AT&T Won't Charge for FaceTime Over Cellular, Will Require New Mobile Share Plan

[petsounds]

Whether we use Facetime or not is irrelevant. It's about AT&T picking and choosing what you can do with your data. First Facetime then what next?

This. What AT&T is doing is an end-run around Net Neutrality. Nobody should stand for this. This is a test case for AT&T to see how much they can monetize iOS's features. If no one complains about Facetime, we will probably see video or Siri usage itemized.

I've been with AT&T since the first iPhone, but unless AT&T backs off from this I will be switching. Probably to Sprint, who seem to have a more egalitarian view of content transmitting over their network. And I say this as someone who doesn't even use Facetime. It's the principle of the thing.

 

[faroZ06]

This. What AT&T is doing is an end-run around Net Neutrality. Nobody should stand for this. This is a test case for AT&T to see how much they can monetize iOS's features. If no one complains about Facetime, we will probably see video or Siri usage itemized.

I've been with AT&T since the first iPhone, but unless AT&T backs off from this I will be switching. Probably to Sprint, who seem to have a more egalitarian view of content transmitting over their network. And I say this as someone who doesn't even use Facetime. It's the principle of the thing.

Jailbreak
All data should be created equal. You guys are complaining about FaceTime and stuff, but the big ripoff here is SMS.

 

[vistadude]

I like this move. I'm tired of silly apple exclusive services (not features).

Skype is way better, cross platform and cross devices. I'd rather more people use skype.

 

[faroZ06]

I like this move. I'm tired of silly apple exclusive services (not features).

Skype is way better, cross platform and cross devices. I'd rather more people use skype.

Skype is trash on the PC. You'd be surprised how good AIM is. Google has nice video chat too, but it isn't cross-platform. Anything that works with iChat is nice.

Unlike most other VoIP services, Skype is a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system. It makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software. Skype's original proposed name (Sky Peer-to-Peer) reflects this fact.
Some network administrators have banned Skype on corporate, government, home, and education networks, citing reasons such as inappropriate usage of resources, excessive bandwidth usage, and security concerns.

I'm not wasting my resources on that. Nobody else gets to use my Mac Pro.

 

[Jcpa]

Shared data plan? But what if the only thing I have on my AT&T plan is the iPhone, nothing else?
Edit: Nevermind - "And unlike Verizon, AT&T will continue to offer its existing plans alongside the new Mobile Share plans, giving users several options to help fit their device and service needs."



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Don't expect your unlimited 3G plan to carry over to 4G LTE. At least Verizon has already said that its customers will not be able to do so, unless you buy the phone out of contract for full price (not subsidized). I don't see a reason why AT&T wouldn't do the same.
I'm in the same boat as you, still have my unlimited data plan on my 4S. I just don't think we'll be able to keep it once the new iPhone is announced.
Source of Verizon not allowing it: https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/1...athered-unlimited-data-plans-with-lte-switch/[/

AT&T will alow you to keep your unlimited plan and it will allow you to do an upgrade without forcing you to change your data package(including the Unlimited package). I already talked to them about it, and they told me that is the case.

 

[x-evil-x]

thanks ATT i just going to keep jailbreaking and using FaceTime over the network for free. FU

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Apple makes a fat profit, well above industry average, on almost everything they sell. Yet the moment AT&T makes any move regarding pricing, people get all emotional.

If you cannot afford the price to operate your smartphone, it's time to learn how to budget.

Perhaps a pre paid feature phone is more your style

Why a feature phone? There are plenty of nice smartphones available on prepaid plans, including the iPhone itself now.

 

[MattMJB0188]

Laugh all you want. It doesn't mean you're right.

That's the reality though. Having a smartphone is not cheap, and if you can't afford it, give it up.

 

[faroZ06]

Hmmm, what if we tunnel all of our data through SSH so the carriers can't pick out certain services? I used to do that at school (don't tell) because their firewall was retarded and blocked perfectly harmless stuff like tinyurl.com and sometimes the entire Internet during a glitch-out.

 

[mrjayviper]

wonderful to not live in the US in this instance.

 

[Chrisg2014]

Shared data plan? But what if the only thing I have on my AT&T plan is the iPhone, nothing else?
Edit: Nevermind - "And unlike Verizon, AT&T will continue to offer its existing plans alongside the new Mobile Share plans, giving users several options to help fit their device and service needs."



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Don't expect your unlimited 3G plan to carry over to 4G LTE. At least Verizon has already said that its customers will not be able to do so, unless you buy the phone out of contract for full price (not subsidized). I don't see a reason why AT&T wouldn't do the same.
I'm in the same boat as you, still have my unlimited data plan on my 4S. I just don't think we'll be able to keep it once the new iPhone is announced.
Source of Verizon not allowing it: https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/1...athered-unlimited-data-plans-with-lte-switch/

They don't do it for the new iPad which has 4G LTE but you never know they may do it for the iPhone, they can change their minds.

