AT&T Announces iPhone Tethering and New Smartphone Data Plans

[sishaw]

How much data do you use in a month on your iPhone?

According to AT&T 65% use less than 200MB and 98% use less than 2GB. Meanwhile, you are just pulling numbers out of thin air and saying they "sound reasonable" to you.

My usage on my iPhone for the past few months ranges from 200-400MB/month.

arn

That is the question. In my particular case, I'm over 2gb this month--first time ever. It's because I started using the Sirius/XM app. Since I enjoy the app and don't have a wifi option at work where I like to use the app, the new cap will cause a problem. Suddenly $2.99/month becomes $12.99/month. 2gb is a very low cap.

 

[bobr1952]

I wouldn't mind saving $5 a month by switching from "unlimited" to "DataPro", but that will really suck if (or when) Netflix streaming comes to the iPhone.

Most of the time I use my Wi-Fi Network so 3G usage is low. But I am reluctant to change my plan because of things like Netflix--or other unplanned changes that will affect my usage. I thought 200 text messages would be fine too--until I ended up $20 over one month for additional texts. Hopefully, ATT will add more options over time to accommodate everyone's needs.

 

[goobot]

*sigh* I hope when I go to the iPhone HD I can keep my 30 a moth plan.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

OK so I'm willing to bet that people will keep their old $30/unlimited plan and upgrade to the new iPhone and tether without any more fees. Just pop out the old SIM and go. They will eventually be unlocked/jailbroken so I don't really see what all the complaints are about.

Imagine having just one unlimited high speed data contract that can tether to all the devices in your home.

 

[CaryMacGuy]

Do you know how many text emails you can send in 200 MB? Likely something over 10,000. Over ten thousand text-only emails.

There's no freakin' way you can convince me that you (or any other natural human being) would ever send and receive anywhere close to a total of ten thousand text-only emails on their smartphone within the space of one month.

So clearly, even after we subtract out all the text-only emails you (or any other natural human being) would ever use within the space of one month, there would still be space left over for other uses. And that's before we even start considering the people who elect for the 2GB plan.

Your analysis also ignores the fact that both plans still include unlimited WiFi usage in any AT&T hot spot. This will encourage people to take advantage of WiFi where it is available, and that is actually a good thing in terms of overall efficiency of service -- it provides faster speeds and lower latency to customers at the hot spots, and it frees up cellular bandwidth for the customers who are not near a hot spot.

Here's a nice little FACT for you:
Even with these caps in place, the VAST majority of customers (98%) will be able to continue using the iPhone the EXACT SAME way as they always had under an unlimited service, except now they'll be paying less for the same amount of usage. Let me repeat that so that it sinks in: They will not need to put any thought or effort into attempting to reduce their usage at all -- they will continue using their iPhones the exact same as always, and pay less.

That might true but physcologically, we still feel limited. Perhaps that feeling is unwarranted but it is still there.

 

[arn]

I wonder if there is going to be a technical restriction keeping that haven't paid for tethering from tethering. Because if not, I will tether my phone without paying all day long. I am not switching plans because when OS 4.0 comes out and I get a new iPhone, I will be probably constantly streaming Pandora during my workday. That 2 GB cap will get eaten up really quick. Instead of imposing rediculous limits on data, fix your network, AT&T.

you will have to activate with at&t for tethering

 

[stagi]

This works for me, I thought 2gb was not going to be much, but checking my account my max has been 800mb so well under. And I use my iPhone all the time guess I am on wi-fi a decent amount of the time.

 

[marksman]

thats YOU but what about that 2% which i am a part of.. are we screwed??? I use 5-9 GB a month.. i tether to my macbook and ipad and constantly download and stream...

So let me get this straight there is absolutly NO unlimited data anymore??

if its true .. then if verizon gets one Bye bye ATT i would drop your ass in a heart beat.. i hate being digitally molested

Why do you think it is okay for the rest of us to have to pay for your wireless internet usage?

Don't you believe it is fair you pay for what you use? Why do I have to pay $30 a month to use 50 megs, and you get to pay $30 a month to get 9 gigs?

I hate being digitally molested by you.

The reality is you are not going to find any kind of unlimited deal that meets your needs for the price you want to pay. You were lucky to be able to take advantage of everyone else and get them to pay for your heavy usage. Unfortunately for you the free ride is over.

As Arn notes, if you want to use that much data, you can pay for it.

If you have to use 9 gigs a month of 3G I would recommend investing in some hardline internet, so you can get some decent wifi access. Otherwise look at paying $60+ bucks a month.

It is funny to see people talking about being screwed, when they have been screwing everyone else for month's and years. No apologies, no sympathy, no oh well we had a good run... Just more me me me me oh woes me.

 

[Nuvi]

You are the reason why they changed this. I and thousands of others were paying each month for that ridiculous use of bandwidth. It is time you actually pay for the services you use and not rely on others to pay it for you.

You are the posterboy for why this change is good, as most of us win, and you lose big time. As it should be. You are using up the resources of 1000 normal customers.

No. I'm European and its normal here. You are just being screwed by your carriers in states.

 

[paulyras]

If they were to roll ALL data (Ahem! SMS and MMS, I'm looking at you) into this, I'd be OK with it. In fact, I'd be happy, but alas I know AT&T never misses an R-Kelly hosing opportunity.

That said, I don't do crap on my iphone now that I have my iPad. Maybe I'll entertain the idea of dropping to the $15 one and make a conscious effort to funnel all major data to the iPad,where I don't have to think about it. For the record, no I'm not tethering. I routinely stream baseball games through an app that I paid money for and a service (MLB.TV) that I paid even more money for while I'm on the road for work. That adds up to several GB in no time at all...

