AT&T Confirms Personal Hotspot Support Alongside March 11th iOS 4.3 Launch

[marksman]

It never stops amazing me how people make assertions without obviousy having a clue of what their talking about.

Hold on, may be you work for AT&T ?

No I don't... But I own and run businesses.. Maybe that is where your ignorance comes in, never having run or owned a business?

While I see no reason why there should be a substantial increase in bandwidth usage, even if there were it's clearly a scam.

It is pretty simple. People using their iphones without tethering and hotspots use an average of 800 megs a month (for discussion purposes). People who now also tether and use hot spot access are using 2.2 gigs of data a month. They are using almost 300% data. The actually number is probably a lot more.

AT&T set their price for data usage based on the fact that the AVERAGE user used 800 megs a month. They did not set their price based on everyone using a full 2 gigs every month. If that was the case the basic $25 a month plan would be $75 a month. They don't create a price based on potential usage, they based it on actual usage. This allows them to offer CHEAPER prices.

When people start doing things that drive the average cost up, then that has to be offset, because once again AT&T's price was set based on AVERAGE USAGE, not maximum potential usage.

Sure AT&T could charge everyone like they used all their bandwidth every month, and all bandwidth would be many times more expensive, and people who used only a small amount of bandwidth would be getting really screwed.

Why do you think that model would be good for anyone?

Please be serious, inform yourself.

LOL.

Except if you are playing for 2GB of data, but only using 200mb per month, they don't credit you for the data you didn't use. Thus it should be your choice if you want to use up that 2GB or not and if you want to do so using tethering, then you should be allowed to; you paid for it. If you use MORE then your plan will allow, then you should have to pay the overages (and yes, they should be steep to encourage you to either not do that or move to a higher plan).

*SIGH*... It does still amaze me people don't understand this.. but I guess it shouldn't...

They do offer a lower tier plan... If they did what you want they would have per meg charges or something and most people would end up paying more... No they don't credit you for data you don't use, they also don't charge you for it. That $25 a month for 2 gigs? That is actually the price for using an average amount of their bandwidth.. Some people will use more some will use less, but that actual price is for using the average amount. So everybody gets what they want and that is they price. If they charged you for the ability to get your full 2 gigs every month your price would be way higher than $25 a month. If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.

If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.
If every person on AT&T Wireless who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month the price for everyone would go up substantially.

Is that sinking in for anyone yet? It would be $75 $80, heck maybe $100 a month, if every person who had a 2 gig plan used 2 gigs a month. That is the REAL price for everyone to have 2 gigs of data access a month. Because most people use far less, though, they can offer a real bargain for the people who do use close to 2 gigs a month. The people who should be complaining the least are the ones who use more data in the 2 gig plans. They are saving the most money by a huge amount. Someone who is using 1.9 gigs a month is getting a heck of a deal on bandwidth, whether they want to believe it or not.

If you were to look at your data usage the last day of your billing cycle, figure out how much of the 2GB you didn't use, and then go download a video of that length, they wouldn't complain.

If everyone did that every month, in a few months or so AT&T would raise the rate for the 2 gig plan because their costs would have increased significantly. The pricing is based on what people actually use, not on what they could use. It has to do with the law of large numbers. Lots of things in the world are priced and allocated because of this.

You think the cable company has 20 megs of backbone access for every cable modem they have in service? Not even close.

Just think of how much more money they would make if they would just enable tethering for ALL data plans (unlimited is gone besides grandfathered people -- and yes, maybe they shouldn't be allowed to tether because at the time of signing the unlimited contract they didn't offer tethering) and then collecting all those overage charges from people who aren't paying attention. Charge something like $5/mb overage; just think of how much that would bring in. Offer the sample plans and maybe a few more, 4gb/month, 8gb/month for additional fees.

They already have overage charges, $10 per gig per month.

Why are you advocating they change the terms of their service without telling anyone?

People who add tethering and/or hot spots, on average use significantly more data than people who do not have those services. AVERAGE.

