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

[deconstruct60]

Again was their expectation that this service would be available for any period of time? People who want unlimited data can still achieve it. Sure they can't turn it on and off at will but I doubt that is a foundation for a reasonable class action suit.

1. There is likely a huge difference between the expectations and the contract they actually sign. Few folks actually read the contracts they sign. It is extremely unlikely ATT granted a guarantee of service, terms, and pricing in perpetuity. It is quite likley there are several clauses that state they can change the terms and pricing when they want to as they feel business demands.

2. When was "reasonable" the core requirement for class action suits? Apple has $40B in cash lying around. Ambulance chasing lawyers probably show up 3-4 times a month with new suits. ATT probably has a few less because not relatively sitting on top of money don't know what to do with.
This could easily be yet another one those "I didn't know sticking my hand into the spinning blades of a lawnmower would hurt. " kind of suits.

Likewise how is this major different than the original iPhone dropping in price after a couple months on market?

3. The solution here is dead simple. For the folks who currently have unlimited don't stop paying. Keep paying until iPad croaks. In a couple of months the largest class of folks who are "left out" of the unlimited are the folks who didn't have access to the contract before the change. The fact that ATT gave folks a "heads up" a week in advance to 'lock in' the unlimited contract makes the class even smaller.

This to me is another sign that Verizon is not getting the iPhone any time soon.

WWDC is likely to have some iPad coverage too. In fact, probably almost as much as iPhone if weave in common features that will be on both devices. What may not do is telegraph whether working on a Verizon/LTE iPad or just spring that later in Fall when iPad's get OS update. Might want to do it at WWDC because those beta iPhoneOS drops will have clues; so it won't really stay a secret before launch. The iPad is far more likely to show up on the CDMA2000/LTE networks before an iPhone because can ignore all of the legacy telephony cruft of both CDMA and GSM. If just shipping IP packets not all that different in general sense from a Wifi radio. Doing telephony stuff just makes it more complicated.

Apple could answer the question of whether they are going to ignore LTE until next June or not. ATT may be slow rolling the LTE, but not everyone is.
Are Apple's celluar products always going to be wrapped around ATT's schedule ?

 

[skyehill]

well sure man... because there's no one else using the bandwidth. OF COURSE you get fast speeds... it's ALL YOURS.

if people moved in any real numbers to sprint 4G, that speed will TUMBLE.

we use clear at my office (in dallas too! come on by!)... just a BIT too slow to be great for regular computers (we have 2 modem things going in tandem), but would be great on a mobile device. so i'm down.

but there's just nobody using it, so the speeds now aren't very realistic.

i've read 4G has something like 100,000 people NATIONWIDE. if 3G had that, it would be flying.

Wrong. Sprints 3G flies as well. It's ATTS awful 3G that stinks, and I highly doubt its due to too much traffic. Verizon and Tmobiles is also far superior to ATTs. I know Luke Wilson says otherwise, but he's wrong.

 

[teco221]

My guess on ATT new plan

The new plan is starting on June 7, so if you sign up for a unlimited data plan before june 7 which will still enable you to use unlimited data (just not tethering) since you will be qualified as grandfather. I think they want to get more people to sign up before June 7, they must know something is going to happen at WWDC. Only people will be screwed are new 3G iPad owners who will never get to sign up for true unlimited data plan and whoever sign up with ATT after June 7.
Then I have a question: I do not have an iPhone now, if I just go to buy a 3GS now which is 97 at Walmart, then after June 7 , when I buy a new iPhone. Do I have to pay full price for iPhone 4G? Since my contract is signed before June 7, I will be able to sign up for $30 per month plan just no tethering. Does that make my case?

 

[JediZenMaster]

What may not do is telegraph whether working on a Verizon/LTE iPad or just spring that later in Fall when iPad's get OS update. Might want to do it at WWDC because those beta iPhoneOS drops will have clues; so it won't really stay a secret before launch. The iPad is far more likely to show up on the CDMA2000/LTE networks before an iPhone because can ignore all of the legacy telephony cruft of both CDMA and GSM. If just shipping IP packets not all that different in general sense from a Wifi radio. Doing telephony stuff just makes it more complicated.

Check this out because according to this news from VZW there is no apple device coming soon

Verizon Wireless spokesman John Johnson said the company has "no plans to carry the iPhone in the immediate future" in an interview with Beet.TV.

 

[alhedges]

If it's all the same to you, I'd rather the government keep its nose out of my voluntary commercial transactions.

I hope you change your number every time you change your carrier, then, to protest against communist number portability, then.

