AT&T Starts Throttling Unlimited Data Users after 2GB of Monthly Usage

[larrylaffer]

Originally Posted by miles01110

Tears. Apparently "principles" are not worth $350 then. The bottom line is that unless you put your money where your mouth is you've got no leg to stand on. Those that don't clearly don't have that much of a problem with the new terms and conditions.

???

By your logic people who don't have $350 in immediately disposable income should just get rid of their phone plan altogether so they can scratch up the cash to break the contract? Good think mobile phone services are still a luxury and not necessary for everyday life </sarcasm>.

inb4 they-bought-an-iphone

[binaryspazz]

Got my second "top 5%" notice a few days ago. (4 notices if you count the "approaching top 5%" notifications..)

I'm only at 2.8 gb this month, which is less than the highest data package of 5gb.. but that's what pisses me off less...

I actually got limited this time... I can't even pull enough data to get speedtest.net.. ping times are in the 2000's.. (yes I made sure it was data, restarted the phone, etc,etc..simcard swap to another phone...)

This is forcing us off unlimited... it's 100% worthless now... i'm paying twice as much for crippled and truly broken data.

where's the class action lawsuit.. sign me up..

[corncakes]

Called AT&T 7 times to complain about extremely slow speeds. This happened for 3 days following billing date. AT&T did everything to avoid addressing throttling. They insisted it was an Apple issue. Finally they said "a file" would have to be opened on my problem. They connected me to a "special tech" for this purpose. The tech played ignorant until I detailed AT&T's actions re: throttling unlimited users. The tech ACTUALLY ADMITTED that my phone had not been reset upon my billing date on 02/13. She also claimed that AT&T was having difficulty with resetting cycles! Surely there's a lawyer/firm out there interested in this?!

[iDabble]

throttled again. top 5% when i used 2.1 gb and live in the heart of silicon valley? find that hard to believe.

will be intentionally using as much data as possible until they resolve this issue. leaving netflix or pandora streaming on mute 24/7.

this is completely ridiculous and unethical. is there any legal action that can be taken?

[Whistle Blower]

I was throttled as soon as I reached 2G. The speed is at a point that I can not use the network. But Att promisses to restore my speed at the beginning of my next billing cycle. How nice! That's not for another 18 days. Ive tried calling the number on the text I received. No help there. What a surprise. So I did some research and contacted some friends on the inside. For those of you who are getting nowhere with customer service maybe this will help.

CEO ATT Wireless: Ralph De La Vega - ralph.delavega@att.com
EVP Mobility Customer Service: Brian Shay- brian.shay@att.com
Phone- (214) 757-5750
Cell - (425) 205-0932

It's time to let these two gentleman how you feel. Time to stop venting on these forums and and do something about it.

[dmylrea]

My normal usage (listening to streaming 128K AAC radio while driving or exercising) puts me at about 600MB per week. Except for email and an occasional app, I REALLY FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE that the average smartphone user uses less that 1GB and most are closer to 200-500MB per month!

I know my teen daughters on Verizon use 3-5GB per month. I think the demographic for smart phones falls heavily on younger people. Younger people are more tech-entrenched, yet, only 5% of the total smartphone base uses 2GB or more?

It just doesn't make sense. I'm now trying to calculate my weekly usage so that I don't go over 2GB. I'm putting more music ON my iPhone to listen to. BUT, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO?? I have UNLIMITED data, for crying out loud!!!

I'll do this for a month or two while pressure on AT&T mounts, hopefully to the point of reversing/revising their throttling plan. 3GB would be a more logical throttling point.

Should I get throttled, I'll be paying the $30 data portion of my bill at my local AT&T store...IN PENNIES. I figure, if they're going to feed me my data bits at a time, I'll pay them for it similarly.

[drummingcraig]

Originally Posted by dmylrea

Should I get throttled, I'll be paying the $30 data portion of my bill at my local AT&T store...IN PENNIES. I figure, if they're going to feed me my data bits at a time, I'll pay them for it similarly.

I love it! Please film this if you do it! Would make great YouTube fodder.

[Pumapayam]

Originally Posted by Whistle Blower

I was throttled as soon as I reached 2G. The speed is at a point that I can not use the network. But Att promisses to restore my speed at the beginning of my next billing cycle. How nice! That's not for another 18 days. Ive tried calling the number on the text I received. No help there. What a surprise. So I did some research and contacted some friends on the inside. For those of you who are getting nowhere with customer service maybe this will help.

CEO ATT Wireless: Ralph De La Vega - ralph.delavega@att.com
EVP Mobility Customer Service: Brian Shay- brian.shay@att.com
Phone- (214) 757-5750
Cell - (425) 205-0932

It's time to let these two gentleman how you feel. Time to stop venting on these forums and and do something about it.

I emailed both emails, and got a call from what I assume is someone close to them from a Bothell, WA number.

She is supposed to call me back today or tomorrow with my concerns.

About time.

