AT&T forcing people into $30 data plans

[eastercat]

In almost every European country that practice is illegal and actually goverments care about consumer rights.
They sell factory unlocked iPhones and many other cool things.
Maybe the US needs to learn and adopt a few things.

The only way for that to happen is to convince your representatives to stop taking money from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc. Then they'll finally stop listening to the carriers about new bills that pertain to the mobile phone industry.
Think that's going to happen anytime soon? No? Then we've got an ice cube's chance in Afghanistan of seeing European-style practices for mobile phones.

You call not being able to opt out of things you wouldn't use freedom of choice? It is actually FCC's job to make sure the business environment spurs competition. Ever since they allowed carriers to merge at record rate, US wireless industry is essentially down to just 4 carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

Reagan, Clinton, Bush, et. al. have been busy deregulating and defunding the oversight; so, it's no surprise that the FCC has been toothless.
Considering the amount of money these carriers donate to everybody, I doubt the situation will change anytime soon.

Such an elitist attitude might be defendable if smartphones hadn't been available for many years without requiring a data plan.

Of course it's awful for these people that AT&T now requires data plans. However, it is--in a sense--fairer for everybody. Nobody gets special treatment. After it goes into effect, no one can complain, "X doesn't have to pay for a data plan. Why should I have to pay?!"
Besides, if you want to get peeved at anybody, get mad at Verizon. They gave AT&T the idea in the first place.

 

[bigchief]

yes you can block data but it also blocks mms texts too.

I blocked the data on my wifes blackberry that i bought off ebay and she can still mms text.

 

[winterspan]

Not sure why this is a big deal.....AT&T isn't "forcing" anyone into anything. You don't like it, don't get a smartphone. Verizon has been doing this for a while, and i'm sure sprint and tmobile have their own policies.

Yep, Verizon started doing this about two years ago. It used to only be for the Blackberry phones, and now it is for *any* smartphone. I hate this type of BS!

 

[kdarling]

Besides, if you want to get peeved at anybody, get mad at Verizon. They gave AT&T the idea in the first place.

Heh. I still think Verizon got the idea from ATT and Apple. Once they saw that people would buy an iPhone and put up with a required data plan, their marketing brains went "ping!"

Or, it might simply be a matter of smartphone subsidies getting so high, that the additional data plan income is necessary to help repay them.

 

[anjinha]

If you buy the iPhone full price, without a contract, do you still need to have a data plan or is it just for iPhones on contracts?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Heh. I still think Verizon got the idea from ATT and Apple. Once they saw that people would buy an iPhone and put up with a required data plan, their marketing brains went "ping!"

Or, it might simply be a matter of smartphone subsidies getting so high, that the additional data plan income is necessary to help repay them.

Yep it all traces back to apple giving them the idea in the first place. It was the first time I ever heard of a data plan being force on to people was with the iPhone. I bet it was Apple doing that it happened. I mean what is the iphone like if you can not use mobile web.


Personally I think it is crap they are doing this because there is a lot of things smart phone do just a hell of a lot better then other phones that do not require a data plan.

The keyboard on the smart phones is just better. They sync up with computers a hell of a lot better (calendar support) but the texting is a reason they are king.

 

[dbwie]

data plans

People who say they are on WiFi all the time and don't need a data plan could have purchased an iPod Touch. We do have choices.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

People who say they are on WiFi all the time and don't need a data plan could have purchased an iPod Touch. We do have choices.

You need to read it again. This has nothing to do with iPhone per say but all smart phones (things like blackberry).

And your argument is crap because iPod touch can not make phone calls.

 

[cardinal]

It's no use arguing with fanboys. They'll say "you have a choice" with everything Apple/AT&T do, whether it be this, google voice, or any other decision that's negative for consumers.

You have a choice with everything in life. Nobody's saying anything to the contrary. What we are addressing is the fact that companies are making decisions that force everybody to pay for something only a group of people use. A lot of people can afford the data plan, but not everybody can justify it. You pay as much for data on your phone as you do in your house. Think about how much you use each.