 

[tjwaggoner]

Here goes nothing.....I actually really like AT&T

I do. I live in an area where I get good reliable fast 3g coverage. Very occasionally drop a call in a dead zone but can count those dead zones on 1 hand in my city. Im just lucky for an Iphone owner to have a good AT&T service area. I have heard the horror stories and dont doubt them, just have no experience with them. Who else likes AT&T? Seems all we hear are how awful they are.

 

[Cobra502]

Can I add the unlimited data to my plan if I don't have a smartphone currently? Also, are these plans ("data for smartphone" and "data plan for iPhone") the same? It seems as if there are different unlimited plans on ATTs website.
If I go to an ATT store can I tell them I bought a 3GS on craigslist, but it has not yet arrived, and ask them to add the unlimited iPhone data plan to my account?

As long as you can use the data plan you should be ok....But ask an ATT rep. As for the data for smart phone or iphone...i asked 2 different reps the same questions and they said that i can use the data plan for either 'smart phone' or the iphone...but again...check with the rep from ATT.

im not sure about the whole craigslist thing

 

[Tailpike1153]

What I'd like to see as an optional feature from AT&T would upon hitting the cap have AT&T temporarily disconnect your data instead of still providing service at a extremely higher rate.

Or bare minimum, send a FREE SMS (phone uses) alert/warning the moment you've used all your data.
To let you know you're either no longer data-active or are over-charging for the remainder of your cycle (and provide a restart date in text).

All the US PAYG carriers have this feature. Goofy thing is I've never seen this implemented for postpaid subscriptions. Most PAYG phones come with some money/minute/data tracker app. Tethering is cool until you get that unexpected $430 phone bill.

 

[acerbas]

Very disenchanted with Apple

Will never buy an iPhone, regardless of how many bells and whistles it sports, as long as it is tethered to right-wing, Republican contributing, Homeland Security reporting AT&T. This is an unholy alliance. Sometimes democracy trumps technology. I'm not going to try to recapitulate how many Macs and iPods I have purchased over the past 16 years (a lot) but I think its time I weaned myself from the right-wing corporatocracy.

 

[feszty]

Sprint

I am so happy that I've opted to buy the 4G Mifi from Sprint. Other than the iPod Wifi disconnect, everything is peachy.

 

[Tailpike1153]

I do. I live in an area where I get good reliable fast 3g coverage. Very occasionally drop a call in a dead zone but can count those dead zones on 1 hand in my city. Im just lucky for an Iphone owner to have a good AT&T service area. I have heard the horror stories and dont doubt them, just have no experience with them. Who else likes AT&T? Seems all we hear are how awful they are.

I live in Verizon country and seen their service slide down hill. Since ATT bought out Centennial Wireless and started repurposing the towers to the ATT network, I've actually seen ATT service improve. Right now, I like ATT.

 

[Thex1138]

In Australia

.... I get 1 Gig of data for Au$15

 

[cocky jeremy]

Considering i only use about 200mb per month, if that, this is fine with me. It'll lower my bill because i'm usually on wifi. Sucks for everyone else though and it IS ****** of AT&T to do.

 

[jkchr1s]

http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=app_10442206389

This answers most of people's questions. Here's part of it:

We have thought long and hard about how to come up with a data pricing structure that serves the largest number of people and brings the benefits of the mobile broadband revolution to those who have been, until now, unable to afford it. Here's where we started: 98% of our customers use less than 2GBs of data a month on average...and yet the traditional “one size fits all” pricing model has been that EVERYBODY pays for the ability to consume much more than what the vast majority of our customers typically use. Day after day we listen to you guys tell us that smartphone plans are too high and that you want to be able to get the best phones at a lower monthly price. We've looked at all kinds of options and where we've landed is a usage-based pricing system for new smartphone customers that can lower the price for smartphone use. So here's the deal: if you are a current smartphone customer you're not required to switch to one of the new plans. However, if you'd like a data plan more tailored to your needs, you can switch to one of the two new plans we're introducing.

... and about iPad data plans:
For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan are not required to change their plans.

Read more detail in the link.

 

[schwell]

Will never buy an iPhone, regardless of how many bells and whistles it sports, as long as it is tethered to right-wing, Republican contributing, Homeland Security reporting AT&T. This is an unholy alliance. Sometimes democracy trumps technology. I'm not going to try to recapitulate how many Macs and iPods I have purchased over the past 16 years (a lot) but I think its time I weaned myself from the right-wing corporatocracy.

 

[schwell]

It takes about 5 minutes to file and FCC complaint for both Apple and ATT about these changes.

Www.FCC.gov

The spirit of no contracts and $30 a month was a huge incentive to purchase the 3G iPad. These types of changes don't happen over night, Apple and ATT were aware of this change prior to the start of sales. It should have been better explained.

