ATT will throttle you for 2gb of Data or more

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Thank you for choosing ATT, welcome to our high speed network where you can, Watch one TV show per month on netflix, or answer up to ten emails per month before we make the system so slow its unusable.

The good news is that after we throttle you, and it takes a day to download one youtube video you can still talk on the phone while it downloads. :apple:
 
GraphicsGeek said:
I seriously doubt that throttling has to do with location. I work in a rural town in central VA (where 99% of my 3G is used, wifi at home) that just got 3G last year. The town is so small that if you blink while driving through it, you'll miss it all. I'm pretty certain theres only 1 AT&T tower that covers the whole town, maybe 2. I got the throttling threat for barely going over 2GB.

I'm betting the reason we are getting these notices (as mentioned before) is that us unlimited users are now a small minority of the users ie. the top 5% data hogs. Think of it like this: if there are a million iPhone users and 500,000 have the unlimited plans, that means 95% of those don't go over 2GB. And I bet a lot of unlimited users still don't go over 2GB. With the 2GB plan, it's limited how much data is being used thus making our usage of 3-5+GB appear more extreme and in the "top 5%.". AT&T was smart (by smart I mean deceitful) in putting in their contract that they can limit the top 5% of users knowing that window of data will get smaller as the unlimited users get smaller.
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Think you are on the right track. Basically, the distribution of unlimited users are squeezed at the top as more people are signing up for 2gb. Making it inevitable for unlimited users crossing the 2gb barrier to get throttled.

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• How come ATT is inconsistent with the notifications? People are reporting varying thresholds for throttle, while others are not effected by it. (At least be consistent across the board. Not sharing that info, is like having a contract where only one party knows the terms, and we are blindly agreeing)

• Why are they throttling at such reduced speed? (peak 0.15mbps is not just "reduced", it's near termination)

• Why was I throttled even before my notification? 3 days before I even received the top 5% notification.

There are still so many unanswered questions, I wish ATT would at least notify us on how they intend to throttle, so that we can make a decision whether to modify or keep our plans like any plans they offer. I think the gripe for most people is the inconsistency.
 
I received an email last night about my high data usage and how they wouldn't throttle for this billing cycle, but they would the next if I remained in the top 5%. I just checked online, and my billing cycle, which ended yesterday and last month was my HIGHEST in the last 6 months at a whopping 1.3 GB. I do average about .9-1.2 GB and that is mostly from Netflix while working out.
SHouldn't there be a set # to determine when you might get throttled? From what I've looked at this morning, there are WAY more people using a lot more than I do, this is messed up!
 
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)

How long does it take for the throttling to kick in from when you recieved the infamous message?
 
kitng said:
I want to ask if everyone that has been throttled at around 2GB are they using a 4s?
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I have an iphone 4

manymoons said:
I received an email last night about my high data usage and how they wouldn't throttle for this billing cycle, but they would the next if I remained in the top 5%. I just checked online, and my billing cycle, which ended yesterday and last month was my HIGHEST in the last 6 months at a whopping 1.3 GB. I do average about .9-1.2 GB and that is mostly from Netflix while working out.
SHouldn't there be a set # to determine when you might get throttled? From what I've looked at this morning, there are WAY more people using a lot more than I do, this is messed up!
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It's really inconsistent, no set figure on the throttle

AznTakumi said:
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)

How long does it take for the throttling to kick in from when you recieved the infamous message?
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Pretty much same day
 
All you perry mason wanna be lawyers really need to shut up.

A contract is literally meaningless in court if the judge determines that the terms of the contract were unreasonable or unjustified, etc.

All that is required is for someone to actually take it to trial, and I guarantee you AT&T will sing a different tune.

The problem isn't excessive data usage, the problem is AT&T's lack of investing in new infrastructure at a rate to keep up with its customers needs.
 
I think they may just say 2gb so people get scared of that number and use less, I don't think they'll legitimately slow you down until you're at like 10 gigs
 
I'm also grandfathered into unlimited data on AT&T, and recently upgraded from a 3GS to a 4S back in October when the 4S launched.

During the 2.5 years I had my 3GS, I consistently used between 1.5-3 GB of data each month. Now, since I've been on my 4S, I think I used 4.6GB in Oct and 3.5 GB in Nov. My minutes start over in precisely one week from now and I'm currently at 3.5GB for the month. I've yet to receive a single notice, and my data speeds are generally anywhere from 3-5 MB/sec in my area.

Food for thought: since the 4S customers aren't technically on the same data plan as 3G/3GS/4 customers, would that mean a difference in the population to constitute the "top 5%"? What I'm asking is, would iPhone 4S customers who have their "unlimited data for iPhone 4S" plans be on a different playing field than iPhone 3G/3GS/4 customers who have the "unlimited data for iPhone" plan?