 

[gLaDiAtOr73]

I blocked the data on my wifes blackberry that i bought off ebay and she can still mms text.

really? i tried to do that with my wife's nokia e71x and was told that by the att rep on the phone.

 

[gLaDiAtOr73]

You need to read it again. This has nothing to do with iPhone per say but all smart phones (things like blackberry).

And your argument is crap because iPod touch can not make phone calls.

technically it can with skype, but i agree with you

 

[ajohnson253]

Yup

Not sure why this is a big deal.....AT&T isn't "forcing" anyone into anything. You don't like it, don't get a smartphone. Verizon has been doing this for a while, and i'm sure sprint and tmobile have their own policies.

Enough said

 

[Jethrotoe]

I agree people really should read the thread before going off on it.

This is about ATT is forcing the data plan on any one who gets a smart phone. Smart phone being a Samsung Jack, Blackberry, Iphone ect.

I know a lot of people who got a smart phone not for the data but because they have really nice keyboards and are great for texting. My brother and sister both own a blackjack (smart phone) and they got it because it was so much better for text messaging. Hell that is the only reason my sister loves her black jack.

My Girlfriend got a Blackberry because of the keyboard on it. She wanted it for text messaging. She does not want nor cares about having data on it. I am glad ATT is not forcing her to get a data plan but she really like her blackberry and that is not using the data feature of it.

I really disagree with ATT forcing the data feature on everyone who wants to get a smart phone. There are a lot of reasons to get a smart phone that does not include data.

Exactly. I have an iPhone and pay the $30. No problem. My wife and my father-in-law both have cheap smartphones just for texting. They have absolutely no need for internet access or a data plan, they just want an actual keyboard. So if i read this right, when we re-up our contracts (or at that time want to get a different smartphone), there will be a additional $60 on our monthly bill? Yea right. I will switch them to a different carrier for their service and ATT get less money from me. Smart. Isn't there a better way to crack down on the people ripping them off? Or are they just joining in and ripping us off?

I know everyone is ranting about "you have a choice". Sure it's my choice to do this but the choices are getting fewer and fewer. It's more of a force than a choice.
Sure there are technical reasons to have only four main carriers (geographical and so forth) but if it's an allowable monopoly, that's where we need the FCC to make sure they don't take advantage of us. Regulation isn't all bad.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Exactly. I have an iPhone and pay the $30. No problem. My wife and my father-in-law both have cheap smartphones just for texting. They have absolutely no need for internet access or a data plan, they just want an actual keyboard. So if i read this right, when we re-up our contracts (or at that time want to get a different smartphone), there will be a additional $60 on our monthly bill? Yea right. I will switch them to a different carrier for their service and ATT get less money from me. Smart. Isn't there a better way to crack down on the people ripping them off? Or are they just joining in and ripping us off?

I know everyone is ranting about "you have a choice". Sure it's my choice to do this but the choices are getting fewer and fewer. It's more of a force than a choice.
Sure there are technical reasons to have only four main carriers (geographical and so forth) but if it's an allowable monopoly, that's where we need the FCC to make sure they don't take advantage of us. Regulation isn't all bad.

Very true. I look at the ATT phones that have the full keyboards for texting that are not smart phones. Lets put it this way. the smart phone keyboards are a hell of a lot better.

 

[anjinha]

Yep it all traces back to apple giving them the idea in the first place. It was the first time I ever heard of a data plan being force on to people was with the iPhone. I bet it was Apple doing that it happened. I mean what is the iphone like if you can not use mobile web.

If it was Apple's idea why don't all the other carriers around the world that have the iPhone have mandatory data plans?

 

[Jethrotoe]

Yup.

Very true. I look at the ATT phones that have the full keyboards for texting that are not smart phones. Lets put it this way. the smart phone keyboards are a hell of a lot better.

