Checking AT&T iPhone Data Usage History

[Small White Car]

I think they are lying about this.

Everything I've seen posted on Macrumors this morning leads me to believe it's true.

Just based on random posts it seems like 80% - 90% of Macrumors posters are under 2 GB and we are certainly MUCH higher data users than the general public. If WE'RE at 80% then 98% for everyone else is very believable.

 

[Iphtashu Fitz]

People are really flipping out for no reason ... 98% of iPhone users use below 2Gb ... that 2% is almost guaranteed to be those 'illegally' tethering ... thus basically 100% of iPhone users need no more than 2Gb of data ...

You might want to do a little bit of research before making unfounded claims. I jailbroke my phone to support tethering since I need remote access pretty much 24/7 and my data usage isn't even close to 1Gb/month. But in reading through this and other recent threads I've seen plenty of people complain that their use of Apple-approved apps is sucking up their bandwidth. People are using their iPhones as internet radios while driving in their car, streaming movies while waiting for their kids sporting event to finish, etc. Don't go equating data usage to 'illegal' activity just because it suits your desired argument.

 

[jameskatt]

What is the overage charge if the data limit is exceeded?

As far as I can tell, both AT&T and Verizon charge $0.05 per MB if the data limit is exceeded (3GB for AT&T, 5 GB for Verizon).

 

[topher2889]

Let me understand this.

ATT reduced the allowed data by 60% while dropping the price 15%.

Am I supposed to be happy with this?

It was technically "unlimited" before so it was much higher than a 60% drop. I am not happy with this at all

 

[saxamoophone]

Tethering is such a rip off! If you pay for 2GBs of data, you should be able to use that 2GB ANYWAY you want. What's that $20 fee for if it's no longer unlimited?

 

[dgdosen]

Thanks, I didn't know about the charts. That's helpful.

As I thought...I've never gone over 900 MB for a month. This 2 GB plan is looking more and more like a good deal.

Dude, that's if and only if you continue to use the phone as you do now. What happens when innovation shows up at your door, and you use more data?

Your thinking is short-sighted - as is AT&Ts

 

[carrako]

Just checked my usage.... My highest is only 190mb. My majority of data usage is now coming from my iPad. So this new plan is okay and actually fine with my own personal usage. However, the issue I have now is the 2GB cap on iPads now. I was just about to replace my wifi iPad with the 3G but NOT anymore. 2GB is nothing. Definitely downloaded a HD tv show the other day that was 2GB.

My new concern though is for the iPhone HD/4G video chat data usage. How much video can you send/receive under a 2GB cap? That will be the question for me.

 

[jameskatt]

Let me understand this.

ATT reduced the allowed data by 60% while dropping the price 15%.

Am I supposed to be happy with this?

AT&T is simply matching Verizon's rates for 98% of people:


FOR INDIVIDUAL PLANS IN THE UNITED STATES:

VERIZON:

Unlimited Talk = $70 a month
Unlimited Text = $20 a month

25 MB Data = $10 a month <--- this is a joke data plan since most will be forced to go for 5 GB plan.
5 GB Data = $30 a month

Tethering = $30 a month

Data over 5 GB = $0.05 per MB

-----

AT&T:

Unlimited Talk = $70 a month
Unlimited Text = $20 a month

200 MB Data = $15 a month <--- 68 % of users
2 GB Data = $25 a month <--- 98 % of users user less than 2 GB
3 GB Data = $35 a month

Tethering = $20 a month <--- less than Verizon

Data over 3 GB = $0.05 per MB ??? or is this $10 per 1 GB until you reach 5 GB, then you pay $0.05 per MB?

-----


For 98 % of users who use < 2 GB a month, AT&T is $5 less a month than Verizon. This saves $60 a year. With tethering, AT&T is $15 a month less than Verizon for 98 % of users, saving $180 a year.

For users who use up to 3 GB a month, AT&T is $5 more than Verizon. This costs $60 more a year.

For the less than 2% of users who use more than 3 GB a month, AT&T is much more expensive than Verizon.

 

[autrefois]

Thanks MacRumors for explaining how to access the data usage charts. I figured it out, but this should be helpful to a lot of people like me who had never looked before today.

While I think AT&T should still have an unlimited option for new customers (just like me and others current users who will be "grandfathered" in), I think they are doing a good job of communicating what the changes are, and it sounds like they will keep customers informed through several means when their usage is approaching the limit. Hopefully they make the link to the charts more prominent, but the text messages and emails should help many customers avoid going over.