AVERAGE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE

Again this is the key to how they set their pricing for these kinds of things. It is based on average utilization. If something causes average utilization to consistently rise, then either the price overall needs to go up, or else the people doing the things that cause that elevation need to pay for it directly.

People who use 10 megs a month and pay $25 are subsidizing those people who use 1.99 gigs and pay $25. If it were not for the 10 meg people, the 1.99 gig people would have to pay much much more for their data.

 

[Small White Car]

Can't you just remove teathering if you want to save some $$$? I would think it would be like adding/removing texting or international calling. It's not like he would be canceling his phone service.

That I don't know.

I'd assume that too many changes would do things like push back your available upgrade dates and whatnot...it might not be good for you.

But I'm just guessing. I'd like to hear if someone knows for sure. Being able to do that does negate the advantage of the 3G iPad altogether, making the wifi model the only sensible choice for iPhone owners if you're correct.

 

[ardy8888]

AT&T's prices are in line with major competitors such as Verizon with either their iPhone or highend smartphones.

I think that AT&T only charges these prices because they can. Same with Verizon and the others. If one company lowered their prices for data, the others would certainly follow, without a doubt. But why should they, we keep paying. We complain but we keep paying.

 

[ferrous]

Fat Greedy Bastards

Those telephone companies are just greedy fat bastards, I pay for unlimited plan, why should I pay additional $20/month to use tethering?

This would be the first time I am going to try the jailbreak and use the data I pay for.

Anyway to suck more money out of my wallet. I don't think so!

 

[strang]

It's crazy nowadays that Canadians gets free tethering so long as data plans subscribed are over 1GB.

How is it that we get a better deal than the American counterparts?

 

[Full of Win]

I understand the arguments of not enough data, too high a price etc. but I do want to make a few counterpoints...

1. AT&T's prices are in line with major competitors such as Verizon with either their iPhone or highend smartphones.

2. AT&T now offers an extra 2GB with the data plan which can be used by any device including the phone itself. I could for example do 1GB on the phone, 3GB via tethering or 3GB on the phone, 1GB on tethering.

3. This is a $15.83 savings per month compared to buying a 3G iPad for $130 extra up front plus $25 vs. $20 per month in 3G fees, plus again has the added flexibility of a 4GB pool of data vs. 2GB/2GB split.

Jailbreaking of course solves all of this but if you don't want to jailbreak...

These are all fair point...except that they are using it a cudgel for getting us unlimited users off of our contracts. If they offered 4 GB of tethering as an add-onto the unlimited plan, that would be OK. However, to FORCE us to leave UL on iPhone to get it shows AT&T's real motives.

Funny thing is, because June and the ATT changes I would watch my data usage. Now, I stream 20 GB + per month on my iPad unlimited plan and 5GB on my iPhone unlimited plan. I also make sure to use high BW apps during peak hours (10 AM - 4 PM). To me, ATT is attacking the consumer, and using as much data as possible is how I passively aggressively show my displeasure.

 

[Willie5566]

Only reasons to buy the 3G iPad.


3. If you have the unlimited grandfathered plan from AT&T you don't need to get rid of it if you get a 3G iPad, the new tethering plan would require you to drop the 2GB iPhone data plan if you don't have it.

Someone please tell me this is wrong? Will we lose unlimited data if we go with teathering?????????

 

[pmz]

Isn't MiFi (assuming you are refering to Verizon's mifi) very expensive?

I would have said mifi if thats what i was talking about, and clearly that's much more expensive.

MyWi, is a $20 iPhone app available from Cydia that is insanely simple to use, very secure (create your own WEP), and allows users with unlimited data to truly tether to their hearts content. One time $20 purchase.

It has a newer feature called OnDemand, which will turn tethering on and off automatically when a nearby device asks to use the network you've created.

 

[Willie5566]

It's crazy nowadays that Canadians gets free tethering so long as data plans subscribed are over 1GB.

How is it that we get a better deal than the American counterparts?

First free health care and now this!?!?!?

 

[Willie5566]

I would have said mifi if thats what i was talking about, and clearly that's much more expensive.

MyWi, is a $20 iPhone app available from Cydia that is insanely simple to use, very secure (create your own WEP), and allows users with unlimited data to truly tether to their hearts content. One time $20 purchase.

