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AT&T Won't Charge for FaceTime Over Cellular, Will Require New Mobile Share Plan
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People just complain and talk **** these days. They aint about banding together and protesting/fighting the power. Just because you have the money to pay these outragous fees and agree to these underhanded Terms and Conditions doesn't make it OK.
Just like how Apple, Samsung and Google Teamed up to buy Kodak instead of 1 person buying it for a Larger sum. we the people have the power to fight these overly fed, nasty, greedy Service Providers.
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Man, stop the madness. This is exacly what i'm talking about. How are unlimited data users slowing you and others down?
What part of Unlimited don't people understand? We paid for our Data and we can't use it? How about people stop making calls so we can use our data. Does that make sense? Thats the logic I see there.
Even a bigger laugh. A 60s flashback. Big talk on anonymous discussion forum. What a hoot.
In case this is useful for anyone out there, I did some comparisons based on my needs (3 iPhones). Note: I'm currently on the family plan and two of our iPhones are grandfathered with unlimited data. In the below list, I didn't break out all of the specific costs. The final amounts are the total sums based on 3 phones. If you have less/more than 3 smartphones, the scales could be tipped differently in terms of which carrier and specific plan makes the most sense.
1) AT&T - Existing family plan:
550 mins w/Rollover ($60, lines 1-2 incl, each add'l line $10)
Unlimited family messaging ($30)
=========
300MB each phone (no tethering): $160
3GB each phone (no tethering): $190
5GB each phone (with tethering): $250
Adding an iPad w/built-in cellular requires a separate plan for the iPad (e.g., $30 for 3GB)
With the above plans, you can mix/match the data amount per phone. So I could keep my unlimited data plan, and switch my wife's plan to a 5GB w/tethering plan, for example.
Because we don't use a ton of voice minutes, and only need 3 lines, I selected the cheapest voice minute plan.
Limitations: No support for tethering or FaceTime.
**************
2) AT&T's new shared data plans
Unlimited talk & text, tethering & FaceTime included
4GB = $190
6GB = $195
10GB = $210
* Can add iPad w/cellular for $10 more
Data overage charge: $15 for each add'l GB
**************
3) Verizon's shared data plan
Unlimited talk & text, tethering included
4GB = $190
6GB = $200
10GB = $220
* Can add iPad w/cellular for $10 more
Data overage charge: $15 for each add'l GB
Note: they no longer offer a non-shared-data family plan
**************
4) Sprint's Everything Data Family plan
1500 mins ($130, lines 1-2 included, each add'l line $20)
Unlimited data but no tethering: $150
* Note: considered to have the slowest data speeds
**************
5) T-Mobile
No, they don't have the iPhone (yet), but just in case they get it, I figured I'd take a look. Well, I either did something wrong, their website is screwed up, or they're doing some false advertising somewhere. This is what I *thought* I could get:
1000 mins (lines 1-2 incl, each add'l line $5)
2GB, no tether = $125
5GB w/tether = $155
10GB w/tether = $215
Instead, when I simulated buying 3 Android phones with the 5GB plan ($155), the final total rang out to $190.
**************
Based on the above, the current AT&T Family plan I'm on, supplemented with a separate 3GB iPad month-to-month plan, ends up at $220, which is the same price I'd pay with AT&T's new shared data plan w/10GB. My current plan gives me two unlimited data iPhones, one 3GB data iPhone, and one 3GB iPad, whereas the 10GB shared plan obviously limits my data at 10GB total, but that would *probably* be enough.
Verizon works out to be $10 more for the 10GB plan.
If I thought I could live within 6GB total, I could save $15 with the new plans. The new plans would also allow me to tether with my iPhone (which I could see wanting to do on very rare occasions, but can live without it) and use FaceTime (which could be nice, but I can live without it, plus I could always use Skype).
