Next year, when your usage goes up... you'll pay more. Just like if, next year, I get a bigger TV and run the heat more in the winter, I'll pay more. If you can't afford it, you'll have to come up with a data budget and start actually thinking about how much you're putting through the airwaves instead of blowing through 2gb without thinking about it. If Apple made iCloud so that it sucks a ton of data, well, it's going to be an expensive feature for people who don't use wifi. Life is hard sometimes, but it's not up to AT&T, or any other telco, to make Apple's decisions work on their dime.
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AT&T Begins Warning High-Volume Data Users of Upcoming Throttling
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Next year, when your usage goes up... you'll pay more. Just like if, next year, I get a bigger TV and run the heat more in the winter, I'll pay more. If you can't afford it, you'll have to come up with a data budget and start actually thinking about how much you're putting through the airwaves instead of blowing through 2gb without thinking about it. If Apple made iCloud so that it sucks a ton of data, well, it's going to be an expensive feature for people who don't use wifi. Life is hard sometimes, but it's not up to AT&T, or any other telco, to make Apple's decisions work on their dime.
Trust me, arguing with morons on the Internet doesn't come close to stressing my brain. It strains my patience in the same way a parent gets stressed talking to an obstinate 2yo. The simple fact is people are going to use more and more mobile data, and AT&T is limiting users more and more. At some point very soon (2 months?) there is going to be huge gulf between what the average user needs, and what AT&T wants to provide for a reasonable price. Last year I thought it was $10 per gb. I think a reasonable price at today's usage is $5 per GB. AT&T seem to think its higher. Fine, but next month, after iCloud, I'm going to think its $1 per gb, and AT&T are going to think its $15 per gb. That's where we are headed.
Data is not gas, or water. Data is technology dependent. Technology gets cheaper every year because of innovation. Gas gets more expensive because there is less and less of it.
Uhh, you're kidding right?
First, if you are so intent on making sure people get what they pay for, why aren't you supporting those people who have their internet experience significantly degraded by these "top 5%"?
Second, look at the actual contract. It states that your usage is subject to fair use and that network speeds may be impacted by a variety of factors. One of those factors is other people. Think about it....
Third, dictionary definitions are usually not suited to all practical applications. The word "unlimited" is defined within a context and scope that exists solely in the telecommunications industry. Most smart people know this.
Finally, people who drive more ARE being asked to pay for roads more than others. Ever hear of gas taxes? Part of that is used for infrastructure.
That's why we're starting to get 2160p video! More bits!
Any cloud scheme for the home is held hostage by the bandwidth/usage caps from the ISPs. IOS 5 isn't the target, it's every cloud app.
If you don't have 100 Mbps up and down with unlimited TB/month, the cloud is a failure for many users.
Apple hasn't "screwed the pooch" or "jumped the shark" - they're just prematurely releasing a service before there's a sustainable infrastructure to support it.
Like here in California - when you are driving and you see the automated radar boxes that show your speed - hit the accelerator and see how high you can make the number. 55 in a 25 zone - JackPot!!! (Of course, you go back to 30 after the box....)
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How does switching to a limited plan address any of the questions I have about this policy. All I am saying is that, AT&T needs to be more open as to what triggers throttling, and be open about it. Just saying that a customer is in the 5% of customers is failed communication.
1. Is top 5% of all data customers, including limited plans? If so then the average of all data usage is actually much lower than previous years when data was unlimited
2. How is the unlimited floor calculated? Assuming it is a arbitrary set number (6gb etc.) Is this floor recalculated every month? Is it adjusted to account for increase traffic in future years?
3. Since this unlimited floor is created by AT&T and enforced by AT&T, is there a external way for customers to appeal "floor limits".
This company needs to be more open and address the actual concerns of a policy change, this allows for every customer to make rational and fiscally responsible decisions as to which plan to choose.
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The spectrum doesn't get bigger. You're oversimplifying to try to justify your position. Faster chips do not mean more data in a linear fashion. Or, in other words, how's that belief working out for you? I'm going to bed. Go ahead and don't trust me; just remember this in two years when you're paying more for consuming more bandwidth.
In other news......
Wild-Bill begins warning AT$T that its services will no longer be required the day the iPhone 5 is released.
Wild-Bill is getting a Verizon Iphone 5 then, right?
Yes. I'd much rather have reliable phone calls than simultaneous voice & data any day.
Feels like "All you can eat" where the waiter handcuffs you after the first dish so you can't eat more.
I would much rather them boot everyone off of unlimited than pretend it still exists and throttle it.
Wow!
Not only are you in the top 5% of users, but you must be located in the .0005% of places where AT&T has coverage good enough to deal with that kind of load.
