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AT&T Announces iPhone Tethering and New Smartphone Data Plans
- Thread starter ChazUK
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Yeah, and they provided you an unlimited plan while they were selling it. They no longer sell that product. They will let you continue using it if you want though. You didn't pre-pay for an unlimited data plan for life. Where's your beef? I can understand if you don't like the new plans, but they aren't perpetrating some kind of mass conspiracy theft/contract change here.
You accuse me of not separating the 'car from the usage fee' or the 'phone from the service charges' earlier and now you are saying a dealer wants to charge more for the 'car/phone' if you drive it more? What? Is at&t the equivalent of an infrastructure provider or a hardware provider? Make up your mind. I'm so lost by your logic.
Thanks for the clarification. It makes me hate the phone companies a bit less. Still will never pay for texting, though. 🙂 Not at the current prices, at least.
BTW, if anyone was looking for confirmation about what Engadget said about easily switching between data plans, AT&T mentions it in their FAQ.
If they use 4,000/mo they are not 'average' (at least in regards to texting 🙂 ) since from the data the average is 1,742. Both absurdly high number to me.
Keep in mind all the business users also though. Strictly adults and make up a huge chunk of cell phone users/accounts.
If person A drives 1,000 miles a year and person B drives 10,000 miles a year, person B is paying more in fuel taxes because they fill up the tank more often. They are also paying more in sales tax from the oil, brakes, tires, etc, that they go through more often than person A. If they live in an area with toll roads, they will pay more in tolls than person A unless they're damn good at avoiding them, and they will probably also be buying a new car more often than person A, paying more in sales tax, title and registration fees.
So unless there's a car out there that requires no fuel, no maintenance, can fly over tool booths, and never needs replacing, you pay more if you drive more.
All of these car/iPhone - miles/data analogies are making me laugh.
All I can think of is someone selling their used iPhone on ebay...
09 iPhone 3GS, runs great! only has 692MB on her!
All I can think of is someone selling their used iPhone on ebay...
09 iPhone 3GS, runs great! only has 692MB on her!
That's exactly the point. ATT sets limits in EXACTLY the places that will force you to pay more, every time.
why do their text packages jump from 200 to 1000? because EVERYONE sends more than 200. the low end is SO low as to be useless.
we are giving up 3gigs for $5. that is the ********. 3gigs are worth MORE than $5.
pro-rate that amount (right, that'll happen) ... we should be paying $12 for 2gig.
but of course, ATT has been lying about their network all along. the lies are catching up with them, so they have to start telling new lies.
ATT makes the "low" end so low as to be useless, then adds a BIG jump to the next tier... so you are forced to get the 2nd tier. they say they have 2... but really they only have 1 that is useful.
if i had a 3g ipad, i'd be ****ING PISSED. but as it is, just another reason to dislike ATT. like we need more.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
$20 for tethering gets me nothing.
Thanks AT&T.
For $20 you will enable the "tethering switch" on my Apple iPhone?
No additional data included?
How about 1 or 2 extra gigs for that $20?
Not even a little crumb?
Throw us a bone here AT&T.
What a complete rip-off.
Jailbreak + MyWi.
No point in paying $20 for effectively "nothing".
Thanks AT&T.
For $20 you will enable the "tethering switch" on my Apple iPhone?
No additional data included?
How about 1 or 2 extra gigs for that $20?
Not even a little crumb?
Throw us a bone here AT&T.
What a complete rip-off.
Jailbreak + MyWi.
No point in paying $20 for effectively "nothing".
What business is it of yours what he does with the product he's purchased? He can access the Internet without limits. That's what unlimited means 😛 It's what he bought, it's what he's entitled to. You could have the same product if you were willing to pony up for it.
[EDIT: Sorry I didn't catch that you have the same plan. So my point changes to, you could download 65gb/mo if you wanted to. It's what you paid for; it's your privilege.]
Well, since it's almost 5pm EST the ATT employees will stop posting their inane fanboy messages soon.
For everyone who thinks this is a good deal or is posting obfuscating facts about average usage. Let's try this one on...