It has a newer feature called OnDemand, which will turn tethering on and off automatically when a nearby device asks to use the network you've created.

You have to jb to use it though correct???

 

[Small White Car]

To me, ATT is attacking the consumer, and using as much data as possible is how I passively aggressively show my displeasure.

Could you...I dunno...find a way to just hurt at&t instead of hurting other at&t users?

thanx

Someone please tell me this is wrong? Will we lose unlimited data if we go with teathering?????????

That's what 'grandfathered' means. It means you can keep using it but you can't get anything new. We all knew that when they started using the word 'grandfathered' last year.

 

[pmz]

I understand the arguments of not enough data, too high a price etc. but I do want to make a few counterpoints...

1. AT&T's prices are in line with major competitors such as Verizon with either their iPhone or highend smartphones.

2. AT&T now offers an extra 2GB with the data plan which can be used by any device including the phone itself. I could for example do 1GB on the phone, 3GB via tethering or 3GB on the phone, 1GB on tethering.

3. This is a $15.83 savings per month compared to buying a 3G iPad for $130 extra up front plus $25 vs. $20 per month in 3G fees, plus again has the added flexibility of a 4GB pool of data vs. 2GB/2GB split.

Jailbreaking of course solves all of this but if you don't want to jailbreak...

The rest of that sentence is if you don't want to jailbreak, then you pay through the nose and receive almost no value for the dollars you spend.

A little knowledge, and the ability to teach yourself, goes a long long way to saving money....as it should. It's quite satisfying to know that my know-how actually saves me a lot of money that others are wantonly pissing away.

 

[CylonGlitch]

Someone please tell me this is wrong? Will we lose unlimited data if we go with teathering?????????

Yes, to enable tethering you HAVE to drop the unlimited plan.

 

[Eye4Desyn]

I agree. With unlimited data I should be able to use the data in whatever unlimited way I want. I doubt I'll sign up for tethering. I'd only use it sparingly and since that is the case there is no reason for me to pay $45 per month.

Agreed. For the life of me, I still can't understand why Ma Bell wants to rob the public with these ridiculous charges for data. I already have unlimited data - haven't stopped since first iPhone in summer of '07. It's complete b.s. that for the few times I would like to have my MBA or iPad hotspot from my iPhone that I would have to break ranks and go with a lesser a lesser data plan that would yet cost me more $$. Why??? (rhetorical question)

 

[pmz]

You have to jb to use it though correct???

Absolutely correct. Cydia is the store from which all "jailbreak" apps and tweaks come from.

 

[pmz]

Could you...I dunno...find a way to just hurt at&t instead of hurting other at&t users?

thanx

Someone has been drinking the Kool Aid if they're blaming USERS for AT&T's network saturation issues.

He and I and everyone else have every right to use ever damn bit of data we pay for, and AT&T is obligated to provide it.

Other users do not factor into one's business relationship with AT&T, nor should they.

 

[pmz]

Agreed. For the life of me, I still can't understand why Ma Bell wants to rob the public with these ridiculous charges for data. I already have unlimited data - haven't stopped since first iPhone in summer of '07. It's complete b.s. that for the few times I would like to have my MBA or iPad hotspot from my iPhone that I would have to break ranks and go with a lesser a lesser data plan that would yet cost me more $$. Why??? (rhetorical question)

I know, it's absolutely absurd. They do nothing to improve their own situation (like creating a network than can actually provide the amount of data they sell), instead they sit on their fat laurels and conceive of ways to charge us more for less.

 

[JediZenMaster]

Come guys be honest you just simply hate AT&T. When Verizon announced tethering plans for 2GB for 20 dollars for the iPhone there was no whining and crying but as soon as AT&T offers tethering the floodgates open.

You guys now have a choice if you are not happy with the tethering plans then JB your phone or find another provider.

 

[Ice2257]

ATT Unlimited

What about ATT customers with the Unlimited Data plan?

 

[Full of Win]

Could you...I dunno...find a way to just hurt at&t instead of hurting other at&t users?

thanx.

