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AT&T Replaces iPad Unlimited Data Plan with 2GB Capped Plan for New Customers

I was saving to buy a 16 GB 3G ipad, but as of today, I'm now going for the wi-fi only version. I don't care that ATT dropped the "unlimited" plan. It's the pricing of the current high-end plan that is just not right.

Let's go with the 5 GB semi-hidden cap for the "unlimited" limited plan: That was $30/month.

New cap is 2 GB. That is 40% of the "unlimited" 5 GB limit. So, the price should be $12/month for 2 GB. I'd even go with $15. But to drop the cap 60% and the price only 17% (rounded) is not an acceptable offer to me.

I have no problems with tiers, but there probably should be more options than 2 and those options need to be appropriately priced.
 
thecartoonguy said:
I would guess that this could also change at the drop of a hat also. Considering it's been about two months, and they pull this, I would not be surprised at all if they "update" the plans again soon.
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That's the first thing that came to mind... this is a mitigation strategy. They want all users on a capped plan. If they switched everyone wholesale, it'd be major news and anger a lot of customers.

Instead, they make it apply to all new plans. They even offer some leniency allowing people to keep their current rates/features onto new contracts so they look like a 'good guy.' After some period of time, they force everyone to switch and use the excuse "only a small minority of users will be affected by this new change." They execute this plan over and over with great success. Look at how Cingular's AT&T acquisition was handled (the so-called "Blue" plans) if you don't believe me.
 
spydr said:
I don't know about you guys – but going through my statements over the last three years of iPhones+ATT, it is clear that I have never exceeded 2 GB. My wife has never exceeded 300MB.

Considering that we have TWO iPhones on the family plan, cutting our plans to 2GB and 200MB monthly would save a lovely $240 a year. What's not to love? :D:D

I am sorry for you, if you have been constantly using more than 2GB/month and feel screwed.

But I do think they should have offered unlimited data for the tethering option by charging additional $20, i.e. $45/month.
Click to expand...

Why all the iPhone posts in the iPad thread?

The iPad uses more data than the iPhone apparently - people that never went over 250 on the iPhone have done so easily on the iPad.

But, this isn't the iPhone thread!
 
hierobryan said:
The iPad is locked to AT&T in the US. We're not as free a country as you think.
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The iPad is only locked to a carrier in the US by virtue of the fact that AT&T is the only US carrier that has the 3g frequency that the ipad operates on. You can take your US ipad to another country and use any carrier that has the required frequency.
 
grandfathered in? Unfortunately in business, it seems that grandfathered means only for a few months or until your current contract expires.

Also I can see AT&T saying, "your grandfathered in on your ipad only until you no longer auto-renew/rollover the next month. As soon as you cancel coverage - poof your grandfathering is out the window". Also I bet many people are getting more than ticked as finding a 3g ipad locally is almost non-existant. MacMall will not allow you to order one online (you have to call them), because of availability. This means anyone who ordered one, and it arrives after the 7th could be screwed.

I am glad I had to settle for the wifi model now. God knows best. Looks like when my iphone contracts expire, I may go back to a regular phone (since it is required to have a data plan with the iphone), and get a mii-fi. My new ipad case I ordered has a phone pocket and room for a mi-fi. then I will shop around for the best plan.

Since I am mostly home, most my usage is wifi; but since my wife is mostly out - I need to check on her data usage. At least with a mi-fi she will be able to tap my wi-fi when we are out together.
 
Blorzoga said:
Where did you find that information? It sounded like if you start getting unlimited on the ipad, you're grandfathered in and can continue on a month to month basis getting the unlimited.
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Why does this keep coming up? You are grandfathered in if you maintain a continuous subscription. A big attraction to the iPad 3G option was "use it when you need it, cancel when you don't." To maintain the grandfathered deal means maintaining a continuous subscription, killing the "cancel when you don't" (big) benefit.

I suspect that this was either plotted to help sell tons of iPads (with VOIP over 3G, it is the BEST available deal for fully mobile phone usage), or this was a temporary deal to see if Apple would give AT&T another extension. Apple presumably said no, so the temporary deal is off (every man- er company- for themselves).
 
Cecco said:
Ahemm, did I misunderstand something?

The iPad is not locked to a carrier, isn't it?

So why bashing the iPad, because one carrier changes his plans? Can't you simply switch to another carrier?

Here in Europe you can get cheap plans from smaller carriers. Well, their coverage is weaker than that of the main players, but that's simply the reason for the lower price. You have to decide, what is more important for you, good overall coverage or cheap price.

And if really no carrier offers you a comparable plan to what you had at AT&T, then you won't get it with another 3G device either.

So I understand, that you might quit with AT&T, but why getting rid of your iPad ???
Click to expand...

Nobody has a better deal than the AT&T though
 
Blorzoga said:
Where did you find that information? It sounded like if you start getting unlimited on the ipad, you're grandfathered in and can continue on a month to month basis getting the unlimited.
Click to expand...

