Is the grandfathered unlimited data from AT&T obsolete?

[BJabs]

Without the carriers providing limits, people would take advantage of the bandwidth and degrade everyone's experience!

Sorry you hate the providers for not giving you what you think you are "entitled" to get!
LOL!

I think the issue is in the language they use. It shouldn't be presented as unlimited if it isn't actually, genuinely unlimited. We all feel entitled to the things we expect to receive.

 

[nostresshere]

Smartest thing I did this year was to switch to 4 line,10gb plan.

Dropped ipad data plans. Stopped paying for overage on the line with 2gb. Lost nothing by dropping the two unlimited plans. Savings of well over a $1,000 a year - maybe even $1,500 with tethering in hotels now.

Dumbest thing I did was to keep the unlimited as long as I did.

 

[BJabs]

Where/how did you run this report? Curious what my average is without having to look up each bill individually and manually calculating

My AT&T -> Billing and Usage -> Reports, and then select the stuff from the drop-down menus.

 

[vabunuc]

I'm holding out hope the FCC will step in and say they can't throttle

Thats the day ATT finds away to force everyone off the grandfathered unlimited plan.

 

[iregret]

I'm holding out hope the FCC will step in and say they can't throttle

Agreed.

The FCC needs to nut up and start standing up for the consumers.

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Without the carriers providing limits, people would take advantage of the bandwidth and degrade everyone's experience!

Sorry you hate the providers for not giving you what you think you are "entitled" to get!
LOL!

Fine, then throttle it on an as needed basis. Oh wait, this isn't about everyone's experience. It's about ATT maximizing profits.

I swear to god they should have socialized internet access.

 

[Staindsoul]

I have unlimited but get throttled every month. So annoying. Do the 10GB plans get throttled?

 

[Newtons Apple]

I think the issue is in the language they use. It shouldn't be presented as unlimited if it isn't actually, genuinely unlimited. We all feel entitled to the things we expect to receive.

Even when I got my unlimited plan, long agp, it was made very clear that it was capped at 5GB. Back in those days 5GB was just about unlimited, today things use more data.

Sorry but everyone needs to pay for their bandwidth or jerks will be downloading their movies on the train when they could have done it at home on their WiFi. A few bandwidth hogs would ruin it for all of us!

 

[b1scu1t]

The key point as one earlier poster wrote is moving to the shared plan which inturn forces you to move to the AT&T Next plan to purchase your device rather than just doing the old subsidized way of purchasing the phone.

That does not work for me. I know of families that talk/text a lot and with their usage pattern makes sense to move to the shared plan.

 

[KisakiSama]

I have 3 phones on a family plan all with unlimited, and after running the numbers it would be cheaper for me to stay on unlimited than to switch us to the 15GB mobile share value plan and use NEXT or a 2-year contract. It's very much an individualized thing, but in my case, I'm fine with my unlimited.

 

[aham23]

My AT&T -> Billing and Usage -> Reports, and then select the stuff from the drop-down menus.

these reports are great. not sure how i missed them in making my decision. i am dumping 2 unlimited plans that i have had for 10+ years, going to mobile share 10gb, and ordering my new 6 today via NEXT. #winning

 

[mizerab1e]

Without the carriers providing limits, people would take advantage of the bandwidth and degrade everyone's experience!

Sorry you hate the providers for not giving you what you think you are "entitled" to get!
LOL!

Oh you silly goose, might want to check the definition of 'Unlimited'. I think it means something like... Unlimited?? It's not like they make it somewhat useful after 5GB, they throttle you down to less than 1MB connection, which makes it worthless. Yes when I sign up for 'unlimited' I believe I am 'entitled' for... wait for it, UNLIMITED data! I hope that makes any sense to your silly goose head.

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Even when I got my unlimited plan, long agp, it was made very clear that it was capped at 5GB. Back in those days 5GB was just about unlimited, today things use more data.

Sorry but everyone needs to pay for their bandwidth or jerks will be downloading their movies on the train when they could have done it at home on their WiFi. A few bandwidth hogs would ruin it for all of us!

