new 2-yr contract. wouldn't surprise me to see at&t phase out the $30/unlimited option for people when they come to renew their contracts."

There is no renewing contracts unless you buy a new phone.

And if this in no way effects 97% of users then its the right way to go about it. Unless you are in that 3% I can understand why you'd be upset about it. For the rest of us the only thing we'll notice is AT&T taking less money from us each month.

6/2/2010 10:47:32 AM

for now.

look, if i'm a new customer, and i get to choose between the iPhone w/ a 2GB cap, and an Android phone w/o a cap, i now have more incentive to not pick AT&T. and if Apple makes the iPhone available on another domestic carrier, you can bet good money that the new carrier isn't going to put restrictions like this on it.

6/2/2010 10:51:00 AM

Quote :

"look, if i'm a new customer, and i get to choose between the iPhone w/ a 2GB cap, and an Android phone w/o a cap, i now have more incentive to not pick AT&T. and if Apple makes the iPhone available on another domestic carrier, you can bet good money that the new carrier isn't going to put restrictions like this on it."

yep that's the way I read the news too..and with decision time coming up in a month or two for me, this makes me less included to stay with at&t

Quote :

"There is no renewing contracts unless you buy a new phone"

well sure but people get new phones pretty often these days

Quote :

"For the rest of us the only thing we'll notice is AT&T taking less money from us each month."

personally speaking, only saving $5 per month by having a 2GB cap doesn't do much for me. $10-$15 on the other hand would be a more viable trade. but i'd rather pay the $5 more per month for the ability to go over 2Gb if I want (example watching uVerse content)



[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 10:58 AM. Reason : V oh for sure. probably 90% of people don't care about this.]

6/2/2010 10:54:28 AM

^^You are not the majority. If my mom or dad (both have iPhones and love their iPhones) walked into AT&T and said 'hey i'd like an iPhone' and they said you have a 2gb cap on data. They'd just say 'ok, i don't know how much that is, but sign me up'

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 10:55 AM. Reason : ^^]

6/2/2010 10:54:58 AM

Quote :

"look, if i'm a new customer, and i get to choose between the iPhone w/ a 2GB cap, and an Android phone w/o a cap, i now have more incentive to not pick AT&T. and if Apple makes the iPhone available on another domestic carrier, you can bet good money that the new carrier isn't going to put restrictions like this on it."

Pretty sure Verizon has said they're going to do the same thing as they start rolling out their new 4G stuff. In fact, from the article at the top of the page:

Quote :

"Executives at AT&T and Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, have said this year that consumers are going to have to start paying for the amount of data they use as devices become more sophisticated and traffic explodes."

Ultimately all of the cell phone companies are going to try to lock down their "unlimited" services. I just wish if they were, that more of them would go T-mobile's route (5 GB cap w/ throttled speeds thereafter, but no overage charged)

6/2/2010 11:04:49 AM

T-Mobile is an amazing provider, it baffles me that they're not more popular...

6/2/2010 11:08:14 AM

^ I thought their data coverage was pitiful. that's what i hear from friends with the Nexus One at least...

6/2/2010 11:10:17 AM

T-Mobile is terrible dude.

6/2/2010 11:12:28 AM

This ATT news prompted me to check out my own data usage. I can see why they would do it, but 5GB would probably be more reasonable. I had to tether this month for about a week with TP2/Sprint. Imagine what type of usage you'd see from people that use it 24/7.

/semi.offtopic

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 11:16 AM. Reason : ]

6/2/2010 11:15:43 AM

lol seems they left a word out of this title...OR DID THEY?

Quote :

"AT&T Unveils Data Plans to Help Manage IPhone Demand"

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-02/at-t-unveils-data-plans-to-help-manage-iphone-demand-update1-.html

6/2/2010 11:24:04 AM

I'm keeping my unlimited plan even though I use just under 2GB/mo.

Having to worry about how much data I'm using, to me, ruins most of the 'magic' of the iPhone (that is, I have it w/me at all times and can use it to look up even the most banal things.)

