It might be one of those things that depends on ARPU... if you're an otherwise very profitable customer (have unlimited texting, use next to no airtime, have a lot of crap features, etc...), then they might not want to risk losing you over a couple dollars worth of data. But if you're a customer that the company can "barely" profit on, they might actually be willing to lose you
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AT&T Introduces New Smartphone Data Plans w/3GB and 5GB Options
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It might be one of those things that depends on ARPU... if you're an otherwise very profitable customer (have unlimited texting, use next to no airtime, have a lot of crap features, etc...), then they might not want to risk losing you over a couple dollars worth of data. But if you're a customer that the company can "barely" profit on, they might actually be willing to lose you
Lte
question:
The iPhone 5 (that was due out last Autumn) will have LTE (don't ask me how I know, but it will have a LTE/GSM/CDMA Broadcom chip - battery issues with that chip delayed the 5 release until this Autumn).
As LTE will allow simultaneous voice+data, this will bring that feature to VZW in the states. As VZW and AT&T seem to be the two "big" mobile carrier providers, when iPhone features are equivalent on each network will data plans may change/lower in order to entice more customers? Such as, AT&T cannot tout having simultaneous voice+data once the iPhone 5 LTE is on VZW, leaving only the QoS and LTE network's being the deciding factor. Meaning, increased competition = better consumer market for data plans. As it stands, there are differences bet iPhone 4S carriers as the device isn't utilizing the full benefits of the VZW network, leaving AT&T with some "pro's" in their checklist.
question:
The iPhone 5 (that was due out last Autumn) will have LTE (don't ask me how I know, but it will have a LTE/GSM/CDMA Broadcom chip - battery issues with that chip delayed the 5 release until this Autumn).
As LTE will allow simultaneous voice+data, this will bring that feature to VZW in the states. As VZW and AT&T seem to be the two "big" mobile carrier providers, when iPhone features are equivalent on each network will data plans may change/lower in order to entice more customers? Such as, AT&T cannot tout having simultaneous voice+data once the iPhone 5 LTE is on VZW, leaving only the QoS and LTE network's being the deciding factor. Meaning, increased competition = better consumer market for data plans. As it stands, there are differences bet iPhone 4S carriers as the device isn't utilizing the full benefits of the VZW network, leaving AT&T with some "pro's" in their checklist.
1. No one is getting a fee hike. Existing users are grandfathered and can keep their current plan (presumably as long as they stay with ATT). New users come to ATT with their own free will with full knowledge of the cost of data. They can go elsewhere or choose to not buy a smartphone.
2. Pricing is expensive, yes, but no one here knows ATT's costs to build out a LTE network. ATT needs to make a decent profit or their is no incentive to invest in new technology. That is how business works.
3. Average consumer -- not those here but non-Geeks not obsessed with technology, and if you are on this board you are obsessed with technology -- uses well under 1GB of data so the true cost of data is relatively unchanged from when the iPhone was first launched.
2. Pricing is expensive, yes, but no one here knows ATT's costs to build out a LTE network. ATT needs to make a decent profit or their is no incentive to invest in new technology. That is how business works.
3. Average consumer -- not those here but non-Geeks not obsessed with technology, and if you are on this board you are obsessed with technology -- uses well under 1GB of data so the true cost of data is relatively unchanged from when the iPhone was first launched.
Pretty much. The service providers have continually removed the cheapest rate plans and made more data cheaper per mb, but forcing customers to buy more than they actually use.
Gone first were the 200 text plans, and then the 1,000 text plans. When I'm aware of my data usage, I typically use less than 100 mb - usually around 65mb. $15 made sense to me. However - I do a lot of field work and I typically need 3G data exclusively every other month for weeks on end. So I bounce between the 2gb and 250mb plans as needed. With the rate hike, I can't do that anymore. So I'm switching to the 2gb plan and sticking with it.
AT&T is just making the minimum bill higher because too many customers aren't using the higher rate plans. So they offer more and raise the rates across the board.
What a scam.
You're missing the point. But I'm very glad to hear that you're cool with arbitrary price increases.
You can have my unlimited data plan when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands.
my sentiments exactly...if AT&T really wants to win they should institute "roll over data" or at least allow you to roll over 50% of what you don't use...it's cheaper to buy a 4G hot spot from Clear and not use AT&T's data at all
Thats my point, why are GBs expensive? In turn, why are MBs so expensive?
We all know that they are not that expensive in a hardware sense (or my 256 SSD would cost me $2560.00 to buy at these price points), so why is it this much in a "over the air" world?
Correct. Neither do you. In fact it could cost them much less what they're charging customers for and hence seeing a tidy increase in profit. What's a decent profit? I'd wager that Randall Stephenson's idea of a decent or fair profit is much much different than yours or mine.
AT&T is, and has been, slowly forcing their "average" customer to purchase more data than they need by increasing the lowest rate plan (and complaining about people using too much data at the same time). Their happy medium is having 20 million customers paying for 3 gbs of data and using 350 mb. Instead of charging a fair rate for data usage.
That's how business works. Lock the customer up and extract as much money from them as possible. They care not one bit about the customer other than as piggy bank.
If you're going to go to that level, I guess you have to also factor in that AT&T's only (more expensive) text plan also includes unlimited M2M calls (to any network), and that Verizon charges a "Verizon Wireless' Surcharges and Other Charges & Credits" fee monthly that AT&T doesn't.
Attachments
On average, I use 2-3 GB a month. It's all coming from streaming Sirius XM and Watch ESPN.
I haven't noticed any "throttle" in speed. As long as AT&T still gives me the unlimited data plan since I am grandfathered in, I will stay with them.
