AT&T Considering Modifications to Deadline for iPad Unlimited 3G Service Activations

[fmaxwell]

How much is your unpredictable 3G access vary from in a month? IE do one month you have no idea you use 1 gig and the next month you have no idea you use 50 gigs?

I still don't understand how you could not develop a reasonable idea of how much data you use.

Having a "reasonable idea" is what determines whether I would have signed up for the unlimited plan or the $15 plan or no plan. If I were going on travel where I would have relied heavily on 3G, I would have signed up for the unlimited plan until I returned.

Even if you didn't why don't you want to pay for the data you use?

$29.99 is paying for the data I use! That was the price advertised by Apple as part of their "breakthrough deal" that they supposedly made with AT&T for iPad customers.

Are you just upset because they took away a plan that made data a lot cheaper for you and made it more expensive?

Not simply made it more expensive, made it economically unfeasible to use the $870 device (including tax) as I had planned given the terms they advertised.

Would you be upset if, next month, AT&T changed to a $20 plan capped at 100 kilobytes? What if they kept the 2GB cap and raised the price to $100? By your logic, AT&T should be able to do those things and you, as an iPad purchaser should have no recourse. Seriously, do you work for AT&T or Apple, because you seem to be arguing that they should be able to whatever they want, regardless of ads, statements, and promises made to you before the sale.

If so that means you don't think AT&T is allowed to raise their prices for you?

No, they are not allowed to raise the price for the service for existing iPad customers. Apple advertised that they had negotiated a "breakthrough deal" with AT&T for this two-tiered, fixed price service that would allow customers to change between limited and unlimited service and suspend service. I got my iPad on June 1. On that day, I signed up for the unlimited service. Now, explain how I can switch to the $15 tier for July and then and then return to the unlimited tier in August.

The price was to remain at $29.99 for 30 days of uncapped 3G service for existing iPad customers. That's why Apple's ads didn't have fine print that said "limited time offer" or "offer good through June 7, 2010" or "pricing subject to change" or any of the other language that is FTC-mandated in cases like these.

And here comes the almost narcissistic self-centeredness from your other posts. I *don't* care if someone gets a better deal than me. I *do* care if I have to pay for it.

No one ever asked you to pay for anyone else's service! Your bill would still have been $29.99, regardless of how much data anyone else used. Stop pretending it was some variable amount based on how much data other people used.

My compliments to your editor, then. Too bad he or she doesn't edit your posts.

My writings have been published almost word-for-word and I was even asked to write an editorial for a magazine because my letter to the editor was written so well. I have even been praised for my writings in this very thread, so stop with your childish insults and personal attacks.

I know what an analogy is, but thank you for your research.

I'm glad that you know what one is now, but I really don't consider cutting and pasting a dictionary definition to be research.

I also know what a *bad* analogy is. And you made a bad analogy. A very bad analogy. A completely idiotic analogy, in fact. The voluntary act of, say, streaming Netflix, has almost nothing to do with the involuntary act of, say, contracting ovarian cancer. Even if you can draw some sort of strained connection between an insurance risk pool and AT&T's data plan.

It was a brilliant analogy because it showed the ugly, self-centered side of your position by interposing your "logic" on a more dire circumstance. Your argument has been, all along, that it's fine for Apple/AT&T to reneg on the advertised terms and pricing as long as your bill goes down -- even by $5. You don't care how much it costs others, how it limits their use of the iPads they paid for, or how it impacts them, as long as you pay less.

Here you go again with the personal attacks because you can't make your own argument.

Your posts have been a series of personal attacks (e.g., your comment about my "editors" shown above). I've made my argument convincingly while you've resorted to demonizing those who are simply demanding the service and pricing that they were repeatedly promised in Apple's media events, web sites, and print advertisements.

I certainly do not believe that "anything" which benefits me monetarily at the expense of some other group is good. In fact, the only thing I've written about in my posts is my unwillingness to subsidize *your* (in the general sense) use of your 3G plan. It's fine with me if you stream Netflix all day on 3G. Just don't ask me to pay for it.

