AT&T to Throttle Unlimited Data Plan Customers Starting in October

MacRumors · Jul 29, 2011, 03:15 PM

AT&T announced today that they will be throttling high end users with unlimited data plans.

Quote:

Starting October 1, smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle. Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a grace period.

Early AT&T iPhone customers were offered an unlimited data plan for their devices. Even after AT&T stopped offering an unlimited plan, they allowed existing customers to retain their unlimited plan through device upgrades.

This change will affect any of those users who still have an unlimited plan and are considered to be in the "top 5 percent of heaviest data users". For those users, download speeds will be reduced until the next billing month. By definition, this should affect 5% of users each month.

AT&T claims that users can still "send or receive thousands of emails, surf thousands of Web pages and watch hours of streaming video every month and not be in the top 5 percent of data users."

Article Link: AT&T to Throttle Unlimited Data Plan Customers Starting in October

Dr Kevorkian94 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:19 PM

That is just horrible

TheyCallMeSaint · Jul 29, 2011, 03:19 PM

Postponing the inevitable...

iPhone1 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:19 PM

This is obviously aimed at those who jailbreak and use apps like MyWi vice paying for internet access at their homes. Jailbreaking is not a crime but AT&T sure as hell doesn't have to like it.

gkarris · Jul 29, 2011, 03:20 PM

Just easing those people into an eventual data cap...

pito189 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:22 PM

I am one of the grandfathered in people and my biggest problem with this is.

How much puts me in that top 5%? Don't just start sending me texts when I get close to it, tell me what qualifies for that top 5%. It seems asinine that I have a unlimited plan and they can just slow down my speed at their whim.

I'm going to start keeping a record for when my service isn't usable and then I'll just deduct that out of my bill at the end of the month and we'll see how that goes over...

Mlrollin91 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:23 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

Goodbye Netflix over 3G and iOS updates over the air.

Eddyisgreat · Jul 29, 2011, 03:23 PM

AT&T saw iClouds in the distance and ran for cover!

Elven · Jul 29, 2011, 03:24 PM

Just download less :/ use free open wifi more. I am sorry but some people must really abuse their downloads to go over some caps.

wordoflife · Jul 29, 2011, 03:24 PM

Better than getting rid of them completely.
I wonder how slow they are going to throttle it.

I hate how carriers are taking more and giving less.

rdlink · Jul 29, 2011, 03:25 PM

AT&T. 'Nuff said. I say sue their a**es off. I smell a class action here.

bboucher790 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:25 PM

fleshman03 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:26 PM

I smell a class action suit!

aross99 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:26 PM

What concerns me is what if the 5% limit is less than 2GB? might I be paying $5 more per month and getting throttled before someone with the 2GB plan?

I thought 98% of their users used less then 2GB per month? That would mean the top 5% would include people who used less than 2GB.

The top 5% part is what stinks. They should come out and say this is 4GB or 5GB or whatever.

edk99 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleshman03

I smell a class action suit!

Why! They are still giving you unlimited data. Just can't consume it as fast.

cadillac1234 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:28 PM

I don't really come close to hitting any data caps but I still ***** hate them with a passion

Don't sell something initially as unlimited and then change the rules later on

And you can certainly blow your LTE/4G crap out yer rear.

WannaGoMac · 06:06 PM

Counting down until I switch to Verizon...

Navdakilla · Jul 29, 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkarris

Just easing those people into an eventual data cap...

how did you know? haha

This definetely has to do with icloud

anthony11 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elven

Just download less :/ use free open wifi more. I am sorry but some people must really abuse their downloads to go over some caps.

Open WiFi is a thing of the past.

gkarris · Jul 29, 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillac1234

Don't sell something initially as unlimited and then change the rules later on

Well, unlimited is unlimited, even at 1 Byte per Minute...

aross99 · Jul 29, 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elven

Just download less :/ use free open wifi more. I am sorry but some people must really abuse their downloads to go over some caps.

I suspect most of these people use streaming audio/video as part of their daily routine (i.e. listening to Pandora every day at work), so they don't even think about it. They aren't actively using their phones, it's like they are just on in the background...

I always thought I used my phone alot, but I don't use streaming services and I have WiFi at home. My average usage is about 300MB per month.

powaking · Jul 29, 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iPhone1

This is obviously aimed at those who jailbreak and use apps like MyWi vice paying for internet access at their homes. Jailbreaking is not a crime but AT&T sure as hell doesn't have to like it.

Why do you say that? Thats a very broad statement. I'm jailbroken but I don't tether at all. I mostly stream Pandora and TWiT and download a lot of podcasts via Instacast. Don't do much Netflix streaming unless the kids want to watch something on the incar entertainment system. So far this billing cycle I'm 17 days in and I'm already using 4459MB. The most I ever used was 7200 but I'm usually around 3-4 each month.

levitynyc · Jul 29, 2011, 03:32 PM

I fully support this.

They are not targeting the high volume user. They are targeting the abuser who tethers his entire home internet connection to his phone.

Jolson247 · 04:03 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Go ahead AT&T, throttle us. When I actually do get service on my phone it's either two bars of E or one bar of 3G and it's slow as molasses. I've done speed tests on my phone and it's barely at 700 kbit/sec.