6/2/2010 1:27:59 PM

I'm frustratingly in the area where I don't really come close to 2GB(haven't gone over 1GB yet) however I'm above the 500MB..I'd like to save 15/month, but 5/month doesn't really grab me.

of course this is all moot if they make me change plans when I upgrade in a couple weeks to the new iphone...(if that's what i decide)


http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/atandt-users-can-keep-30-unlimited-data-when-upgrading-phones/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fengadget+%28Engadget%29&utm_content=Google+Reader


[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 1:39 PM. Reason : looks like you can keep the $30 unless you want tethering]

6/2/2010 1:29:48 PM

Tmobile has contracts to "roam" (at no cost to end user) wherever there's AT/T signal, nationwide. They also promise faster throughput when you're on dedicated Tmobile signal. Comparable plans are roughly $35/month less than Verizon and AT/T. I would've switched but I keep upgrading my iPhone. If Apple would sell unlocked versions in the U.S. w/the next generation, I will probably switch. Not holding my breath though...

On top of that, they also offer unsubsidized plans that are cheaper still -nobody else in the U.S. does this. If you're not subsidizing hardware, all of their plans can be had contract free.

Then there's the fact that they provide unlimited data usage with free tethering on their data plans...

6/2/2010 3:48:58 PM

but the service still sucks lol

I know several people on TMobile in the Raleigh area and they all hate it, get shitty service, and data is worthless.

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 3:59 PM. Reason : .]

6/2/2010 3:58:34 PM

Quote :

"I know several people on TMobile in the Raleigh area and they all hate it, get shitty service, and data is worthless."

I have to say the same thing about AT&T in Atlanta. I live in the city. Most of my condo is floor to ceiling glass on two sides, and if I look south I can see the AT&T skyscraper. Yet I get 1 bar of 3G in and around my building, toggle back and forth between 3G/Edge, and get dropped calls like crazy.

I've had the iPhone for almost 2 years and I've downloaded less than 1GB total and uploaded about 75MB, so I guess I'll save a few bucks a month and drop down to their cheapest data plan.

6/2/2010 4:14:02 PM

Yes, and I know people on AT/T (myself included) and Verizon and Sprint that think their service sucks...

My limited experience with them has been outstanding, btw.
Tmobile offers (they claim) coverage anywhere that AT/T does, and speeds faster than AT/T when there isn't, for less money a month, and if you have no contract, cheaper still. Sometimes I feel like you argue for the sake of arguing. Here's this ought to shut you up, they're German owned! :p

6/2/2010 4:20:49 PM

Quote :

"Sometimes I feel like you argue for the sake of arguing"

NO WAI

6/2/2010 4:22:17 PM

Ahmet, you are notorious for making poor misinformed decisions. You can read your little marketing posters all you want, but after talking to people who actually have TMobile, you are dead wrong. Call it arguing for the sake of argument all you want. I really don't care.

Quote :

"Yes, and I know people on AT/T (myself included) and Verizon and Sprint that think their service sucks..."

again, a point I made a long time ago. ALL CARRIERS SUCK IN THE UNITED STATES OF FREEDOM. Why none of you seem to grasp this concept bewilders me *shrug*

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 4:28 PM. Reason : .]

6/2/2010 4:26:37 PM

"Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance"

6/2/2010 4:27:14 PM

Mark, calm down. I still <3 u.

I didn't say AT/T, Verizon, etc. didn't suck, I know they do. Just pointing out that if they all suck, your justification for shooting down Tmobile is that they also suck doesn't make much sense... Especially in the light of data I've given (significantly cheaper price and more coverage than AT/T, often using AT/T towers).

I was joking earlier, but they're also a German company, and I happen to be biased a tad. I think that they're likely to have a higher regard for customer satisfaction amongst other things. I have been happy with German cars, appliances, tools, etc.

6/2/2010 4:37:28 PM

Quote :

"your justification for shooting down Tmobile is that they also suck doesn't make much sense"

They suck more is the point I am making. If you think AT&T or Verizon is bad...Tmobile is worse.

Also, cheaper does not mean its better. If you are counting your pennies to own a smartphone perhaps you should not be buying a smartphone. Being smart with your money is one thing but just going with the cheaper option because its cheaper is dumb especially when you also end up getting shittier service.