Right, my father-in-law is 85 years old and a flip-phone style keyboard is just too much of a hassle (pressing one key 3 times to get your letter). They also like the touch screens available on smartphones and better (easier) menu systems. Neither have any use for the internet on their phones. Are there actually any phones that do this that are not "smartphones"? I have to take a look. Our contract is up later this year.

 

[dbwie]

...

You need to read it again. This has nothing to do with iPhone per say but all smart phones (things like blackberry).

And your argument is crap because iPod touch can not make phone calls.

Skype dude. My argument is not crap. If you want smartphone type features in a handheld on WiFi only, the iPod Touch is the way to go. When your iPhone contract is up and you upgrade to a new iPhone, your old iPhone can continue to work basically as an iPod Touch.

 

[Gatteau]

A little off-topic here, but I thought I'd ask here instead of making a whole new theard...

Is 500 MB per week enough for the iPhone, as a plan? I know it depends on my usage but I still wanted to ask.. I'd just surf the web, go on Facebook, MSN and YouTube a little.

Do you think 500 MB per week is enough for all that?

 

[cardinal]

Skype dude. My argument is not crap. If you want smartphone type features in a handheld on WiFi only, the iPod Touch is the way to go. When your iPhone contract is up and you upgrade to a new iPhone, your old iPhone can continue to work basically as an iPod Touch.

That argument is crap. By claiming Skype as an alternative to phone capabilities, you're saying he'll only be able to place calls, not take them (without jailbreaking). That's not a valid substitute.

The iPod Touch as a substitute to a smartphone argument is not viable, period.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Skype dude. My argument is not crap. If you want smartphone type features in a handheld on WiFi only, the iPod Touch is the way to go. When your iPhone contract is up and you upgrade to a new iPhone, your old iPhone can continue to work basically as an iPod Touch.

still crap argument. iPod touch can not text from everywhere nor receive text messaging. Nor can it receive calls everywhere.
Also this thing is not about the iPhone but all smart phones so still crap.

Lastly no where did I reference wifi in my original nor next argument. I was talking about texting and using a phone.

So thank you for failing. Please come again.

 

[matty1551]

If you don't like the premium cost, don't get the premium product. Just because you want a smartphone doesn't mean you can afford it and its monthly cost.

how is your response in any way related to the statement i made?

 

[goosnarrggh]

If you buy the iPhone full price, without a contract, do you still need to have a data plan or is it just for iPhones on contracts?

If you have an iPhone active on AT&T's network, regardless of how it was acquired or paid for, AT&T's position is that it must have a data plan.

 

[Wild-Bill]

Regardless of what AT&T's position is on having a data plan, their service, support, pricing, and coverage all suck.

It doesn't take a crystal ball to predict the mass exodus of iPhone users to another network once the Apple/AT&T exclusivity deal is up. I will gladly pay an early termination fee to switch to a network where my iPhone won't drop calls in my own house, where I can do MMS, tether, etc.....

I absolutely loathe AT&T, and so do most here.

 

[kdarling]

If you have an iPhone active on AT&T's network, regardless of how it was acquired or paid for, AT&T's position is that it must have a data plan.

That reminds me of something else that gets my goat.

The carriers require a certain monthly usage price and length of contract if we use a subsidized phone. Okay, that's fair. The loan must be paid back.

However, if we bring our own phone (or pay full device price, or use the phone past the contract length), the monthly usage price remains the same, even though there's no subsidy to pay back.

One more thing for the FCC to investigate.

 

[samcraig]

Regardless of what AT&T's position is on having a data plan, their service, support, pricing, and coverage all suck.

It doesn't take a crystal ball to predict the mass exodus of iPhone users to another network once the Apple/AT&T exclusivity deal is up. I will gladly pay an early termination fee to switch to a network where my iPhone won't drop calls in my own house, where I can do MMS, tether, etc.....

I absolutely loathe AT&T, and so do most here.

Not speaking to your coverage issue - that's separate. But MMS and Tethering will be on you AT&T iPhone LONG before there's another carrier that has the iPhone.

LONG before.