AT&T Starts Throttling Unlimited Data Users after 2GB of Monthly Usage

[n8236]

The outburst of anger to unlimited users is understandable because 2GBs or even 5GBs is not a lot for what is considered "unlimited data."

However, I think we're missing a point in all of this. AT&T's top 5% of data users is a dynamically "moving average." If the other 95% of data users' usage is reduced over time and the top 5%'s usage either remains the same or increases, effectively, those people who were on the brink of becoming the 5% will definitely get the throttling...That's the beauty of AT&T's trickery of this 5% throttling.

 

[funnyent]

You know it's bad when you argue over which carrier has the better "Unlimited" service!

I got the warning text text 1 day before my billing cycle was up. 2.1GB

Now that they have a 3GB plan for the $30 a month I'm paying for unlimited, I'd expect that the throttling would start at 3GB!

-Atlanta GA

 

[00Diablo]

I live in the SF Bay Area and also received the message after going over 2 GB.

I've had the same unlimited data plan on my trusty old warhorse iPhone3G since July of 2008, and have never gone much over 2GB or even approached 3G once during this time. And in fact, I've felt a little ripped-off by continuing to pay the $30 when I could easily switch to the $25 plan, but didn't want to lose the future option of higher data usage under my grandfathered data plan.

Now that AT&T is offering a 3G plan for $30, I'm sure it is reasonable from a legal perspective to expect at least 3G of un-throttled data usage on the unlimited data plan. Otherwise, AT&T has proven that they do not care for their long-term customers and cynically has taken advantage and manipulated said customers with their grandfathered "unlimited" data plan.

 

[Tapdawg]

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)

What I'm confused about is how the heck I've gone from ~800mb per month on average on my 3gS to well over 7GB per month on my 4s (incoming only, outgoing has stayed consistent). I use nothing that I didn't use on my old phone, do not stream movies (with the exception of 1-3 short YouTube clips per month), music or download anything besides the occasional small document from my email. I browse the web and check email no more frequently than i did before. I spend >50% of my time in a location where on a good day I have 1 bar, often 'no service.' When I'm at home I'm on wifi.
My usage stats back up these numbers but I can't figure out how it's happening!
What the heck is sucking all this data?! Is there anyway of checking specifically what is using it?

Download an app called Onavo... it should help you.

 

[Natural Science]

I just got off the phone with ATT after getting the same message for going just over 2 gigs with an unlimited plan... The data usage rep agreed with me that it made no sense to have paid the same amount last month for a 3 gig plan as opposed to an unlimited plan and not only never received the email, but also could've used an additional gig of data in the process. The whole thing is obviously an attempt to get everyone locked in onto a tiered data plan. It's hard to complain about network strain while trying to sell me data plan for the same price with more than what my usage history approaches.

 

[KristenM]

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)

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)

What I'm confused about is how the heck I've gone from ~800mb per month on average on my 3gS to well over 7GB per month on my 4s (incoming only, outgoing has stayed consistent). I use nothing that I didn't use on my old phone, do not stream movies (with the exception of 1-3 short YouTube clips per month), music or download anything besides the occasional small document from my email. I browse the web and check email no more frequently than i did before. I spend >50% of my time in a location where on a good day I have 1 bar, often 'no service.' When I'm at home I'm on wifi.
My usage stats back up these numbers but I can't figure out how it's happening!
What the heck is sucking all this data?! Is there anyway of checking specifically what is using it?

Download an app called Onavo... it should help you.

Awesome thanks for the tip!

 

[Doc Rock]

just got my warning text last week around 4GB in Houston Texas, anyone using more than 2GB be warned they're coming for your data

I don't understand how you could get a note last week as you hit 4GB when I got the same note at the same time and same place for 2GB. I really do not think that the TOP 5% thing is real. I think its just a limit set for a region and they just started actually sending out the notices and throttling in our region.

So I think that Houston (whatever "region" that happens to be) is now set to throttle at 2GB. A move entirely intended to push us into the new tiered plans which came out coincidentally at the same timeframe...

 

[AlkFoo]

iOS 5 no longer has 3G on/off switch and I can't recall seeing and E (edge) on my new phone. Along with some of the other reasonings mentioned for possible battery life issues and DATA issues... I wonder if there is something to that. I know with my iPhone 3G I was always aware of the 3G and would turn it off (more battery life issues) while still getting an Edge signal.

