More Details on AT&T's Data Plan Changes for iPhone and iPad

[cmaier]

I'm confused now. I thought customers that already had the unlimited iPad subscription would be allowed to keep it

They can, as long as they continue to re-subscribe to the $30 plan (which happens automatically unless you cancel). Once you cancel, though, you're stuck with the new plans.

To some extent it's still a bait and switch - for example, people (me) bought the ipad 3g with the promise that we could activate the $30 when we needed it, and deactivate it when we don't need it. That is no longer true - to have true unlimited, you need to continuously pay $30 each month, even if some months you plan on using 0 minutes.

There has always been a cap, it just AT&T never really did anything about it. Now this makes it easier to enforce.

as often as that chestnut is repeated, no one seems to be able to cite any evidence for it, and at&t seems to have continuously denied it.

 

[droz]

Yep, it was the VZW CEO that spoke about this being the logical direction for data plans, just last week.

Is it just me or does Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam (see link in original email) look like the chain-smoking "cancer man" from X-Files?

haha.

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

Let me get this straight,


$14.99 for iPad 250mb

vs

$15.00 for iPhone 200mb

Errrr?

Yea, what is up with that?

 

[Plutonius]

Instead of requiring the user to manually bump their service up from 200MB plan to 2GB plan when their usage exceeds 200MB, why can't AT&T automatically move the 200MB customers to the 2GB plan (and charge $25 instead of $15) for any month where the user's data consumption exceeds 200MB?

Because it's a change in the contract and requires the customer to agree to it.

 

[cmaier]

Instead of requiring the user to manually bump their service up from 200MB plan to 2GB plan when their usage exceeds 200MB, why can't AT&T automatically move the 200MB customers to the 2GB plan (and charge $25 instead of $15) for any month where the user's data consumption exceeds 200MB?

Because then they'd make less money

 

[Plutonius]

Or they could stop reimbursing their employees entirely and let them fend for themselves. Thats a more likely next step.

I agree that might happen. Employees will probably be responsible for their own bill and the corporations will reimburse the employee minus any overages. But then again, the corporations probably couldn't get the rates they do by doing this.

 

[rjlawrencejr]

I wonder what is Apple's view on this AT&T change. I would think Apple would not be happy because it's bad news for new iPhone contracts which is bad for Apple's bottom line. I thought Apple had more leverage here. I guess that's why so many here think this is AT&T's answer to the end of exclusivity.

My guess is that there is a bit of ambivalence on Apple's part. While they will no longer be able to tout unlimited Internet, at the same time they can attract many more new customers who may have been put off by the price of monthly data. Remember, people shopping for iPhones at Walmart may be a little more price conscious.

 

[CactusHawk]

We are so drunk on entitlements in this country that we forget that AT&T os a FOR PROFIT company. Furthermore, if we want them to have the money to upgrade the network and roll-out new technologies (i.e. 4G), they MUST make profits. They said that 98% of AT&T customers do not even use 250 Mb.

Buy it or don't. But deal with it and stop complaining!

The terms have changed less than 5 weeks after I bought a device and I am not supposed to be upset about it? The only "entitlements" I want are the ones advertised. You know...unlimited 3G service that I could turn on and off at whim. The ones that are being advertised RIGHT NOW.

 

[CactusHawk]

The unlimited was never unlimited anyway. There was always a 5GB soft cap even on the iPhone.

The only part of this news that bothers me is the way they are handling the tethering. Forcing you to change plans to add tethering and not giving you anymore data for doing it. Very pathetic move on AT&T's part.

Prove it.

 

[tomtwigg]

A different read

I read "original iPhone" on "original unlimited data plan" to mean the original 2g iPhone that came with a $20/mo. data plan and not any of the 3G or 3Gs models with the $30/mo. plan.

 

[cmaier]

The terms have changed less than 5 weeks after I bought a device and I am not supposed to be upset about it? The only "entitlements" I want are the ones advertised. You know...unlimited 3G service that I could turn on and off at whim. The ones that are being advertised RIGHT NOW.

The bold text is what will be the root of the class action law suit. If you have wildly varying data consumption month to month, the old service was awesome.

Of course, by eliminating it so fast, it's tough for anyone to prove their needs would have varied from over 2GB to under 250MB from month-to-month.

 

[Michael CM1]

Hmmm. My wife and I can drop our data plan costs by $15/month on each of our iPhones, and then I can get the 2GB plan for my iPad 3G when it arrives, and I'll still save $5/month.

Yeah, I can see where some people aren't happy about it, but those people were already well outside the norm anyway. I'd much rather pay a reasonable amount for my usage than pay an exorbitant fee because I have to cover network costs for the people sucking down 80 GB/month on their iPhone.

Seriously! It's not like mobile data is as abundant as water. AT&T's network was getting killed in places because of how much data iPhone users were consuming, so something was done. This is also being grandfathered in so leniently that I can't believe it.

This is going to make the average user so much happier. I was online when I read about it this morning trying to change my plan until I saw that it starts Monday. I have never topped 1GB in a month, and I don't think I have even topped 500MB. So this will save me $60/year without changing my usage at all. If people have an iPhone and mostly use it at WiFi networks, they might save $180/year. We're just hearing from the most vocal whinos on here.

