Top five percent of AT&T smartphone usage and Bandwidth throttling

[Orlandu]

I just got the message 20 minutes ago. I checked my current data usage and I'm at 5.1GB for this billing cycle that ends on 12/8. No tethering. I get low speeds here at my work anyway but if I notice it affecting speeds elsewhere then I'll be switching to Sprint.

So far I haven't noticed anything from being throttled. Pandora plays just fine here at work and Netflix quality is same as it always is. I've racked up another 2GB in the past few days, though. If they want to throttle me, I'll just have to keep using more.

 

[Spectrum Abuser]

The throttling message for me was at 4.9GB in the last billing cycle. I managed to rack that up to 6GB before it ended yet was never actually throttled.. Just warned. And to be be sure of my speed I just completed a Speedtest on the new billing cycle and I'm still getting 4Mbps/1Mbps so they didn't carry it over to the new billing cycle, either.

 

[Bjornfleuren]

They have the power!

I use about 14 gb a month, I'm on the road a lot, yes Netflix, YouTube, wimp, Conan.. Lots if video.*
Now I'm limited to 2 gigs and think its not worth it to pay an extra $100 a month for my data needs. To bad that this new limitation will slow down technology and the iPhones full potential..*
This kind of technology needs unlimited possibilities like we have with our wifi at home. AT&T just can't keep up, it's hard now with people not using the call minutes anymore, same thing with iMessage that's why they canceled 5$ for 200 text plan. They need to pay for there 19 billion spend on upgrading there antennas
It's just really disappointing...
I could go to sprint, the only unlimited carrier still standing.

 

[boredandlonely]

How to fight:

Just saw this on the TIPB forum:

BTW, did you notice every time you complain with the #ATTfail hashtag, the company HATES IT and tries to contact you and remedy "your problem"? *HINT HINT*

I wonder if that is twitter, or everywhere?

For those of you who don't know you CAN complain to the FCC, because that's THEIR JOB to handle this kind of illegal behavior. I have done it before, and it works. It may take a little time to hear back from them, but it's totally worth it to watch #ATTfail get beat down by the government. The more complaints, the faster #ATTfail will back down off this scam.

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

Just file under "wireless telephone".

Yes... Feel my wrath...

 

[DiamondMac]

Dont be madd at ATT, this is your fault for missunderstanding what they sold you when you purchased Unlimited Data plan.

Exactly. People are so stupid. When people are ordering their iPhones and plans and see this.....

and then the people went and saw what "unlimited" was defined as...

adjective
1. not limited; unrestricted; unconfined: unlimited trade.
2. boundless; infinite; vast: the unlimited skies.
3. without any qualification or exception; unconditional.

Why people don't understand that the actual understanding of "Unlimited" is not the same as "Unlimited" to AT&T and other major ISPs.......is shocking

Good grief people......is it hard to understand that the definition of a word does not mean AT&T will use that definition for their own use

Duh!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unlimited

 

[apollo1444]

no wonder your batteries suck... who the hell uses that much data?

I have a 3gb postpaid plan and I rarely even get to 800mb and imho I use a lot of ****, social networks and youtube

yeah I know netflix and other **** are avaliable but I'd never use them over 3G and less with a tiny screen like the iPhone

 

[baypharm]

Good reason NOT to use AT&T. Also I smell a class action lawsuit brewing here....

 

[DiamondMac]

no wonder your batteries suck... who the hell uses that much data?

I have a 3gb postpaid plan and I rarely even get to 800mb and imho I use a lot of ****, social networks and youtube

yeah I know netflix and other **** are avaliable but I'd never use them over 3G and less with a tiny screen like the iPhone

Ok? I use YouTube every now and then on the iPhone. I have watched a few Netflix/Hulu shows as well. I have used FoxSoccer2Go and WatchESPN as well.

What you use and what you consider normal is not what others consider the same

 

[baypharm]

no wonder your batteries suck... who the hell uses that much data?

I have a 3gb postpaid plan and I rarely even get to 800mb and imho I use a lot of ****, social networks and youtube

yeah I know netflix and other **** are avaliable but I'd never use them over 3G and less with a tiny screen like the iPhone

Have you appointed yourself the Messiah of smart phones or something? Why should you care how much bandwidth the OP is using and for that matter what he is using it for? The OP has a legit issue and you are making a joke out of it.