Obviously AT&T is trying to phase out "unlimited" (have been for awhile), but could this (no 3G on/off switch in settings) also be adding to DATA usage issues?

Looking forward to iOS 5.1 (rumored to bring back 3G on/off switch).

 

[dukebound85]

iOS 5 no longer has 3G on/off switch and I can't recall seeing and E (edge) on my new phone. Along with some of the other reasonings mentioned for possible battery life issues and DATA issues... I wonder if there is something to that. I know with my iPhone 3G I was always aware of the 3G and would turn it off (more battery life issues) while still getting an Edge signal.

Obviously AT&T is trying to phase out "unlimited" (have been for awhile), but could this (no 3G on/off switch in settings) also be adding to DATA usage issues?

Looking forward to iOS 5.1 (rumored to bring back 3G on/off switch).

the switch is there for my ip4 on the latest ios

 

[Bhowell]

I found this petition online... might as well sign, who knows.. maybe it will go somewhere?

http://www.change.org/petitions/att-data-throttle#

Signed it. Thanks.

I understand your frustration with the situation, but I don't see how "leaving the faucet open" is going to help things. You're certainly not hurting AT&T by streaming data at the slower speeds. If anything, you're just harming other customers nearby.

If you really want to hurt AT&T, take your business elsewhere.

I disagree, we will always be the minority if they limit it to the top 5% of users. The only way to get enough people demanding an improved network is to affect the general AT&T customer base. This could be potentially be orchestrated by all unlimited users turning off WiFi. I use 2GB a month and I'm on Wifi at home and work but I obviously use alot of data in other places too.

 

[AlkFoo]

the switch is there for my ip4 on the latest ios

iOS 5.0.1 iPhone 4S (what I have)... no 3G on/off switch. Cellular data Switch yes, but that only means data comes via wifi, not Edge (E).

 

[kiwi_nz]

I'm sending this to as many media agencies as I can..

AT&T are abusing their loyal customers that have been with them through the time they have needed to build out their network. Sorry it's long but I wanted to provide you with plenty of information and perspective.

I have been with AT&T since the merger with cingular, I have had every iPhone and each year I upgrade one of the phones on my account to the latest version as they are on alternating 2 yearly contracts. I have been faithful to AT&T as they were the only one with the iPhone and after purchasing one in 2007 and using it for a week I decided this was a handy device and would keep it. When I purchased my iPhones AT&T told me I had to have a $30 data plan associated with the account, so I went along with it when I decided to keep the phone.

Over the last couple of years AT&T has had plenty of press in regards to their network quality and the fact that their download speeds were being hammered by the emergence of smart phones and specifically the iPhone. Personally I totally understood the issues having worked in the telecoms industry for many years and was willing to listen to the promises and advertising campaigns by the CEO on the TV, the emails and envelope stuffers assuring me that they were working on fixing the issues, in short I was willing to be loyal to AT&T on the basis of their promises to make things better.

At the end of January I received an email from AT&T telling me that I was in the top 5% of data users in the area for the month and that in the future if I was to fall in to this category my data usage will be throttled, essentially turning it in to a trickle apposed to the 3G data speeds advertised. Having never been what I would call a huge data user I quickly looked at my usage online and it was only 2GB for the month. So a little surprised I called AT&T and asking if this message was a mistake, they said no and that in the future I will get a text message warning me when I get close to the 5% if it happens in the future.

When I pointed out to the AT&T representative that they currently sell a 3GB DataPro Personal plan for the same $30 as I pay for Unlimited Data or the 5GB DataPro Personal for $50 that includes the normally $10 fee for tethering support and how could it considered anything but unfair by throttling my data usage just because of my ZIP code and the amount of data that had been downloaded by people in the area. She did say she understood and that it had been discussed in the internal AT&T training but there was nothing she could do. I also pointed out that going forward I have no way of determining when I would hit the top 5% of data users each month as next month the top could be 1GB or even 500MB and that there is no way for me to determine at what point the 5% would be gauged.