Try http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ATampT-caps-phone-data-usage-apf-499602515.html?x=0&.v=7

"The new $25-per-month plan will replace the current $30 plan with unlimited usage that is available for the iPad, the tablet computer Apple Inc. released just a few months ago, though iPad owners can keep the old plan as long as they keep paying $30 per month, AT&T said."
 
Data point: in one month I've moved 3GB with what I'd consider moderate browsing and only half a Netflix movie (which is at a much lower data rate than via wifi).

Can't blame AT&T for the switch as I'm sure iP* devices are slamming bandwidth hard. There's only so much room in the 3G pipe - and we're about to get a lot more usage with the influx of more iPad users, new tethering users, new iPhone users, etc.

A more optimistic theory: the next iPhone may actually be a 4G device, and the new 3G pricing may be designed to persuade people to switch to the network having far greater bandwidth.
 
Gotta Love AT and T customer Service

From an Online Chat with AT and T customer service:

Thank you for your patience! An AT&T sales representative will be with you shortly.

You are now chatting with *****, an AT&T sales representative.

AT and T: Welcome to AT&T online Sales support. How may I assist you with placing your order today?

ME: I currently have an Iphone 3GS. I am planning on purchasing 1 Iphone for my wife (on Verizon currently), giving my current Iphone 3GS to my daughter, and buying the new iphone for myself.

AT and T: I would be glad to assist you!

ME: However, I am concerned that you are changing the data rate plans. I would like to have all three iphones on unlimited data for $30/month, will that be an option for me since I am an existing customer, especially since I won't be able to purchase the new Iphone until after June 7th?

AT AND T: Let me see if we have any information on that at this time okay?

ME: ok

AT AND T.: I apologize but at this time we have no information on the changes to the data plan.

ME: : It is on Wall Street Journal, Endgadget, Macrumors etc etc.

AT and T: I understand but we do have it on the site at this time so we have no official information to tell you. I do apologize.

ME: thx, I guess.
 
I'm not sure if I like this or not, but one positive is that it will lower the minimum monthly fee for iphone customers. Currently it's $70/mo ($40 for voice, $30 for data). Now it will be $55/mo. That's pretty substantial and a good way to get new iphone switchers in the door.

I'm suspect of the "98% of current AT&T customers use less than 2GB per month."

1. 2% is still a lot of people, now they will be screwed.
2. I have a feeling this number would've been a lot higher, if AT&T would've allowed tethering on the iphone.

Adding tethering, AND eliminating the option to have unlimited data at the same time, seems asinine to me.
 
Everybody should email Steve about this. Yes I know its AT&T that changed the plans but he has some leverage over them still. Yes my iPad is grandfathered in but I can't cancel now like I had planned to do, because I'll loose my 5 GB cap (Unlimited) and in the first month I used 3.5 GB. Also I had planned on getting around 20 more in the next few months for my company to use in the field, but I'm going to be hard pressed to make sure we will be able to use them under the set limits.


I'm glad that there is a low end data plan now for employees that don't use much more then email on their phones, but for iPads this blows.
 
yyoo said:
Unfortunately, you can count on other major cellular providers following suit in terms of tiered plans and the disappearance of the unlimited option.

Verizon already charges their MiFi customers $60/mo. for 5GB, with no unlimited option.
Click to expand...

Verizon Palm Pre Plus...$30/mo unlimited data, free 5GB tethering
 
I called AT&T and spoke with a gentleman named Traci Griffeth who is a "Front End Supervisor". Besides being very polite, he told me the only way to skirt this is by maintaining the unlimited plan. Any lapse in service results in the loss of the unlimited plan.

He told me he would forward my feedback to the "higher ups" in hopes that enough people call in and complain. I also left feedback for Apple expressing my disgust for allowing AT&T to pull a bait and switch on all the customers.

Hopefully enough people will call and complain and maybe something will be done.
 
macconservative said:
If you are an existing customer you will be allowed to keep the $29.99 Unlimited plan for the iPad.
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Of course they have to do that to save themselves from lawsuits, FTC, etc. but it speaks poorly for Lord Jobs and his failure in tethering himself to AT&T. Is Lord Jobs not concerned about future sales of his iPad 3G and the iPhone? Only the most cultish of Apple fanboy can spin this ripoff as something good.
 
Blorzoga said:
Where did you find that information? It sounded like if you start getting unlimited on the ipad, you're grandfathered in and can continue on a month to month basis getting the unlimited.
Click to expand...

But as soon as you skip a month on the current unlimited plan you have effectively "opted" out and will be on the same 2GB $25/month plan with no option, the following month, for reverting back to the $30/month unlimited plan? That's the question.

More importantly, you better be very careful about how you surf the web on your iPhone now. No opening up email attachments, esp. if it contains a video or lots of photos. Be very, very careful of going to any photo sharing site like flickr or sites that stream video content. RSS feeders and newpaper sites that download and refresh content when you access the app for visit their sites are going to help burn through that limit pretty quick.

Wanna upload video or pictures to the internet? Better be very careful about that too. MMS? You'll probably want to limit what you send.