 

[apollo1444]

Have you appointed yourself the Messiah of smart phones or something? Why should you care how much bandwidth the OP is using and for that matter what he is using it for? The OP has a legit issue and you are making a joke out of it.

I hope he resolves his issue, no problem with that, but I'm free to say that his usage is ridiculous...

 

[chakraj]

Yes! Class Action Suit against #ATTFail!

I have my origional four year old contract and no where does it talk about throttling data. Since then I have not signed or recieved any contract signed by both me and a rep from ATT.

 

[ViViDboarder]

Yes! Class Action Suit against #ATTFail!

I have my origional four year old contract and no where does it talk about throttling data. Since then I have not signed or recieved any contract signed by both me and a rep from ATT.

The terms of your plan may have changed though.

Many times you will receive notice of term changes with an indication that you may leave your contract without penalty within 90 days. Generally, by continuing with your contract you are agreeing to the terms.

I'm not sure if this practice has been challenged in court before, but I know it's widely used in many industries.

 

[Wide opeN]

Just saw this on the TIPB forum:



I wonder if that is twitter, or everywhere?



Yes... Feel my wrath...

Great information boredandlonely; this kinda of sharing is what these forums are about!!!

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Exactly. People are so stupid. When people are ordering their iPhones and plans and see this.....

Image

and then the people went and saw what "unlimited" was defined as...



Why people don't understand that the actual understanding of "Unlimited" is not the same as "Unlimited" to AT&T and other major ISPs.......is shocking

Good grief people......is it hard to understand that the definition of a word does not mean AT&T will use that definition for their own use

Duh!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unlimited

Love it, love it, love it!!! It's that obvious how we're being PLAYED and you still have those supporting the carriers... R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!!!

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Also I've come to the conclusion AT&T is trying to artificially lower the cap, so as to make it tough on unlimited plans but still appear within their own policy of top 5%.

AT&T I smell your BS from a mile away! Whether you think you're going to SCHEME us unlimited users off the plan with artificial throttling points or throttling period, guess what!? You have another thing coming.

YOU WILL SUFFER THE PR BLACK EYE that you're sooo desperately trying to avoid while still looking like a saint.

You can stop already with the fear mongering and spectrum crunch nonsense and build your network out like it should be cheapskates. Instead, you try to get away with minimal input and maximum output... shameless!!!

There are some of us that see through the smoke and mirrors, (laughably the FCC and DOJ are two) so GIVE UP and do the right thing, spend some dang money already and STOP trying to put your FAILINGS (looking at you Ralph and Randall) off on others.

Data is the future and you have had from June, 2010 onward to FLEECE whoever you want. Stop ***** with us, (loyal iPhone/Smartphone customers on unlimited from June, 2007 - June, 2010) getting mad cause we're smarter than your average bear.

You think you're slick and your intentions go unnoticed (but they aren't) and you're winning the war (to get unlimited users off the network).

But; let me tell you something Big Blue... WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY, let me repeat for emphasis, WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY!!!

Play around and you won't be around (not likely but you get the point). There are and WILL be consequences, the customers ULTIMATELY rule.

Footnote: ( See: Egypt & Libya for greedy corporations future)

 

[chakraj]

The terms of your plan may have changed though.

Many times you will receive notice of term changes with an indication that you may leave your contract without penalty within 90 days. Generally, by continuing with your contract you are agreeing to the terms.

I'm not sure if this practice has been challenged in court before, but I know it's widely used in many industries.

Yes it is a tactic used until someone challenges it in court, and we have not reached that point yet. I think that a signed contract, is a signed contract.

 

[darknyt]

FWIW, I'm on my second corporate premier plan with AT&T(different employers). Both use master contracts to grandfather all users into unlimited data, regardless of roll-on date.

Talking to both my AT&T reps, they *claim* that the corp premier accounts (or maybe just some of them?) are like superusers that don't get challenged on unlimited data usage.

I destroyed unlimited data on my IP4 and am up to 4gb before week 3 in my first month on my 4s. Never seen a throttling warning.

 

[Orlandu]

I got the confirmation text that "Data speeds for this bill cycle may be reduced." So I did a few tests this morning in different locations:

Every time it would start high like .70mb and then drop down to .10 to .15mb. We'll see how it affects my actual data usage through Netflix and Pandora. I'm betting it will

 

[scmacdaddy]

Holy crap I got this message and I've only used 2.2 gb! I still have half
My billing period left. This is ridiculous! I checked on speed test and my download speeds are non existent!