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Jokes on you, you won't be able to, nor I. They don't have the grandfathered plans provisioned on their LTE service. I know, I tried already. I had a grandfathered 3G data card from around 2002, and the wouldn't let me upgrade to LTE for this reasons. They said it was impossible for a grandfathered plan to be used with their LTE service, or any type. Their the guys even gave me a device to test, and sure enough, it just doesn't work. So, when the LTE iPhone comes out, I'm pretty confident there won't bra grandfathered unlimited plan anymore. Hello Sprint.

I also have a new iPad with 4G and an unlimited data plan and they let me keep mine when I upgraded from my original iPad. But I know they can change there minds I mean on my iPad it is a truly unlimited data plan. They don't throttle iPads like they do iPhones or other smartphones the rules are bit different.

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Honestly, they probably are more happy about keeping the customer. That's the only reason they still grandfather the unlimited plan. You do realize they don't have to grandfather the plan? once your contract is over they could very well just say it's not offered and you have to pick from a new one.

So, really I'd say they prefer keeping you rather than worrying about you having an unlimited plan or else they'd not let you grandfather it.

Which is why I get annoyed when I see people griping that they aren't allowing new features on the grandfathered unlimited. At least they're still allowing people who had it to stay on and trying to find other incentives to get people to leave. They could be like Verizon and just put their foot down instead and say no more, pick a new plan.

I actually don't care if I don't have the same features other people have. Sure I can't make hotspots or now facetime calls but I don't need/use them.

 

[Mundty]

Vote with your wallet people. Sprint is a great alternative.

 

[Penn Jennings]

I'm always amazed at the large numbers of people that just seem to whine about anything. This announcement changes nothing at all for anyone unless go to the new plan. If you go to the new plan you get a small benefit. If you stay on your old plan things are the same as they have been for years. The choice is yours. Really, what is there to whine about?

 

[KdParker]

Same here. Maybe. I may wait until the new iPhone comes out.



For the cost of adding one more iPhone to my plan, the "Shared Data" plan will allow me to add two iPhones, give me more data, enable Tethering, AND now it will give me FaceTime when iOS 6 comes out.

There are other scenarios where someone could be spending ~$300 with existing plans will see their bill drop to ~$200 with the new plans.

If the plan will cost YOU more money, then do not switch. But the new plans are definitely something that other people want.

I don't think these share plans came out of market research and ATT/Verizon are doing what their customers want.

Like all companies they are maximizing profit, and we really don't have a choice unless you want to move to sprints slower network.

 

[Penn Jennings]

This. What AT&T is doing is an end-run around Net Neutrality. Nobody should stand for this. This is a test case for AT&T to see how much they can monetize iOS's features. If no one complains about Facetime, we will probably see video or Siri usage itemized.

I've been with AT&T since the first iPhone, but unless AT&T backs off from this I will be switching. Probably to Sprint, who seem to have a more egalitarian view of content transmitting over their network. And I say this as someone who doesn't even use Facetime. It's the principle of the thing.

Do you think that that Sprint will be as fast as AT&T on the new iPhone? Does Sprint have the coverage area? If Sprint works for you great, go to Sprint. The one person that I 'knew' on Sprint found it slow.

I work for AT&T but this is just my personal opinion, if you think that you can find better value with Sprint, I honestly wish you the best of luck. Sprint speeds and coverage are inferior to AT&Ts but have at it.

Radio spectrum is not like fiber, it is a very finite resource. I personally wish it was cheaper but I understand why things are the way that they are. AT&T is a good value in the market place. If it were so bad as some people make it out to people everyone would have jumped ship already.

 

[tdar]

About the only bright spot to come out of this steaming pile of crap is that it looks like those of us still on unlimited plans will be able to keep them when the new phone comes out.

It's not September yet. Give them some time.


Says the Verizon CFO :"LTE is our anchor point for data share. So as you come through an upgrade cycle and you upgrade in the future, you will have to go onto a data share plan. And moving away from, if you will, the unlimited world and moving everyone into a tiered structure/data share type plan.

So when you think about our 3G base, a lot of our 3G base is unlimited. As they start migrating to 4G they will have to come off of unlimited and go into the data share plan. And that’s beneficial for us for many reason, obviously."


Don't think for a second that ATT is not on the same path.

 

[GoreVidal]

Their shared plans cost virtually the exact same, no?