I was surprised at how little data I use. My wife and I combined used 1.3 GB in our biggest month, and that was a few months ago. We use them what I would consider heavily, so for us the 2 GB should largely cover us. Now if video chat comes to the iPhone and I get the new iPhone (I'm hesitating between that and an iPad), that may change...But since current customers upgrading to the new iPhone can still keep the $30/month unlimited, for now at least, this shouldn't be a problem.

So for my situation, not much should change. I think it's good AT&T is offering cheaper options, but they should also offer an unlimited option for iPhone and iPad. And they are communicating this in advance of the presumed launch of the next iPhone, which is decent of them for a change.

 

[diamond.g]

What's really needed is for the FCC to require all operators to use compatible equipment and allow free roaming so that coverage can be combined, and you can use any terminal on any network. Then we'll start seeing improved coverage, lower prices and real competition.

I wonder if that would prompt handset subsidies to go away.

 

[timotheezz]

IN GIGS.

My May numbers are crazy (*cough* MyWi+iPad *cough*), but otherwise it would appear that I should consider the 2GB cap & $5/month savings.

On second thought, naaaaaaaahhhhhh.

 

[ghostface147]

People are so upset for various reasons and if one person defends or even likes these new plans, they are immediately labled as non-true fans of Apple. Get over it people. This is something that all major carriers will move to. While cheapest so far, Sprint already charges an extra 10 bucks a month for 4G access. It's not likely that T-Mobile will never raise rates once their 3G expands and gets faster, as well as going to LTE. Verizon already said tiered pricing will be coming with LTE.

I don't use Netflix, Pandora, or anything that streams. I just use email and internet, maybe the maps for when I need to find something. Checking for updates in the App Store and using speedtest hardly taxes my data plan. I am not a true fan because I don't use the apps you do and want to save 5 bucks a month? 5 bucks is nothing really, but it's still something.

At least AT&T is being upfront about these new charges and not just changing them at their leisure without you knowing.

Curse me for using my phone as it was supposed to be, a phone first (and it works fine for me) and a toy second. Woot.

 

[purd002]

People are really flipping out for no reason ... 98% of iPhone users use below 2Gb ... that 2% is almost guaranteed to be those 'illegally' tethering ... thus basically 100% of iPhone users need no more than 2Gb of data ...

Hmm really. On my unjailbroken, untethered phone I recently used 3.3 gb of data using only approved apps.

 

[dgdosen]

Now is a good time to sell AAPL as growth will suffer. This is terrible news.

Yes - this should negatively impact Apple's share price as well as increase the bad blood between the two companies. Add more carriers now.

 

[nkawtg72]

You can kiss Apple and ATT's a&^ on your own time. I have been using Apple devices since the mid 80's so I'm a "fanboy" too. The difference is I see this how it is. Steve Jobs has become a greedy man and doesn't care about the customers anymore. As for AT&T they have never been able to handle the data usage on their network, and they know it will only get worse with the 4G. So what do they do, instead of improving the phones so calls don't drop every second they decide to charge more - which is what this really does - and sheist their customers instead of improving their shoddy network. Stop being an apologist. Devil's advocates piss me off so much. There is nothing to defend herre.

dude, take a pill.

while you're at it, why don't you add some credibility to your rant and post a screenshot of your data usage chart.

 

[QuarterSwede]

As I thought...I've never gone over 900 MB for a month. This 2 GB plan is looking more and more like a good deal.

Same here, highest I hit was 900MB which is a lot less than I thought it would be.

Based on all the comments here, I think AT&T's problem is more an image problem than anything else. They just made a move that will save the majority of their customers money, and they made an easy-to-use web page so those customers can check and see what plan would be best for them. What do they get for it?

Calm down people. AT&T is not the devil (or at least I'm pretty sure they're not). The move makes sense for both the company and the customers. Somebody posted in the last article that they were regularly using close to 100GB per month. He's the exception. The rest of us have been paying for his exorbitant data usage this whole time, and I'll be glad to finally only have to pay for my own share.

Exactly. Maybe they should've dropped it to $20/month but I'm glad that I'm no longer paying the extra $5 for someone's high bandwidth usage slowing me down.

I think they are lying about this.