I'm just using the plan as advertised, in a way consistent with the terms of service I agreed to. For the Iphone, that is a 5GB soft cap that I observe. For the iPad, I use it as much as I want to

To quote Mark Siegel from ATT on the iPad unlimited plan

"unlimited is unlimited."

If ATT did not build out enough, they are the ones hurting the consumer....not me.

For example, on my iPad I now download gig sized OS X system updates using Atomic Browser. I also have a 10 mbps data package at home, but why use it when I can use the AT&T data network instead.

The funny thing is, I would go back to my conservative use of data if ATT were to return to unlimited data. Also, if anyone else is not happy with ATT attitude toward them, I suggest they do the same as I do; use their existing plan to the full capacity allowed in the Terms of Service.

 

[valkraider]

First let me say that I don't really have an opinion on whether the expected price for hotspot/tethering is "fair", although I think using metered use would be more fair, like the way we pay for water, electricity, and gasoline. I also say that "unlimited" should mean "unlimited" and the FCC should step in there.

But (there is always a but, right?)

I don't understand the outrage.

Mobile wireless infrastructure costs money to build, and maintain. AT&T, Verizon, TMobile, Sprint, Cricket, whoever - they are businesses. They exist to make money.

Why are people OK with other companies making money, but have fits when AT&T tries to? Does your employer try to make money? Does your employer provide goods or services for a price that they set so that they can make money? Why is Apple good and AT&T bad? Why is Verizon good and AT&T bad? (And no, I do not work at AT&T but I do have a good friend who works at Sprint and another at Comcast.)

Wireless carriers charge what the market will bear. If you don't like it, you are free either not purchase their goods and services OR you can purchase radio spectrum from the FCC, build towers, set up back-hauls, and provide your own wireless infrastructure.

And people have brought up that prices are cheaper in places like Europe, Japan, or Korea. I would like to point out that that the entire continent of Europe is about the size of the United States in square miles, yet has DOUBLE the population density (and that includes rural eastern Europe). Japan has FIVE TIMES the population density of the USA, and South Korea has SEVEN TIMES the population density of the USA. If you just look at Western Europe which is what most people are talking about, such as France, Germany, UK, etc. the population densities are much higher than the USA.

They can cover many more people with much less cost.

If you really want to be angry at something regarding cost - be angry at the American cell companies having to provide coverage in the western USA. They have to build and maintain LOTS of towers in the western USA to cover almost zero people other than those passing through on interstates. Every single city dweller is subsidizing those rural cellular customers in a HUGE way. (Same with roads, telephone service, and utilities). Just look at the coverage maps for Nevada for example.

If people actually cared about prices they would stop buying. If enough people stopped buying, the companies would have to either offer more or charge less.

As it is, I think having fast internet access almost ANYWHERE for me, my children, and all of our fancy devices - is pretty AMAZING. I mean come on, how entitled are we that we somehow feel that being able to stream high definition movies while sitting ANYWHERE is some sort of a right? Heck, I remember the days when we couldn't even watch TV anywhere but a house, and those Limo or RV TV sets with the wing antenna thing were amazing with their tiny screen and crappy picture that only worked in 20 square feet of town.

I want to know where each and every one of the complainers work, and I will go there and demand services for free, or for next to nothing.

 

[CylonGlitch]

What about ATT customers with the Unlimited Data plan?

What about us? We have a choice. Stick with what we have, as we have it, or downgrade to one of the current plans and then, if we want, add tethering. As it is, we are not entitled to tethering because it was not in our contract at the time.

 

[ciTiger]

One less reason to jailbreak.

 

[Greg M]

They'll continue to charge more for as long as you pay for it.

I went to T-Mobile and got a Mytouch 4g with unlimited everything including hotspot for $79.99 per month! I can now use my ipad and MBA any place I get a signal for no additional costs and no limits on data or throttled data after 5gb.

Only way to get Verizon and AT&T to be reasonable is if you walk away from them. If you can't do that then stop whining about their prices.

 

[thelonelylimo]

when is the FCC going to step in and stop these companies from raping us?

haha....