Verizon had unlimited data for years and they actually did some research on the definition of unlimited and let the customers use... unlimited amount of data. Bandwidth cost isn't that much for multi-billion dollar company like verizon and ATT, and instead of screwing their customers left, right and sideways, they should've stated "after # much data, we will make a website take 2 min to load!". I wonder how many people would've actually signed up for it if they did, and the deception of the fact is what makes people a bit pissed the **** off.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

For my purposes, no. I can't do better than my grandfathered plan.

5GB of LTE data - I use about 3GB per month so no change of being throttled.

Virtually unlimited talk b/c I keep my conversations short as possible + free nights & weekend.

200 text @$5 - probably could drop this b/c most of my text are iMessages.

No need for tethering

Subsidized phone ends up free after I unlock & sell it at end of contract when new phone comes out.

My bill each month is around $80 w/ tax. No current plan offers what I already get or more for that price.

 

[Prissy]

Not saying you're a dirty liar, but I think you are. There are thousands of us that got throttled every month due to this. So yeah.

FYI I don't throttle either after 5gb. The thousands of YOU means a small portion of all the people that has the grandfathered unlimited. So ya...

 

[mizerab1e]

FYI I don't throttle either after 5gb. The thousands of YOU means a small portion of all the people that has the grandfathered unlimited. So ya...

I am failing to understand why ATT will selectively throttle their unlimited plan customers, but if you insist it is true, keep it and use it as long as you can I guess. I do suggest you run a speedtest next time you pass 5GB mark and let me know if you notice a significant drop in speed. Only explanation I can think of is that some people simply fail to notice the difference, but going from 10MB+ LTE to less than 1MB makes me a sad panda.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Oh you silly goose, might want to check the definition of 'Unlimited'. I think it means something like... Unlimited?? It's not like they make it somewhat useful after 5GB, they throttle you down to less than 1MB connection, which makes it worthless. Yes when I sign up for 'unlimited' I believe I am 'entitled' for... wait for it, UNLIMITED data! I hope that makes any sense to your silly goose head.

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Verizon had unlimited data for years and they actually did some research on the definition of unlimited and let the customers use... unlimited amount of data. Bandwidth cost isn't that much for multi-billion dollar company like verizon and ATT, and instead of screwing their customers left, right and sideways, they should've stated "after # much data, we will make a website take 2 min to load!". I wonder how many people would've actually signed up for it if they did, and the deception of the fact is what makes people a bit pissed the **** off.

Yes it made me realise what you are and it is perfectly clear!
Just another entitlement person who thinks the world owes him something. One day, when you work, you will feel differently . . . .well you likely won't! Be mizerab1e!

 

[bhferguson]

I also just dropped my unlimited data plan. I was using on average 3-5GB a month and getting throttled whenever I went over. Furthermore, the hotspot feature was something I needed due to the amount of traveling I'm doing. Ended up saving quite a bit of money and I have no regrets. Should have done it a long time ago.

 

[mizerab1e]

Yes it made me realise what you are and it is perfectly clear!
Just another entitlement person who thinks the world owes him something. One day, when you work, you will feel differently . . . .well you likely won't! Be mizerab1e!

I thought Newton wouldn't be so stupid! Nice try ATT rep!

 

[mashinhead]

Just in case you haven't realized, they throttle you HARD after 5GB.

This.

It isn't an unlimited data plan. It's a 5GB data plan that is called unlimited.

 

[BabyFu18]

I've decided to hold on to my unlimited data plan, I'm afraid to give it up because if I switch plans and am practically forced into the AT&T Next plan (because if you don't do the next plan it'll up your monthly rates everytime you upgrade), that just won't work for me. I refuse to do the next plan with phones, so I'd rather keep my unlimited plan, upgrade every two years (or pay straight out for a phone if I feel the need to upgrade before two years is up) and just not have to worry about my data usage at all.

As far as getting throttled after 5gb of data usage, I have no idea, I have gone over 5gbs in a month in the past, but I don't really know/remember if I've seen a difference after that or not.

I can see how many people may not have a need to keep their unlimited data plans, but for me I'm keeping it and I think that's the right choice for me right now.