The tethering whining is very hilarious. I can't find the listing on AT&T'S website, but I know a few years ago it cost $30 to tether to a BlackBerry. AT&T drops the price and some people are still mad. I have given AT&T plenty of hell, but those guys got it right on this one.

 

[Cynicalone]

as often as that chestnut is repeated, no one seems to be able to cite any evidence for it, and at&t seems to have continuously denied it.

It is right here in the TOS

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp#data

They have the option to impose charges over 5GB on any data plan.

 

[CactusHawk]

That seems like a nicer plan and scales with you. They are clamping down on the bandwidth hogs I see. Good for AT&T. It would be nice to have the tiered data plan on the iPhone too. As I understand it there's only one rate now and that's what has kept me from buying an iPhone with AT&T.

They advertise unlimited data. I should only be considered a data hog if I use more than the unlimited I was paying for.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Awesome!

ATT screwed up my iphone 2g data plan and had been charging me the 3GS's $30/mo rate for the last year & a half for the same crappy 2g service. I call em on it, and they offer to cancel it, for a hundred fifty bucks penalty of course. I pay the penalty, and thankfully cut my losses with them.

Now I give em another chance, and pick up a new personal iPad 3G yesterday for a thousand freakin dollars. Figure, since I just blew a grand I'll save a few dollars trying out the first months service and go for the unlimited next month. ...and they pull this sh*t with the plans, the very next day!?!

Great! I connected, found all my previously purchased apps needed updating, updated them, and used up nearly the entire months data allowance before even using the thing.

Fck it. Apple produces some products, but I'm not buying another one so long as they're tied to this crappy company.

Pissed off now.

 

[cmaier]

It is right here in the TOS

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp#data

They have the option to impose charges over 5GB on any data plan.

Sure. But unless they've ever chosen to exercise such an option, there is no "limit."

 

[Cynicalone]

Prove it.

Here is the quote direct from AT&T.

If you are on a data plan that does not include a monthly MB/GB allowance and additional data usage rates, you agree that AT&T has the right to impose additional charges if you use more than 5 GB in a month; provided that, prior to the imposition of any additional charges, AT&T shall provide you with notice and you shall have the right to terminate your Service.

See the link I posted above for the full TOS.

 

[aristotle]

So they are just detailing how they are going to rip us 3G iPad owners off.

The one bright side here is that based on this little move pretty much as confirmed to me that they have lost iPhone exclusivity. As soon as the Verizon iPhone come out, I'm out.

How are they ripping you off? If you only use say 200 mb of data per month, you can save 15 dollars per month by switching to the 15 dollar one but if you already have the unlimited plan you can continue using it.

Also, I have yet to your new love "Verizon" offer a 15 dollars per month plan.

 

[SAPPete]

Here's an idea:

Unlimited data unless you live in New York or the Bay Area, then it's 2 GB.

 

[paskwall]

so if i get an unlocked iphone can i get that $15 unlimited data only plan and be done with it?

 

[CFreymarc]

Sweet so the plan is "Officially" being grandfathered

This is one of the most honest and upfront change in wireless service plans I have seen in years. I'm sure SJ was all over this change in policies.

 

[swajames]

No, 2GB will cost $25, and if you already have a contract, you'll be able to keep it. That's far from bait-n-switch.

Is that true? The plan I bought was for the iPad was for unlimited data with the ability to stop and restart - on the same terms - at will. This is how AT&T advertised it. Now, were I to stop for a month and then choose to restart, I do not believe the original terms are grandfathered in.

If this is right, how is this not bait and switch? I have not seen anything which confirms that the restarted iPad plan would be on anything other than the tiered/capped terms.

 

[I WAS the one]

I just hope Apple WWDC announcement is no more ATT only, and that they will be available on Verizon, Sprint and all others... Then I hope One of the other carriers offer micro Sim Cards so I can hurry up and change it right away. I bought the 3G just because the option of having the net when comes the need. As in another state or something... being able to pay $30 bucks for that vacation or journey was a great option.

Now if I'm flying to Europe and want to see a movie in my Netflix account I will be paying an arm and a leg just to see an old movie! BAD MOVE ATT... Bad Move

 

[tomtwigg]

One word, four letters

Great! I connected, found all my previously purchased apps needed updating, updated them, and used up nearly the entire months data allowance before even using the thing.

WIFI. Well, actually it is an acronym ... there are some things that just really call for using WIFI or are best done via iTunes and not the iPhone. Updating apps would have to be one of them.

 

[rjlawrencejr]

So, really, it is a contract. They went on and on about having a month-to-month service for the iPad, but then change the service. If we cancel our non-contractual-contract, we lose the unlimited plan forever?

How is that legal?

How is it illegal? In California (and I'm sure in other states too) that is how our property taxes work. If I bought my home in 1995 and paid 150k and you bought an identical one in 2005 and paid 500k, my property taxes are based on the price I paid, not the value of property ten years later.

It is not a contract because there was no agreement between the two parties for any specified amount of time. Whether you agree or not, the grandfathering is goodwill on the part of AT&T that allows you to keep your existing plan.