Not according to endgadget....
EDIT: Sorry - didn't read the TUAW story before replying.
You are right.
That strikes me as a rather bizarre way to do it.
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AT&T Replaces iPad Unlimited Data Plan with 2GB Capped Plan for New Customers
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Not according to endgadget....
EDIT: Sorry - didn't read the TUAW story before replying.
You are right.
That strikes me as a rather bizarre way to do it.
You save $5/month, but is it a value? Assuming an original 5 GB cap, by going to 2 GB they dropped what you get by 60%. They dropped the price by only 17%.
Tiers are great - IF they are priced appropriately. Based on the previous plan's price, this new 2 GB tier is a total ripoff. It should be $15/month for 2 GB. I'd be all over that like a cheap suit.
But at $25, I don't think it's worth it.Really ? Coming from Germany, with no speed limit on a good part of the highway system, I have to disagree. Of course, you can't have any crappy roads full of potholes. Enter AT$T's network.
Back in the days of metered internet access, unlimited access was "unrealistic" too. I remember $500 Compuserve dialup bills.
what you can do in a walled off section of straight tarmac and what is appropriate in the centre of a market town are different things.
Unlimited "all you can eat" internet is a disaster for the comms networks.
the infrastructurre just can't cope with it.
If they invest billions more - then there will be more capacity.
But that requires investment. A LOT of it.
I have heard wonders of the german road system - how much does it cost out of interest?
Always good to ear ow EU vs US approaches to taxes work out.
Partial change.
Someone in the iPad forum found this link:
http://store.apple.com/us_kiosk_255437/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad?mco=OTY2ODA0NQ
Which contains the new plan and THIS tidbit.
Still no update on the main page that this one links to however.
Someone in the iPad forum found this link:
http://store.apple.com/us_kiosk_255437/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad?mco=OTY2ODA0NQ
Which contains the new plan and THIS tidbit.
Still no update on the main page that this one links to however.
Attachments
It wasn't like that this afternoon. This new info really makes me think that Apple was as blindsided by this as everyone else. If not, they would have likely had new web pages ready to go as soon as AT&T made the announcement.
Edit: I wonder if there are any changes being made to the upcoming keynote.
will Steve be able to keep it under 2 GB a mo? Does he get unlimited internet?
I think we'll see how this plays out when top apple execs are hitting their band-with on their ipad
I personally only need the 3G to send e-mails with Pages or Keynote attachments, beyond the Internet+mail...
streaming music is nice but I haven't used it on my iPod Touch, and my iPad already has more than enough memory @ 16 GB.
I think we'll see how this plays out when top apple execs are hitting their band-with on their ipad
I personally only need the 3G to send e-mails with Pages or Keynote attachments, beyond the Internet+mail...
streaming music is nice but I haven't used it on my iPod Touch, and my iPad already has more than enough memory @ 16 GB.
I imagine a lot of them probably don't mind paying for the bandwidth they use.
It is not like you can't use more than 2 gigs. You can use as much bandwidth as you want.
1) It costs more to provide internet via wireless than it does fixed line. The whole point of wireless internet isn't to replace fixed line but to compliment it. Until they come up with some holy grail that addresses the cost due to limited bandwidth - having limits will be for the future an inevitability.
2) Welcome to how the 'rest of the world' operates; in New Zealand I pay NZ$29.95 for 500mb and I use my MF626 USB stick maybe for a couple of hours each day sending blog posts, twitter, checking email and so forth.
2) Welcome to how the 'rest of the world' operates; in New Zealand I pay NZ$29.95 for 500mb and I use my MF626 USB stick maybe for a couple of hours each day sending blog posts, twitter, checking email and so forth.
It was inevitable that data rates would eventually be fixed at a certain amount rather than being 'unlimited'. Capacity is limited over the airwaves, and mobile data usage has taken off big style, which has put major strain on the mobile networks. I think the days of 'unlimited' internet are coming to a close. It was a good ride, and we enjoyed it while we could, but it's time to face reality and accept that bandwidth has to be paid for. I think all AT&T now need to do is make a more comprehensive list of bandwidth options, with 5GB+ options at higher price points for those who want it.
Additionally, it seems like Apple misled people slightly by giving the impression that the switching on and off of the unlimited data plan would last forever, whereas it should have (and may actually have had) a disclaimer stating 'subject to change at anytime' etc. Alternatively, Apple should just make a version that works on other networks, and allow people to choose which network to go with themselves.
Additionally, it seems like Apple misled people slightly by giving the impression that the switching on and off of the unlimited data plan would last forever, whereas it should have (and may actually have had) a disclaimer stating 'subject to change at anytime' etc. Alternatively, Apple should just make a version that works on other networks, and allow people to choose which network to go with themselves.