Your medical insurance is $500 a month and it carries a $5000 deductible and $18,000 max out of pocket with a lifetime cap of $500,000. This is a good plan and comes with pharmacy discounts and negotiated rates for specialist work. This is not typical because I am rounding numbers to make it simple.
Your medical insurer tells you (doesn't ask you but tells you) that the 'average' insured only spends $150 a year on medicine. The average hospital stay is only $9000 and the average lifetime max is $180,000.
For this new lower use coverage it's only going to cost $400 a month. Wow..you save $100 per month.
Let's now talk about averages....follow me, I swear this is tied to cell phone use.
The insurance company bases their 'averages' on a bell curve...and just like car commercials, can 'massage' the data to meet what they want to say.
The 'average' use of $150 per year for medicine is based on insurers in what they call the 'prime cost analysis group'...guess what? The make up of that group is based on 'workers' who average 34 years of age. If you take 'that' average out and put in a more 'real world' average of 49 (latest goverment 'average' for social security)...then the average yearly medicine costs jumps to $1250 a year.
Same thing with the 'average' doctor/specialist/hospital visit. If you are writing your own 'averages' then you make the numbers reflect whatever you want.
Wait...I saved the best for last...that average 'lifetime cap' they cheefully reduced to lower your monthly cost (out of the goodness of their hearts) is only $180,00. Yet the average cost of a myocardial infarcation, cancer (invasive), or other multi-systemic organ failure event (car crash) is WELL over that 'average'....Now, I don't know about you but when you buy insurance you expect insurance.
When I buy bandwidth in a legal contract that says 'unlimited', especially one vetted by the bandwidth provider I don't expect them to come back with thsi 'average' crap...and yeah, you can grandfather it..for now. What about the iPad 3g peeps? Weren't they sold a bill of goods that is now null and void? (well, unless you get it in the next 5 days, activate the account, and NEVER stop it).
"Gee we're sorry Sir or Maam that we sold you this new, cheaper plan that you now realize sucks. Yeah, that extra $300,000 is on you. Uh..no...we don't offer that better plan anymore...We felt that it was an above average waste of our..er...your money"
Yeah, I know...I am playing fast and loose with numbers and wording...but you get my drift. Why are going to have to pay more for crappy service and coverage? Wouldn't a real fair use plan be better?
Just burns my butt cheeks that ATT is playing this with the iPad 3g just released and a new iPhone 4g coming....Outright screw you from ATT.
For everyone who thinks this is a good deal or is posting obfuscating facts about average usage. Let's try this one on...
Your medical insurance is $500 a month and it carries a $5000 deductible and $18,000 max out of pocket with a lifetime cap of $500,000. This is a good plan and comes with pharmacy discounts and negotiated rates for specialist work. This is not typical because I am rounding numbers to make it simple.
Your medical insurer tells you (doesn't ask you but tells you) that the 'average' insured only spends $150 a year on medicine. The average hospital stay is only $9000 and the average lifetime max is $180,000.
For this new lower use coverage it's only going to cost $400 a month. Wow..you save $100 per month.
Let's now talk about averages....follow me, I swear this is tied to cell phone use.
The insurance company bases their 'averages' on a bell curve...and just like car commercials, can 'massage' the data to meet what they want to say.
The 'average' use of $150 per year for medicine is based on insurers in what they call the 'prime cost analysis group'...guess what? The make up of that group is based on 'workers' who average 34 years of age. If you take 'that' average out and put in a more 'real world' average of 49 (latest goverment 'average' for social security)...then the average yearly medicine costs jumps to $1250 a year.
Same thing with the 'average' doctor/specialist/hospital visit. If you are writing your own 'averages' then you make the numbers reflect whatever you want.
Wait...I saved the best for last...that average 'lifetime cap' they cheefully reduced to lower your monthly cost (out of the goodness of their hearts) is only $180,00. Yet the average cost of a myocardial infarcation, cancer (invasive), or other multi-systemic organ failure event (car crash) is WELL over that 'average'....Now, I don't know about you but when you buy insurance you expect insurance.
When I buy bandwidth in a legal contract that says 'unlimited', especially one vetted by the bandwidth provider I don't expect them to come back with thsi 'average' crap...and yeah, you can grandfather it..for now. What about the iPad 3g peeps? Weren't they sold a bill of goods that is now null and void? (well, unless you get it in the next 5 days, activate the account, and NEVER stop it).
