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AT&T Announces iPhone Tethering and New Smartphone Data Plans

AS for Grandfathering ......

OTHER Carriers( T-Mobile USA for sure) have let you keep your same " plan rates" even when upgrading phones. I have a friend that has had the same voice/data/text plan on T-mobile for 7 years now, yet has been thru 4 different phones ( Sidekick 1, sidekick 2, sidekick 3 , and now the G1) still paying the exact same amount he was in 03. ( which is the only reason he won't leave t-mobile his pricing is just too sweet)

Now I HOPE, PRAY, DREAM, that AT&T will do the same. BUT... The Idea here is to kill the 9gb a month guys like TeamDNA and the rest of the 2%'ers. Since those kinda guys will want the latest and greatest iPhone AT&T can move them to the new plans and crush their bandwidth hogging souls.

tho I only used 477 megs in a month where I bearly touched my MBP (except to watch movies and what not.. sorry iPhone I love you but your screen is tiny) I just don't wanna lose the unlimited data. call it a mind trick thing..

Oh and All you jerks that have been jail break-tethering and eating 9gb of data up a month. I hate you your the reason the rest of use haven't been able to tether.

:mad:
 
Nuvi said:
Sure I have lined connection. I have fiber which is 100 Mbits/10 Mbits but by end of 2010 my ISP is upgrading it to 1000 Mbits/100 Mbits. I'm using tethering on the road only. FYI, even if US carriers don't have the infrastructure to support normal tethering it doesn't mean carriers in Europe have the same problems. Regarding making profit, the carriers here in Europe can provide unlimited tethering, far better coverage and stability then AT&T and faster connections under 10 € and still make profit.
Click to expand...

There is a massive infrastructure cost difference in Europe. The US is not only physically larger but how the population is spread is different too.

I also believe that some tax money collected in Europe goes towards infrastructure of this nature but I can't find the info I'm looking for.

IF what I believe is true then I'll take a 2gb data cap at $25 and 1gb per 10 than a near 45 percent tax rate on my income :p
 
I've read 9 pages of replies and most posters seem to be lacking an understanding of several things that should be basic:

1. Pricing is based on supply vs demand. The reason tethering costs extra is to create a disincentive to the casual user. If tethering were free, how many people would hook up their laptop, or a friends laptop, once in a while? Enough that it would have an impact on the network. By creating a price barrier to entry the only people who will be tethering are those who see it as being worth $20 a month. You are paying for a privilege. I don't know when tethering became a god given right.

2. For 98% of users, these new plans will save them money. Again, 98 out of 100 of all iphone user will save money. My usage when I never thought about it didn't go over 200 MB a month. Between the 3 iphones on my family plan we will save $45/month, or $540 a year. Is this everyone's usage pattern? No, therefore:

3. Tiered plans with limits that leave only 2% of users IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION THEY ARE IN NOW. If you are a heavy user stick with your unlimited plan. That is why you are being grandfathered in, b/c you bought an iphone with the expectation of unlimited data usage and it would be unfair to take that away now.

But, there is no way the unlimited plans will be grandfathered in with the new iphone. The new iphones will require the use of these new data plans. iPhone users have no special right to unlimited data that other customers lack.

The 2% of users for whom these plans don't work will be left with the following choices:
- buy a new iphone and deal with the capped data plans
- keep their current iphone and current unlimited plan
- go somewhere else for cellular service

I don't know why there is a sentiment that being a current iPhone owner creates any special rights going forward. AT&T isn't taking away the unlimited plan you have now as that was part of the value equation when you chose to buy your current phone. But there is no right to that unlimited data plan with the new phone.

If Apple introduced new Macbooks with 2 hours of battery life instead of the 10 they currently have, would current macbook owners have any right to demand Apple compensate them b/c their new replacement Macbook has reduced battery life? That would be silly. They would have the following choices:
- buy a new macbook and deal with the reduced battery life
- keep their current macbook and current super batter life
- go buy a laptop from a different company

In a perfect world data would be abundant and free and girls wouldn't run away from me in horror ;) but this isn't a perfect world.

</mild rant>
 
Does this mean that if you choose to tether, the data you use while tethering will eat from your 2GB iPhone data, or do you get unlimited data for tethering? If you have to pay $20 extra for that feature and you don't get any extra data, that isn't right.
 
Schroedinger said:
I've read 9 pages of replies and most posters seem to be lacking an understanding of several things that should be basic:

1. Pricing is based on supply vs demand. The reason tethering costs extra is to create a disincentive to the casual user. If tethering were free, how many people would hook up their laptop, or a friends laptop, once in a while? Enough that it would have an impact on the network. By creating a price barrier to entry the only people who will be tethering are those who see it as being worth $20 a month. You are paying for a privilege. I don't know when tethering became a god given right.