 

[DeftwillP]

I'm holding out hope the FCC will step in and say they can't throttle

 

[james92se]

My AT&T -> Billing and Usage -> Reports, and then select the stuff from the drop-down menus.

Thanks

Wow, AT&T is nuts. Claiming I've used 1.2 GB of data between 8/11 and 8/23.

I wiped and boxed up and listed my iPhone 5 on 8/14, sold it on 8/17, shipped it on 8/18. During this time I purchased a Straight Talk device with totally different phone number and my AT&T SIM has just been sitting in my original iPhone ever since.

So I supposedly used 1.2 GB of data between 8/11 and 8/14 considering I'm at work 12 hours a day on wifi and go straight home after work on wifi as well. Dang, I must use a TON of data during my 10 minute drive to work each day.

This is unreal - I couldn't imagine being on a 2 or 3 GB capped plan with AT&T's bogus data usage claims! Now I'm extra glad I'm on an unlimited plan!

 

[mizerab1e]

I've decided to hold on to my unlimited data plan, I'm afraid to give it up because if I switch plans and am practically forced into the AT&T Next plan (because if you don't do the next plan it'll up your monthly rates everytime you upgrade), that just won't work for me. I refuse to do the next plan with phones, so I'd rather keep my unlimited plan, upgrade every two years (or pay straight out for a phone if I feel the need to upgrade before two years is up) and just not have to worry about my data usage at all.

As far as getting throttled after 5gb of data usage, I have no idea, I have gone over 5gbs in a month in the past, but I don't really know/remember if I've seen a difference after that or not.

I can see how many people may not have a need to keep their unlimited data plans, but for me I'm keeping it and I think that's the right choice for me right now.

Do you have multiple lines or just this one? If you are riding solo, keep the so called unlimited plan, since it is still cheaper than signing up for 5GB data. Only reason why people might drop it is if you have 3 or more lines so you can switched to Share Plan, which drops your monthly bill significantly at no negative downside.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

I've decided to hold on to my unlimited data plan, I'm afraid to give it up because if I switch plans and am practically forced into the AT&T Next plan (because if you don't do the next plan it'll up your monthly rates everytime you upgrade), that just won't work for me. I refuse to do the next plan with phones, so I'd rather keep my unlimited plan, upgrade every two years (or pay straight out for a phone if I feel the need to upgrade before two years is up) and just not have to worry about my data usage at all.

As far as getting throttled after 5gb of data usage, I have no idea, I have gone over 5gbs in a month in the past, but I don't really know/remember if I've seen a difference after that or not.

I can see how many people may not have a need to keep their unlimited data plans, but for me I'm keeping it and I think that's the right choice for me right now.

same here i have a family plain with 4 iPhones each with unlimited data and I will keep it forever if ATT will play with me. I WILL MOVE TO VERIZON OR T_MOBIL THE SAME DAY.

 

[randy98mtu]

I have 7 lines sharing 20 gb for $35/line/mo. That gives all of us 2.85 gb. There are 3 or 4 people who rarely go over 1 gig, so that gives the rest of us some headroom. Not to mention legal tethering when needed, unlimited talk and text. I can't find a cheaper way.

 

[mizerab1e]

Thanks

Wow, AT&T is nuts. Claiming I've used 1.2 GB of data between 8/11 and 8/23.

I wiped and boxed up and listed my iPhone 5 on 8/14, sold it on 8/17, shipped it on 8/18. During this time I purchased a Straight Talk device with totally different phone number and my AT&T SIM has just been sitting in my original iPhone ever since.

So I supposedly used 1.2 GB of data between 8/11 and 8/14 considering I'm at work 12 hours a day on wifi and go straight home after work on wifi as well. Dang, I must use a TON of data during my 10 minute drive to work each day.

This is unreal - I couldn't imagine being on a 2 or 3 GB capped plan with AT&T's bogus data usage claims! Now I'm extra glad I'm on an unlimited plan!

feasible, but not likely you used almost 2GB in few days. In my experience, data app and ATT app matches pretty well so I would say it is pretty accurate.