 

[Givmeabrek]

Yikes, what's the point of unlimited if the cut you off at 2GB??

 

[YellowStarS2000]

This is ridiculous.

1. I never noticed much deviation in speed when there was no talk of throttling. Even with me downloading constantly, there was no real degradation in speed. I call BS on network congestion.

2. Why throttle to 2G speeds? Are we back in the early 00s? Why not throttle to something still usable, even 40kbps! @(#*$& Right now I'm getting 10kbps after being throttled. Throttling to 2G speeds is unacceptable and unusable.




Just submitted a complaint at the FCC. I encourage everyone to do the same.
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

 

[chakraj]

This is most likely retaliation for the Tmo merger turn down. See this proves they need the extra spectrum to keep the customers happy.

Yes BS is right.

 

[Orlandu]

I haven't noticed any issues with streaming music on Pandora or Spotify yet, which is surprising considering I'm only getting 10Kbps speeds. But Netflix is out of the question now. It plays on the lowest quality, which is super blocky, and pauses every 30 seconds or so for at least 2-5 seconds.

As much as I would love to switch to Sprint and get an iPhone 4S, then I'd be locked into that phone for another 2 years and not be eligible for whatever new iPhone comes out next year. Plus Sprint can't do voice and data at the same time, which isn't a huge issue but I have had to do it a few times that losing it would be a hindrance. I could switch to an Android phone but I prefer the iPhone and iOS. And Sprint only offers the iP4 8gb. If I wanted 16gb like my current iP4 I'd have to get a 4S which isn't jailbroken yet.

Everyone that is being throttled, be sure to submit a complain to the FCC using the links provided. AT&T will eventually feel the heat and have to make a change.

 

[rgarjr]

Damn dude, looks like you're back in EDGE speeds.

I got the confirmation text that "Data speeds for this bill cycle may be reduced." So I did a few tests this morning in different locations:

Image

Every time it would start high like .70mb and then drop down to .10 to .15mb. We'll see how it affects my actual data usage through Netflix and Pandora. I'm betting it will

 

[Nebrie]

Yikes, what's the point of unlimited if the cut you off at 2GB??

This guy says he just got the notice and checked his usage for the month....

 

[lordofthereef]

no wonder your batteries suck... who the hell uses that much data?

I have a 3gb postpaid plan and I rarely even get to 800mb and imho I use a lot of ****, social networks and youtube

yeah I know netflix and other **** are avaliable but I'd never use them over 3G and less with a tiny screen like the iPhone

Social networks are not going to rack your data up at all, especially if you are using a built in app... youtube, without my3G, also plays at extremely low quality, thus using smaller amounts of data as well. In short, you don't visit high bandwidth sites. This is great for you, but why are you judging people for using less than you do?

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This is ridiculous.

1. I never noticed much deviation in speed when there was no talk of throttling. Even with me downloading constantly, there was no real degradation in speed. I call BS on network congestion.

2. Why throttle to 2G speeds? Are we back in the early 00s? Why not throttle to something still usable, even 40kbps! @(#*$& Right now I'm getting 10kbps after being throttled. Throttling to 2G speeds is unacceptable and unusable.

1. It's worth noting that just because you didn't experience network congestion doesn't mean it doesn't exist, because it does. How can you call BS based on your isolated experiences?

2. This I can get on board with. Hell, I would even be happy if they just reduced the speed on the unlimited plan permanently, so long as I had about 500kbps to use at all times. That is to say, no throttling, but no taking advantage for 7+mbps speeds either.

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This is most likely retaliation for the Tmo merger turn down. See this proves they need the extra spectrum to keep the customers happy.

Yes BS is right.

What? They started doing this before the TMO thing.

 

[Orlandu]

So it's been a week now, and I haven't been able to do anything besides check Facebook and listen to Pandora. And even that's gotten a bit choppy at times. Trying to browse the web is horrendous, unless I'm using simple mobile based sites that are all text. I want to switch to another carrier but I'm still tied with AT&T for another 10 months. If something isn't done before then, I'll switch to Sprint when the next iPhone comes out.