Stop making false claims. Repeating a false claim over and over won't make it true. Apple quoted two tiers of service: $14.99/250MB and $29.99/unlimited. Those prices were fixed. Your bill was not going to go up if I used more data one month.

Here is a helpful tool for those of you don't know how much your $29.99 plan would cost you based on data usage by others:

iPad $29.99 unlimited plan
Gigs Used by Me / Monthly Price you pay
2 $29.99
3 $29.99
4 $29.99
5 $29.99
6 $29.99
7 $29.99
8 $29.99
9 $29.99
10 $29.99
11 $29.99
12 $29.99
13 $29.99
14 $29.99
15 $29.99
16 $29.99
17 $29.99
18 $29.99
19 $29.99
20 $29.99
21 $29.99
22 $29.99
23 $29.99
24 $29.99
25 $29.99
26 $29.99
27 $29.99
28 $29.99
29 $29.99
30 $29.99
31 $29.99
32 $29.99
33 $29.99
34 $29.99
35 $29.99
36 $29.99
37 $29.99
38 $29.99
39 $29.99
40 $29.99
41 $29.99
42 $29.99
43 $29.99
44 $29.99
45 $29.99
46 $29.99
47 $29.99
48 $29.99
49 $29.99

And, seriously, you should get over the entitlement mentality and recognize that you are whining precisely because the new plan no longer benefits *you* monetarily at the expense of others.

I'm not "whining" and I am sick of your constant barrage of personal attacks and insults. The $29.99 plan probably doesn't benefit me monetarily. I would probably end up paying less if I switched to the plans now offered, bouncing between them. But it's worth $5 to me on heavy usage periods to not have to monitor my data usage and limit what I do on the net out of concerns about hitting some 2GB cap (prior to having to put another $10 into the AT&T Internet meter).

Basically, yes, when those others are people who want me to pay their iPhone/iPad bills. Again, you are basically making the argument that, somehow, I'm selfish because I don't want to pay other people's phone bills, but they are somehow *not* selfish for insisting that I do.

I'm tired of you repeating, over and over, these false claims. The plan pricing was set at $14.99 and $29.99 for the 250mb and unlimited plans respectively. It was not a variable amount based on how much data some other person moved.

I find it interesting how you seem to keep trying to bolster your argument with extrinsic factors, such as having being published in national magazines or being otherwise somehow demonstrably smart. I'm sure you know that the argument from authority is a logical fallacy, but you still insist on doing it.

I'm so sorry. When you insulted my intelligence and writing skills, I certainly had no right to defend myself. Please accept my apologies.

By the way, "argument from authority" refers to a claim that something must be true because the person making the claim has expertise in that subject area, not that the person making the claim is intelligent or a published author.

Feel free to provide better numbers; these are AT&T's smartphone numbers.

I don't have better numbers, but that doesn't mean that I can't recognize flawed statistical analysis.

Although I'm not really sure why iPhones and iPads should be treated differently from other smartphones (maybe there is a reason); they are all using the same bandwidth.

Cox Communications provides data, voice, and television services. It would ludicrous to take the data usage of 98 telephone customers and two cable television customers and say that only 2% of the customers are using 90% of the bandwidth, so they are "data hogs."

(I may be wrong, but I don't think that AT&T offers a Nokia smartphone).

Just one of several examples they have offered in recent years.

Dude, you are wrong. The provisions of the plan that let you start and stop in the future ARE NOT AVAILABLE. Therefore as of tonight, they are committing false advertising by stating that it IS available.

Unless of course, you think that being able to start and stop a MONTHLY plan as much as you want over the next DAY is valid.

You can't make it any clearer than that, yet I am betting that they will continue to maintain their indefensible positions. I think that we're wasting our time arguing with them. They don't care about business ethics, truth in advertising, fairness, or even legality. It's all about $4.99/month savings to them.

 

[cmaier]

Apple still, right now, advertises that I can activate unlimited access on my next business trip or vacation. They leave out the part about "as long as you land in your exotic destination, get to the hotel, unpack, and activate your account in the next 14 hours or so."