Actually I'm tempted to call BS because I can't believe they have good enough coverage for all of that to be tolerable, ANYWHERE. ;-)
Yeah, probably you aren't using 1/10th of that much and this is all just some kind of accounting/rounding error. ;-)
But seriously, whoah that's a lot of usage on such a dinky screen...and if it were slow on top of the small screen, I'd go nuts...
So in my case, it's iPad 2 + VZW 4G/LTE MiFi for the win.
(And iPhone on the same MiFi, for that matter--at 4G/LTE speeds, it's faster than even the iPhone 4S / 5 will go on HSPA+). *smirk*
The spectrum doesn't get bigger but how we use it changes. Right now 7 mbs is the standard. When new tech makes 21mbs on a phone possible are you going to tell me that we are only going to be able to handle 1/3 of the users? No. Its like telling people that the only way to fix the traffic problem in la is to make high mileage cars drive in the slow lane. What you really need is more lanes, and now... Because the population in la isn't getting any smaller and they aren't going to switch to public transit any time soon. So, you use faster transmission tech and better compression and open up the bottlenecks. Is there a limit to what you can do? Yeah, but we aren't there yet, not by a long shot.
It's the video that uses the most of his bandwidth. Everything else combined probably uses around 1GB. It's really not that hard to do on at&t if you don't live near a crowded city (i.e., most of the US).Wow!
Not only are you in the top 5% of users, but you must be located in the .0005% of places where AT&T has coverage good enough to deal with that kind of load.
Actually I'm tempted to call BS because I can't believe they have good enough coverage for all of that to be tolerable, ANYWHERE. ;-)
Yeah, probably you aren't using 1/10th of that much and this is all just some kind of accounting/rounding error. ;-)
But seriously, whoah that's a lot of usage on such a dinky screen...and if it were slow on top of the small screen, I'd go nuts...
So in my case, it's iPad 2 + VZW 4G/LTE MiFi for the win.
(And iPhone on the same MiFi, for that matter--at 4G/LTE speeds, it's faster than even the iPhone 4S / 5 will go on HSPA+). *smirk*
Whats ironic is back in '08 when the 3G came out streaming video and music over the air was pretty much a non-direct selling point. AT&T encouraged using their network for all your data needs. Just three short years later they treat data usage just like the black plague.. Kind of a get the consumer hooked and then reel them in little by little.
Wow!
Not only are you in the top 5% of users, but you must be located in the .0005% of places where AT&T has coverage good enough to deal with that kind of load.
Actually I'm tempted to call BS because I can't believe they have good enough coverage for all of that to be tolerable, ANYWHERE. ;-)
Yeah, probably you aren't using 1/10th of that much and this is all just some kind of accounting/rounding error. ;-)
But seriously, whoah that's a lot of usage on such a dinky screen...and if it were slow on top of the small screen, I'd go nuts...
So in my case, it's iPad 2 + VZW 4G/LTE MiFi for the win.
(And iPhone on the same MiFi, for that matter--at 4G/LTE speeds, it's faster than even the iPhone 4S / 5 will go on HSPA+). *smirk*
Not that AT&T is the greatest company, but in my experience in my area AT&T works quite well. It's been find throughout my state. And on my roadtrip this year, the only place I didn't get a signal was in a valley in North Carolina. It actually improved since last year's trip. This year I went from Florida to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C., and Virginia. It worked fine in all those areas, including rural areas and major cities in each state.
I didn't make many call, but in my area, I never drop calls. I even checked my call logs at one point to investigate it.
Honestly, I think a lot of people just like to complain. And Verizon isn't the bomb everywhere either. I have friends that live in GA, and their service from almost anyone sucks. It all depends upon where you live. In Florida, they all have great service as far as my experience goes and I have friends on all major networks.
10-12GB is considered high usage? In Singapore, 12GB is the standard amount of data included on the cheapest plan. Really, we are entering the dark ages of wireless here in the US, where we have advance devices but severely limited connectivity and services that stifle innovation.
Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, etc, kiss your cloud goodbye.
Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, etc, kiss your cloud goodbye.
Ughh, what a bunch of whiners (the people who are screaming unlimited means no throttling).
As has been stated, there is such a thing as fair use. ATT has every right to protect the integrity of their service to other customers - and to take reasonable measures to ensure good quality service to everyone. This includes issuing warnings and throttling bandwidth (as per their agreements with everyone).
Such a culture of entitlement and excess with these people. Makes me sick.
As has been stated, there is such a thing as fair use. ATT has every right to protect the integrity of their service to other customers - and to take reasonable measures to ensure good quality service to everyone. This includes issuing warnings and throttling bandwidth (as per their agreements with everyone).
Such a culture of entitlement and excess with these people. Makes me sick.
Is it not also fair to say that your plan sucks? For those who paid for unlimited
why should they be throttled for you that wants a cheap bill?