"Gee we're sorry Sir or Maam that we sold you this new, cheaper plan that you now realize sucks. Yeah, that extra $300,000 is on you. Uh..no...we don't offer that better plan anymore...We felt that it was an above average waste of our..er...your money"
Yeah, I know...I am playing fast and loose with numbers and wording...but you get my drift. Why are going to have to pay more for crappy service and coverage? Wouldn't a real fair use plan be better?
Just burns my butt cheeks that ATT is playing this with the iPad 3g just released and a new iPhone 4g coming....Outright screw you from ATT.
It's the fat guy vs skinny guy vs "All You Can Eat" Chinese Restaurant argument.
The skinny guy doesn't eat $10 worth of food and the fat guy eats more than $10. But the model works because, in the end, the majority of the people don't eat $10 worth of food and the restaurant makes money.
Problem with at&t is that they are not making enough egg rolls and pissing everyone off.
not so sure about that
Because I have my phone and have been tethering it for the past year. (BenM hack, though not jailbroken) and in the month where I moved to a new city and hadn't yet got my home internet service set up, i tethered quite often... like everyday. Many of those times were spent on hour long iChat video sessions with friends/family. 1) the bandwidth was no problem and the chat sustained just perfectly, even when I was on the phone at the same time! and 2) i checked my data usage for that month and I only used 1.8GB. ALL MONTH.
even with all that iChatting! Plus I'd presume that Apple would limit the compression and optimize its bandwidth usage pretty well. I'm sure they've probably tested it and will have some marketing buzz number for the number of "hours of iChatting" one can do on their monthly plan... and i'd be willing to bet that number is way higher than anyone would ever use on their phones. (while on 3G)
Because I have my phone and have been tethering it for the past year. (BenM hack, though not jailbroken) and in the month where I moved to a new city and hadn't yet got my home internet service set up, i tethered quite often... like everyday. Many of those times were spent on hour long iChat video sessions with friends/family. 1) the bandwidth was no problem and the chat sustained just perfectly, even when I was on the phone at the same time! and 2) i checked my data usage for that month and I only used 1.8GB. ALL MONTH.
even with all that iChatting! Plus I'd presume that Apple would limit the compression and optimize its bandwidth usage pretty well. I'm sure they've probably tested it and will have some marketing buzz number for the number of "hours of iChatting" one can do on their monthly plan... and i'd be willing to bet that number is way higher than anyone would ever use on their phones. (while on 3G)
vastoholic
macrumors 68000
I'm glad they are offering options now and not just assuming everyone uses their iPhone for large amounts of data all the freakin time.
I just checked my usage. My highest was January with 1.4GB. It's steadily decreased since then to an average of 300-400MB. Putting me over the $15 plan but way under the $25 plan. Since $5 isn't that much of a savings (I only have my phone to worry about) I'm sticking with the unlimited. I'm a lot more lately, so I'm usually on my wifi network.
I just checked my usage. My highest was January with 1.4GB. It's steadily decreased since then to an average of 300-400MB. Putting me over the $15 plan but way under the $25 plan. Since $5 isn't that much of a savings (I only have my phone to worry about) I'm sticking with the unlimited. I'm a lot more lately, so I'm usually on my wifi network.
Hmm.. I currently pay $22.50 for unlimited data with my FAN discount and AT&T wants me to pay MORE for LESS?
Hmm... If the FAN discount doesn't apply towards these new plans, there's no way I'm switching.
Hmm... If the FAN discount doesn't apply towards these new plans, there's no way I'm switching.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Why even announce the 2 GB Cap?
If "everyone is using so little data" on their "unlimited" iPhone plan, one wonders why AT&T even felt like announcing a 2 GB cap and making a big fuss?
Perhaps next Tuesday's new iPhone has them already concerned about data usage moving forward?
If "everyone is using so little data" on their "unlimited" iPhone plan, one wonders why AT&T even felt like announcing a 2 GB cap and making a big fuss?
Perhaps next Tuesday's new iPhone has them already concerned about data usage moving forward?
