AT&T Begins Warning High-Volume Data Users of Upcoming Throttling

[SeaFox]

Throttled access ≠ No access. And as always if you're dissatisfied, switch to Sprint. Voting with your wallet always works.

I'm sure AT&T would be so upset.

Not only do they have one less customer on an unlimited data plan they no longer want to offer, one of their top 5% of mobile data users is now a competitor's problem.

And let's be real here, one customer leaving isn't going to even register on the revenue sheet of a company with millions of customers.

 

[srxtr]

I am glad to see legitimate data. Fact is, is that more and more services are coming like this, including Google's Google+ app that will auto upload your photos/videos to their servers. Quite honestly, I have filled my phone more than once w/ too many photo's, video, music, etc. Having the option to upload them to the cloud, and access what I want when its needed is perfect for me, and I am sure for many others, otherwise there wouldn't be a market for it, and Apple/Google/everyone else soon, would not be developing for it. As more and more is designed for working in a cloud based environment, the need for data transfer will only grow. I however am very skeptical that AT&T will choose keep up with demand at a reasonable price point. It would be too easy for them to exploit this situation, thus increasing their profits per client to what I would consider unreasonable. Hopefully, healthy competition will keep them in check now that other carriers are finally getting the iPhone.

I decided to get my past data reports from att.com directly. Here are my results:

1) Over a year ago, I didn't use wifi as much and my usage was around 1GB per month.
2) It was about 5 months ago when I went hardcore wifi mode, and I was averaging around 200MB since then. I guess I pulled the 100MB out of my ass, but that was the number I remembered...
3) I joined the dev program early August, and according to a att's report, my August-September data usage was 451MB, while my July-August data usage was 203MB.

So I guess iCloud didn't triple my data usage, but just over twice the usage.

 

[ryanvsrobots]

If everyone uses more data, the top 5% is higher, start cranking!

 

[thetoad30]

You are getting unlimited data to your device, there is no cap. You are just not getting it fast after a limit. I say they still comply.

Really?

Checkout the above, in bold.

I don't know how it can get any clearer than that.

You stated it yourself. Throttling = limit. Unlimited = No limit.

You have no argument as you just nullified it yourself.

 

[Treq]

I'm sure AT&T would be so upset.

Not only do they have one less customer on an unlimited data plan they no longer want to offer, one of their top 5% of mobile data users is now a competitor's problem.

And let's be real here, one customer leaving isn't going to even register on the revenue sheet of a company with millions of customers.

And if all of the top 5% leave, then the next month there will be another 5%... Ect until all the unlimited users are gone. Then the 2gb per month users wil realize that 2gb is waaaaay too small for all the services they now have access to, and will start to think about every little thing they do on the Internet for fear of going over. Then they will get frustrated and try to find a better deal of which none exists. Then we all are living in a stunted Internet environment, with no developers making any cool apps and no Internet business making any money. Sounds like a really bad future.

 

[marksman]

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Sure, but there is something called FALSE ADVERTISING

I don't ever recall being offered unlimited forever.

Hell, I'm happy ATT still allows me to be grandfathered because they are under no obligation to do so. They could just as well say with my next contract renewal, "Sorry, that option is no longer available".

That is what is funny about this. The whole thing has actually been a courtesy to people and they keep extending it to new advices but instead of being thankful to att for doing something like this they complain over and over about how unfair it is.

There are people like you who get it. I hope all the 10 gig plus cry babies leave att. The rest of us will be better off

 

[marksman]

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Again, you have no clue here, it's quite evident.

Show me how throttling is not a limit, and we'll be done.

It has always been unlimited "data"

 

[marksman]

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I'm surprised to see so many here blaming the users. 12GB of usage for your only internet connection is hardly much. Remember that there are many people in rural places who can't get wired broadband and must rely on wireless.

So who's at fault here: the user or AT&T? Here's one way to break it down. Assuming an average throughput of 2 Mbps (could be higher, but then again not every webpage load maxes out the connection):

2 Mbps / (8 bits per byte) = 0.25 MBps

12,000 MB monthly transfer / 0.25MBps = 48,000 seconds of network usage @ 2 Mbps

48,000 seconds = 800 minutes = 13.3 hours

So AT&T's claim here is that their network can't handle 5% of its customers using their 'unlimited' connection for less than 14 hours per month at 2Mbps. Either their network is woefully under-provisioned, or their claims of dealing with network congestion are less than genuine.