 

[tigres]

Apple still, right now, advertises that one can activate unlimited access on my next business trip or vacation. They leave out the part about "as long as you land in your exotic destination, get to the hotel, unpack, and activate your account in the next 14 hours or so."

Yep.

Someones going to have some explaining to do. This is going to be messy, as I cannot think of any reason why this happened now. Apple must have known, I would be shocked if they were blindsided.

This really could be the answer that the exclusive agreement is over- who knows.

Either way, it's completely wrong.

 

[chaboard]

So...Two Simple Questions

How do I as an Ipad 3G owner with an active "unlimited" account with 15 days left on it:

a) Verify that I am set to "auto-renew" and will thus keep this plan?
b) tell how much bandwidth I've already used?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[cmaier]

How do I as an Ipad 3G owner with an active "unlimited" account with 15 days left on it:

a) Verify that I am set to "auto-renew" and will thus keep this plan?
b) tell how much bandwidth I've already used?

Thanks in advance for any help

It auto renews unless you cancel. From the settings app you can see your usage.

 

[chaboard]

From the settings app you can see your usage.

I don't seem to be able to. Here's what I'm doing:

1) Select "Cellular Data"
2) Select "View Account"
3) [a new window comes up] login
4) [Account Overview window comes up - I've tried all the options on this page and see no usage info]

What am I doing wrong?

 

[cmaier]

I don't seem to be able to. Here's what I'm doing:

1) Select "Cellular Data"
2) Select "View Account"
3) [a new window comes up] login
4) [Account Overview window comes up - I've tried all the options on this page and see no usage info]

What am I doing wrong?

Settings. -> general -> usage

It's not in the cellular data section

 

[chaboard]

Settings. -> general -> usage

It's not in the cellular data section

It's downright stupid that "Cellular Network Data" stats are under "General" and NOT under "Cellular Data" - sounds like something Windows would do.

But I appreciate the help finding it. Thanks!

 

[cmaier]

It's downright stupid that "Cellular Network Data" stats are under "General" and NOT under "Cellular Data" - sounds like something Windows would do.

But I appreciate the help finding it. Thanks!

Yep.

 

[k1121j]

Is This ATT's plan from the start

Is this just coninsdence or was this ATT's plan.... I figure ATT decided to offer unlimited data until people actually started to use it. Yah only 3 percent actually use the 5 gigs but if you look at the trend line you would see that in a short time that a much larger percent would actually be using the full 5 gigs and im only talkin about iphone users ....So i guess ATT figures that UNLIMITED ( not true to the definition of the word) is no longer and option because people may actually use it now......Will these plans also be called unlimited data? LOL what a joke

 

[IPPlanMan]

Thanks!

To all those who joined and filed FTC complaints, thank you.

Again, the link is here, and it only takes a few minutes. Fmaxwell's points are spot on...
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

In addition to writing the FTC, you can also write your member of Congress about this.
Simply find your representative by zip code at http://www.house.gov/
Tell them you also filed a complaint with the FTC for deceptive market practices by AT&T and/or Apple.
The iPad is very popular with Congress, so I'm sure this will get their interest very quickly...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37518.html

WWDC is going to be interesting this year, that's for sure.

 

[edoates]

They are probably leaving it the same because it is still something you can buy and use.

Again, this is normal. Companies are allowed to advertise products and services that are available. There is nothing wrong with this legally or otherwise.

the unlimited plan is even specifically designated on the site as to when it will no longer be available.

WRONG...next player. The advertised data plan is NOT available. To be available, you would have to have at least 60 days of plan service: the ability to switch between 250mb or unlimited at least once. Since that ability disappears TOMORROW, the plan is not available. Yes, you can get unlimited data for the advertised price, but you can't ever switch.

So, the ad is false, misleading, etc. For anyone buying an iPad online who is not hooked into these rumor sites (that is, not a techie), the Apple Ad is their information source. They should not have to scour the web to find out that, in fact, they can't get that plan.

Eddie O

 

[tigres]

WRONG...next player. The advertised data plan is NOT available. To be available, you would have to have at least 60 days of plan service: the ability to switch between 250mb or unlimited at least once. Since that ability disappears TOMORROW, the plan is not available. Yes, you can get unlimited data for the advertised price, but you can't ever switch.