2. For 98% of users, these new plans will save them money. Again, 98 out of 100 of every iphone user will save money. My usage when I never thought about it didn't go over 200 MB a month. Between the 3 iphones on my family plan we will save $45/month, or $540 a year. Is this everyone's usage pattern? No, therefore:

3. Tiered plans with limits that leave only 2% of users IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION THEY ARE IN NOW. If you are a heavy user stick with your unlimited plan. That is why you are being grandfathered in, b/c you bought an iphone with the expectation of unlimited data usage and it would be unfair to take that away now.

But, there is no way the unlimited plans will be grandfathered in with the new iphone. The new iphones will require the use of these new data plans. iPhone users have no special right to unlimited data that other customers lack.

The 2% of users for whom these plans don't work will be left with the following choices:
- buy a new iphone and deal with the capped data plans
- keep their current iphone and current unlimited plan
- go somewhere else for cellular service

I don't know why there is a sentiment that being a current iPhone owner creates any special rights going forward. AT&T isn't taking away the unlimited plan you have now as that was part of the value equation when you chose to buy your current phone. But there is no right to that unlimited data plan with the new phone.

If Apple introduced new Macbooks with 2 hours of battery life instead of the 10 they currently have, would current macbook owners have any right to demand Apple compensate them b/c their new replacement Macbook has reduced battery life? That would be silly. They would have following choices:
- buy a new macbook and deal with the reduced battery life
- keep their current macbook and current super batter life
- go buy a laptop from a different company

In a perfect world data would be abundant and free and girls wouldn't run away from me in horror ;) but this isn't a perfect world.

</mild rant>
Click to expand...

Stop it....common sense and reality have no place where emotions rule reality :D
 
I'm not too worryed i just spoke to AT&T Mobility and they said that as long as you never change from a smartphone then your plan will be grandfathered.

I Used 65 Gb's last month. So i'm going to keep my unilimited
 
Are you an employee , stock holder, or even CEO of AT&T because that is pure rant with little logic behind it.

Apple crow on about how important user experience is. AT&T is not good user experience. If SJ holds his principle of 'user experience' he should be on the phone giving AT&T absolute ****. $20 tethering charge is something I'd expect from Rogers - but even they got it right - free tethering ( >= 1GB ). The user has purchased xGB of bandwidth, it shouldn't matter how that xGB is used - on phone or tethering - the $20 is pure greed. I really feel for AT&T customers this morning, they have an absolute right to be pissed off with excessive charge.

AT&T charges a high price of $20 I'm guessing because it wants to appease Apple but it knows its infrastructure can't cope and prices its customers out of the tethering market.


Schroedinger said:
I've read 9 pages of replies and most posters seem to be lacking an understanding of several things that should be basic:

<snip>

</mild rant>
Click to expand...
 
JediZenMaster said:
I'm not too worryed i just spoke to AT&T Mobility and they said that as long as you never change from a smartphone then your plan will be grandfathered.

I Used 65 Gb's last month. So i'm going to keep my unilimited
Click to expand...

Yup I spoke with ATT too and i was told the same thing.. IF you already have a smartphone ie iPhone and you upgrade you STILL get the unlimited plan
 
macduke said:
Now that we know we have to downgrade to the 2gb plan to add the $20 tethering, it kind of takes the wind out of that lower price. 2gb of data on my MBP goes a lot faster. $10 or $15 would be a lot better as we're still taking from the same limited, 2gb pool that we already have access to and are paying for. I wouldn't be surprised to see the government investigate this crap one of these days. If we're paying for 2gb, then we should be able to shove that 2gb wherever we want it. Or at the VERY least, throw in an extra gb or two. That's $20 extra bucks for nothing except switching destinations!
Click to expand...
This is my problem. I've been saying for years they need to simply sell people data and let them use it. Glad I'm not an ATT customer (was glad before this, too). Hopefully this is pointing toward a Sprint iPhone!
 
Stella said:
Are you an employee , stock holder, or even CEO of AT&T because that is pure rant with little logic behind it.

AT&T charges a high price of $20 I'm guessing because it wants to appease Apple but it knows its infrastructure can't cope and prices its customers out of the tethering market.

Apple crow on about how important user experience is. AT&T is not good user experience. If SJ holds his principle of 'user experience' he should be on the phone giving AT&T absolute ****. $20 tethering charge is something I'd expect from Rogers - but even they got it right - free tethering ( >= 1GB ). The user has purchased xGB of bandwidth, it shouldn't matter how that xGB is used - on phone or tethering - the $20 is pure greed. I really feel for AT&T customers this morning, they have an absolute right to be pissed off with excessive charge.
Click to expand...

I suppose that you your ignorning the fact that Verizon if they get the iphone will have these same types of plans.

Verizon and AT&T pretty much follow each other when it comes to most things. When Verizon lowered the price of it's unlimited plan guess what? AT&T responded by doing the same exact thing.

And verizon also implemented the same policy of requring Data plans with all smartphones because AT&T did it as well.

So the moment verizon gets the iphone you will see these same plans over there as well.
 
TeamDNA said:
Yup I spoke with ATT too and i was told the same thing.. IF you already have a smartphone ie iPhone and you upgrade you STILL get the unlimited plan
Click to expand...