 

[haravikk]

How many people really need tethering for an iPad unless you don't have home internet? I would think the iPad is fine for most out-and-about usage till you get near to a wireless network you can use?

I'm thinking I might get one so I can get bits and pieces of work done outside instead of being cooped up in the house all day when I'm working at home, so I only really need wi-fi, but I might get the 3G option as well for long journeys

 

[BornToMac]

Another reason why I hate ATT and will continue to jailbreak my iPhones.

 

[ziggyonice]

As Arn notes, if you want to use that much data, you can pay for it.

I don't think it's reasonable that tethering comes out of the SAME 2GB quota! That's ludicrous!

It should be $25/month for 2GB of iPhone browsing, and then an additional $20/month for 2GB of separate tethering data.
Or even better, make it $45/month ($25+$20) for 4GB of iPhone/tethering combined.

Paying $20 a month simply for the ABILITY to tether — just to turn the damn thing on! — is ridiculous.

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

Yeah if you're one of the 50 people that live in the "4g" areas. Are you?

Now don't get so angry. It's 60MM currently and 120MM by Q4. And the cheapest Sprint plan with unlimited msg and data is cheaper than AT&T's with unlimited msgs and cheapest $15 data plan. And I can use 4G (which will be cool to what those flash videos). I probably used 3-4GB on 3GS, but with 4G phone and wider range of allowed applications I will probably be doubling that.

I'll let you know Friday of the Evo is doing. But the iPhone does look cuter!

 

[TeamDNA]

Why do you think it is okay for the rest of us to have to pay for your wireless internet usage?

Don't you believe it is fair you pay for what you use? Why do I have to pay $30 a month to use 50 megs, and you get to pay $30 a month to get 9 gigs?

I hate being digitally molested by you.

The reality is you are not going to find any kind of unlimited deal that meets your needs for the price you want to pay. You were lucky to be able to take advantage of everyone else and get them to pay for your heavy usage. Unfortunately for you the free ride is over.

As Arn notes, if you want to use that much data, you can pay for it.

If you have to use 9 gigs a month of 3G I would recommend investing in some hardline internet, so you can get some decent wifi access. Otherwise look at paying $60+ bucks a month.

It is funny to see people talking about being screwed, when they have been screwing everyone else for month's and years. No apologies, no sympathy, no oh well we had a good run... Just more me me me me oh woes me.

What the hell are you talking about kid ? how in the hell are YOU paying for my service ??? I pay 30$ for UNLIMITED service and Because I use UNLIMITED service i am a "bad guy" ? Honestly I dont care how mad you are or what you think of me ..and again WTF are you talking about everyone paying for my service.. get over yourself angry macrumors user. your words mean NOTHING to me

ALSO Because I am already a Smartphone user and I am going to upgrade I STILL get to get unlimited data.. and i will jailbreak and use my tethering app and still use 10GB have a great day man .. i know i will .. I have a big smirk on my face right now

 

[kintoro]

This actually would save me and my wife money today (we both average 1/2 a GB each month) but once I start to tether my usage would increase since I travel. The real question is how much. The earlier post that said the new products coming (i.e. netflix) and all the push to cloud computing is really going to test the true cost of this model.

 

[macconservative]

*sigh* I hope when I go to the iPhone HD I can keep my 30 a moth plan.

New phone, new contract. That is of course they allow you to pay full price for the phone in order to stay with current contract.

 

[odedia]

Simply unbelievable .

In Israel I pay 60 shekels (about 15$) for a 2GB plan. Tethering is included with no extra cost.

I can choose a 10GB plan for 120 shekels (about 30$)

 

[Stella]

Holy crap - what a rip off. $20 for tethering?

And I thought Robelus where bad - but AT&T - day light robbery. Here in Canada, Tethering ( Fido and Robbers at least ) is free for data plans >= 1GB.

EDIT: And last night Jobs said their "might be advantages to iPhone multi-carriers in the states"... err, yes, I think so - AT&T may think twice about attempting to charge its customers outranges fees!

 

[TeamDNA]

Another reason why I hate ATT and will continue to jailbreak my iPhones.

right there with ya

 

[sishaw]

That is the question. In my particular case, I'm over 2gb this month--first time ever. It's because I started using the Sirius/XM app. Since I enjoy the app and don't have a wifi option at work where I like to use the app, the new cap will cause a problem. Suddenly $2.99/month becomes $12.99/month. 2gb is a very low cap.

And one more thing--if the rumored iTunes cloud service happens, it won't be all that useful at 2gb/month.

 

[raremage]

Another reason why I hate ATT and will continue to jailbreak my iPhones.

Good thinking! I'm sure there is not much chance they will start monitoring those who stick with an unlimited plan much more closely, determine you are violating the TOS, and shut down those accounts.

 

[raremage]

Holy crap - what a rip off. $20 for tethering?

And I thought Robelus where bad - but AT&T - day light robbery. Here in Canada, Tethering is free for data plans >= 1GB.

This I 100% agree with. How do they justify the extra fee for tethering if they are already metering data flow? If I pay for 2GB/month, what difference does it make what device I use to eat it up?

 

[arn]

What the hell are you talking about kid ? how in the hell are YOU paying for my service ??? I pay 30$ for UNLIMITED service and Because I use UNLIMITED service i am a "bad guy" ?

No, you are actually paying $30 for unlimited non-tethering service.

arn

 

[taltal]

No. I'm European and its normal here. You are just being screwed by your carriers in states.

True.

Tethering is absolutely amazing here in Switzerland. I don't pay anything extra. Why should I? Are the tethering bytes green and the non-tethering bytes red?