There are a number of things that is frustrating about this new throttling based on being in the top 5% of data users for the month. Every iPhone since the original iPhone of 2007 has had 3G capabilities and AT&T have actively advertised the fact that the iPhone is 3G and can download data fast, they have the fastest network, if you would like one of these fast phones come in and sign up to a two year contract that includes the additional $30 cost of the data plan. At no point did AT&T say or advertise they would throttle customers if they were in the top 5% of data users, though what they did point out was the fair usage policy within the contract. Having worked in the telecoms industry I totally understand the term 'fair usage', however the term fair seems to be based on what AT&T is now determining is fair based on your ZIP code, if you look at the link below you will see that fair can be anything from 2GB to 7GB depending on where you live.

Now if you look at AT&T's new data plans you will see that they are willing to sell a 3GB plan for the same price as the Unlimited plan they had me and others like me purchase when their network was suffering badly due to them not planning or being prepared for the iPhones they were willing to sell to consumers. The term 'unlimited' means to not limited or restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent, boundless, infinite or vast. While AT&T may state that users will still get unlimited data and that it will just be throttled when they are in the top 5% of users, this to me is only standing my half of the product that was sold. The iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S was sold as 3G phones that will download data fast on their superior network, at no point did AT&T state they would throttle your data on your unlimited plan to the point that an Unlimited plan be worth less than their same costing middle tier plan.

Ever since the iPhone was launched back 2007 AT&T has happily collected $30 per phone for what was advertised as an unlimited data plan and since the release of the iPhone 3G in 2008 advertised the faster download speeds this will bring. Now we fast forward to 2012 and AT&T has decided that the fair usage policy of the unlimited plan is now less than the same pricing middle tier plan they are currently selling. In reality now AT&T has upgraded its network using the ongoing monthly fees of customers who has stuck with them through their network issues poor download speeds, essentially saying "thanks very much for your support and money, now we are going to force you in to something you may not want".

Personally I think it is time for AT&T to be brought in to line and interest of their so called 'fair use policy'. If AT&T were to only sell the 5GB plan they currently offer they would support it and anyone on that plan will not be throttled. The iPhone is and has always been marketed and sold since the iPhone 3G as a 3G device with fast download speeds, (AT&T is currently marketing 'Only AT&T's network lets your iPhone 4S download 3x faster) and the term Unlimited Data surly means an amount greater than the 5GB of their DataPro plan. While I'm not saying even 10GB has to be the limit as I fully understand 'fair use' should be something understood on both sides of the contract, but throttling users based on their ZIP code is surly not fair.

AT&T have sold me a product and data plan, asked me to stay with them and promised to use my money to upgrade their network, now they are taking us for a ride.

 

[Beelzbub]

Data Unlimited for iPhone 4S

If you login to your account and click on Manage my Features, click on the link for your unlimited data plan, it says:

"Data Unlimited for iPhone 4S

Data Unlimited for iPhone 4S includes unlimited data in the U.S. Access rich HTML email and desktop-level web browsing, as well as Visual Voicemail to listen to voicemail messages in any order you choose. Includes unlimited Wi-Fi usage on the AT&T national Wi-Fi network.

Please note: An eligible data plan for iPhone is required. If AT&T determines that you are using an iPhone on your account without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee. This data plan covers data usage in the United States and does not cover international data usage and charges. For information on international plans visit att.com/international."

You lose your ability to Access rich HTML email and desktop-level web browsing when you’re throttled. False advertising in my opinion and yes eventually there will be a law suit over this.

 

[binaryspazz]

glad i'm not the only one this is happening too... 2gb in the top 5% my ass! Has anyone filed a complaint? Does this go to FCC?

 

[idunn]

Not subject to whim

un·lim·it·ed   [uhn-lim-i-tid]
adjective

1. not limited; unrestricted; unconfined: unlimited trade.
2. boundless; infinite; vast: the unlimited skies.
3. without any qualification or exception; unconditional. *



Perhaps AT&Ts lawyers should use a different adjective to describe their 'unlimited' cell phone contract.

A 'contract,' btw, is something commonly considered enforceable by law.


* Courtesy of Dictionary.com

 

[AppVue]

There is only one word that needs to be said for this topic. Unacceptable!

 

[aarchitect]

now being trottled

I got the message from AT&T with the threat of throttling last month for the first time (it said nothing about 5% in the "region", btw). It turned out I used 2616.8 MB of data total for the month. This month I received the same message when I approached 1900 MB of data on Feb 1st with throttling kicking in, coincidentally, today after only 2080 MB of data. It kills me that I still have another week on my billing cycle with sub-Edge speeds.

