is it dumb to downgrade to 2gb?

[dieburnbot]

I value the ability to tether over unlimited data, of which I've never gone over 1.7 GB in a month.

The $60 I save per year can be re-allocated to 6GB of overage data or 3 months of tethering. Some months, I may even go further and downgrade to the $15 plan, esp if I'll be out of the country for part of a month...

I wish ATT would just charge $.01 per MB and be done with it there.

Aside from browsing, IM not going to download gigs of stuff over a slow 3G connection.

Yeah but the iPhone 4 can support up to 7.2 Mbps if AT&T actually gets around to supporting it rolleyes then that will open up a lot of use for the unlimited plan. Anyway 3G isn't that slow I can usually manage a download speed of around 240 KBps. It's not as fast as some broadband connections, but it's definitely fast enough when nothing better is available.

I tether my phone and can comfortably stream stuff off of Boxee.

 

[Resist]

I would not give up the $30 a month unlimited plan. As it has been explained to me, once you do then you can never go back. And maybe your data usage doesn't go over 2GB now, but with the iPhone 4 and new apps coming out, it just might. I would save money by getting rid of AT&T's text plan instead. Textfree Unlimited is free, you get a real phone number and soon they will have MMS for it.

 

[dieburnbot]

I would not give up the $30 a month unlimited plan. As it has been explained to me, once you do then you can never go back. And maybe your data usage doesn't go over 2GB now, but with the iPhone 4 and new apps coming out, it just might. I would save money by getting rid of AT&T's text plan instead. Textfree Unlimited is free, you get a real phone number and soon they will have MMS for it.

I use Beejive to txt message through yahoo messenger.

 

[Revelation78]

That pretty ignorant.
If someone doesnt use alot of carrier data and wants to save a few dollars in the process should get a different phone? Who are you to say how one decides to use their iphone?

I took his statement as he was "hurting" for money, not just wanting to be frugal.

No offense, but if you're going to make statements as ignorant as this then maybe you should leave the forums.

Not everybody lives in their parents basements and get's the bills paid by them. Some of us "adults" understand the value of money.

Wait, maybe I do mean to offend- LOL.

Really? You're one to talk. I pay my own bills, I own my own house. Just because you have your own insecurities and you have no financial sense doesn't mean the rest of us don't. Let's not talk about "adults" when you're probably not one yourself.

 

[yodaxl7]

Depends on how much a five dollar per month extra means to you and how much data you think you may use. So, basically, if you downgrade, you are saving $60 per year. That amount can be thought as an insurance to you, in case, you may need more than 2 gig that month. If you downgrade, you do have 6 gig in reserve. How? Well, each gig over the 2 gig costs you ten dollars. So, if you don't go over at all, you can save 60 dollars. If you dont want to worry, than don't downgrade. Att may let us keep the unlimited till the contract is over (2012).

 

[w0ngbr4d]

I'm actually considering going from the unlimited data to the 200 MB plan. I looked at our usage for the last 6 months on both lines and we use less than 100 MB of data per month. We don't have 3G here and I have WiFi at work and at home so its hard for us to use a lot of data.

If I do this I could save $30 a month or about $360 a year.

I guess it all depends on your usage.

 

[dieburnbot]

I'm actually considering going from the unlimited data to the 200 MB plan. I looked at our usage for the last 6 months on both lines and we use less than 100 MB of data per month. We don't have 3G here and I have WiFi at work and at home so its hard for us to use a lot of data.

If I do this I could save $30 a month or about $360 a year.

I guess it all depends on your usage.

Are you sure you won't regret that move in case AT&T decides to install a 3G tower in your area?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Let me rephrase that, I dont NEED the extra$ 5 a month, but it would sure be nice to have it. And why have a regular phone, when i could have an iphone?

Nevermind the guys who seemingly have money trees in their back yard. They like to justify things with empty logic like "it's only $1 a day," or "it's only $60." Well, as Sen. Dirksen famously once said about Congressional spending, “a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.”

The people who would tell you if you can't part w/ $60... have no concept of saving and are the same ones that need bail outs.

ATT has data history on your acct. If you don't go near 2GBs odds are you will never use 2GBs. People can say, yes, but if new bandwidth hogging features come along. First, as we see from Face Time, the cellcos will not allow that, and second by the time they do 3G will be gone and 4G will be the new standard. Unlimited data is only as long as you stick w/ 3G.

So, I think you are on the right track. Use what you need, but only pay for that amount too. Sure $60 isn't much, but it will buy you something you can actually use rather than data you "theoretically" could use, even though you won't.

 

[MikePA]

I am laying in bed and can't decide whether to wear blue socks or black socks, so I thought I'd ask here. Please help me decide, please? I can't start my day until someone on this forum tells me what to do and pretty soon I will have to go Number 2.

EDIT: If it helps, I was going to wear gray pants today.

 

[dieburnbot]

I am laying in bed and can't decide whether to wear blue socks or black socks, so I thought I'd ask here. Please help me decide, please? I can't start my day until someone on this forum tells me what to do and pretty soon I will have to go Number 2.

EDIT: If it helps, I was going to wear gray pants today.

I would go with black socks. Hope this helps and that I got it in before your ****.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

Im sure u can change anytime u want so if u want go a month with unlimited on iPhone 4 and then decide if u need it or not

 

[TeamDNA]

for real i agree with that other poster..if you really need that money dont get an iphone...

thats 1.25$ a week.. you really need that 1.25$ for what to buy a pop ?

with the new iphone data will be used more than it ever has.. I personally use around 10-15GB of data a month.. which is why i will be keeping my unlimited plan

 

[Ferris23]

No offense, if you could "really" use that $60 a year, maybe you should switch to a regular phone with no data plan...

