AT&T CEO Acknowledges Rumors of Cellular FaceTime Charges, Says 'Too Early' to Discuss

[marcinsf]

Depends on what "is" is approach, "Unlimited" data plan

AT&T charges a fee when you sign up (even though they have you sign a contract as well).
AT&T charges you for a data package, even if you don't want it.
AT&T sets a very low monthly cap that you are able to use up in just a single day.
AT&T can start charging overage fees within hours of your billing cycle starting.
AT&T charges you again for the SAME DATA when another device connects through your phone.
AT&T charges you again for the SAME DATA when you make a video call.

You can get charged twice, three times, or maybe even four times for the same data they are already over-charging for.

Soon, AT&T will charge an "Entertainment Extra" fee when you load your web browser.

AT&T will charge a "Communications Fee" when you load email.

This is what AT&T wants. Nickel and dimes. It all adds up. BILLIONS of dollars in profits just isn't enough.

I'm still struggling with the carriers (specifically AT&T) saying "oh, unlimited data plan isn't really unlimited" Who's kidding who? or is it "Ooops, we wrote a contract that says that but that's not what we actually meant"

I think opening up the iPhone to other carriers will find AT&T struggling to keep its customers (think churn time!). I was with AT&T back in the 1990's and was utterly disgusted with their quality of transmission (bad sound, people can't hear me), lack of reliable service ("All circuits are busy. Please try your call again later"), dropped calls and then calling customer support and getting people that have such a thick accent a 10 minute call turned into 90 minutes with the person on the other end constantly repeating what I said.

There are better carriers and higher quality customer service out there. With a iPhone that works across all the networks, there will be choices and people will switch carriers (read into this, I'm switching when the iPhone 5 comes out).

 

[Macboy Pro]

The funny thing is that it's going to barely work over their network

Wow, that is an ignorant statement. They have the hands down fastest network in the U.S. for the iPhone.

PLEASE move to Verizon so you can figure out the definition of EVIL Empire.

 

[barryl85]

Its funny how you pay for data allowance and you cant use that data for what you WANT it for.

 

[Macboy Pro]

I'm still struggling with the carriers (specifically AT&T) saying "oh, unlimited data plan isn't really unlimited" Who's kidding who? or is it "Ooops, we wrote a contract that says that but that's not what we actually meant"

I don't think AT&T caps your data. They throttle it and that makes TOTAL SENSE. When AT&T offered unlimited data plans back at the very beginning of the iPhone world, data was traveling at 1/10 the speed it travels now. You would be lucky to get 3GB-4GB a month. Now, you can get 50GB-100GB a month or more on the AT&T Network.

They have honored the unlimited data and provide you with what you originally purchased (throttled to 2008 speeds).

AT&T is a company and has a responsibility to make money.

Do you work for free?

 

[UmbraDiaboli]

Back in 2004/2005 some Nokia phones had FaceTime capabilities. I remember video chatting with a friend and showing him around the street

The reason why Nokia's FaceTime failed was because carriers decided to charge it too high. Lesson to be learned, but I fear with AT&T history will repeat itself.

 

[radiogoober]

If I'm charged extra for FaceTime I'm going to switch carriers. AT&T Sucks!

I whole heatedly agree. My contract is already over, just waiting on the new iPhone. If AT&T continues down this path, I'll switch to sprint. I believe that sprint has a faster network in my area anyway.

 

[ixodes]

If not for AT&Ts willingness to take on the unproven iPhone from day one, the iToyz experience would not exist today.

Steve Jobs took his new project to Verizon first and they told him to pound salt.

Those were the only two carriers with the proper resouces to support the phone. Had AT&T been as stubborn & closed minded as Verizon who knows what the impact would have been.

 

[monaarts]

To me, the fact that they are "thinking" about it reassures that they are going to be charging for it. I wish Apple would step in an intervene. Tell them they need to change their practices or no more iPhone, and we all know that can make a huge difference to a carrier (especially stocks - what really matters to this guy).

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I don't think AT&T caps your data. They throttle it and that makes TOTAL SENSE. When AT&T offered unlimited data plans back at the very beginning of the iPhone world, data was traveling at 1/10 the speed it travels now. You would be lucky to get 3GB-4GB a month. Now, you can get 50GB-100GB a month or more on the AT&T Network.

They have honored the unlimited data and provide you with what you originally purchased (throttled to 2008 speeds).

AT&T is a company and has a responsibility to make money.

Do you work for free?

No, I don't work for free. But I don't sign a contract to do a 1 year project for someone and slowly work less and less because I only promised the amount of work equal to the pay when I started. AT&T should have figured future costs when it started the plan. I get unlimited data from work so it doesn't affect me, but it's still ********.