That to me is bait and switch.

Try reading instead of jumping to conclusions. Current iPad owners that purchased the $30 per month unlimited plan can continue with that plan. Here is a link: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/atandt-makes-sweeping-changes-to-data-plans-iphone-tethering-comi

 

[apple.pseudofan]

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.

This

I am in the same boat minus the iPad. I haven't hit 200 mb in the last six months, which is a bit surprising, but will save me thirty dollars. I think the best thing AT&T could have done is this tiered plan with a unlimited option for $45 that would allow tethering. That would appease most. What you heavy users don't realize is that the vast population truly doesn't use that much data. I am a very heavy user, but have wifi at work and home. I listen to 20+mb podcasts in leiu of streaming music and download those on wifi.

I hate to say it, but those of you whining have other options. Sprint mobile hotspot, etc. Please stop sufferring from the entitlement syndrome that is bankrupting our nation. Also, without AT&T, mobile platforms would still be totally driven by carriers and we'd all be stuck with the crappiness that was the pre-iPhone days. The partnership between apple and AT&T allowed this smartphone revolution, in which the hardware and software creators drive available content. Sure, AT&T coverage isn't the best, but without the risks they took, this conversation wouldn't even be occurring.

 

[mvill]

You people really can't think long term, do you?

Did it ever occur to you that this new pricing is to prepare for the video conferencing feature in the new phone?

In the unlimited data plan, there wouldn't be anything to stop traffic from people having useless calls at launch and afterwards. With the new pricing for new customers, they can now control that traffic, or at least get paid for allowing you to do so.

I'm not sure what the point of the question is. Doesn't video conferencing also take up bandwidth? If that's the case, then NO, the new pricing structure actually bodes ill for such innovative features--

 

[sonicwind]

who cares about AT&T iPad data plans? My iPad'll be surfing 4G via my Evo access point, unlimited like.

 

[metalblaze]

WiFi usage....

I don't own an iPhone, so this might be a dumb question, but I will still ask: if I opt for the 200MB plan, but most of the time use WiFi (office, home, ATT hotspots), without turning off the 3G data, will ATT still deduct MBs from my allotted 200MBs?

 

[damnyooneek]

If AT&T wants to start counting bandwidth then we should be able to rollover whatever bandwidth we don't use. If we're paying for the 2gb it's a rip off if it's taken away every month.

 

[marksman]

Check this out because according to this news from VZW there is no apple device coming soon

Verizon Wireless spokesman John Johnson said the company has "no plans to carry the iPhone in the immediate future" in an interview with Beet.TV.

As a MacRumors Analyst I will say that it is looking less and less likely that Verizon will see the iPhone before 2012.

All the US PAYG carriers have this feature. Goofy thing is I've never seen this implemented for postpaid subscriptions. Most PAYG phones come with some money/minute/data tracker app. Tethering is cool until you get that unexpected $430 phone bill.

That is good thing. With the new plan you would get over 42 gigs of data for that $430!

 

[Tailpike1153]

Will never buy an iPhone, regardless of how many bells and whistles it sports, as long as it is tethered to right-wing, Republican contributing, Homeland Security reporting AT&T. This is an unholy alliance. Sometimes democracy trumps technology. I'm not going to try to recapitulate how many Macs and iPods I have purchased over the past 16 years (a lot) but I think its time I weaned myself from the right-wing corporatocracy.

Not sure what to make of this post. All the telcos and cable companies donate towards the major parties in addition to lobbying. Outside of the Patriot act publicity, Verizon, Sprint and Qwest have shared info with the US govt. Not sure what makes them less evil than ATT.

 

[petz0ldt]

Soooo correct me if I am wrong. AT&Ts reasoning behind this switch is because their network is being bogged down by users right? To justify this switch they say they will have a 2gb cap but 98 percent of its users do not reach 2gb on a monthly basis so they say its not a big deal. How is this going to help their network problems? 98 percent of their users will still be using the same amount of data that they always have right? Maybe they should just spend some of their time and money on making their sh!# network better instead...

 

[alhedges]

Soooo correct me if I am wrong. AT&Ts reasoning behind this switch is because their network is being bogged down by users right? To justify this switch they say they will have a 2gb cap but 98 percent of its users do not reach 2gb on a monthly basis so they say its not a big deal. How is this going to help their network problems? 98 percent of their users will still be using the same amount of data that they always have right? Maybe they should just spend some of their time and money on making their sh!# network better instead...

If 2% of the users are using 50% of the bandwidth (which some other posters have suggested, I don't know whether that's correct), they will double the bandwidth available for the remaining users while losing only 2% of their existing users. (And of course probably attract many new light users with the $15 plan.