what your thoughts on AT&T charging for facetime?
- Thread starter BFizzzle
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Frankied22
macrumors 68000
AT&Ts defense of this is ********. You need to switch to a shared data plan to use FaceTime over cellular, but you can already use google hangouts, Skype, fring, or any other video chatting app on any other data plan? Give me a break.
BFizzzle
macrumors 68020
hahaha yeah and "loosing sleep" over imessage...
"awe man i cant charge people to use texts messages, when it doesnt cost me anything... "it piggybacks on already existent connections needed for voice service. "i'll only make 18 mil this year.. damn"
The dudes a scumbag, the company pays him more than they did in taxes lol
They didnt pay any fed taxs in 2011 recieved a $420 mil taxpayer-subsidized refund... Yet they claim one of the big reasons they started throttling was due to the big loss from the blocked t-mo merge..
BFizzzle
macrumors 68020
lol just saw this.. hmm obviously i know its against the rules... if it was deleted, a mod sends a message saying why... ...
but um thanks?I know they have posted about the fcc in the news here and atts respones, but the staff hasnt said anything about what THEY think on the issue.
It would be nice if they were more vocal on the issue instead of just regurgitating whats being said from them. Im sure they just dont want to step on any toes blah blah blah, but i think being a media outlet/journalist you should say what your feelings are on the subject. Whether its for it or not.
jlblodgett
macrumors 6502a
Somewhat off-topic, but what is the likelihood that AT&T does not allow the "unlimited" data crowd to renew contracts with unlimited data, again?
I have been a proud iPhone owner since the very first models came available. I've been on unlimited data through the 3G, 3Gs, 4, and now the 4s. I'm very curious to see if AT&T will allow the "unlimited" data plan to roll over into the "5" (or whatever they decide to call the next model iPhone).
I have been a proud iPhone owner since the very first models came available. I've been on unlimited data through the 3G, 3Gs, 4, and now the 4s. I'm very curious to see if AT&T will allow the "unlimited" data plan to roll over into the "5" (or whatever they decide to call the next model iPhone).
BFizzzle
macrumors 68020
i bet the 5 will be fine, it wouldnt suprise me if they did like verizon and stopped offering subsidized pricing, but i think ATT would have already announced that, being so close to the iphone 5 launch (maybe lol assuming sep 12th rumor is right)
tbayrgs
macrumors 604
I always have a laugh when I see these posts. Excluding possible better coverage, what exactly do you hope to gain? Moving your cell service to Verizon is only going to lead to a similar or even higher phone bill as they no longer offer individual plans and their mobile share are exactly the same. But wait, there that unlimited data plan...oh, that's right, they don't offer one either. Look how they're treating their existing unlimited data customers. And if you want to claim 'principle', gimme a break. Verizon would just as quickly screw you over if it meant they could make an extra $. And the only reason Sprint continue to offer such competitively priced plans is because they are getting their preverbal @$$ handed to them and are losing money hand over fist. If they were in positions of strength such as Verizon or AT&T, they'd bend you over just as fast.
Please don't try to interpret this as pro AT&T, because I have no more loyalty to them as any other mobile carrier. But claiming AT&T is any more devious in their practices than any other company is simply pure bull$%&t.
Applejuiced
macrumors Westmere
I dont think that's the point.
I been using Facetime over 3G for a very long time now on a JB iphone and will continue to do so once iOS 6.0 is JB.
If we keep letting carriers keep giving us less and charging us more and changing their rules in order to bend us over and get more money out of us then things will keep getting worse for the consumer.
Its facetime now, if we keep letting it go it will escalate to other things that you do care about.
Ceviche Lover
macrumors 6502
I guarantee you 90% of the people complaining about this don't even use Facetime. They're just complaining for the sake of it. Besides, if you dont like what they're doing, go to another carrier. Its their network and you play by their rules. Simple as that. No one is putting a gun to your head to remain with ATT. As for the 'data is data' argument, data is whatever ATT interprets it to be. Its their network and if you dont like it leave.
JayLenochiniMac
macrumors G5
True, the vast majority of members here have said that FaceTime is useless, but they're countering that's because it currently can't be used over cellular so they have a point.
I think we should use data the way we want since we are paying for it but this will not affect me in any way because I have no use for FT. My 3GS line had been eligible and contract free since May and will use that to get the new phone. I will be dumping my Verizon line as soon as I can afford the ETF.
