So they are saying the LTE IPHONE will consume DOUBLE the data...

[BoxerGT2.5]

This is where the little screen will help. I'll do things on a 4.7in screen the same I would my iPad, I wouldn't however spend alot of time viewing web content on a iPhone or streaming games via MLB at bat.

 

[TheBuffather]

As a web designer, I'd also like to point out that as cellular speeds increase, the size/complexity of mobile sites will also increase due lower load times. Most websites have either a mobile version, or a responsive version that cuts out some of the larger features. Partly for usability on a smaller screen, and partly to reduce loading times. I can draw two conclusions here:

1) Data usage will increase because it is easier to consume more data, faster.
2) Mobile websites will gradually become heavier in size (e.g. serving higher quality images because of the retina screen and because they don't take as long to download), resulting in more data being downloaded.

 

[HeyGreggie]

I say all of us unlimited users that are aware of the benefits we have to just hush about how data is affected by having higher speeds.

If people do not want to learn from history (i.e. go check out the iPad 3 threads about people blowing through their monthly limit in the first weeks of their cycle) and let people find out how much it is going to affect them.

And when the threads start popping up, and they will, we can all just sit back, have a cold one, and laugh together.

that's my take on it as well I just figure we can compare monthly bills with them and mine will be the same lol

 

[M87]

LTE means one thing, fast upload/download speeds. It doesn't make the files you upload and download magically become bigger. The only problem is it's so nice you might be likely to use it more than you would a slow connection.

 

[Kadman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatross_(metaphor)


How would unlimited data be a psychological burden that feels like a curse?

If anything I feel rewarded by getting an extra 2GB for free

Yeah I'll just throw away 5gb a month for 30 bucks.

No thanks.

I say all of us unlimited users that are aware of the benefits we have to just hush about how data is affected by having higher speeds.

If people do not want to learn from history (i.e. go check out the iPad 3 threads about people blowing through their monthly limit in the first weeks of their cycle) and let people find out how much it is going to affect them.

And when the threads start popping up, and they will, we can all just sit back, have a cold one, and laugh together.

Unlimited, at least under AT&T, isn't truly unlimited. With each small revision they make it harder to hang onto it and other plan features will continue to exclude the "unlimited" plan, so yes, it's becoming an albatross. It hasn't been truly unlimited for quite some time and many of us realized when it was time to cut bait. It's slowly turning into more of a chore than a benefit. I'm shocked that so many haven't realized it yet.

 

[Big.Mac.Daddy]

With each small revision they make it harder to hang onto it

No they don't "make it harder" to hang on to unlimited, you simply tell the ATT sales rep you want to keep unlimited when you switch to the LTE iPhone 5 and you keep your unlimited data.

and other plan features will continue to exclude the "unlimited" plan, so yes, it's becoming an albatross.

You mean facetime over cellular? Big woop

Tethering? No one can use this without a tethering plan anyways.

There aren't any other features that are excluded from unlimited... everything else is 5GB of goodness compared to the 3GB plan that most new customers are stuck taking.

 

[PhoenixMac]

Just pay full price for your iPhone each year.

Its nothing when I use it as my internet when I travel, I do 20gbs a month easy with no throttling. Might as well get a much as I can before they take it.

----------

But on Verizon you have to pay $650 anytime you want to upgrade since otherwise you're forced onto a god awful shared data plan

Its fine selling my old phones to offset the total cost. I'd rather have true unlimited instead of being throttled after 5GBs

 

[iBreatheApple]

The only way this can be rationalized is that you will browse more since you have the extra time to do it. It's just faster speeds, that doesn't mean it uses more.

 

[PhoenixMac]

Unlimited, at least under AT&T, isn't truly unlimited. With each small revision they make it harder to hang onto it and other plan features will continue to exclude the "unlimited" plan, so yes, it's becoming an albatross. It hasn't been truly unlimited for quite some time and many of us realized when it was time to cut bait. It's slowly turning into more of a chore than a benefit. I'm shocked that so many haven't realized it yet.

I'm on VZW so I am truly unlimited, facetime over cellular, only drawback is buying phones outright each year which is what I do anyway as I upgrade 2/3 times a year and sell the old to fund the new. Will probably only upgrade once a year now that the iPhone has LTE, that was all I am waiting for so now the iPhone is perfect for me, they will have to make some amazing new features to make me upgrade now.

----------

The only way this can be rationalized is that you will browse more since you have the extra time to do it. It's just faster speeds, that doesn't mean it uses more.

If you take a look at all the netflix and the like posts about having a faster connection allows you better streams, watching the same movie on 3g is going to be lower file size than watching the same stream on 4g.

Also if your browsing youtube watching a 5 minute video is really 6 or 7 minutes after buffering, while LTE turns it into a 5 minute and 5 second video, you now have more time to watch more videos in your 10 minutes of standing in line.

 

[FelixDerKater]

So, we have a theme here... Don't use the device to its full potential and you'll be fine. Hmm...

 

[cdmoore74]

I run so much data on my Nexus I'm just waiting for the antenna to completely die out. It's so easy to rack up the data because my LTE connection is as good as my home cable modem; I never turn on wifi.

Even though I'm not upgrading to an iPhone (only the wife) I do plan on getting a Note 2 under contract. I will have to really monitor my data habits once they force me in a family share plan. In the last 9 months I bet I've totaled over 110GB with no problems. I'd rather upgrade ever year (2 each year under a family plan) at the discounted cost rather than paying full retail cost. I don't want to pay extra for service I depend on anyway. Not worth $450 plus for a phone I will only use for a year.

----------

So, we have a theme here... Don't use the device to its full potential and you'll be fine. Hmm...

And Verizon and AT&T knew this would happen. If every one had unlimited LTE data plans it would bring the system down to it's knees.

 

[yeah]

LTE-Advanced will kick LTE's butt!

(3.3 Gbps download speeds theoretical and much more efficient spectrum/tower usage).

 

[Mliii]

Huh? I'm looking at ATT's data coverage map right now and it seems to be 4G LTE everywhere in orange county / los angeles / san diego areas

Pure dark blue everywhere as far as I can tell.

Perhaps I should have qualified that.
If you look at the map in detail, yes, the area in Central LA is dark blue.
But look at the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Burbank, North Hollywood etc areas north of LA proper and it's not there.
Look at Santa Barbara. Ventura. etc.
Nada.
So, Southern California currently has sparse coverage. I'm certain it will improve, but for now, unless you are in the central part of LA and points south, it's not happening