AT&T CEO Confirms Cheaper iPhone Rate Plans Considered

[Michael CM1]

Like how Apple says a 1GB iPod can hold "X" amount of songs and "X" amount of photos and "X" amount of movies etc., what would a 5GB limited AT&T data plan or 2GB limited AT&T data plan or 1GB limited AT&T data plan cover?

How many web page views, e-mails received?, files downloaded? or what ever one might do with their iPhone will such a limitation cover? If you are a light user are you okay? What if you are a moderate or heavy user? If someone is a heavy user that is out there, how much data /web views etc. can you incorporate?

And would being on wifi calculate into that number?

What about apps from the app store? Would they "eat" away at "limited" data plan?

Just wondering if a cap is in reality, a hinderance after all? Thanks.

Trying to equate what data you can download with X GB is insane because of all the different uses. Basically, text takes next to nothing, pictures take more, and video takes a lot more. You have to figure out for yourself. If what you do is like me and mostly look at news stuff and maybe use MLB At Bat for audio, you're not going to be a heavy user. If you listen to numerous MLB games EVERY day, perhaps. But I don't.

Being on WiFi does NOT contribute to that number. You're only being charged for using AT&T's 3G or EDGE network. WiFi is neither, which is why some stuff only works on WiFi. The landline-based Internet connections are much more suited for heavier traffic.

Apps are the same deal. If you download them on WiFi, no hit on your data limit. If you download them on 3G/EDGE, you take a hit. You can only download <10MB apps on the go, so this isn't a huge deal.

Most of your heavy users will probably be YouTube addicts and people who use apps like MLB At Bat ALL the time. I haven't even come close to 500MB a month, let along 5GB. I'd love to see evidence that someone has.

 

[Digipimp]

Im just waiting for the announcements in June and then if Im not happy and there arent any changes Im going to early terminate my iPhone contract with AT&T and grab a cheap unlimited minutes and text Virgin Mobile. Then I'll just use my iPhone on wifi like I do most of the time anyway.

 

[m1stake]

I hope they offer pre-paid plans. I use 50 minutes on a "busy" month, which makes even my cheap-in-comparison $40 Verizon bill a rip off, save for the convenience of being able to be reached and reach anyone from anywhere.

I'm not willing to pay more than $40 for it.

 

[gugy]

I would like a no mandatory data plan.
Someone like my wife that would eventually use it only on wi-fi spots.
That's a shame they are not planning to offer that. I would buy one for my wife if that was a possibility. I just think some people rather not have the extra $20 to $30 p/month data plan but would like an iPhone.

 

[fadgeqwertyuk]

lower plans = good

if people actually looking at their usage... 5GB is WELL more than enough (unless you have jailbroken and are tethering).

 

[fadgeqwertyuk]

I would like a no mandatory data plan.
Someone like my wife that would eventually use it only on wi-fi spots.
That's a shame they are not planning to offer that. I would buy one for my wife if that was a possibility. I just think some people rather not have the extra $20 to $30 p/month data plan but would like an iPhone.

then its technically an ipod touch?!

 

[gugy]

then its technically an ipod touch?!

not really, the Touch do not have the phone capability.

 

[twoodcc]

i don't think it will work well for the iPhone without unlimited data. they just need to drop the price down a little

 

[severe]

i don't think it will work well for the iPhone without unlimited data. they just need to drop the price down a little

This isn't meant as an attack, but have you read any of this thread?

We haven't come across many (any?) examples that justify an unlimited plan.

 

[karleaglemac]

I hate AT&T.

 

[Vandam500]

HAHAHAHA

Unlimited up to 5Gb

Sounds like something a female came up with

Who said there is a 5GB cap on the data? As far as I am concerned it is unlimited... how else did my girlfriend use 10GB's of data without any overcharge?... Some really misinformed iPhone users here.

 

[KT Walrus]

I'm seriously considering dropping AT&T and going with Verizon for my iPhone. Verizon has a new little portable 2 ounce gizmo called Mi-Fi that let's up to 5 devices connect over Wi-Fi to Verizon's data network. The device is slightly smaller than the iPhone. The data plans (no need to voice plan) are $40 for 250MB/month or $60 for 5GB/month. For me, the $40 plan would be sufficient since most of my iPhone usage is at home or at the office where Wi-Fi is readily available.

I would have to carry the extra gizmo around when I wanted to stay connected. I would also have to use Skype or some other Wi-Fi enabled VoIP app, but I would love to send AT&T a signal that their policies are anti-competitive (I own a Slingbox and also a Macbook that should be able to use the data network, but can't because AT&T doesn't want the competition).

Anyway, I transferred my iPhone number over to another carrier last week and I am waiting for the transfer to be completed before dropping AT&T. It would be a hoot to go with Verizon for less money and better coverage.

 

[severe]

Who said there is a 5GB cap on the data? As far as I am concerned it is unlimited... how else did my girlfriend use 10GB's of data without any overcharge?... Some really misinformed iPhone users here.

Yea.. how did your girlfriend use 10GBs?

And what's her monthly average?

 

[KT Walrus]

Who said there is a 5GB cap on the data? As far as I am concerned it is unlimited... how else did my girlfriend use 10GB's of data without any overcharge?... Some really misinformed iPhone users here.

Read the AT&T Plan Terms:

If you are on a data plan that does not include a monthly megabyte/gigabyte allowance and additional data usage rates, you agree that AT&T has the right to impose additional charges if you use more than 5 GB in a month; provided that, prior to the imposition of any additional charges, AT&T shall provide you with notice and you shall have the right to terminate your Service.