[Raftysworld]

A couple observations:

1) It is to everyone's advantage that once they approach or hit the throttling limit, to use as much data as possible for the remainder of the period. AT&T is squeezing customers out of unlimited because the more that throttling kicks in, the less data it will take to reach the top 5%*(see below). BUT, rather than stream netflix, use an app that UPLOADS lots of data. The upload speeds are not being throttled for most people. One way to do this is to get the Google+ app, turn on the new instant upload feature, and take as many pictures as you can.

2) The top 5% is obviously a lie. Smartphones have rapidly taken over the cell phone market, data-hogging apps are becoming more and more popular, more browsing and usage is being done on smartphones rather than computers, etc. Even in a given year, this trend can be seen. And yet, the 5% window has not shifted to a higher data cap. Why?

[butterfly0fdoom]

Originally Posted by Raftysworld

A couple observations:

1) It is to everyone's advantage that once they approach or hit the throttling limit, to use as much data as possible for the remainder of the period. AT&T is squeezing customers out of unlimited because the more that throttling kicks in, the less data it will take to reach the top 5%*(see below). BUT, rather than stream netflix, use an app that UPLOADS lots of data. The upload speeds are not being throttled for most people. One way to do this is to get the Google+ app, turn on the new instant upload feature, and take as many pictures as you can.

2) The top 5% is obviously a lie. Smartphones have rapidly taken over the cell phone market, data-hogging apps are becoming more and more popular, more browsing and usage is being done on smartphones rather than computers, etc. Even in a given year, this trend can be seen. And yet, the 5% window has not shifted to a higher data cap. Why?

1) Phone upload speeds are already slower than download speeds by nature; the hardware limitation is a built-in throttler.

2) For ever person that complains on the internet about being throttled, 19 don't notice the problem ever. The most data-hogging apps are the ones that involve streaming; the modern average smartphone customer isn't likely to be using such apps heavily. The typical iPhone user in reality is one who bought one because it's an iDevice and not necessarily for its data capabilities, while the typical consumer in reality buys whatever is free on contract, a category that is becoming increasingly dominated by low-end smartphones. The most data-intensive things the average consumer uses their smartphones is an occasional video on YouTube, or the occasional email (if they've even set up the email on their phone).

Looking at what throttled users are saying their usage involves (loads of Netflix and Pandora, plenty of tethering, etc.), it's not surprising to see how people can rack up so much data usage.

In addition, I believe they stated the throttling cap is region-based. So for more clustered area like the SFBA and NYC where no only is there a high density of users but a lot of redtape involved in network expansion, the throttling cap would be unsurprisingly more restrictive.

[dmylrea]

Originally Posted by butterfly0fdoom

2) For ever person that complains on the internet about being throttled, 19 don't notice the problem ever. The most data-hogging apps are the ones that involve streaming; the modern average smartphone customer isn't likely to be using such apps heavily. The typical iPhone user in reality is one who bought one because it's an iDevice and not necessarily for its data capabilities, while the typical consumer in reality buys whatever is free on contract, a category that is becoming increasingly dominated by low-end smartphones. The most data-intensive things the average consumer uses their smartphones is an occasional video on YouTube, or the occasional email (if they've even set up the email on their phone).

Looking at what throttled users are saying their usage involves (loads of Netflix and Pandora, plenty of tethering, etc.), it's not surprising to see how people can rack up so much data usage.

In addition, I believe they stated the throttling cap is region-based. So for more clustered area like the SFBA and NYC where no only is there a high density of users but a lot of redtape involved in network expansion, the throttling cap would be unsurprisingly more restrictive.

Are these statements your opinion, or do you have some facts to back them up?

No one knows for sure what, exactly, AT&T is doing and whether it is region based or not. They aren't exactly forthcoming with information. What seems to be fact, though, is data usage in the top 5% is much higher than AT&T is purporting, and a study here shows that throttling is a useless practice in lessening data usage. The study shows that in 2011, across the board, data usage in the top 5% was the same whether the user was on an unlimited plan or on a tiered plan, and almost 2x the 2GB AT&T is reporting. As such, AT&T is obviously using these tactics to get their loyal long time customers off unlimited plans.

Seems to me, if AT&T were going to start throttling the top 5%, they would use a figure much higher than 2GB. But then, it probably wouldn't inconvenience as many people enough to get them to switch to a tiered plan.

I just hope this stays in the news long enough for AT&T to feel the pressure and reverse their stupid idea. At least long enough for my contract to expire so I can switch to another carrier. I've lost my faith and trust in AT&T.

[butterfly0fdoom]

Originally Posted by dmylrea

Are these statements your opinion, or do you have some facts to back them up?

No one knows for sure what, exactly, AT&T is doing and whether it is region based or not. They aren't exactly forthcoming with information. What seems to be fact, though, is data usage in the top 5% is much higher than AT&T is purporting, and a study here shows that throttling is a useless practice in lessening data usage. The study shows that in 2011, across the board, data usage in the top 5% was the same whether the user was on an unlimited plan or on a tiered plan, and almost 2x the 2GB AT&T is reporting. As such, AT&T is obviously using these tactics to get their loyal long time customers off unlimited plans.

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2012/02/a...att-throttling

Instead of kicking in once users reach a static 2 GB of monthly traffic (as was previously assumed), AT&T is going the Comcast route, crimping the pipe for a floating target of “top five percent per area.”