I also asked what happens if sales rep gets shady when i get the iP4 and "Switches" me over to the new plan without my permission. They said that it can be switched back.

For some reason i can totally see that happening on launch day.
 
iMrNiceGuy0023 said:
I'll just upgrade another phone in my family plan then swap sims
Click to expand...

Is that how that works? I'm not eligible for upgrade until next year, but another person in my family plan is eligible now. If we get her a new phone, do we have to notify at&t at all if we swap phones? Is it really just a matter of swapping sim cards? Does that confuse things for the online bill/usage?
 
JediZenMaster said:
I'm not too worryed i just spoke to AT&T Mobility and they said that as long as you never change from a smartphone then your plan will be grandfathered.

I Used 65 Gb's last month. So i'm going to keep my unilimited
Click to expand...

65gb...on your phone. in one month??? are you freaking kidding me ?????

I was going to call ******** there is no way you could do that.. then I researched..........

the average AT&T Speed on 3G ( in major cities) is 1410Kbps

in One Month ( running 24/7) you could DL 456.84 GB
The nifty tool I used to do THAT math ..
http://web.forret.com/tools/bandwidth.asp?speed=1410&unit=Kbps

but still 65GB ?? jesus. :eek:
 
JediZenMaster said:
I suppose that you your ignorning the fact that Verizon if they get the iphone will have these same types of plans.

Verizon and AT&T pretty much follow each other when it comes to most things. When Verizon lowered the price of it's unlimited plan guess what? AT&T responded by doing the same exact thing.

And verizon also implemented the same policy of requring Data plans with all smartphones because AT&T did it as well.

So the moment verizon gets the iphone you will see these same plans over there as well.
Click to expand...

I didn't know - nor really care about Verizon, to be perfectly honest.

How can *anyone* justify $20 for tethering. That is my overall point.
 
Stella said:
Are you an employee , stock holder, or even CEO of AT&T because that is pure rant with little logic behind it.

Apple crow on about how important user experience is. AT&T is not good user experience. If SJ holds his principle of 'user experience' he should be on the phone giving AT&T absolute ****. $20 tethering charge is something I'd expect from Rogers - but even they got it right - free tethering ( >= 1GB ). The user has purchased xGB of bandwidth, it shouldn't matter how that xGB is used - on phone or tethering - the $20 is pure greed. I really feel for AT&T customers this morning, they have an absolute right to be pissed off with excessive charge.

AT&T charges a high price of $20 I'm guessing because it wants to appease Apple but it knows its infrastructure can't cope and prices its customers out of the tethering market.
Click to expand...

You're not paying $25 for 2GB of data. You're paying $25 for 2GB of data on an iPhone or iPad. It's nit the same as buying a box of cereal. If At&t were to not charge extra for tethering, it would cost everybody more because more data would be used overall. I don't want to be forced to pay $45 to tether every month because I rarely have use for it.

I agree with about everything in the long rant above. Nobody with a plan now is forced into it. It's cheaper for 98 percent of users. But as I have suspected when issues like a front-facing camera are discussed, most of that 2 percent is on here and is *very* loud.
 
So, if I'm grandfathered in at $30/mo unlimited data, AND I purchase the tethering option - do I have unlimited tethering too?
 
JediZenMaster said:
I'm not too worryed i just spoke to AT&T Mobility and they said that as long as you never change from a smartphone then your plan will be grandfathered.

I Used 65 Gb's last month. So i'm going to keep my unilimited
Click to expand...

65 GB....on a phone?

People like you are the reason carriers have to do things like this. You and I pay the same per month and I'm surprised if I go over 1 GB of data a month. Why should I be paying for your excessive data usage?
 
Damn. I'm even more on the fence on getting the new iphone. Right now I'm on Sprint with a Palm Pre. I haven't reached 2gb's on my data plan yet and I joined back in June '09. So technically, this tiered plan wouldn't really affect me, but the bill would still be slightly higher.

Hmm, guess I'll have to wait and see.
 
HornetOSX said:
65gb...on your phone. in one month??? are you freaking kidding me ?????

I was going to call ******** there is no way you could do that.. then I researched..........

the average AT&T Speed on 3G ( in major cities) is 1410Kbps

in One Month ( running 24/7) you could DL 456.84 GB
The nifty tool I used to do THAT math ..
http://web.forret.com/tools/bandwidth.asp?speed=1410&unit=Kbps

but still 65GB ?? jesus. :eek:
Click to expand...

I have a feeling that most of the crowd using that much has jailbroken and is tethering. I don't know how the hell you could use that much per month either if you talk to another human or two daily and sleep for 8 hours.
 
jeff33702 said:
So, if I'm grandfathered in at $30/mo unlimited data, AND I purchase the tethering option - do I have unlimited tethering too?
Click to expand...

No. Tethering is only an option with the 2GB plan.

From the OP: "The press release seems to indicate that Tethering will only be allowed with the DataPro plan."
 
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