AT&T CEO's "Only Regret" is Offering Unlimited Data Packages

[simplemind]

If they drop the subsidy, it won't matter.
Remember... the iPhone still requires a carrier for service.
The carrier sets the terms and on an unsubsidized handset, they can set them to whatever they like.

Like I said earlier... a popular phone is worth nothing to a carrier if they can't make money off of it.


Read their quarterly financials... they are.

86% of their network is now running on their advanced backhaul.
http://www.att.com/Investor/

Plus AT&T also did something Apple finally realized they need to do... pay their investors a dividend.
AT&T paid out $2.6 billion in dividends this past quarter.

Obviously not enough investment! and I dont want to hear any BS about running on their "advanced" backhaul, there service is garbage always has been. If this is what I can expect on their "advanced" backhaul, they can take this "advanced" backhaul right up you know what.
5 years time to deploy a robust network that can handle the traffic is not the massive undertaking they make it out to sound like. I worked for Exodus communications back in the day and as a tier 1 provider, I can tell you, it simply does not take this long to build a network that can handle the traffic! All one needs to do is look at Cable & Wireless, That is a fact!
Mr. De La Vega should have been out on his can 4 years ago, then poor Mr. Stephenson would not have to loose out on any precious sleep.

 

[tigress666]

He doesn't lay awake worrying because he already "fixed" it. He knew that iMessage would allow many to drop to the lowest tier of messaging. So he just, you know, got rid of the lower tier. Unlimited texting or 1000 messages, no other options, ensures that iMessage doesn't cost ATT a dime. In fact, ATT is making more because there is no lower text option for new customers anymore. I would be on the 200 message plan if I could get there, but no dice. So I'm at $10 for 1000, costing me $60 a year plus tax. And most of my texts are iMessages...

I dunno. ALl that did was convince me more not to buy a texting plan. Maybe if he had given a cheaper option I'd have thought about it for the few people I know who don't have iphones. But hell, now that it is even more expensive and I didn't think a texting plan was woth it before iMessage, no way am I spending money on a texting plan.

 

[ChrisTX]

Screw AT&T, all hail iMessage!

 

[anonymouse99]

On one hand ATT CEO says he stays awake by offering unlimited internet data plans, on the other hand he is outsourcing jobs left-right-center overseas.

At some point, people will stop paying for ridiculous data plan sticker prices if they won't have a job!

 

[hirshnoc]

Wow

Kudos for coming out and saying what all stupid greedy CEO's say behind closed doors, but makes me ashamed to have AT&T. Also really makes me sad to think that in a world that's obviously moving towards unlimited voice, data, AND text, there are people in charge who still think this way.

Sprint looks better and better every day.

 

[1984]

Love you fanboy guys. Apple making huge profit margin = GREAT. ATT&T making small profit margin = EVIL.

I guess that makes you a troll then. I suppose you think 20 cents a text (the equivalent of $1,310 per megabyte) is perfectly reasonable? Didn't think so. Cry me a river.

 

[derickdub]

They must really hate me, I have free unlimited messaging.

I can't blame AT&T for wanting to make money though. It's a capitalistic economy, they won't make it if they keep loosing money.

 

[The Final Cut]

lol what a regret. I love blatant corporate greed. Can't wait to ditch at&t after I get the iPhone 5. I don't even care about my credit report, I just want to rob them (semi-legally). Then I'm gonna sell the i4 and 5 for like 800 and go to verizon, before it goes on the report. ahahahahaha

 

[derickdub]

I guess that makes you a troll then. I suppose you think 20 cents a text (the equivalent of $1,310 per megabyte) is perfectly reasonable? Didn't think so. Cry me a river.

Remember that the next time you spend $3 for a drink that cost a restaurant $0.03.

 

[DrStern]

Dear Apple,

Please just buy one of these jokers, sale the iphone on your own carrier and push the current cell communications model into extinction.

Thanks.

Funny, I was just thinking this the other day. If Steve Jobs wanted to "Crack" the TV business, he could have just had Apple buy AT&T.