As a 4S customer, when I get my AT&T bill, it has my data plan itemized as "data unlimited on 4G for iPhone 4S". So, keeping that in mind, would 4S owners potentially be exempt from the throttling since they are on "4G" according to AT&T?

Discuss.
 
TWD98j said:
As a 4S customer, when I get my AT&T bill, it has my data plan itemized as "data unlimited on 4G for iPhone 4S". So, keeping that in mind, would 4S owners potentially be exempt from the throttling since they are on "4G" according to AT&T?

Discuss.
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Nope. More than likely, AT&T bases their usage numbers by combining ALL data customers and throttles the top 5% accordingly.

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pellets007 said:
Does this qualify for a contract nullification based on a change of contract terms?
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It might have... back when they changed the terms in July/ August.
 
I just received the dreaded text this morning and I am at 1642.9mb. With the next billing cycle to start on the 22nd. :mad:
 
Got my text and email yesterday....

I received the text and email as soon as i hit 2GB's. I called ATT and they told me I hit the top 5% in my area which we all know is BS. I was told if i received 2 more warnings I would be throttled until billing cycle ends...I'm guessing this will most likely turn into some sort of legal matter. Its not right to be allowed to have unlimited data usage( to a certain degree of course) and get flagged at 2 GB....That's like leasing a car and paying the extra money for 15,000 miles a year and get told later on you can only use 4,000 miles....Can't wait to see how this plays out....
 
Doc750 said:
All you perry mason wanna be lawyers really need to shut up.

A contract is literally meaningless in court if the judge determines that the terms of the contract were unreasonable or unjustified, etc.

All that is required is for someone to actually take it to trial, and I guarantee you AT&T will sing a different tune.

The problem isn't excessive data usage, the problem is AT&T's lack of investing in new infrastructure at a rate to keep up with its customers needs.
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So right. Too bad it would take a class action lawsuit millions of dollars paid to lawyers and at the end att will neither accept nor deny any blame. Every user will get $10 credited to their account and Att will be banned by court from throttling their users.
 
cyks said:
...and, if you have a non-smartphone, with their still available unlimited data plan, you'll also continue to receive data without the fear of being throttled.

For the most part, it's much more about money and how much they think they can get out of people than their network structure and how much it can handle.
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Precisely; this is about GREED plain and simple!!!
 
pearltt said:
That's like leasing a car and paying the extra money for 15,000 miles a year and get told later on you can only use 4,000 miles....Can't wait to see how this plays out....
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Bad comparison. I do agree that this is b.s. getting a notice after 2GB though. I didn't get one yet. we'll see.
 
I use between 5gb-8gb a month and have unlimited on AT&T. I recently got the text telling me I was in the "Top 5%"

Granted, others within 2gb-4gb are getting it as well so I have to laugh at the thought of AT&T actually sending those text messages to what is really the "Top 5%". Then again, AT&T can all but do whatever they want (except merge with TMobile) so why not just lie and claim so many are in the Top 5%?

About 2 months ago, I accepted a job offer with a place that offered me a new phone and line for free if I wanted it. I declined and kept my plan with AT&T.

Since I got the text message claiming I was in the Top 5%, I have decided to move to Verizon and can get the 64gb iPhone for free. I will stick with the 10gb plan and be happy. I am paying a ridiculous amount less due to my business plan that my company gets. I also have no problem dealing with a cap since I know the cap exists and don't get the feeling that the company I am dealing with is pushing me rather forcefully off my current plan. At some point in the near future, unlimited users will be completely pushed off so prepare yourselves.

The differences between Verizon and AT&T are probably small but the text messages were the last straw for me. Combine the text messages with laughable local coverage and I will spend my money with Verizon.
 
(These are my thoughts on this subject from another forum I frequent).

The amount of CAPITULATION is RIDICULOUS in this and similar threads; especially on the part of so-called power users.

No one has addressed my comment about the carriers double dipping!? Wonder why!?

Honestly we all know there is no answer, carriers simply want unlimited users OFF those plans/their network.

Making it all the more easier... YOU Mr. Excuse for a BILLION dollar company man (somewhere the bud light guy is singing your praises). Instead of holding the carriers accountable with unfair practices like throttling, what does Mr. EFADC Man do!? Politely explain to the world why he's soooo cautious and mindful when using his UNLIMITED data plan. Really!?

I tell you what, let's introduce legislation that limits the amount of time you can use your car even though you pay or have paid for unlimited usage off such said vehicle.