So, the ad is false, misleading, etc. For anyone buying an iPad online who is not hooked into these rumor sites (that is, not a techie), the Apple Ad is their information source. They should not have to scour the web to find out that, in fact, they can't get that plan.

Eddie O

True... can't wait to see this play out tomorrow.

 

[fmaxwell]

WRONG...next player.

Eddie, I need to develop your knack for stinging brevity. Well done.

 

[marksman]

WRONG...next player. The advertised data plan is NOT available. To be available, you would have to have at least 60 days of plan service: the ability to switch between 250mb or unlimited at least once. Since that ability disappears TOMORROW, the plan is not available. Yes, you can get unlimited data for the advertised price, but you can't ever switch.

So, the ad is false, misleading, etc. For anyone buying an iPad online who is not hooked into these rumor sites (that is, not a techie), the Apple Ad is their information source. They should not have to scour the web to find out that, in fact, they can't get that plan.

Eddie O

That is absurd. It does not say you are guaranteed the ability to get $30 unlimited data, turn it off and turn back on $30 unlimited data.

It says you can turn the service on and off. The current available pricing is $30 unlmited for 30 days.

By the time they turn it off and back on the price is subject to change.

By your crazy logic, if someone bought the iPad today, turned on the $30 unlimited tomorrow, used it for 30 days and then turned it off for 10 years they should be able to turn it back on for $30 unlimited.

You guys don't think this stuff through at all.

 

[cmaier]

Please explain how I am supposed to wait until a business trip to activate unlimited. Because that's what apple's website says I can still do.

I can wait as long as the trip starts in the next few hours. Yeah, that's honest advertising right there.

That is absurd. It does not say you are guaranteed the ability to get $30 unlimited data, turn it off and turn back on $30 unlimited data.

It says you can turn the service on and off. The current available pricing is $30 unlmited for 30 days.

By the time they turn it off and back on the price is subject to change.

By your crazy logic, if someone bought the iPad today, turned on the $30 unlimited tomorrow, used it for 30 days and then turned it off for 10 years they should be able to turn it back on for $30 unlimited.

You guys don't think this stuff through at all.

 

[fmaxwell]

True... can't wait to see this play out tomorrow.

It won't play out fully for months or, if AT&T and Apple are stupid, years. The FTC doesn't usually move swiftly, but they don't take kindly to false, deceptive, and misleading advertising being used to convince massive numbers of consumers to spend hundreds of dollars each. The prospect of potentially massive FTC would hang like the Sword of Democles, depressing the stock price for both Apple, AT&T, or both, for years to come.

The only way that this plays out quickly is if Apple protects early adopters by entering into a contract with AT&T which:

1. Provides the ability terminate the unlimited plan and restart it at the same $29.99 rate
2. Locks in the rates and terms of the plans ($14.99/250MB and $29.99/unlimited).
3. Guarantees that the plans are portable across replacement iPads issued in response to warranty service, battery replacement, out-of-warranty repair, or bought as replacements after loss or theft. This last one is a big isse when Apple has announced that they will swap out iPads, giving you a different SN presumably, for even something as routine as a battery replacement.

I am fine with AT&T telling me that I can't get new features like tethering unless I forever give up the unlimited plan and accept a new plan, but damn it, Apple and AT&T advertised the availability of the activate-as-needed $29.99 "breakthrough deal" unlimited plan as a massive inducement to purchase the iPad.

 

[JediZenMaster]

That is absurd. It does not say you are guaranteed the ability to get $30 unlimited data, turn it off and turn back on $30 unlimited data.

It says you can turn the service on and off. The current available pricing is $30 unlmited for 30 days.

By the time they turn it off and back on the price is subject to change.

By your crazy logic, if someone bought the iPad today, turned on the $30 unlimited tomorrow, used it for 30 days and then turned it off for 10 years they should be able to turn it back on for $30 unlimited.

You guys don't think this stuff through at all.

Exactly! When your a pre-paid customer which is pretty much what this data plan is you really don't have a leg to stand on. Because there is no binding contract.