I've never approached 2GB before in the 2.5 years with a 3GS. I'm not tethering or watching HD video over 3G, only streaming music. I think the biggest data hog may be the photo stream. A bunch of 8 MP pics and video really adds up. I don't buy it that Siri alone is responsible. I use that less now than two months ago.

There is really no reason why the "unlimited" plan should be throttled at any less than 3 GB for the same $30/month as the tiered plan. The cost to the network should be the same regardless. I really doubt I could even get close to 3 GB if I wanted to now. This isn't right.

 

[corncakes]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A405)

I too am throttled after 2Gs and I'm in Brooklyn.

 

[TrickyBAM]

Data Unlimited for iPhone 4S

Bay Area>San Mateo County>, being throttled at 2.5 gigs 11 days into my billing cycle.
I work on an Ambulance!!! Sometimes the nights get lonely, and I snuggle up with some Netflix and YouTube. Where's the data congestion at 4AM!?

 

[Makos62]

So, with a few carriers going to true unlimited, one of which carries the iphone, AT&T has decided to make the unlimited not unlimited. Throttling of any sort cuts back on the data you can use at any moment, and thus is a violation of the standardized meaning of the word "unlimited".

 

[voonyx]

un·lim·it·ed   [uhn-lim-i-tid]
adjective

1. not limited; unrestricted; unconfined: unlimited trade.
2. boundless; infinite; vast: the unlimited skies.
3. without any qualification or exception; unconditional. *



Perhaps AT&Ts lawyers should use a different adjective to describe their 'unlimited' cell phone contract.

A 'contract,' btw, is something commonly considered enforceable by law.


* Courtesy of Dictionary.com

Perhaps your lawyers should ask you to read your contract before signing it. You were promised unlimited data. And you have boundless, unrestrictred, unconfined data.

But by all means, try to enforce the contract. The results should be nothing short of hilarious.

 

[upnorth85]

US market is highly concentrated

As an iPhone wannabe, but currently on a T-mobile $30 "unlimited" data (5 GB at 4G speeds, later throttled) using a Samsung Galaxy S2, I think the reason AT&T can get away with this is because the US market is essentially run by only 2 large players (AT&T and Verizon) and all providers using different wireless protocols/frequencies. If Apple allows T-mobile's 30 million customers to get iPhones that would substantially create GSM competition for AT&T and thereby make AT&T a more ethical market competitor. Current iPhones do not support AWS and AT&T iPhones can only run on Edge/2G speeds. In spite of this, 1 million T-mobile customers use iPhones purchased in the secondary market. I hope Apple will release the iPhone 5 on all carriers including US cellular, T-mobile and the rest.

 

[mcrain]

This sounds like the message is describing the top 5% of iPhone data users who are grandfathered in to the data plan, not all users as a group. Either that, or they are using the entire group to reduce the average so that they can target the unlimited users. I got the same message, and I'm not a data hog by any stretch of the imagination.

It sounds like they are going to do whatever they can to shrink the number of unlimited users. It's a profit motive, but also, perhaps a peek into what may be coming with the iPhone 5.

 

[mac8867]

EVERYONE with the unlimited data plan should go to the FCC website and file a false advertising complain. I just did so...

"I have an "unlimited" data plan for my cell phone. AT&T publicly announces that they "throttle" the bandwidth of this service if a data usage threshold is hit. This is unfair practice with the express intent to get customer like me to release our unlimited data plans."

 

[IPPlanMan]

FTC/FCC Complaint Procedure

Here's what can be done and how to do it:

FTC:
http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

For "unlimited" plan customers, AT&T has provided no proof of the accuracy of its internal bandwidth meters, and thus there is no consumer-transparent basis under which this "top 5%" throttling practice is determined and implemented. The FTC needs to investigate this deceptive business practice.

Additionally: Considering that AT&T now provides tiered data offerings, there is another reason to ensure that these meters are accurate. Who's checking this?

All the more reason for the FTC to make AT&T come clean on this.

FCC:
http://www.fcc.gov/complaints

Select "Deceptive or unlawful advertising or marketing by a communications company (does NOT include Telemarketing)"

You will fill out "Form 2000A - Deceptive or Unlawful Advertising and Promotion Complaint"

You can submit this form online or on paper.

Very simple to do and it'll get noticed.