As for the next guy who said he's "right" - no he isn't "right". He's lamenting the fact that his company doesn't have an unlimited and unfettered monopoly that allows him to continue to rip off customers at every turn. The Text message business isn't a business model, its Grand Theft.

Ohh too bad, AT&T has to Compete in at least some areas. Boo Hoo!

 

[derickdub]

lol what a regret. I love blatant corporate greed. Can't wait to ditch at&t after I get the iPhone 5. I don't even care about my credit report, I just want to rob them.

And how is consumer greed any better than cooperate? If anything; since you are only acting as yourself, and not a company, it's worse.

 

[heathenos]

waaaah

such a whiny man. I'm glad my iphone is on verizon.

 

[1984]

They must really hate me, I have free unlimited messaging.

I can't blame AT&T for wanting to make money though. It's a capitalistic economy, they won't make it if they keep loosing money.

Then they need to be more competitive rather than nickel and diming everyone.

 

[Goldarn]

Remember that the next time you spend $3 for a drink that cost a restaurant $0.03.

Apparently in your universe, the waiters and staff work for free.

 

[conartist4u]

They must really hate me, I have free unlimited messaging.

I can't blame AT&T for wanting to make money though. It's a capitalistic economy, they won't make it if they keep loosing money.

true that... logical post apart from the fact that your messaging alone is a cause of their worries unless of course you have all you can eat data

 

[derickdub]

Then they need to be more competitive rather than nickel and diming everyone.

They were the cheapest of the big carriers for sometime, still don't know if they are. That's being competitive to me. All of the major phone companies are just as guilty as AT&T of "nickel and diming".

 

[conartist4u]

Apparently in your universe, the waiters and staff work for free.

looks like you been bartending

 

[derickdub]

Apparently in your universe, the waiters and staff work for free.

Apparently in you universe cell towers build, upgrade, and maintain themselves.

Wait staff cost much, much less to operate than billions of dollars in infrastructure located all around the world.

My point isn't that $3 for a drink that cost next to nothing is unfair. I was saying its completely fair, just like AT&T charging $0.20 a text.

 

[marconiusrex]

Greedy Bast*ard

Greedy *****! This is what is really wrong with American business today...how much $ can you suck out of the customer's wallet and do as little as possible in return! Don't see what you can do to grow the loyalty of your customer base, to innovate to think up the next great thing that will bring in more customers and revenue. This makes me hopeful that the rumor I heard that Apple may start it's own carrier business very appealing. I'd love to dump AT&T, Verizon and all the rest on their asses if I could.

 

[Sardonick007]

Oh Poor little billion dollar companies

Cry me a river you horny toad girly man. Carriers are so full of crap they make lawyers look like saints. Wahhhh, every megabyte makes me invest capital, wahhh. Here's a clue, get a better product, with a better model, and ramp up your pathetic customer service. Maybe then you won't have to screw people with hype to make a buck. (all carriers) No sympathy with crap phones, service, plans, and the way you upsell the ***** out of everything just to keep people off balance enough to not realize what they're spending their money on is all smoke and mirrors. I'm going to eat a canoli now.

 

[kdarling]

Bandwidth is not a finite resource.

Okay, it's Friday. I'm happy. I'll bite

How is bandwidth at the cell or backhaul not a finite resource?

 

[cmwade77]

Actually, if they drop the subsidy the device is unlocked, and since you can use an iPad data plan on your iPhone, you can have a data only plan

Yes, but it's a limited data plan; however, if it were unlimited a data only plan and Skype (with unlimited calling) would be a deadly combination for traditional cell phone plans.

 

[mactree]

interesting. Well how about you invent some **** worth paying for?

 

[rlhamil]

If this moron doesn't step up and figure out how to compete on value, he and his company will be left behind.

People are cheap, esp. with a messed-up economy. They want the most they can get for the least amount of money.

If little Sprint can figure out how to make it work, then huge AT&T certainly should be able to. Y'all aren't a monopoly any more, y'know?

 

[landscapeman]

One thing I regret is not calling you a douchebag from the beginning.