Dominicanyor
macrumors 65816
Obviously you have at&t. Now what's your phone bill like with them? I have sprint and I have the unlimited plan for 102.00 with taxes. I feel that I pay to much money with sprint.
GadgetGeek407
macrumors 6502a
I have to chime in after reading all the posts, interestingly enough I was with Sprint since 1999 up until the new iphone 4s came and then I came to ATT.
for the people who care there are significant differences between CDMA and GSM you can do a lot more on GSM, voice calls and surf the net is a big one, 3 way calling 4 way calling or how many ever is another.
Sprint a few years back if you all remember imposed a $10 fee which they didnt even know what to call but basically ended up being for smartphone users. You bet people got pissed but as many said they either dealt with it or moved on.
I am only happy camper on ATT. in my case I was paying over $400 a month right now for 6 lines which was with two family plans. so by switching to the new plans I am saying over a $100 a month n will have more data than I need considering 3 of my 6 lines barely used any.
I know this isnt the case for everyone but I benefited. I DO agree that forcing a switch to these new plans just to use facetime IS WRONG, you dont have to be a genius to see that, if you dont agree you are ignorant, plain and simple.
Having also worked for sprint for over a year truth be told it doesnt cost ANY of these carriers or dish network or brighthouse barely anything to offer these services but its a business mixed with greed and corporate crap. How else do you think ATT is now offering unlimited calls on these new plans to mobile or landlines? nobody ever pointed that out! I own a small business so thats a big plus for me too.
Verizon is one of the crappiest carriers in terms of doing things for the customer, att and sprint are probably the top two. As far as people saying this carrier is better than another, its all relative to where you live and the network you get. I say this because a $30 a month for all you can eat is crap if your phone never works vs 200 a month for what you need when you need it.
I hope ATT does the right thing at the end of the day and offers the facetime over cellular to anyone with a data plan, it would be the ethical and right thing to do.
for the people who care there are significant differences between CDMA and GSM you can do a lot more on GSM, voice calls and surf the net is a big one, 3 way calling 4 way calling or how many ever is another.
Sprint a few years back if you all remember imposed a $10 fee which they didnt even know what to call but basically ended up being for smartphone users. You bet people got pissed but as many said they either dealt with it or moved on.
I am only happy camper on ATT. in my case I was paying over $400 a month right now for 6 lines which was with two family plans. so by switching to the new plans I am saying over a $100 a month n will have more data than I need considering 3 of my 6 lines barely used any.
I know this isnt the case for everyone but I benefited. I DO agree that forcing a switch to these new plans just to use facetime IS WRONG, you dont have to be a genius to see that, if you dont agree you are ignorant, plain and simple.
Having also worked for sprint for over a year truth be told it doesnt cost ANY of these carriers or dish network or brighthouse barely anything to offer these services but its a business mixed with greed and corporate crap. How else do you think ATT is now offering unlimited calls on these new plans to mobile or landlines? nobody ever pointed that out! I own a small business so thats a big plus for me too.
Verizon is one of the crappiest carriers in terms of doing things for the customer, att and sprint are probably the top two. As far as people saying this carrier is better than another, its all relative to where you live and the network you get. I say this because a $30 a month for all you can eat is crap if your phone never works vs 200 a month for what you need when you need it.
I hope ATT does the right thing at the end of the day and offers the facetime over cellular to anyone with a data plan, it would be the ethical and right thing to do.
Ceviche Lover
macrumors 6502
im actually on sprint as well and pay $70 a month for 450 mins plus unlimited anything. i will be switching my service to verizon once the new iphone is out. i will gladly pay an extra $30 month to get rid of these dialup '3g' speeds. in the past 2 years with sprint ive quickly learned unlimited plans ruin the network. id rather go to another vendor where data is more controlled, faster as well as reliable.
Dominicanyor
macrumors 65816
So what's the different between AT&T and Verizon?
dylanursula
macrumors 6502
All, I think the solution is not jail breaking? Why? Because it will be treated by AT&T no differently to tethering! If they see you have data that is FaceTime (assuming they can do it) then cue the nasty texts and then throttling. Just my humble opinion... FaceTime over the network was going to be a huge plus for me as I travel and would use it to see my kids as its just easier than Skype!!