Video voice calls?
My guess, is that tomorrow, the new iphone will be introduced and there will be additional pay options for it. Do you really think that Video Calls will be free? How much you wanna bet there is a special new FEATURE charge for that purpose.
Then, when the new iPad comes out next year that too, will have the camera on it and a special charge for the video calls. Just a thought
I am very angry that when I go on my vacation next year (there is no wifi there) I will have stress over whether watching a few netflix movies is going to push me over my 2 gig limit on my iPad 3g. Had I known that this unlimited option would be changed so quickly after purchase, I would have opted for a wifi only and spent alot less money! Also, telling me now if I have the unlimited plan I can keep it as long as I do not drop it is well, false advertising!
Come on Apple, this device is a total multimedia device surely you knew about this BEFORE you touted an unlimited data plan?
My guess, is that tomorrow, the new iphone will be introduced and there will be additional pay options for it. Do you really think that Video Calls will be free? How much you wanna bet there is a special new FEATURE charge for that purpose.
Then, when the new iPad comes out next year that too, will have the camera on it and a special charge for the video calls. Just a thought
I am very angry that when I go on my vacation next year (there is no wifi there) I will have stress over whether watching a few netflix movies is going to push me over my 2 gig limit on my iPad 3g. Had I known that this unlimited option would be changed so quickly after purchase, I would have opted for a wifi only and spent alot less money! Also, telling me now if I have the unlimited plan I can keep it as long as I do not drop it is well, false advertising!
Come on Apple, this device is a total multimedia device surely you knew about this BEFORE you touted an unlimited data plan?
I am very angry that when I go on my vacation next year (there is no wifi there) I will have stress over whether watching a few netflix movies is going to push me over my 2 gig limit on my iPad 3g. Had I known that this unlimited option would be changed so quickly after purchase, I would have opted for a wifi only and spent alot less money! Also, telling me now if I have the unlimited plan I can keep it as long as I do not drop it is well, false advertising!
Come on Apple, this device is a total multimedia device surely you knew about this BEFORE you touted an unlimited data plan?
According to your profile you have an ipad correct? If you do then you don't have to worry about the new data packages because you have unlimited already. It's grandfathered over so therefore you get to keep it.
So why stress over something that doesn't effect you
I was just mad, now I'm really angry with Apple/AT&T over this switcheroo... since an Apple moderator deleted this post to the Apple forums saying it contained "non-constructive rants or complaints". I guess they don't want to hear what their (until now?) loyal customers think?
Trying to sign up for 3G to try it out (e.g., see how bad Edge is) and get grandfathered while things work themselves out, I got a red message "The zip code you entered is not in an AT&T service area. Please check back soon...."
Here in Montana, we are in an Alltel-being-bought-by-ATT coverage area. On the AT&T coverage map, it shows Edge coverage by partners. Nothing in the Apple advertisements or the AT&T iPad page talk about 'partner' coverage (especially partners that AT&T is/has bought) not being 'coverage areas' for the iPad data plan.
Turns out, I can enter any old address in an actual AT&T service area as the service address and get the activation to go through, but that's kind of beside the point. None of this hassle was even hinted at by Apple or AT&T.
Besides, like many others complaining about AT&T's elimination of the unlimited data plan - I intended to only activate it when I was traveling and located IN an AT&T 3G coverage area. So, I cannot activate using my actual service address ... and if I do not activate now, then I cannot get the "no contract" unlimited service which is was a strong selling point for 100's of thousands of us who purchased the 3G model.
That even today, the Apple and AT&T web sites still make the same claims of 'no contract' and availability of the 'unlimited' package without any fine print just grates me more. Total dishonesty beginning with Steve Jobs' original presentation of this "ground breaking" "deal" with AT&T that would let you enable unlimited 3G only in the months when you needed it. Yeah, groundbreaking for a month or two... and not even then if you live in Montana (and other 'partner' coverage areas) where you cannot even activate.
Trying to sign up for 3G to try it out (e.g., see how bad Edge is) and get grandfathered while things work themselves out, I got a red message "The zip code you entered is not in an AT&T service area. Please check back soon...."
Here in Montana, we are in an Alltel-being-bought-by-ATT coverage area. On the AT&T coverage map, it shows Edge coverage by partners. Nothing in the Apple advertisements or the AT&T iPad page talk about 'partner' coverage (especially partners that AT&T is/has bought) not being 'coverage areas' for the iPad data plan.
Turns out, I can enter any old address in an actual AT&T service area as the service address and get the activation to go through, but that's kind of beside the point. None of this hassle was even hinted at by Apple or AT&T.