 

[nick_elt]

So glad at&t isnt here in europe that company sounds aweful, how do they have customers?

 

[Thunderhawks]

I can't even think when I last used FaceTime.

Totally agreed. A lot of hubbub about a feature that you don't have to use on ATT.

If ATT really thinks through it they will come to the conclusion that this is additional data being consumed.

So, they will either get paid for lots of overages or people have to increase their data plans.

So, get that advertising campaign ready.:

NEW ..now with face time

ATT connecting your loved ones etc.etc.

Many posters here act as if they use face time 24/7.

Why so upset?

I for one want to get every phone call to get over with as quickly as possible.

But that's because I am an old geezer and have other things to do than talk on the phone. I also do not need to be reachable all the time.

Great to be young and happening

......and as others already posted, no problem.

SKYPE and done!

 

[cirial]

I sent the ******* an email yesterday (Randall.stephenson@att.com) to voice my opinion on this. This is the reply I got...

Regarding the email below that you sent to AT&T Chairman, Randall Stephenson, please explain to me what your issues are with iOS 6. I researched and this is what I found:

iOS 6

On June 11, 2012, Apple announced the coming release of iOS 6 at the Worldwide Developer's Conference. Customers may visit www.apple.com for more information.

Always encourage customers to download and install the latest version of software available for their device at www.apple.com.


Please respond and I will be happy to research further.

Sincerely,


Grace Milton | Executive Response Team | AT&T Business Solutions | Office: 502-969-0770 | Wireless: 502-403-5829

 

[ccarillo]

As a loyal AT&T customer, if they do this, I WILL be switching to Verizon thank you very much. That and the fact that Verizon's true LTE rollout is advancing more quickly than AT&T's, is making it very tempting to drop AT&T for Verizon.

You might want to check first, I recall Verizon charging an 10 or so bucks a months for LTE access....

 

[penajmz]

If I'm charged extra for FaceTime I'm going to switch carriers. AT&T Sucks!

Same here. Enough is enough.

 

[Macboy Pro]

To me, the fact that they are "thinking" about it reassures that they are going to be charging for it. I wish Apple would step in an intervene. Tell them they need to change their practices or no more iPhone, and we all know that can make a huge difference to a carrier (especially stocks - what really matters to this guy).

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No, I don't work for free. But I don't sign a contract to do a 1 year project for someone and slowly work less and less because I only promised the amount of work equal to the pay when I started. AT&T should have figured future costs when it started the plan. I get unlimited data from work so it doesn't affect me, but it's still ********.

The unlimited plans were 4 years ago and even at throttled (not capped), they are honoring the contract AND they are providing a much faster data speed.

Sick of the entitlement mentality of the "unlimited" whiners on this forum. I am not saying you are one, I am just sick of hearing people whine about it like they are entitled to free services from telecoms.

Bottom line.... If people don't like AT&T, move to Verizon... (and buy two phones so you can multitask). If people want unlimited data, move to Sprint... (and good luck with your network speed but its "free") Quit the complaining about AT&T but never having the nerves to jump ship. JUMP! Go see what your missing (or figure out the good thing you had).

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To me, the fact that they are "thinking" about it reassures that they are going to be charging for it. I wish Apple would step in an intervene. Tell them they need to change their practices or no more iPhone, and we all know that can make a huge difference to a carrier (especially stocks - what really matters to this guy).

LOL, is Apple now in control of the telecoms? This is clueless on your part. Apple is not going to tell AT&T or Verizon what to do. Apple needs the telecoms. Apples primary business at this point is IOS devices. Verizon and AT&Ts primary business is NOT the iPhone or iPad.

 

[Mackan]

Amazing that they consider charging extra for FaceTime. Bet they are working with Apple on how to detect that a FaceTime call has started.

I know other carriers that require you to sign up for a special Skype data plan. I don't like where this is going.

 

[iPadPublisher]

I'm growing tired of AT&T and their pricing games. This is total ********. Data is data is data. All this limiting, extra "service" pricing, and throttling crap is getting out of control.

Heard they're thinking about forcing us unlimited guys to their tiered plans on iPhone 5 release "because of LTE" but the still don't have LTE in my major metro area, yet, so that'd be double ********. They might just lose me on this next round.

 

[fhall1]

I sent the ******* an email yesterday (Randall.stephenson@att.com) to voice my opinion on this. This is the reply I got...

Regarding the email below that you sent to AT&T Chairman, Randall Stephenson, please explain to me what your issues are with iOS 6. I researched and this is what I found:

iOS 6

On June 11, 2012, Apple announced the coming release of iOS 6 at the Worldwide Developer's Conference. Customers may visit www.apple.com for more information.