Only if your a post paid customer do you truly have rights. The simple solution to all the crying is to keep the unlimited plan and no de-activate it.

But even then at some point in the future if aT&T wanted to they could just stop supporting the plan and give advance notice.

I honestly think there are people who posted in this thread who are not even effected by this and only joining in just to be part of the drama

The only way that this plays out quickly is if Apple protects early adopters by entering into a contract with AT&T which:

1. Provides the ability terminate the unlimited plan and restart it at the same $29.99 rate
2. Locks in the rates and terms of the plans ($14.99/250MB and $29.99/unlimited).
3. Guarantees that the plans are portable across replacement iPads issued in response to warranty service, battery replacement, out-of-warranty repair, or bought as replacements after loss or theft. This last one is a big isse when Apple has announced that they will swap out iPads, giving you a different SN presumably, for even something as routine as a battery replacement.

The data plan is linked to the simcard and apple id so why would it make a difference if you had to swap out ipads? The Device doesn't hold the info the sim card does.

Also there is no such thing as a price lock when it comes to this. It sounds like me like your wanting AT&T to promise that this will be grandfathered forever. And that's not going to happen here is why.

1) The iPad data plans are pretty much pre-paid plans and pre-paid customers unlike post paid customers are not locked into a contract and therefore don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to this. Because your not locked into a contract either party being the customer or provider can cancel.

2) If a new iPad comes out i hope you certaintly dont expect them to say it's alright you can keep your plan? That would be stupid on their part as a buisness. They have to make a profit too at somepoint. This is a capitalistic society.

3) Your plan will most likely be grandfathered as long as you don't change from the 1st gen ipad. But to expect them to keep this plan forever is stupid. You didn't sign a contract with them. So you don't have the same rights as a post paid customer because you didn't get a subsidy discount and your not locked in for 2 years.

 

[marksman]

It won't play out fully for months or, if AT&T and Apple are stupid, years. The FTC doesn't usually move swiftly, but they don't take kindly to false, deceptive, and misleading advertising being used to convince massive numbers of consumers to spend hundreds of dollars each. The prospect of potentially massive FTC would hang like the Sword of Democles, depressing the stock price for both Apple, AT&T, or both, for years to come.

The only way that this plays out quickly is if Apple protects early adopters by entering into a contract with AT&T which:

1. Provides the ability terminate the unlimited plan and restart it at the same $29.99 rate
2. Locks in the rates and terms of the plans ($14.99/250MB and $29.99/unlimited).
3. Guarantees that the plans are portable across replacement iPads issued in response to warranty service, battery replacement, out-of-warranty repair, or bought as replacements after loss or theft. This last one is a big isse when Apple has announced that they will swap out iPads, giving you a different SN presumably, for even something as routine as a battery replacement.

I am fine with AT&T telling me that I can't get new features like tethering unless I forever give up the unlimited plan and accept a new plan, but damn it, Apple and AT&T advertised the availability of the activate-as-needed $29.99 "breakthrough deal" unlimited plan as a massive inducement to purchase the iPad.

No they offered breakthrough no contract pricing for service you could turn on and off.

You really over estimate the FTC and you don't understand what false advertising even is. If you think the FTC is going to do anything about this you are dreaming.


Dear FTC, I bought this car and thought gas would be .99 cents a gallon forver. Gas is now 2.49 a gallon. This is wrong.

 

[fmaxwell]

Please explain how I am supposed to wait until a business trip to activate unlimited. Because that's what apple's website says I can still do.

I can wait as long as the trip starts in the next few hours. Yeah, that's honest advertising right there.

[sarcasm]What do you know? You're just an attorney.

You should be listening to marksman and deconstructo, who believe that no interpretation of ad copy is too arcane, pained, twisted, or weird if it supports a corporation doing something they are in favor of.[/sarcasm]

That's where these 'you-can-do-it-once-if-you-really-hurry-so-it's-true' arguments come from. It's where the grammar-contorting claim that '"start-and-stop"-is-not-the-same-as-"stop-and-start"' arises. These are the same people who think that "no contract" is the same as "no rights."