6/2/2010 4:41:21 PM

t-mobile uses different frequencies for 3g than AT&T so even though their GSM coverage is good (Their own network + AT&T) their 3g network is really really limited. Its the dumbest thing.

6/2/2010 4:53:56 PM

If nothing else, I think that we can agree that when comparing Verizon, AT&T, and TMobile, that TMobile has the best spokesperson.

6/2/2010 4:54:44 PM

definitely

6/2/2010 4:56:37 PM

Quote :

"ALL CARRIERS SUCK"

tr00f.

6/2/2010 5:04:34 PM

Most definitely Stein, no arguing that!

AT&T gets some shitty actor...but at least he's the brother without the fucked up nose. He's got that going for him.

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 5:10 PM. Reason : .]

6/2/2010 5:09:26 PM

$30+ a month over the course of two years is $720, not insignificant. It'd take me a long time to count those pennies...

Shaggy, that's a good point but they claim much faster speeds on their 3g and it looks like my house is covered, I suppose when you get off their limited 3g coverage, speeds would fall considerably.

Honestly, I dislike AT/T enough that I may just try Tmobile out of spite. I'm still bitter over being charged like $600 after a trip to Germany/Sweden, didn't you have a similar experience after using your iPhone in Egypt?

6/2/2010 5:19:10 PM

Quote :

"$30+ a month over the course of two years is $720, not insignificant. It'd take me a long time to count those pennies... "

$5 a month over the course of two years is $120, thanks AT&T for these savings with the new data plan.

Quote :

"Shaggy, that's a good point but they claim much faster speeds on their 3g and it looks like my house is covered, I suppose when you get off their limited 3g coverage, speeds would fall considerably. "

Because the one place I would want the best 3g coverage is my house

Quote :

"Honestly, I dislike AT/T enough that I may just try Tmobile out of spite. I'm still bitter over being charged like $600 after a trip to Germany/Sweden, didn't you have a similar experience after using your iPhone in Egypt?"

Cut your nose to spite your face.

User stupidity is not AT&T's fault. Roaming charges is not a new concept to the iPhone. Using a device thats so easy to consume so much data bandwidth is to blame and yourself. I have learned this lesson although I could have had the charges significantly reduced if i even bothered to because of AT&T's great customer service. It was only after I had already paid that I read about other people getting their charges dropped.

You should be bitter at yourself not your provider for doing what they are supposed to do. Did you expect free data overseas? Voice isn't free overseas so why should data be?

6/2/2010 5:26:25 PM

The $30 I quoted was how much lower Tmob's plan is per month.

I actually don't use that much data, and considered tethering from my phone as my only internet connection at home.

I didn't use my phone but for gmaps, and less than 20 minutes of total calls, and something like 17 texts over the course of the three weeks I was in Europe. You're right, I had to pay for my ignorance.

As for AT/T's great customer service, I hope you're joking. It's gotten worse over the last 12 years I've had them (AT/T, BellSouth, Cingular, rinse repeat), I also remember my giant paper bills broken down to each text, give me a break.

6/2/2010 5:32:15 PM

Quote :

"their 3g network is really really limited. Its the dumbest thing."

and that's the problem with t-mobile

i couldn't care less about their GSM coverage...i can't get past their shitty 3G coverage.

and yeah i wouldn't hold the overseas charges against a cell company. i'd be aware of the charges before i used to service

6/2/2010 5:34:47 PM

Quote :

"I didn't use my phone but for gmaps, and less than 20 minutes of total calls, and something like 17 texts over the course of the three weeks I was in Europe. You're right, I had to pay for my ignorance. As for AT/T's great customer service, I hope you're joking. It's gotten worse over the last 12 years I've had them (AT/T, BellSouth, Cingular, rinse repeat), I also remember my giant paper bills broken down to each text, give me a break."

No, I was being serious about AT&T's great customer service because it is great. Maybe if you don't expect them to cover your bill for you you'd understand where I'm coming from. All my dealings with their customer service for their wireless service and now UVerse has been excellent.