If they ever take that away from me, I'll switch to Verizon. I've been happy with AT&T so far and have no plans of leaving.
I haven't noticed any "throttle" in speed. As long as AT&T still gives me the unlimited data plan since I am grandfathered in, I will stay with them.
If they ever take that away from me, I'll switch to Verizon. I've been happy with AT&T so far and have no plans of leaving.
it would have been an awesome plan if it was $30 for 3gb w/ $5 an extra GB.
I would have been all smiles.
But this is still good for the semi-heavy users that usually go over 2gb (like my wife)
good thing I have the grandfathered unlimited!
I would have been all smiles.
But this is still good for the semi-heavy users that usually go over 2gb (like my wife)
good thing I have the grandfathered unlimited!
I can't believe all the anger over this.
Apple annouces record profits and people write up celebratory posts like are getting a check.
Yet, the same people expect AT&T and other carriers to keep upgrading their network, provding faster and better service....all for the same fees they've always paid.
All of the carriers are in a tough spot. Data consumption is spiraling. The networks are continually being expanded to accomodate it....it costs money.
Espeically annoying is 'I deserve $30 unlimited for life guy'. AT&T got strong armed by Apple to providing that as a requirement to have the iPhone back when it launched they were the exclusive carrier. And that's when people were pushing well under a gig on a network that didn't have 3G.
Instread of people being grateful AT&T doesn't force them on a new contract when they upgrade, they think it's a constituational right to download 50 gigs a month and think any sort of price hike is getting 'screwed'.
Do I like fee increases? Nope. But as someone who's had to pass on cost increases to my customers, I know that's what happens in the real world.
Apple annouces record profits and people write up celebratory posts like are getting a check.
Yet, the same people expect AT&T and other carriers to keep upgrading their network, provding faster and better service....all for the same fees they've always paid.
All of the carriers are in a tough spot. Data consumption is spiraling. The networks are continually being expanded to accomodate it....it costs money.
Espeically annoying is 'I deserve $30 unlimited for life guy'. AT&T got strong armed by Apple to providing that as a requirement to have the iPhone back when it launched they were the exclusive carrier. And that's when people were pushing well under a gig on a network that didn't have 3G.
Instread of people being grateful AT&T doesn't force them on a new contract when they upgrade, they think it's a constituational right to download 50 gigs a month and think any sort of price hike is getting 'screwed'.
Do I like fee increases? Nope. But as someone who's had to pass on cost increases to my customers, I know that's what happens in the real world.
The funniest thing is that AT&T shareholders are getting a check. The dividend yield is almost 6%.
If you're going to use AT&T as your wireless carrier, you might as well become a shareholder as well. At least you'll get a small rebate.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
oh it's good to see that they have a limited plan that offers the same as the "Unlimited" ( capped at 5 GB)plan but with hotspot and it costs more wonder if they will throttle that one 2.
oh it's good to see that they have a limited plan that offers the same as the "Unlimited" ( capped at 5 GB)plan but with hotspot and it costs more wonder if they will throttle that one 2.
I didn't mean to get too carried away here
My point was that I used to think AT&T was the clear choice for light users who wanted an iPhone with a reasonable monthly bill. I don't think that's the case any more.i know how subsidies work man. The cheapest iphone plan is now $80 plus tax, you consider that reasonable? Even if you brought your own iphone to AT&T you still pay the same amount as if you are getting a subsidized phone.
What a joke. I only use about 150mb a month but I have the 2GB plan 'just in case'. Wifi is everywhere so I don't need a 3GB plan for more money.
Let's see, $5/month times 30 million customers = $150 million a month in more revenue! Nice going AT&T
Let's see, $5/month times 30 million customers = $150 million a month in more revenue! Nice going AT&T
That's one of the major problems here in the US... no interchangeability, which I believe, results in reduced competition. If you want to switch services, you have to sell or trade-in your iphone and then buy another one. Your phone won't be unlocked for you to take wherever you choose. Our UK cousins have it good as they have several GSM providers and their providers (except Vodafone) are willing to unlock the phone the contract is up and for a small fee.
I do agree that wireless technology is expensive and a business does have to show a profit. Maybe we are the ones to blame for agreeing to pay for the service they provide....
My main beef with AT&T is that they won't unlock the phones after the contract is up or even unlock it for international use like Verizon.
Now, for those of us with unlimited, does this mean throttling starts at 3GB now?
Last edited:
But I thought AT&T people told me that if I went above the 2gb limit, I would be crippling their networks? I guess they fixed those issues? Now it is "ok" to use above 2gb?
Good grief, the idea that these 3gb/5gb limits are anything other than AT&T wanting low caps to get as much extra $$$ as possible is laughable
Data is rising, costs are lowering, competition is scarce....and we end up paying
Good grief, the idea that these 3gb/5gb limits are anything other than AT&T wanting low caps to get as much extra $$$ as possible is laughable
Data is rising, costs are lowering, competition is scarce....and we end up paying
The last time I asked AT&T and Verizon reps about using an iPhone on a pay as you go basis, they both laughed in my face. No kidding, one actually leaned forward to get closer to my face!
I doubt we will ever know. Wouldn't be surprised to see AT&T just flat out lie to us about throttling in general.
We have people here saying they got the Top 5% only using 2.5gb. I got the Top 5% using barely 3gb. AT&T is thus sending the Top 5% to most of the unlimited users whether or not they actually use that much data hoping to scare them off to an actual data plan.
bc they want to sign you up on a long term contract with you forking over $100 every month. The key is to not ask them about it....just do it!