So it's not much of a choice and future customers lose the best choice.
Hmmm ... funny that.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
I guess I'm surprised they don't do more of a "silent cap".
By making a big deal and throwing the 2 GB number around you get a bunch of people complaining who don't realize that they never even approach that number anyways.
and another thing...
I haven't read anyone comment on this idea, so i'll go ahead an say it. But i will warn, "conspiracy theory alert" first!
Does anyone else think AT&T might be working with Apple to change the way data gets accounted for with OS4? I mean, tethering already works just fine with 3.0 and above.. why wait until when OS4 comes out? On the one hand, you can argue that OS4 will launch when the new iphone launches at/around June 7th.. so the point is moot.. but they mentioned specifically that they are waiting for tethering to be released when OS4 comes out. I wouldn't put it past AT&T to try and make apple track whether the data is being routed directly to the phone or somehow being passed through the dock connector/bluetooth to a computer. This way, they can still track people who are jailbreakin/MyWi'ing from the network end, which they can't do now with 3.0?
thoughts?
I haven't read anyone comment on this idea, so i'll go ahead an say it. But i will warn, "conspiracy theory alert" first!
Does anyone else think AT&T might be working with Apple to change the way data gets accounted for with OS4? I mean, tethering already works just fine with 3.0 and above.. why wait until when OS4 comes out? On the one hand, you can argue that OS4 will launch when the new iphone launches at/around June 7th.. so the point is moot.. but they mentioned specifically that they are waiting for tethering to be released when OS4 comes out. I wouldn't put it past AT&T to try and make apple track whether the data is being routed directly to the phone or somehow being passed through the dock connector/bluetooth to a computer. This way, they can still track people who are jailbreakin/MyWi'ing from the network end, which they can't do now with 3.0?
thoughts?
Nope, not what they said or inferred. They were talking usage amounts not bandwidth.
And I liked on of the other posters who talked about the $10 buffet.
If 98% of the customers are eating LESS than $10 then the buffet is turning some serious coin. Yeah, that other 2% eat a lot but that still won't make up for the profit off the rest.
If almost 70% are using under 1gig, and 98% are using under 2gigs...what's the problem? Your telling me that 2% is bringing down a nationwide cellular carrer with thousands of employee's and hundreds of server farms? Yeah, next thing you're telling me is that you have this really cool bridge for sale.
🙄
Actually, I think it says you need to be on a current plan, not a current contract.
On a buffet that's true, not the least of which because a buffet (a) is self-limiting - eventually, EVERYONE reaches their limit, and (b) cannot be set to continue to be consumed after you leave the restaurant. I can't keep 'downloading' food after hours - which I could with a tethered connection.
This thread is so huge already I apologize if my comment has been stated by someone else already...
...but to me this is the best evidence yet that Verizon will indeed be picking up the iPhone as part of the new phone launch. I'm surprised to see AT&T renig on the iPad plans so soon... since they were what pleased Steve Jobs and the Apple team into selecting AT&T in the first place. It hasn't even been 40 days since the 3G iPad's launch!
Seems to me that Apple has probably alerted AT&T that they will no longer be exclusive, meaning AT&T is no longer under Apple's thumb in many respects. They seem to be throwing a big "f*** you" Apple's way by doing away with unlimited plans, and doing things now the way they probably wanted to do them all along. Only winner in this is AT&T and the few people who want to save $5 on their monthly plan. This leaves heavy users scrambling to figure out how to pay less, use less, or get grandfathered in. And yes, AT&T scores with the grandfather ability, but like all grandfathers, they die, and eventually those customers get sucked into the fray AT&T wants them in.
Also puts pressure on Verizon to offer something they probably didn't want to offer - costing them more per-customer acquisition then they had intended up until this announcement. They'll have to offer more but keep pricing very competitive, so it'll cost them more than it'll cost their iPhone converts.
JediZenMaster
Suspended
WRONG. Verizon has said that they are going to go to TIERED PRICING TOO. So go to verizon if you want. You will be paying the same you are with AT&T.
Unlimited data is officially DEAD as of June 7th. Verizon will most likely announce a change in their data pricing on the 7th or when they announce the new Motorola Droid 2 Device.