People using it for anything but their phone are violating their agreement

 

[SeaFox]

And if all of the top 5% leave, then the next month there will be another 5%... Etc until all the unlimited users are gone.

Exactly, which is what this is really about. Those high data users wouldn't be using so much if they had limits to worry about. AT&T would have loved to just tell them all, "Sorry, unlimited data plans have to go bye-bye" back then. But they would have probably ended up in court for bait-n-switch advertising at that point, and been drug through the dirt on the press. Even more questions would have been asked about AT&T not unlocking iPhones for customers who have fulfilled their contracts then.

As it is they've already tried to force people off unlimited plans at iPhone/iPad upgrade cycles. We're all read the anecdotes here on MR from members trying to re-up their contracts on new devices and being told they would lose their unlimited data plan until they make a big fuss and speak to three layers of management, threaten to leave, etc and only THEN are they allowed to keep their unlimited data plans. I wonder how many AT&T customers didn't make that fuss and said "oh, okay" instead, giving up the ghost willingly over the phone.

 

[srxtr]

I use around 60 minutes, 200MB+ of data every month. I basically use my iPhone as a messaging device. If AT&T is going to charge a premium for unlimited texting and data, I'd damn better be able to use those features without AT&T gimping them in any way. I should be charged like $50 for what I do on my iPhone, but no, they're going to overcharge everyone regardless of whether you are a heavy user or not.

 

[ibrady]

If at&t is doing it, so will the competition. Verizon definitely will, and it's to help out the general users, not the ones streaming 24/7. Reduced speeds after 12 GB isn't anything to complain about. You've already used more than enough. I've tried to use my phone as much as possible without wifi and I got up to 6 GB in one month. That was trying.

 

[NoHo]

If you're unlimited you should be able to use however much you want.

When home broadband goes to tiered pricing, I wonder if grandmothers and ancient people are going to say, "Well, I only use 10gb a month, so I don't want to have to pay for others who use more!" the way people here say the same thing about someone using a lot of mobile data.

 

[danfox]

11GB+ a month for a PHONE is really high...and I understand he does not have home WIFI...but he doesn't have access to ANY WIFI?

Not everyone has access to wi-fi. My home has no wi-fi because we use hard-wired ethernet. My office wi-fi is blocked for personal use. My car has no wi-fi because, well, you know, it's a car.

 

[NoHo]

I use around 60 minutes, 200MB+ of data every month. I basically use my iPhone as a messaging device. If AT&T is going to charge a premium for unlimited texting and data, I'd damn better be able to use those features without AT&T gimping them in any way. I should be charged like $50 for what I do on my iPhone, but no, they're going to overcharge everyone regardless of whether you are a heavy user or not.

No. You should just get a different phone. If you don't use the iPhone, why would you have it? To be cool?

 

[tigres]

Does anyone even think they will allow us Unlimited plan users to upgrade to the next iPhone and keep the same data plan? I would personally be pretty surprised.

 

[something3153]

Don't call people self entitled jerks just because they use data services more than you. I'm a light user and have very nearly used 2gb this month all while being on wifi around half my waking hours. 2GB is too small a cap. I didn't even stream videos. AT&T should have raised that cap to 5gb this year. Next year it should go to 7-10gb ect... Moore's law and all.

You're not a light user. Also, Moore's Law does not apply to bandwidth.

 

[marksman]

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with the iPhone 5 going to Sprint and Verizon, im sure the netowrk will decongest anyway with people going to Verizon, better service, or Sprint, better pricing plans and true unlimited data

Sprint already changed their plans in advance of the iPhone. Unlimited iPhone data plans are no longer available to anyone in the us. So I hope all those throttled rush off to sprint to find them throttling too

 

[NoHo]

Does anyone even think they will allow us Unlimited plan users to upgrade to the next iPhone and keep the same data plan? I would personally be pretty surprised.

I don't see why they wouldn't. If you signed a new 2-year contract, that would be one of the selling points. I bought a 3GS in December of 2009 with the unlimited plan, it broke a few weeks ago and now I'm using a different smart phone with my unlimited plan and they assured me that when the new iPhone came out, I could upgrade and keep my unlimited data plan.