What is it with people like this? I had a guy like this in my thread. Hey, pro tip: Just because people want to save money, doesn't mean they can't afford something. Actually smart people save money where they can regardless of income or affordability. Just because you have it, doesn't mean you need to piss it away with a thought.

Jesus, it's like the idiot in my thread who assumed that because people sold their Iphones early, they are only doing it because they are poor and can't afford the new Iphone without scrapping, it's ****ing ridiculous.

 

[TeamDNA]

Nevermind the guys who seemingly have money trees in their back yard. They like to justify things with empty logic like "it's only $1 a day," or "it's only $60." Well, as Sen. Dirksen famously once said about Congressional spending, “a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.”

The people who would tell you if you can't part w/ $60... have no concept of saving and are the same ones that need bail outs.

ATT has data history on your acct. If you don't go near 2GBs odds are you will never use 2GBs. People can say, yes, but if new bandwidth hogging features come along. First, as we see from Face Time, the cellcos will not allow that, and second by the time they do 3G will be gone and 4G will be the new standard. Unlimited data is only as long as you stick w/ 3G.

So, I think you are on the right track. Use what you need, but only pay for that amount too. Sure $60 isn't much, but it will buy you something you can actually use rather than data you "theoretically" could use, even though you won't.

WRONG you can have unlimited on iphone 4.. learn your facts before you make claims

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Im sure u can change anytime u want so if u want go a month with unlimited on iPhone 4 and then decide if u need it or not

Nope. ATT killed the unlimited plan. If you have it now you are grandfathered, but if you switch to one of the new plans you can't get it back.

WRONG you can have unlimited on iphone 4.. learn your facts before you make claims

Learn to read before you make stupid statements. I never said you can't have unlimited. Please point out where I said that. If you can't well then don't call people out for things they did not say.

 

[MikePA]

I would go with black socks. Hope this helps and that I got it in before your ****.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, I saw your reply just in time. Whew!

 

[pirateRACE]

With the new plans, my wife could drop to the $15 plan and I could drop to $25 plan. With the $20 savings we could add tethering to my phone. Not a bad deal.

You are only grandfathered for 2 years if I recall correctly. So might as well get used to being capped now and save!

I do worry about the prospect of FaceTime over 3G, the fact that I may be uploading video (I have a 3G without video now) and like someone else pointed out, streaming new content in the background.

 

[rywat]

for real i agree with that other poster..if you really need that money dont get an iphone...

thats 1.25$ a week.. you really need that 1.25$ for what to buy a pop ?

with the new iphone data will be used more than it ever has.. I personally use around 10-15GB of data a month.. which is why i will be keeping my unlimited plan

What is a "pop"? Anyway, I recommend to the OP to change to the 2gb plan, and here's why. He's only using 400-500mb/month right now. His usage may increase after the purchase of the iPhone 4, but not by over 4 times. You really can't do anything more data intensive with it than you already can with the 3gs. His usage may go up over the next few years, but by then I'm sure the data cap will be at least 3gb, if not more. There's nothing wrong with saving some money, yes even just 5 bucks a month. My 2c.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

$60 a year savings doesn't seem like much, but in reality that chunk of money can be put towards a new subsidized iPhone whenever he/she is eligible.

 

[atacinus]

I wouldn't downgrade to 2gb...the $5/month savings don't seem worth it. However since I have never used over 200mb (I have wifi everywhere I am for 99% of the time) I did downgrade to the 200mb plan...15/month is nothing to snuff at.

 

[deannnnn]

Let me rephrase that, I dont NEED the extra$ 5 a month, but it would sure be nice to have it. And why have a regular phone, when i could have an iphone?

Yeah don't let people who have plenty of money to throw around discourage you.

The only reason to keep unlimited in your situation is to prevent you from worrying about going over your data limit. You probably will never go over it, and if your confident that your usage won't increase anytime soon, I say you might as well downgrade.

 

[Nicolecat]

You could always test-drive the new phone on your $30 unlimited plan for a month or two and then make the decision if it's just sucking more data or not.
It's only $5 a month...and you just never know...

 

[3460169]

You could always test-drive the new phone on your $30 unlimited plan for a month or two and then make the decision if it's just sucking more data or not.
It's only $5 a month...and you just never know...

+1

iOS 4 has one whopping feature that can easily lead to high data consumption: multitasking. None of us have a clue yet as to what our usage patterns (including data consumption) will be like now that we can run more data-consuming programs at once. However it's safe to say that data usage for many people is likely to increase. Pandora is one classic example.

Give it a trial run for a month or two. When convinced that your data usage doesn't come anywhere close to the 2GB barrier, then make the change to the capped plan.

 

[Fabienne]

I would keep your unlimited for a few months at least. You don't really know how your use is going to change with the new things that Apple is coming out with to tempt you. For instance, if you decide that the Netflix app is the schiznitz and you want to watch movies for hours, that is going to run up your data use like mad. So give a a while to see how you take to life in 2010 Apple style and then decide.

 

[christyn]

Given we really don't know what we'll be using our iPhones for in the future, and how much data that might use.... for $5 a month, yeah.. I'm keeping unlimited.