I'd be worried about whether 6GB would be enough, though, because I use a lot of data, and my daughter uses a healthy amount of data (and I suspect her usage will increase). And while my wife uses very little on her iPhone, I'd worry that she'd use a lot more with her iPad.
The great irony is this: The new shared plans *encourage* you to tether, connect iPads, use FaceTime, etc. All of those things are more apt to then cause you to go *over* your GB limit, and thus get hit with overage charges.
1) AT&T - Existing family plan:
550 mins w/Rollover ($60, lines 1-2 incl, each add'l line $10)
Unlimited family messaging ($30)
=========
300MB each phone (no tethering): $160
3GB each phone (no tethering): $190
5GB each phone (with tethering): $250
Adding an iPad w/built-in cellular requires a separate plan for the iPad (e.g., $30 for 3GB)
With the above plans, you can mix/match the data amount per phone. So I could keep my unlimited data plan, and switch my wife's plan to a 5GB w/tethering plan, for example.
Because we don't use a ton of voice minutes, and only need 3 lines, I selected the cheapest voice minute plan.
Limitations: No support for tethering or FaceTime.
**************
2) AT&T's new shared data plans
Unlimited talk & text, tethering & FaceTime included
4GB = $190
6GB = $195
10GB = $210
* Can add iPad w/cellular for $10 more
Data overage charge: $15 for each add'l GB
**************
3) Verizon's shared data plan
Unlimited talk & text, tethering included
4GB = $190
6GB = $200
10GB = $220
* Can add iPad w/cellular for $10 more
Data overage charge: $15 for each add'l GB
Note: they no longer offer a non-shared-data family plan
**************
4) Sprint's Everything Data Family plan
1500 mins ($130, lines 1-2 included, each add'l line $20)
Unlimited data but no tethering: $150
* Note: considered to have the slowest data speeds
**************
5) T-Mobile
No, they don't have the iPhone (yet), but just in case they get it, I figured I'd take a look. Well, I either did something wrong, their website is screwed up, or they're doing some false advertising somewhere. This is what I *thought* I could get:
1000 mins (lines 1-2 incl, each add'l line $5)
2GB, no tether = $125
5GB w/tether = $155
10GB w/tether = $215
Instead, when I simulated buying 3 Android phones with the 5GB plan ($155), the final total rang out to $190.
**************
Based on the above, the current AT&T Family plan I'm on, supplemented with a separate 3GB iPad month-to-month plan, ends up at $220, which is the same price I'd pay with AT&T's new shared data plan w/10GB. My current plan gives me two unlimited data iPhones, one 3GB data iPhone, and one 3GB iPad, whereas the 10GB shared plan obviously limits my data at 10GB total, but that would *probably* be enough.
Verizon works out to be $10 more for the 10GB plan.
If I thought I could live within 6GB total, I could save $15 with the new plans. The new plans would also allow me to tether with my iPhone (which I could see wanting to do on very rare occasions, but can live without it) and use FaceTime (which could be nice, but I can live without it, plus I could always use Skype).
I'd be worried about whether 6GB would be enough, though, because I use a lot of data, and my daughter uses a healthy amount of data (and I suspect her usage will increase). And while my wife uses very little on her iPhone, I'd worry that she'd use a lot more with her iPad.
The great irony is this: The new shared plans *encourage* you to tether, connect iPads, use FaceTime, etc. All of those things are more apt to then cause you to go *over* your GB limit, and thus get hit with overage charges.
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AT&T are some crooks and low lifes, i hope the FCC or someone steps in to stop the bullying from AT&T, this is ******** that Apple can make a feature for their products and AT&T gets to Charge you to use it. I have 5 iphones on a family share plan, I spend enough money with AT&T as it is, I deserve every feature on my iphone unlocked, hell its time to unlock my iphone4 ive had it atleast 2 yrs. They are so quick to take their money but when it comes to ur services they drag ass. **** u AT&T, from a real unstatisfied customer.