Always encourage customers to download and install the latest version of software available for their device at www.apple.com.


Please respond and I will be happy to research further.

Sincerely,


Grace Milton | Executive Response Team | AT&T Business Solutions | Office: 502-969-0770 | Wireless: 502-403-5829

Well....there's your answer! Aren't you satisfied with the great "research" Grace did?

Randall "Dick" Stephenson is on his way to being the most reviled CEO in the US (just after Mark Zuckerberg in my book).

For the UK folks that brag about multiple choices of carriers and low data rates - remember, your whole country is smaller than most of our states...it's a lot easier to set up a "national" network in such a small geographic area.

I really like the idea of an Apple, Google, MS wireless consortium (with decent prices) to put an end to our entrenched carriers. If that happened AT&T wouldn't have to worry about their network capacity issues any more since the few hundred people in the US that still use only voice over their phones won't be using that much bandwidth.

 

[Macboy Pro]

Well....there's your answer! Aren't you satisfied with the great "research" Grace did?

Randall "Dick" Stephenson is on his way to being the most reviled CEO in the US (just after Mark Zuckerberg in my book).

For the UK folks that brag about multiple choices of carriers and low data rates - remember, your whole country is smaller than most of our states...it's a lot easier to set up a "national" network in such a small geographic area.

I really like the idea of an Apple, Google, MS wireless consortium (with decent prices) to put an end to our entrenched carriers. If that happened AT&T wouldn't have to worry about their network capacity issues any more since the few hundred people in the US that still use only voice over their phones won't be using that much bandwidth.

I guess if you sent an email that was as classless as this forum post, I understand why they wouldn't bother with you. Move to Verizon! Whats holding you back?

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I'm growing tired of AT&T and their pricing games. This is total ********. Data is data is data. All this limiting, extra "service" pricing, and throttling crap is getting out of control.

Heard they're thinking about forcing us unlimited guys to their tiered plans on iPhone 5 release "because of LTE" but the still don't have LTE in my major metro area, yet, so that'd be double ********. They might just lose me on this next round.

Once again, rumor and ASSumptions. Nothing in any of these articles says they are charging you anything.

 

[cowcaster88]

I hope Apple flexes some muscle to AT&T since they've help them sell additional service in the last 5 years. Just let us use our current data plans with FaceTime.

 

[SuperCachetes]

It's "too early to discuss" whether or not I will stick with AT&T when I buy the new phone...

 

[hickabob]

"too early to discuss"? There's nothing to discuss... I'm going to Sprint or Verizon if this happens as my wife and I are both out of contract next month.

 

[Dronac]

Like tethering, there will be a jailbreak workaround. Not a huge deal if your willing to jailbreak.

Wether AT&T decides to charge or not is yet to be determined, but if they do that will not make them an 'evil' company. Traditional voice and texting services are more rapidly being replaced and it's vital for AT&T and other carriers to innovate in order to protect their business. Data service revenue is what's going up. That's where the money is.

That's not innovation though. That's simply finding a way to charge the customer twice and get away with it. AT&T didn't create facetime, so why should they get revenue for someone else's work? Especially with customer's already paying for X amount of data, there is no excuse for charging for facetime. If they really insist on it, it needs to not count against data allowance for those on a teired plan.

To me, the fact that they are "thinking" about it reassures that they are going to be charging for it. I wish Apple would step in an intervene. Tell them they need to change their practices or no more iPhone, and we all know that can make a huge difference to a carrier (especially stocks - what really matters to this guy.

+1. Apple has a stranglehold on Carriers since such a large percentage would leave if they lost future iPhones. The iPhone has put huge pressure on Carriers to upgrade their networks, and has already been a huge boon for consumers.

 

[kugino]

let it be part of existing data packages. it will be a novelty at first...then it will wear off. most will use it sporadically, if at all. some will pay for extra data to continue using it. not a big deal, at&t.

the only potential problem i see are to those of us who still have unlimited data plans...at&t might not like the fact that we can use facetime over 3G w/impunity.

 

[k1121j]

Verizon is lookin better every day I switch to AT&T for the first iPhone and haven't looked back but these days "unlimited data" or not Verizon is looking better every day the only thing stopping me from switching is data and voice at the same time issue and I don't think that will be a problem once the LTE iPhone is out

 

[r.harris1]

We've got two "decline to comment" and one "we won't charge". Sounds like we've really got two "yep we're going to charge" and one "not now, but only cause we're a smaller player and we need the customers."