But just wait until they blow their Starbucks Flavored Latte out their noses when they're told that the previously free iPad access to AT&T wireless now costs $2 per session. Then, suddenly, it will be an outrage that Apple and AT&T are not abiding by their promises. It will be time for government intervention and class action suits and FTC investigations.

They're all in favor of me subsidizing their unlimited use of AT&T WiFi hotspots that I'll never use, but God help us all if they think that a penny of their monthly fee helped pay for my 3G access one month.

 

[tasset]

The data plan is linked to the simcard and apple id so why would it make a difference if you had to swap out ipads? The Device doesn't hold the info the sim card does.

Also there is no such thing as a price lock when it comes to this. It sounds like me like your wanting AT&T to promise that this will be grandfathered forever. And that's not going to happen here is why.

1) The iPad data plans are pretty much pre-paid plans and pre-paid customers unlike post paid customers are not locked into a contract and therefore don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to this. Because your not locked into a contract either party being the customer or provider can cancel.

2) If a new iPad comes out i hope you certaintly dont expect them to say it's alright you can keep your plan? That would be stupid on their part as a buisness. They have to make a profit too at somepoint. This is a capitalistic society.

3) Your plan will most likely be grandfathered as long as you don't change from the 1st gen ipad. But to expect them to keep this plan forever is stupid. You didn't sign a contract with them. So you don't have the same rights as a post paid customer because you didn't get a subsidy discount and your not locked in for 2 years.

Look, I can be a reasonable guy. I will concede it should not be expected that AT&T would offer a prepaid come-and-go-as-you-please unlimited data plan for $30 FOREVER. But you must concede it is either horribly bad business planning on potential consumption, sour grapes for Apple going to other carriers tomorrow, or worse FRAUD for intentionally misleading that this plan could be signed up for down the road. 45 days into the availability of this plan and pulling it does not sound professionally competent to me. Does it you?

 

[tigres]

It won't play out fully for months or, if AT&T and Apple are stupid, years. The FTC doesn't usually move swiftly, but they don't take kindly to false, deceptive, and misleading advertising being used to convince massive numbers of consumers to spend hundreds of dollars each. The prospect of potentially massive FTC would hang like the Sword of Democles, depressing the stock price for both Apple, AT&T, or both, for years to come.

The only way that this plays out quickly is if Apple protects early adopters by entering into a contract with AT&T which:

1. Provides the ability terminate the unlimited plan and restart it at the same $29.99 rate
2. Locks in the rates and terms of the plans ($14.99/250MB and $29.99/unlimited).
3. Guarantees that the plans are portable across replacement iPads issued in response to warranty service, battery replacement, out-of-warranty repair, or bought as replacements after loss or theft. This last one is a big isse when Apple has announced that they will swap out iPads, giving you a different SN presumably, for even something as routine as a battery replacement.

I am fine with AT&T telling me that I can't get new features like tethering unless I forever give up the unlimited plan and accept a new plan, but damn it, Apple and AT&T advertised the availability of the activate-as-needed $29.99 "breakthrough deal" unlimited plan as a massive inducement to purchase the iPad.

Agreed. But what I meant by playing out tomorrow is that SJ had better have some answers as to this debacle on stage. It will be somewhat interesting to see how this is handled: I.E. Look, we promised 2 programs for iPad, the game changed 30 days after we shipped our first 3G iPad....

I want to hear the answer they/he has. Will AT&T be there? Last year if you recall, the tethering PP with AT&T missing- this could be twice in 2 WWDC's that trouble with their bed partner could leave a smell again. I really don't know what to speculate- but I can't believe SJ did not know this was changing.

Look, I can be a reasonable guy. I will concede it should not be expected that AT&T would offer a prepaid come-and-go-as-you-please unlimited data plan for $30 FOREVER. But you must concede it is either horribly bad business planning on potential consumption, sour grapes for Apple going to other carriers tomorrow, or worse FRAUD for intentionally misleading that this plan could be signed up for down the road. 45 days into the availability of this plan and pulling it does not sound professionally competent to me. Does it you?

No, no it does not at all actually.