Hence the sarcasm

 

[Hitch08]

Here is the heart of a post which I made in another thread. For my family of four, all with iPhones, I see some value in the new plans. Here's my numbers:

My current bill:
$60.00 (850 minutes - First Phone)
$30.00 (Unlimited Data for wife's 4S)
$30.00 (Unlimited Texting - Family Plan)
$10.00 (Second Phone)
$15.00 (200 MB's Data)
$10.00 (Third Phone)
$15.00 (200 MB's Data)
$10.00 (Fourth Phone)
$25.00 (2 GB's Data)
$30.00 (Unlimited Data for 1st gen iPad)
$235.00 (TOTAL)

Bill under Mobile Share:
$120 (10GB's Data)
$120 (Four Smart Phones @ $30/phone)
$240.00 (TOTAL)

Granted, it is $5 more/month. However, my wife's iPhone is the one with unlimited data on it and she never uses 200 MB's/month. We have 3 iPads in the family. Only one of the three has 3G. So, we could use all three iPads tethered to iPhones. Also, I don't use much data on the iPad that has unlimited data. I've been resistant to give up the unlimited data on the iPad, despite the fact that I don't need it. It would cost me (IIRC) $50 to add 5 GB's of tethering to my iPhone.

So for $5/month, I can spread 10GB's of data across 4 iPhones, 3 iPads and our MacBook's. Unless my math is off, it seems like a viable option.

Someone tell me (nicely ) if my math is off.

 

[TOOFY]

I am so disgusted by AT&T after traveling home to Istanbul, Turkey on vacation. 15 dollars gets those people unlimited everything on all 4 major telecom carriers that offer iPhone. The best is considered Vodafone there. They give hotspot off the iPhone and even give free 1.5GB of FREE data to prepaid SIMS. Which they only sell for 2 dollars. I hate AT&T more and more each day. I think that after this news I will pay my ETA on both lines to total about 500$ and just leave. I have had just about enough of this jerk offs. Nobody steps in to tell them this is wrong. I mean 20$ for unlimited text when I lay 30$ for unlimited data. Text is data! It uses almost no Freaken bandwidth to send. Sorry for the rant!

 

[ixodes]

Why a feature phone? There are plenty of nice smartphones available on prepaid plans, including the iPhone itself now.

Just a bit of sarcasm

 

[historyteacher]

Here is the heart of a post which I made in another thread. For my family of four, all with iPhones, I see some value in the new plans. Here's my numbers:

My current bill:
$60.00 (850 minutes - First Phone)
$30.00 (Unlimited Data for wife's 4S)
$30.00 (Unlimited Texting - Family Plan)
$10.00 (Second Phone)
$15.00 (200 MB's Data)
$10.00 (Third Phone)
$15.00 (200 MB's Data)
$10.00 (Fourth Phone)
$25.00 (2 GB's Data)
$30.00 (Unlimited Data for 1st gen iPad)
$235.00 (TOTAL)

Bill under Mobile Share:
$120 (10GB's Data)
$120 (Four Smart Phones @ $30/phone)
$240.00 (TOTAL)

Granted, it is $5 more/month. However, my wife's iPhone is the one with unlimited data on it and she never uses 200 MB's/month. We have 3 iPads in the family. Only one of the three has 3G. So, we could use all three iPads tethered to iPhones. Also, I don't use much data on the iPad that has unlimited data. I've been resistant to give up the unlimited data on the iPad, despite the fact that I don't need it. It would cost me (IIRC) $50 to add 5 GB's of tethering to my iPhone.

So for $5/month, I can spread 10GB's of data across 4 iPhones, 3 iPads and our MacBook's. Unless my math is off, it seems like a viable option.

Someone tell me (nicely ) if my math is off.

Not positive...but wouldn't you have to add in the connection fees for the iPads and MacBook?

Also...I'm with the gentleman that stressed the point that it is a shame that AT&T is beginning to (has been) dictate how we use our purchased data. If I go over...then charge me. End of story. Shouldnt matter if I am using FaceTime or YouTube or Siri.

I have the ip4 and unlimited. FaceTime On 3G isn't a huge deal to me, but the "what's next" is.

Just my $0.02.

 

[BJMRamage]

ATT Fails.

the new plans are not competitive and lucky for me I can leave ATT this month or next. I may switch to Verizon or Sprint. I was planning on keeping with ATT through next year and then upgrading phones and switching to Verizon to use some of their exclusive apps on the phone.

ATT new plans stink.

ATT blocking certain features stinks.

wait until they block iMessage or other apps.

 

[excommie]

Hope the jailbreak for iOS 6 is out soon. I won't upgrade until jailbreak is out.

 

[pipa]

This is AT&T way of seeing what the market thinks and they'll change when they realize people would leave over this.

 

[Glideslope]

ATT dominates the market, they have no incentive to provide good deals until they begin to waver. If you want a consumer friendly plan, switch to Sprint or Verizon. They are both playing catch up (Sprint more-so). If you're willing to ditch the iPhone or Jailbreak and throw out a few features T-mobile has even more impressive rates than even Sprint these days.

Verizon is no different than at&t. Their position will be the same as at&t when they decide. Sprint is great if you live in an area of good coverage. Many do not. Many must choose between at&t and Verizon.

It's not always easy to just say "***k you" to a carrier.