I guess im keeping Tango and Skype and whatever other Apps I can use freely of charge to Video chat
I guess im keeping Tango and Skype and whatever other Apps I can use freely of charge to Video chat
Yet another anonymous, big talk, expletive laced post.
Vote with your wallet instead of your piehole. Switch carriers.
It's amazing that I've had an iPhone since the beginning and this is the thing that will push me to jailbreak it. God what douchenozzles.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't ATT the only company that'll allow you to use your data AND voice at the same time? For example, use safari while on a call.... ???
Verizon LTE allows this as well but if you fall back on 3G then it won't work. Also, AT&T's 3G network is faster in many places. Costs and crappy business models aside, my opinion is AT&T offers the best experience if their coverage is good in your area.
Much of my family uses Verizon so I would switch if their 3G service was faster and offered simultaneous talk and data. Unfortunately that's not the case. Once LTE spread to the coverage of what 3G is now I'm jumping ship.
I think this is the biggest reason why I don't buy this story completely. I can never use FaceTime over 3G because I don't have a family? What the **** is that?
Everybody is talking about how plans with tons of phones might be saving money... what about us with only one phone? How is that suppose to work, I just pay double my current bill and suck it up?
I'm in almost the exact same situation, except we currently have two grandfathered unlimited data iPhones only (850 rollover, 1000 text family plan, all approx. $150/ mo.). We would probably only change if we couldn't upgrade to LTE / iPhone 5s without giving up the UL data. An added bonus would be that we could connect our wi-fi only iPad to the cellular network via tethering, but not a necessity (hence my wi-fi only choice).
But my question is, if tethering is free, isn't it a better deal to use tethered data off one of the iPhones than to pay to add the iPad (or a laptop) to the plan?
i.e. $90 (6GB) +$70 (2 phones @ $35/each) +$20 (laptop) = $180 ($170 for the iPad, since that's only $10... Not sure I'd have to pay this since, again, I'd only be able to tether my iPad).
OR $120 (10GB) +$60 (2 phones @ $30/each) also = $180... and then tether with the extra 4GB of data!
If tethering is free, then why would you pay to add the device?
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This move is absolutely stupid. A single user does not need one of their crappy shareable data accounts. I can't wait for my ATT contract to be up. Verizon, Sprint and maybe Tmobile if they get the iPhone. That is where my business will be going. ATT is seriously trying to get as much money out of its customers and screws all of us in the process. I seriously hope they don't try and make us upgrade plans when LTE comes to the iPhone like they did with the original iPhone to 3G upgrade.
Sorry about the rant guys but ATT executive don't seem to care to much about letting its customers use their allotted data how they see fit.
Sorry about the rant guys but ATT executive don't seem to care to much about letting its customers use their allotted data how they see fit.
Not only that, if you don't like the shared data plans, AT&T at least will let you still pick the old plans instead.
I know that Verizon has no hope of getting my business now cause the shared data plans are way overpriced for what we need (they are not good if you don't use voice that much but use data more and the shared plans are better for those that need a lot of minutes and text but don't need as much data or even need a decent amount of data but really do need a lot of minutes and text). Hell, I'm pretty sure Verizon was still more expensive even under their old plans (if you didn't need the big data packages AT&T was cheaper. While we use more than the tiny amounts the shared data plan would get us for more than what we pay now we don't need the high end data packages either).
I think people are being way over reactive about this. And, in the end I think a lot of people leaving cause of this are going to end up either paying more or having crappy Sprint service (They would be the last one I'd go to anyways after my experience with them). So I hope it's worth paying more because you were pissed you couldn't get a new feature without paying more (or sometimes less if the new plans would have been better for you anyways).