If you were in sweden
calls: $1.29 a minute.
Texts: $0.50 a text
Data: $.0195/KB

You cannot fault AT&T or anyone for that $600 overage charge.

What exactly has gotten worse? Are they rude to you on the phone or something? Before the iPhone came out Bellsouth/Cingular/AT&T was great...then the iPhone came out and killed their 3g...which sucks but its no worse than I'm used to because pre-iPhone I almost never used data.

6/2/2010 5:41:58 PM

I've tried to talk to them about international calling plans, clarification on non contract plans (which they don't offer), etc. and I more often than not end up with somebody who is clueless about the plans they offer, time left on contract, etc.

To be fair, you're right about the high phone bill when I was in Europe. Obviously I could not even have used a phone at all from Verizon/Sprint in Europe. That convenience comes at a cost.

I've experienced quite a few dropped calls and texts that were not delivered, or amusingly enough delivered to different recipients or showed up as coming from a different number than mine.

Mostly though, I'm just peeved that I can't buy the iPhone non subsidized and use it w/out a contract.

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 5:56 PM. Reason : .]

6/2/2010 5:56:06 PM

Quote :

"I've tried to talk to them about international calling plans, clarification on non contract plans (which they don't offer), etc. and I more often than not end up with somebody who is clueless about the plans they offer, time left on contract, etc. To be fair, you're right about the high phone bill when I was in Europe. Obviously I could not even have used a phone at all from Verizon/Sprint in Europe. That convenience comes at a cost. "

5 seconds of googling brought me to the official AT&T page that says "Know before you go"

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/international-roaming.jsp?wtSlotClick=1-0021N8-0-1&WT.svl=calltoaction

Quote :

"I've experienced quite a few dropped calls and texts that were not delivered, or amusingly enough delivered to different recipients or showed up as coming from a different number than mine. "

The more sophisticated the phones have been getting the shittier the service. Hence the "ALL CARRIERS SUCK" comments.

Americans want cheaper phones for less money you can thank that way of thinking for contracts and subsidized phones. I imagine you can buy yourself a nice phone in Europe contract free with no problems.

6/2/2010 6:06:30 PM

I know, but I'd really rather pay for the phone separately from a plan, and certainly don't want a contract.

Actually, this has made me look into a couple of things, and came across this:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/atandt-makes-sweeping-changes-to-data-plans-iphone-tethering-comi/

I must say... doesn't sound half bad. I'm impressed by the automatic text alert if you're about to go over your plan.

6/2/2010 6:13:27 PM

Quote :

"I know, but I'd really rather pay for the phone separately from a plan, and certainly don't want a contract."

I can name a few countries you could move to that have adopted this system.

^have you been hiding under a rock all day today, how have you not seen the news about AT&T's announcement until just now?

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 6:20 PM. Reason : .]

6/2/2010 6:20:07 PM

Quote :

"Sprint Data Used 2,228,220KB/ Unlimited Remaining Unlimited 1MB = 1,024KB 1GB = 1,024MB or 1,048,576KB "

thanks, Sprint

6/2/2010 6:21:57 PM

It'd be nice to see AT&T work to add some additional capacity, or speed up testing and deployment of whatever 4G technology they wanna use. I just think it's going to bite them in the long run to leave data capped. I'd rather see them actually go after those 2-3% of over users and leave everyone else alone. Why change something to limit people when they're already not a problem?

6/2/2010 6:28:00 PM

Looked at mine, I don't reach 2GB, but thanks Sprint for giving me the option


I think it's mainly because I keep the Wi-Fi connected at home/work.

6/2/2010 6:44:52 PM

Well as an extreme light user, I'll sure appreciate the cheaper plan, though $5 isn't exactly much...

Ironic while we were talking about this, I got a call from TWC telling me my bill is going up.

6/2/2010 6:57:29 PM

I've noticed that in iPhone 4 beta adding a gmail account let's you also sync calendar and notes with gmail. Was this there before OS 4?

6/2/2010 7:27:38 PM

only if you set it up as an exchange account, and no notes.

6/2/2010 7:43:27 PM

I set this up by just selecting gmail from the list. No push though.

6/2/2010 7:51:56 PM