Gifts cards all around to shut us all up.

 

[JediZenMaster]

Look, I can be a reasonable guy. I will concede it should not be expected that AT&T would offer a prepaid come-and-go-as-you-please unlimited data plan for $30 FOREVER. But you must concede it is either horribly bad business planning on potential consumption, sour grapes for Apple going to other carriers tomorrow, or worse FRAUD for intentionally misleading that this plan could be signed up for down the road. 45 days into the availability of this plan and pulling it does not sound professionally competent to me. Does it you?

For starters why is it that no one complained when they had the unlimited plan. Now the same people who were happy with unilimited are pissed because AT&T is going to tiered data. These are the same people who were going to keep it anyway. So to me it sounds like people are just complaining for the sake of complaining. Simple solution keep your plan!

And as for sour grapes about changing to another provider? You go to Verizon your going to run into tiered data there too. So it can't be that. Sounds like it's a business thing. And look at it this way. The majority of the rest of the world does not have unlimited data their data is capped. Even home broadband for example in the UK with most providers is Subject to a fair use tarriff.

So at least now we are inline with our brothers and sisters across the "Pond".

And in case your wondering why i'm not pissed its because i went with the Wi-Fi ipad. The last thing i want to do is pay even more money for something that i rarely use on my ipad. I use mine as an e-reader and to download newspapers and journal, more practical uses then watching stupid cartoons in you tube on the train ride home.

 

[fmaxwell]

No they offered breakthrough no contract pricing for service you could turn on and off.

From Apple's web site:

In the United States, 3G service is available through a breakthrough deal with AT&T. You choose the amount of data per month you want to buy — 250MB or unlimited If you choose the 250MB plan, you’ll receive onscreen messages as you get close to your monthly data limit so you can decide whether to turn off 3G or upgrade to the unlimited plan. Best of all, there’s no long-term contract. So if you have a business trip or vacation approaching, just sign up for the month you’ll be traveling and cancel when you get back.

• First item listed under the breakthrough service explanation: The amount of data -- 250MB or unlimited.
  
• Second item listed: You can turn off 3G or upgrade to Unlimited if you're about to hit your 250MB limit.
  
• Third item: No contract, which gives you the ability to turn the aforementioned 250mb or Unlimited plans off and on as-needed.

So you were wrong and I was right.

You really over estimate the FTC and you don't understand what false advertising even is.

I understand perfectly what it is. I've read FTC rules, regulations, guidelines and court cases years before this iPad fiasco. Your posts here are strong evidence of your profound ignorance on the subject. Ever wonder why at least one attorney in this thread is siding with me and not you?

If you think the FTC is going to do anything about this you are dreaming.

We'll see about that. It will either be the FTC or it will be class action suits.

Just ask LifeLock about the FTC's willingness to pursue false and misleading advertising claims. LifeLock paid $12 million. QVC paid $7.5 million for some of its ads. Walgreens had to pay $6 million for deceptive advertising for a flu/cold product.

Dear FTC, I bought this car and thought gas would be .99 cents a gallon forver. Gas is now 2.49 a gallon. This is wrong.

Let's do the analogy right:

Dear FTC,

I bought an XYZ 335 sedan because it was offered with a "breakthrough deal" where I could pay $100 per month and get unlimited gasoline from ABC gas stations, which have a special nozzle needed to fill the car. Now ABC oil company has announced a new plan where I pay $90 and can get up to 20 gallons of fuel per month. After that, each ten gallons is an additional $40. XYZ touted this so-called "breakthrough deal" at the unveiling of the car, in press relleases, in print ads, on their web site, and on television ads. I spent $30,000 for the car. It's nice, but now I'm facing huge fuel bills and can't afford to drive the car on vacation, on business trips, or anywhere with no worries about fuel costs -- like the ads said I would be able to,

 

[tigres]

For starters why is it that no one complained when they had the unlimited plan. Now the same people who were happy with unilimited are pissed because AT&T is going to tiered data.

Why would anyone complain about all you can eat data? Use it great, don't great... but it's there if you need it. Complaining about unlimited data is a less than stellar argument IMO.