2GB/month = 67MB per day = about 33 pictures (at about 2MB/pict)

Watching one or two Youtube videos per day would burn through that daily "cap" in no time.

I think the message from ATT is very clear.

We won't spend more of our profits upgrading, improving or expanding network coverage than we have to, because we don't have to.

We think our customers are an inconvenience to our business.

We want you to use our network for what it was originally built for: making phone calls, not for using smart phones. It was never intended for that and we want to keep it that way. Surf the web and do your internety thingies on Comcast or Qwest.

We hate the iPhone, iPhone customers and Apple. Really, you guys need to get a life and stop using Twitter and Facebook. We'll trade you a non-touch screen "Cricket-like" phone or Treo or Blackberry for your stupid iPhones. Those guys never crashed our data network because those phones were crap...uhh, sophisticated business devices.

Finally, I think Erica over at TUAW did a test on an iPad with the $15/250MB data plan and burned through that in almost no time.
 
markbyrn said:
...but it speaks poorly for Lord Jobs and his failure in tethering himself to AT&T. Is Lord Jobs not concerned about future sales of his iPad 3G and the iPhone? Only the most cultish of Apple fanboy can spin this ripoff as something good.
Click to expand...

It's good in that it serves as a reality check for those so far wrapped up in the Apple/iPhone/iPad reality distortion field. Clearly not even Apple is above the fold (yet) when it comes to the limits of big telecom.
 
Stunning.

I purchased the 3G iPad with the assumption that there 29.99 plan would persist for longer than 39 days. In the end its their rules; but its our choice to use them as a company.
 
Sorry, Apple/AT&T, you just lost a iPad 3G customer. I have the WiFi iPad. Was thinking about buying a 3G today actually, driving home from work. 2GB cap? No thanks.

You give us this great piece of hardware and limit it's functionality? So when I host all my music/movies in the cloud, I am restricted to watching them at home, or finding a wi-fi hotspot? No thanks.
 
What a Deal Breaker!!!

My cousin in Canada got an iPad (64GB 3G) last night. I was going to get mine today, but after reading this, forget about it!

AT&T once more has proven it can't be trusted. I never like them, specially now. With them, there's always a catch to what they offer. Never straight business. So now it's either Unlimited (which is not unlimited, but 5GB) or tethering with 2GB. Who in the real world wouldn't go past 2GB/month???
And beware, if your iPhone or iPad starts acting up, it may connect to the 3G network more often than expected, and your data bill will be big enough to make you regret ever buying one. And once they bill you, AT&T will show no mercy at you, as there's no way you can prove to them it wasn't your fault.

What a pain!

If it wasn't for the iPhone, AT&T would already be struggling for business.

I'm staying with T-Mobile, and I'll be waiting for an iPad alternative, unless Apple offers the iPad through T-Mobile, or at least make a T-mobile 3G compatible version.

True, T-mobile may be slower, but their plans and billing are crystal-clear. I would even switch to Verizon, but never to Sprint, and after what they did today, forget about AT&T.


Too bad!!!
 
Email to Steve

I just dropped Steve an email... I suggest we all do... it's funny how I was thinking about seeing if Apple or Best Buy had any this morning. I'm glad I came home first.

=========================

AT&T drops unlimited iPad plan, I drop plan for iPad 3G

Just today I was planning on buying a 3G iPad for a trip to NYC. Didn't want to spend $$$ buying hotel internet. Now with a 2GB/month cap on iPad data plans, the 3G iPad is pretty much pointless. All the features require WiFi, so I'm keeping my WiFi iPad. No need to upgrade now. 2GB is what, half a movie download from iTunes??

I think this strict change means AT&T will be the sole carrier in the US for the time being.

This will hurt Apple's bottom line.

Bryan
 
Let's do an impromptu survey among Forum users that have iPhones:

Go to settings on your phone.

Select General.

Select Usage.

Scroll down and report the following information from Cellular Network Data:
Sent:
Received:
Also, note the current Period:

Here's my stats for the month:
Sent = 550MB
Received = 1.8GB
Current period: 3 days, 10 hours

I'm already over the limit. You can "Reset" the data just to be sure. I'm guessing that almost everyone on this forum will hit the 2GB limit in less than 2 weeks of normal use.
 
Coughs... why do you think AT&T gave us a no-contract iPad pricing plan. Because they KNEW they were going to do this.... and it's easier to change course when nobody is locked into a plan. They would have had to offer the unlimited for the life of the original contract. This is really sleazy. I hope Apple didn't know about this ahead of time. Way to get people to buy 3G iPads, then once you got them, pull the rug out from under them.

The BIGGEST bait and switch I've ever seen.
 
xlii said:
This is a BIG negative. 2GB these days is nothing. You can forget about downloading movies, chat, video conferencing, streaming TV. This will hurt iPad sales if it sticks.

Oh edit... you can forget about "everything will be in the cloud" and you will just stream it when needed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, all our nice content will be there for sure, UP in the CLOUDS, out of our reach.

Stupid AT&T, what are they feeding you??? Almost every new plan that comes out of you is crap, and you are dumping it on your customers.
 
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