I actually wasn't aware of that limitation--but that's crappy. Did they let you off with a warning, charge you extra or threaten to cancel your unlimited plan? As lousy as that policy is, I'd still be reluctant to give up that plan--most of the time in works in our favor.
I learned of AT&T's "off-network" concerns via both an email and text message from AT&T. Those messages explained that, while no additional charges would be forthcoming, AT&T had sent an update to my iPhone so it would show me when I wasn't on AT&T's network.
That's right... BEFORE sending that update to my iPhone, even when I was on a partner network in the middle of Nebraska or Colorado (along major Interstates), my iPhone would display "AT&T" in the status bar. AT&T apparently
wants its customers to think they are AT&T's network, even when they aren't! And, supposedly, AFTER the update to my iPhone, it's supposed to display "Off Network" instead of "AT&T" so I'll know when I'm using a partner network in the U.S.
The message from AT&T also pointed out that, if my off-network usage continued, they would shut off my ability to have data access while off-network.
That, of course, caused me to call AT&T and give the rep a piece of my mind. What a bunch of devious dirtbags! They WANT you to think you are on their network instead of a partner network UNLESS you're, you know, actually USING some data on that partner network! Hypocrites!
The supposed contractually limit is 20MB of data on a partner network per month. That's not even ONE full resolution raw file from my 5D Mark III digital camera. But AT&T doesn't send the nastygram until you've exceeded 100MB on the partner network. How nice of them!
Hey, AT&T, instead of proving to your customers that you've got the worst customer service on the planet, how about actually installing some of your own towers along every major Interstate in the country? You know, fill in the blank spots where you don't have adequate coverage. The areas where you have to use partner networks or risk looking like you have the worst coverage in America!
In the meantime, AT&T, shut the heck up about low data usage customers using up a measly 100MB of partner data while traveling across Nebraska and Colorado!
Mark