Do you really need to throttle people when your service is slow as crap and spotty/unreliable already? And for this we pay $30/month. Very nice.

rkheyfets · Jul 29, 2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bboucher790

Image

sounds about right att is horrible

Jul 29, 2011, 03:19 PM	#2
Dr Kevorkian94 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: # 12 Grimmauld Place	That is just horrible __________________ ipod nano X3ipod touch 2 Gen 27 in aluminum ImaciPad 2 3G 16gb, iPad 64gb 32GB iPhone 4 S⃣ 10/5/11 Never Forget
	14

Jul 29, 2011, 03:19 PM	#4
iPhone1 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego, CA	This is obviously aimed at those who jailbreak and use apps like MyWi vice paying for internet access at their homes. Jailbreaking is not a crime but AT&T sure as hell doesn't have to like it. __________________ Verizon iPhone 5 mid-2010 MacBook Pro 15" i7 HR-AG SSD
	4

Jul 29, 2011, 03:20 PM	#5
gkarris macrumors 604 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In the stillness of remembering....	Just easing those people into an eventual data cap... __________________ "This gate's plastic." Captain Carter, Stargate SG-1, "Touchstone"
	7

Jul 29, 2011, 03:22 PM	#6
pito189 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2006	I am one of the grandfathered in people and my biggest problem with this is. How much puts me in that top 5%? Don't just start sending me texts when I get close to it, tell me what qualifies for that top 5%. It seems asinine that I have a unlimited plan and they can just slow down my speed at their whim. I'm going to start keeping a record for when my service isn't usable and then I'll just deduct that out of my bill at the end of the month and we'll see how that goes over... __________________ EveryDay MBP
	23

Jul 29, 2011, 03:23 PM	#7
Mlrollin91 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SoCal	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5) Goodbye Netflix over 3G and iOS updates over the air. __________________ iMac 21.5", 2.7 i5 Quad, 8GB, 1TB; 11" MBA 1.7 i5, 4GB, 64GB; Black 64GB 3G iPad 2; Black 32GB iPhone 5; and Red 8GB iPod Nano 5G
	21

Jul 29, 2011, 03:19 PM	#3
TheyCallMeSaint macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2010	Postponing the inevitable...
	3

Jul 29, 2011, 03:23 PM	#8
Eddyisgreat macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seattle, Wa	AT&T saw iClouds in the distance and ran for cover! __________________ iCloud Logo Courtesy of : JiP
	39

Jul 29, 2011, 03:24 PM	#9
Elven macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK	Just download less :/ use free open wifi more. I am sorry but some people must really abuse their downloads to go over some caps. __________________ iMac 27' i7, 4GB, 1TB, 2GB 6970M - iPhone 4s White 16GB - iPad 3rd Gen White 16GB wifi - 2010 MacBook Pro 13' 2.4GHZ C2D 4GB
	-20

Jul 29, 2011, 03:24 PM	#10
wordoflife macrumors 604 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Republic City, URN.	Better than getting rid of them completely. I wonder how slow they are going to throttle it. I hate how carriers are taking more and giving less. __________________ "When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change."
	3

Jul 29, 2011, 03:25 PM	#11
rdlink macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2007	AT&T. 'Nuff said. I say sue their a**es off. I smell a class action here.
	-7

Jul 29, 2011, 03:25 PM	#12
bboucher790 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2007	__________________ "My girlfriend always laughs during sex - no matter what she's reading." - Steve Jobs
	27

Jul 29, 2011, 03:26 PM	#13
fleshman03 macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sioux City, IA	Sue them I smell a class action suit! __________________ Penguin: Early 2008 MacBook Pro C2D @ 2.5, 2GB, 250GB / iPhone 3GS 32GB Monkey: Early 2006 MacBook Black CD @ 2, 2GB, 80GB / iPhone 4GS 32GB
	-10

Jul 29, 2011, 03:26 PM	#14
aross99 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: East Lansing, MI	What concerns me is what if the 5% limit is less than 2GB? might I be paying $5 more per month and getting throttled before someone with the 2GB plan? I thought 98% of their users used less then 2GB per month? That would mean the top 5% would include people who used less than 2GB. The top 5% part is what stinks. They should come out and say this is 4GB or 5GB or whatever.
	20

Jul 29, 2011, 03:28 PM	#16
cadillac1234 macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2010	I don't really come close to hitting any data caps but I still ***** hate them with a passion Don't sell something initially as unlimited and then change the rules later on And you can certainly blow your LTE/4G crap out yer rear.
	8

Jul 29, 2011, 03:28 PM	#17
WannaGoMac macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2007	I wish! Counting down until I switch to Verizon... Last edited by WannaGoMac; Jul 29, 2011 at 06:06 PM.
	1

Jul 29, 2011, 03:32 PM	#23
levitynyc macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2006	I fully support this. They are not targeting the high volume user. They are targeting the abuser who tethers his entire home internet connection to his phone.
	-8

Jul 29, 2011, 03:32 PM	#24
Jolson247 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2009	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5) Go ahead AT&T, throttle us. When I actually do get service on my phone it's either two bars of E or one bar of 3G and it's slow as molasses. I've done speed tests on my phone and it's barely at 700 kbit/sec. Do you really need to throttle people when your service is slow as crap and spotty/unreliable already? And for this we pay $30/month. Very nice. Last edited by Jolson247; Jul 29, 2011 at 04:03 PM.
	15

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