 

[Vandam500]

Yea.. how did your girlfriend use 10GBs?

And what's her monthly average?

I gaver her a website where she can stream entire movies and tv shows (she must of watched alot, hehe). Also she downloads tons of apps, watches countless YouTube videos and since her computer broke, I download the albums she wants and she streams them from my computer using Simplify.

 

[Vandam500]

Read the AT&T Plan Terms:

She still used 10GBs and there was no extra charge nor suspension on her line. So yeah... thank you for the info though.

 

[KT Walrus]

She still used 10GBs and there was no extra charge nor suspension on her line. So yeah... thank you for the info though.

That doesn't mean that next month they won't contact her and ask her for more money or to terminate the account. AT&T is probably pretty lenient for the first few months of overage, but I bet they will crack down on the big users if their network in your area is being clogged by a few users hogging all the bandwidth.

 

[MattInOz]

How much data does the average user need?

I'm on a limited plan (500mb) as that is all you can get here in OZ. I rarely break though 100mb and i don't shy away from using the phone for any info i want while out and about. even use it at home without connecting to wifi. I have a couple of high traffic email addresses what with a couple of betalist subscriptions and work email. Even buy the odd track or app on iTunes.

Sure i don't use a lot of YouTube on the phone which is what eats the download .
By no means do i think i'm typical but i do wonder how much download a average user really needs. Clearly bandwidth is damn cheap in the USofA anyway compared to here so they could probably throw in 100mb to the phone plan then up sell from there.

 

[sfrentsucks]

So you have AT&T now, but refuse to get a better phone and continue using it because their service sucks?

That makes no sense.

I refuse to sign a 2 year deal with AT&T. I'm shopping around different services at the moment and most likely will head to Verizon. AT&T is absolute *****

 

[fpnc]

That doesn't mean that next month they won't contact her and ask her for more money or to terminate the account. AT&T is probably pretty lenient for the first few months of overage, but I bet they will crack down on the big users if their network in your area is being clogged by a few users hogging all the bandwidth.

Yes, that is apparently true. I've seen posts from AT&T subscribers who have gotten such letters after having exceeded 5GB in one month. This can happen after exceeding the limit only once.

 

[fpnc]

How much is 5GB/month? Well, streaming video can provide an example. SlingPlayer apparently limits their data rate to 500kbps even over WiFi, thus if AT&T allowed SlingPlayer over 3G you'd go through your 5GB after having watched about 20 hours of TV (assuming that it also ran at 500kbps). Practically speaking it would probably run at a lower rate, so you'd probably get 30 to 40 hours of video per month. Unfortunately, AT&T doesn't allow the iPhone version of SlingPlayer to work on their 3G networks.

 

[scootaru]

AT&T would be taking a big chance if they offered tiered data plans. I have to believe the majority of iPhone users use less than 500MB of data per month. I am on my phone constantly and usually stay under 500MB. I usually only go over that when streaming videos. For example, one month I came across a site that was allowing free iPhone access to their TV show subscription site. That particular month's data usage was 2.2GB

That being said, the combination of new customers and overage charges may be enough to compensate for the reduced plan rates. Had I only had the 500MB plan when i used 2.2GB, I would have accumulated $816 in overages, assuming the standard AT&T overage rate applies (.00048/KB). Grant it, I would not have allowed myself to go over by that much, but then again, not everybody pays attention to their data usage as closely and they may incur such charges.

I would also think AT&T would relax their terms of service and allow video streaming. This would increase the number of people getting the unlimited data plan and also the overage charges for people who try to maintain the lower pricing plan, but "keep an eye on it". Of course, AT&T will probably charge even more than the $30 we currently pay now for unlimited to further compensate for the tiered pricing structure.

 

[MacFly123]

just get rid of the AT& T monopoly on the iPhone..then pricing will take care of itself.

But then who will pay for the phones?

The same people who already do. The users.

This isn't rocket science, the iPhone is on more than one carrier in several countries. That does not mean that only one carrier can subsidize the cost lol! Any carrier can and will and does subsidize the cost no matter how many competing networks carry it.

This is all BS, wanna make your plans cheaper AT&T INCLUDE TEXTS as part of the data plan and thereby eliminate $10 text add ons!!! It is so pathetic that an iPhone plan has no texts included! This is simple greed. If they would just do that and make it more affordable more people would sign up and they would make more money.

If there were ever a phone where people don't want to have to worry about data usage limits it is the iPhone. The iPhone uses data all the time in so many different ways, it would be a HUGE PAIN to keep track of not going over and then you would most likely get raped with overage charges which is exactly what they want to happen. Stop acting like you are trying to be generous AT&T when you really just want to screw people over with overage charges!

I can't wait till Verizon gets the iPhone too just so the competition forces rates down! Apple knows this and has talked about how multiple carriers is good for competition on rates. Too bad it won't be until 4G here.

 

[DELLsFan]

I would loove cheaper plans for capped data. I just checked my iphone's data usage:

Sent: 104 MB
Received: 1.7GB
Last Reset: Never

I've had this phone since November

Better yet, introduce cheaper plans, and the current $30 plan enables tethering.

+1

AT&T is trying to woo Apple into renewing and/or extending exclusivity, otherwise, they would be content to keep price plans where they are right now, out of the range of reason and fixed for fleecing of everyone who signs up.

I'll be totally surprised if they introduce cheaper plans.

 

[ashimashi]

That extra $15 a month (including the ridiculous $5 upcharge for 200 texts) is what's kept me holding on to my 1st gen. There just wasn't a compelling enough reason to buy a new phone and double my monthly data cost.

Same exact thing here