Besides, like many others complaining about AT&T's elimination of the unlimited data plan - I intended to only activate it when I was traveling and located IN an AT&T 3G coverage area. So, I cannot activate using my actual service address ... and if I do not activate now, then I cannot get the "no contract" unlimited service which is was a strong selling point for 100's of thousands of us who purchased the 3G model.
That even today, the Apple and AT&T web sites still make the same claims of 'no contract' and availability of the 'unlimited' package without any fine print just grates me more. Total dishonesty beginning with Steve Jobs' original presentation of this "ground breaking" "deal" with AT&T that would let you enable unlimited 3G only in the months when you needed it. Yeah, groundbreaking for a month or two... and not even then if you live in Montana (and other 'partner' coverage areas) where you cannot even activate.
Attachments
According to your profile you have an ipad correct? If you do then you don't have to worry about the new data packages because you have unlimited already. It's grandfathered over so therefore you get to keep it.
So why stress over something that doesn't effect you
None of us are grandfathered unless we activate the unlimited 3G plan by midnight tonight AFAIK. Just owning an iPad does not let us activate it with that plan next month or later. By activating it now, to force the grandfathering, one must maintain the $30/month service indefinitely to keep that plan. As soon as you lapse and start up again (the big selling point from Steve Jobs), you are on the 2GB plan. You don't get to activate, deactivate, then activate as your needs require as was excitedly touted by Steve.
If they did this 12 months after introduction, or whatever, with all of the appropriate fine print in the ads and web pages (NONE of which is there, even as I write this - I saved PDFs of those pages), it would be one thing. Doing it less than 2 months after product shipment? Pick your word.
There are far too many things that are not clear about the new plans and eligibility. What about those that only ORDER an iPad by midnight tonight? According to Apple they are entitled to the unlimited plan, but surely they cannot ACTIVATE by midnight tonight. It is all about as clear as mud right now.
It's odd that I actually feel good about being on Rogers. I've been tethering for a while now (legally) and my 6GB per month for $30 bucks is good enough for me..
by "welcome to how the rest of the world operates" do you mean how you guys just get scammed?
I was reading how in Aussie some of the telecoms have the right to change the rates per month any time they want.. regardless if you're in a contract...
I feel sorry for you guys getting shafted...
Never realised what a hose job US customers get.
AT&T - 3GS 16gb - "$149.00"
AT&T Wireless Account - 2-year contract required.
Activation Fee $36.00 + 450 minutes$39.99/mo + 2GB$25.00/mo + 200 messages$5.00/mo
Plan Total:$69.99/mo
149 + 36 + (24 x 69.99)
= $1864.76 (£1295.44)
============================
As a contrast in the uk:
O2: 3GS 16gb “£89.00”
02 – 2 year contract, £35/mo, 600 mins, Unlimited texts, Unlimited web (500mb)
£89 + (24x£35)
= £929
=========
And there are tarrifs at £25 too.
Best bet is "pay and go". Buy the phone outright for £400 ($575) and just pay for calls. If you top up £10 a month - you get free web too.
AT&T - 3GS 16gb - "$149.00"
AT&T Wireless Account - 2-year contract required.
Activation Fee $36.00 + 450 minutes$39.99/mo + 2GB$25.00/mo + 200 messages$5.00/mo
Plan Total:$69.99/mo
149 + 36 + (24 x 69.99)
= $1864.76 (£1295.44)
============================
As a contrast in the uk:
O2: 3GS 16gb “£89.00”
02 – 2 year contract, £35/mo, 600 mins, Unlimited texts, Unlimited web (500mb)
£89 + (24x£35)
= £929
=========
And there are tarrifs at £25 too.
Best bet is "pay and go". Buy the phone outright for £400 ($575) and just pay for calls. If you top up £10 a month - you get free web too.
You started the unlimited internet vs. no speed limit thing, and now you tell me it's not a valid comparison ? I live in the US now, and while the taxes are lower, I'm not overly impressed with what I'm getting for my money, just like I'm not overly impressed with what I'm getting from AT$T for $250 / month for a 3-line family plan.
So what if companies need to invest to provide services ? That's what they need to do to stay in business. I really don't care what it costs, either. They spend millions of dollars on their "AT$T coverage map" commercial, but I can't get a freaking signal in my office in downtown San Jose, and not at the hotel I'm staying, either. They heavily advertised unlimited internet, and now just because they overpromised and underdelivered with their crappy network, I should be content ? No f'in way.
Good for you that it's not an issue for you. For me it's enough of an issue to not want to be locked in for another 2 years for the sake of a new phone.
3 months from now AT$T will start killing grandfathered unlimited accounts under their "over 5GB" clause. Wait and see.