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/04/...monthly-usage/

It seems that AT&T’s top 5% scheme runs at region-specific basis, as many of users have no throttling complaints even using more than 2GB data.

I've seen anecdotes of people in more remote areas going even up to 10GB before getting throttled.

As far as usage habits are concerned, according to some studies, the average usage last year was 500-600MB. Now, while this average does increase constantly as time goes on, it's indicative that the typical smartphone user doesn't go near 2GB at all, contributing to my notion that the people complaining on the internet in no way represent the typical smartphone user.

Originally Posted by dmylrea

Seems to me, if AT&T were going to start throttling the top 5%, they would use a figure much higher than 2GB. But then, it probably wouldn't inconvenience as many people enough to get them to switch to a tiered plan.

Yes, because AT&T dictates what "5%" is. Now, for all we know, their calculations could be bogus and skewed in their favor. However, given that the people complaining about getting throttled are heavy data users and are generally in the same regions/markets, while I don't intend to defend AT&T, but there's a clear pattern.

Originally Posted by dmylrea

I just hope this stays in the news long enough for AT&T to feel the pressure and reverse their stupid idea. At least long enough for my contract to expire so I can switch to another carrier. I've lost my faith and trust in AT&T.

And I just want the sensationalist media to shut up for once. I've lost my faith in the media. I just hope everyone that keeps threatening to leave AT&T does it sooner than later so that my data connection is less congested.

[dmylrea]

Originally Posted by butterfly0fdoom

And I just want the sensationalist media to shut up for once. I've lost my faith in the media. I just hope everyone that keeps threatening to leave AT&T does it sooner than later so that my data connection is less congested.

So, out of curiosity, are you in the top 5% or the bottom 95%? Have you been threatened or actually throttled by AT&T? Are you paying for an unlimited 3G data plan for $30/month from AT&T?

I have no complaints about AT&T service. Where I live, it's great. I couldn't ask for better. Would $20 extra a month for 5GB + tethering break my bank? No. But, some of us have principles, and what AT&T is doing is bullying their loyal long time customers to get out of plans that, in reality, AT&T doesn't want around anymore.

I listen to streaming radio and check email. Run an app or two. WOW!!! I'm a POWER USER!!!! I'm afraid to even use iCloud/iMatch music for fear of going over 2GB. I now live in fear. Thanks AT&T.

[butterfly0fdoom]

Originally Posted by dmylrea

So, out of curiosity, are you in the top 5% or the bottom 95%? Have you been threatened or actually throttled by AT&T? Are you paying for an unlimited 3G data plan for $30/month from AT&T?

I have no complaints about AT&T service. Where I live, it's great. I couldn't ask for better. Would $20 extra a month for 5GB + tethering break my bank? No. But, some of us have principles, and what AT&T is doing is bullying their loyal long time customers to get out of plans that, in reality, AT&T doesn't want around anymore.

I listen to streaming radio and check email. Run an app or two. WOW!!! I'm a POWER USER!!!! I'm afraid to even use iCloud/iMatch music for fear of going over 2GB. I now live in fear. Thanks AT&T.

I have an unlocked phone running on the dumbphone data plan. I use Pandora regularly. I check emails. I Wikipedia on the go a lot. Twitter and Facebook may as well never be closed. My car piggybacks off my data plan. I've never exceeded 1.5GB, and I've never been throttled. I don't know if it's subject to the same threats of throttling, but I presume I'm barely in the 95% (I live in one of the more heavily throttled regions).

We have another line on our plan that is on the $30 unlimited plan; the user of that iPhone has iCloud on and only uses his phone for emails and occasional streaming. His data usage is about 1/4 to 1/5 of what I use, and is more representative of the typical smartphone user.

We've had AT&T since they were PacBell. We don't abuse them, and they don't abuse us.

[dmylrea]

Judge awards victim of AT&T data throttling $850

[Beelzbub]

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/...ng-adjustment/

And they talk about it on their website some.
http://www.att.com/esupport/datausag...Uel1160000000U

[dmylrea]

Originally Posted by Beelzbub

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/...ng-adjustment/

And they talk about it on their website some.
http://www.att.com/esupport/datausag...Uel1160000000U

While that makes me happier, I'm still not HAPPY. I probably won't be throttled now, since my usage never goes over 3GB, but the principle is still there and AT&T is still messing with us.

I like how commenters call it "fair". "Fair" is giving me unlimited 3G data like I paid for.

[magicbrain]

Originally Posted by Whistle Blower

CEO ATT Wireless: Ralph De La Vega - ralph.delavega@att.com
EVP Mobility Customer Service: Brian Shay- brian.shay@att.com
Phone- (214) 757-5750
Cell - (425) 205-0932

It's time to let these two gentleman how you feel. Time to stop venting on these forums and and do something about it.

----------------
what kills me is that attFail just announced they have no plans to throttle unlimited users on the new ipad ... wft? different set of rules for different users?
discrimination (& no, you can't transfer unlimited iPhone plan to iPad ... i've tried )