Weekend get aways!? Sure, if you have someone to come get you at the half way point cause your time has run out. Better yet, your time has been reduced and you can only use 20 minutes of every hour. After that, the vehicle is remotely killed and you have to wait until the next hour to proceed.

Hey you still have unlimited usage of the car, it'll just take a LOT longer to get where your going. Worse still, your told by the Goverment that this legislation is being introduced because roads are overcrowded, 2% of drivers drive drunk, thus it's a protection for you and they'll still let you drive an unlimited amount but only 20 minutes out every hour.

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Now, you've paid/pay for your car already BUT if you want TRUE unlimited time with your vehicle all you have to do is pay what you pay for your car PLUS an additional amount charged in increments of 20 minutes. This will allow you to have unlimited usage 60 minutes out of every hour.

So now that theres a satisfactory amount of money being spent, it's ok to disregard the overcrowded roadways and drunk drivers. Too; waive to the passerby's who were too cheap to pay for TRUE unlimited as their engines are killed 40 out of every 60 minutes.

Don't worry though, the tiny, small, defenseless government has plenty of supporters for TRUE unlimited. In fact it's quite en vogue to support those that don't need help and ignore the little guy who has already paid the price of admission.

What do you guys think!? Should we propose this GREAT legislation and what do you think would be the result!?

Get the **** outta here!!! Sheesh, some people!!!
 
Wide opeN said:
No one has addressed my comment about the carriers double dipping!? Wonder why!?
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Because there is no actual answer. The major phone companies know that they can do just about whatever they want, whenever they want, and however they want when it comes to consumers.

They can cry about "abusers on the networks" then put a low cap number and somehow claim that this cap will "help" the networks but never actually explain how.....or why their initial overages were and still are absurd.

No company wants to be forced into actual explanations which is why we always see the same press releases with the same phrases.....why is AT&T/Verizon raising prices? "To better the customer experience"....why are they putting a low cap? "To better the customer experience"....
 
DiamondMac said:
I use between 5gb-8gb a month and have unlimited on AT&T. I recently got the text telling me I was in the "Top 5%"

Granted, others within 2gb-4gb are getting it as well so I have to laugh at the thought of AT&T actually sending those text messages to what is really the "Top 5%". Then again, AT&T can all but do whatever they want (except merge with TMobile) so why not just lie and claim so many are in the Top 5%?
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They state it is based on their various markets. A market is basically a given area where they have towers placed. For example, Los Angeles is a market. Chicago is a market. I am in Ames, IA. That is its own market. usage statistics in Ames are going to be vastly different than these other markets. Top 5% is an easy way to explain things off. What it really has to do with is network congestion. If you live in an area with congested networks you will probably see yourself throttles sooner rather than later.
 
lordofthereef said:
They state it is based on their various markets. A market is basically a given area where they have towers placed. For example, Los Angeles is a market. Chicago is a market. I am in Ames, IA. That is its own market. usage statistics in Ames are going to be vastly different than these other markets. Top 5% is an easy way to explain things off. What it really has to do with is network congestion. If you live in an area with congested networks you will probably see yourself throttles sooner rather than later.
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Understood.

But considering a friend of mine using 2.3GB (I saw it with my own eyes) got the text message as did some others online (as in, people around 2gb)....why in the hell is AT&T even sending these people messages?

If someone using 2.3GB is in the local top 5%, is it really a person that AT&T should worry about warning?

The stupidity in that logic (saying it is AT&T's, not yours) is astounding
 
DiamondMac said:
Understood.

But considering a friend of mine using 2.3GB (I saw it with my own eyes) got the text message as did some others online (as in, people around 2gb)....why in the hell is AT&T even sending these people messages?

If someone using 2.3GB is in the local top 5%, is it really a person that AT&T should worry about warning?

The stupidity in that logic (saying it is AT&T's, not yours) is astounding
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I couldn't tell you for certain. I see you are in New Orleans. For all I know that market (along with some of the markets I personally listed) is actually multiple markets. Do either of you travel at all? Maybe cross over into busier parts of the city/state?

My point is, there really isn't a reason that I can think of for ATT to like about when they are going to throttle people. They stand to gain the most by just throttling everyone around 2GB, but they obviously do not. This is why markets seem to make the most sense.

It could also be the fact that different people are using data at different times. Using the majority of your data during peak hours may also send off another flag for the system to potentially throttle you.

It may be as simple as an unsophisticated warning system. I help people grandfather unlimited using the iPhone 2G method daily. When I check to see if the data plan is properly there, I sometimes see data usage on the unlimited plan that I jsut added seconds ago. My record is 320mb of data out of unlimited. Keep in mind the unlimited plan was added no more than 60 seconds before. It's clear, at least in that case, that there is something wrong with how the info is recorded and/or reported.
 
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