I thought they might have been but then I looked at my data usage and I've never even hit 1GB (highest was 900MB). I use my data connection to stream Pandora, TWiT, get all my RSS feeds with image cached (thanks Reeder) while out and about on 3G. I'll note that I refuse to watch video on the go, unless absolutely necessary, because it looks awful over 3G. I'm happy I'll now save $60/year when I've never even gotten close to 2GB.

 

[pyramid6]

At first I was like "no way", then I checked my usage and I was like "no way".

I used 90mb at most in the last 6 months. I don't stream music, movies or tv. I can see myself watching Netflix on my iPad using tethering. That would increase my usage. I guess we'll see.

It's AT&T's network, it's not my god given right to have unlimited internet. If they want to charge unreasonable rate, then I don't have to pay.

 

[Small White Car]

Yes - this should negatively impact Apple's share price as well as increase the bad blood between the two companies. Add more carriers now.

Are you kidding? Cheaper plans will sell more iPhones.

It doesn't matter what people on this site say. WE'D tell people not to buy the $99 3G. But darned if it isn't bringing in more customers. Cheaper plans will do the same thing, I can promise you.

Dude, that's if and only if you continue to use the phone as you do now. What happens when innovation shows up at your door, and you use more data?

Your thinking is short-sighted - as is AT&Ts

If that happens then AT&T will either raise their cap or start losing customers since no one can use their iPhone. Or I'll pay more for a larger plan.

Those are the options, I'm not really afraid of either one.

 

[JeffDM]

From their AT&T Wireless account summary page, users can also click on the "View Past Data Usage" link to see a six-month history of their data usage to help gauge which new data plan they may want to select.

It's easy to figure out, but there is one more step in there, at least for me, I need to click "Usage & Recent Activity" before "View Past Data Usage" link is available.

I don't see any more than 30MB of use for any month, my peak was in December. So I don't expect this to be a problem, I'll take the $5 savings rather than buy capacity I won't use. I wish I could get the iPad data plan for my iPhone, $15/mo for data is appealing to me.

 

[btcutter]

This is the data usage chart for my original iPhone with edge data only.



I'm probably going to get the new iPhone when it comes out but I am a little worried what my data usage will be with speedier 3G. Since I have an original iPhone with the $20/month data plan (including 200 texts mind you ) I'm almost certain I'll have no choice but to go with the new 2GB data option. This is really unfortunate. At least let me use my 2GB how I want (tethering without $20 fee). (sigh)

Why don't you upgrade to $30 unlimited now and get grandfathered in when you get the new iPhone. Cost you $10 extra per month + $5 for text but in the long run, you save.

 

[p-rice]

To my surprise, I have never exceeded 200mb. April and May even includes the occasional unofficial tethering to my iPad.

 

[CrAkD]

What are you going to do, go to Verizon?

AT&T for 98 % of users is cheaper than Verizon for the same service.

Realize that by the end of the year, AT&T will have a much faster bandwidth on all of their cellular network. This will make it equivalent to Verizon in coverage (or faster in the major cities).

Yeah like i said I'm not going anywhere probably going to add a line for the new phone. I'd like to wait for the verizon phone but I know I won't be able to. I'm a technology junky haha. I've never liked AT&T. Cancelled them in like 2000 even unlocked the first iPhone on tmo. But when the 3GS launched that was it. I caved and signed up. First 4 months I loved AT&T was getting great service. Then i suffered the next 6 months with terrible service cursing them got my 3GS replaced last week. (faulty radio) now I'm back to great service. So I guess I have a love hate relationship with AT&T.

But my main gripe with AT&T is stuff like this. No tethering forever now they offer it and it's a rip off. They were like 6 months late on something as simple as mms. Then they waffle on stuff streaming over 3G. If i had bought the 3G iPad I would be beside myself.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

Hmm really. On my unjailbroken, untethered phone I recently used 3.3 gb of data using only approved apps.

Hey bud. Go out and makes some friends... you know... real life friends.

 

[btcutter]

Hmm really. On my unjailbroken, untethered phone I recently used 3.3 gb of data using only approved apps.

better just keep your $30 unlimited plan and grandfathered in. No big deal.

 

[TrumpetGuy]

Gee, thanks AT&T. This will be so handy as you've set us up a new thing to get worried about. Do I want the stress of a lower plan and constant monitoring? Or just simply curse AT&T each month with the exorbitant rate of a higher plan? Decisions, decisions...

When does the Verizon iPhone come out? Seriously.

Verizon is planning on going to tiered data plans as well.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/03/11/verizon-wireless-cto-hints-at-data-plan-tiers/