Even if ATT doesnt charge for Facetime and Verizon does, wont stop me from leaving ATT. This weekend was my last straw. I was in San Jose and ATT for the most part didnt work, I had 3-4 bars everywhere I went, but even TXT messages wouldnt go through. I had to use my Verizon LTE iPad to send txt's and browsing speeds were blazing fast! Screw ATT, tired of them making you think that you have signal when you dont.......remember when apple put out that update to increase the bars you are ACTUALLY getting? ATT must have paid them good.....
hmm, this does not sound good. I personally don't care about Facetime from the outset, but if they expand this logic to "new iphone, available only with our new plans" I might have to leave ATT - a funny thing to think about after being a customer 10+ yrs.
A better deal, yes, but also decreased convenience. If you have an iPad w/cellular, you could choose to tether and save $10/month, but you'll need to keep your iPhone charged up and nearby, and I suspect there will be some drop in throughput. On the plus side, though, if you have shaky coverage, you could perhaps put your iPhone on a windowsill where it gets better coverage, then use your iPad elsewhere in the room.
Plus, in my case, if I *was* to switch to these new plans, it's my wife who uses the iPad and, even though she also has an iPhone, something tells me that she'd run into some sort of issue where the tethering wasn't working quite right and she would get frustrated about it. On that note...
FWIW, I upgraded my wife this year from the iPad 2 (WiFi only) to the iPad 3 w/Verizon. She was constantly complaining about the inability to use her iPad at work, because she couldn't use their WiFi. I thought about switching her unlimited plan to the 5GB plan w/tethering at the time, but her AT&T coverage was also somewhat spotty in that building. So when the iPad 3 came out, I bought her one with Verizon cellular on their month-to-month plan. Well, that turned out to be an even bigger frustration. Turns out she can only pick up a weak 3G signal there. Apparently the area can get LTE coverage, but the month-to-month plans don't give you access to all of the LTE towers. So, we'd have to switch from the $20 1GB plan we have now to a monthly plan (which we can still cancel at any time). Added bummer is that the $20 1GB plan isn't offered on that plan, so we'd have to move up to the $30 2GB plan. Haven't decided what to do yet.
Sorry, I don't understand your comment at all. What does the national covage map have anything to do with coverage where I live (that does have LTE) or whether they can provision a device for unlimited LTE or not? There no relation there at all.
I activate new LTE phones for people who have unlimited data plans every day...
This definitely wasn't the case for me. I tried multiple devices, about 15 calls to tech support, a bunch of Trips into various stores, and it all came down to their tech people saying here was not LTE provision for unlimited data. Heard that from a handful of AT&T tech guys. They said there used to be a government plan with unlimited LTE, but its gone. Guess we'll find out in Sept. maybe they changed something... This was in June I had that experience. I dropped by AT&T air card because of it which has unlimited and went with Clear, which uses Sprint's WiMax, and it's great, totally love it. Fast speeds everywhere I've been, about 700kps - 1 MB/sec everywhere I've been.
With an iPhone and an iPad, I must admit that the new plans come out a better value than my current "unlimited" plans that I still hold on both devices when those two grandfathered plans are added together. And I won't have to deal with throttling. I think these plans are going to be essential with LTE on the phone as well as iPad. It is so easy to burn data on the LTE iPad when it has speeds like a wired home broadband connection. My new plan for the data I use would be about $25 less per month total. And FaceTime working is simply a bonus (and it works better unthrottled).
File a complaint with the FCC. The FCC forced AT&T to allow Skype to be able to video chat over cellular data. I already filed a complaint, and the more people that do, the more attention the issue should get.
http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
Sure he would, Apple NEEDS carriers, or it has nothing to put its phone on. The telecoms control the phone Market, not Apple. Carriers will walk away from the iPhone before they listen to Apple ( it looks like Verizon is already starting to )
I don't think people really understand how much money all that bandwidth that face-time uses costs.
Plus its really not alot of money. Now, I have Sprint, and use a GS3, so idc.
My work phone is an iPhone 4S on sprint. Here's a hint. Unless the new iPhone has 4G/LTE. Don't get Sprint.
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