The people that bought the iPhone 4 who were grandfathered in were able to keep theirs.

 

[marksman]

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Some of you act like the top 5% heavy users all live in your neighborhood, and they're the cause of your slow connections. They may affect the network a little, but not that much.

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If 5% of customers are using significantly more of a service than the other 95% of customers, why shouldn't they get more money from them?

Besides, your argument is invalid anyways because AT&T isn't getting more money from them. They're still unlimited. They're still paying 30 bucks a month.

Because it was AT&T who offered the unlimited plan

The top 5% probably use 50% or more of all data.

 

[ibrady]

Does anyone even think they will allow us Unlimited plan users to upgrade to the next iPhone and keep the same data plan? I would personally be pretty surprised.

This has never been a problem for me. I have upgraded from the original iPhone, to a 3G, 3GS, 4, and back to the original for the time being until the 5. And with the original iPhone, you have to activate over iTunes and have the $20 unlimited data & 200 texts plan. My unlimited plan is still there waiting for the iP5.

 

[marksman]

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My only issue with this move by AT&T is the lack of transparency. How are we as users suppose to know if we really are in the top 5% group? Is the bar set based on a moving monthly average to determine the 5% group? Or is another formula used be it moving 3 month average or even a pre-determined data cap? What happens when over time, data usage increases due to more iOS features which require data (voice control, widgets etc.), does this causes averages to change or if its a predetermined amount of data (8gb or whatever it may be) is the 5% group going to grow?

Is AT&T using internal measuring tools, or is an outside group available to audit such a claim by AT&T that we are in the 5% group?

Switch to the 2 gig plan and you do not have to worry about where you stand.

 

[Treq]

Exactly, which is what this is really about. Those high data users wouldn't be using so much if they had limits to worry about. AT&T would have loved to just tell them all, "Sorry, unlimited data plans have to go bye-bye" back then. But they would have probably ended up in court for bait-n-switch advertising at that point, and been drug through the dirt on the press. Even more questions would have been asked about AT&T not unlocking iPhones for customers who have fulfilled their contracts then.

As it is they've already tried to force people off unlimited plans at iPhone/iPad upgrade cycles. We're all read the anecdotes here on MR from members trying to re-up their contracts on new devices and being told they would lose their unlimited data plan until they make a big fuss and speak to three layers of management, threaten to leave, etc and only THEN are they allowed to keep their unlimited data plans. I wonder how many AT&T customers didn't make that fuss and said "oh, okay" instead, giving up the ghost willingly over the phone.

I get that AT&T wants unlimited users gone. I've keep my unlimited because I know I'll need it in the future. I'm already starting to go over 2 gb with iCloud and I'm on wifi all day at work and at home. If they offered a plan at about $1 per GB I think that would be reasonable with today's data services offered by envy one from netflix to NPR. But 2 gb for $25. Not enough. And waaaay not enough for the coming future. These caps need to expand with the growth of internet usage. Until then illkeep myunlimited plan and use it as much as I see fit.

 

[thetoad30]

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The top 5% probably use 50% or more of all data.

Do you actually have anything to back up those facts or are you just throwing out numbers to support your argument like the politicians do?

 

[Treq]

You're not a light user. Also, Moore's Law does not apply to bandwidth.

I am a light user. My average usage was 200-250 mb per month. I'm in the developer program so I am using iCloud and photo stream. This has pushed my usage to almost 2gb with 4 days left. Again I was on wifi more than half of my waking hours. And Moore's law applies as the more we can store on a chip, the more data we need to use. Maybe not a direct coralation but at least a related increase in data usage.

Edit: changed 200-250 gb to 200-250 mb

 

[something3153]

I am a light user. My average usage was 200-250 mb per month. I'm in the developer program so I am using iCloud and photo stream. This has pushed my usage to almost 2gb with 4 days left. Again I was on wifi more than half of my waking hours. And Moore's law applies as the more we can store on a chip, the more data we need to use. Maybe not a direct coralation but at least a related increase in data usage.

Edit: changed 200-250 gb to 200-250 mb

Telling me how much you're on wifi only adds to the fact that you're not a light user. At least, not this month.

Data usage, maybe. This does not PROVIDE additional bandwidth, and in no way means you deserve more for the same price.