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Who here uses Pandora or Tuner over EDGE or 3G?

TheSpaz

TheSpaz

macrumors 604
Original poster
Jun 20, 2005
7,032
1
If you're streaming or downloading music or video over EDGE or 3G, you're violating your AT&T Terms. I wonder how YouTube works then?

Click this: http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/iphone-terms.jsp

The following is directly from the iPhone terms and conditions for AT&T:

"UNLIMITED PLANS CANNOT BE USED FOR UPLOADING, DOWNLOADING OR STREAMING OF VIDEO CONTENT (E.G. MOVIES, TV), MUSIC OR GAMES. FURTHERMORE, UNLIMITED PLANS (EXCEPT FOR DATACONNECT AND BLACKBERRY TETHERED) CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY APPLICATIONS THAT TETHER THE DEVICE (THROUGH USE OF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONNECTION KITS, OTHER PHONE/PDA-TO-COMPUTER ACCESSORIES, BLUETOOTH® OR ANY OTHER WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY) TO LAPTOPS, PCS, OR OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR ANY PURPOSE."
 
As you are paying AT&T for all of your usage, I just don't see how they can restrict what KIND of content you "stream" into your iPhone, as long as you're not going over their limits. That clause you quoted looks like it should be coming from a Chinese or Russian company, and is probably not enforceable.

This is typical of the telecomms in the US. They can break the law and get immunity, and now feel they can dictate what kind of data you allow to come into your iPhone.
 
Trajectory said:
As you are paying AT&T for all of your usage, I just don't see how they can restrict what KIND of content you "stream" into your iPhone, as long as you're not going over their limits.
Click to expand...

I guess they want people using the internet in "bursts", and not in gentle steady trickles.
 
Well by that argument the Apple YouTube app, itunes app, and the App Store would all violate the TOS. All either upload/download or stream music, audio and games in some way.

I have a feeling they won't enforce or there is a clause for the iphone somewhere that you are missing.
 
TheSpaz said:
If you're streaming or downloading music or video over EDGE or 3G, you're violating your AT&T Terms. I wonder how YouTube works then?
Click to expand...

It works because AT&T doesn't actually care.

This is typical lawyer contract writing. Prohibit EVERYTHING, and then only go after the things you care about.

Your grocery store probably has a legal sign up somewhere that they're allowed to throw you out if you've been in the store more than 15 minutes. WILL they ever do that to you? No. But if some weird guy is annoying customers and they want to toss him out...bingo, they have a nice, legal excuse waiting without having to worry about a lawsuit.

Same thing here. AT&T doesn't care if you watch YouTube. They just want the RIGHT to object to it later if they don't like you for some reason.

Stupid? No doubt. But it doesn't mean they care about stopping YouTube on their phones. It's just standard blanket-coverage.

(Actually, I'm sure that's old language they just never changed. At this point you could argue that they sold you a phone with a YouTube app on it, so you should be able to watch YouTube, and you'd probably win. But my explanation is how that language ORIGINALLY got put in AT&T contracts. After that, they won't change it until they're forced to.)
 
Diode said:
Well by that argument the Apple YouTube app, itunes app, and the App Store would all violate the TOS. All either upload/download or stream music, audio and games in some way.

I have a feeling they won't enforce or there is a clause for the iphone somewhere that you are missing.
Click to expand...

iTunes Store requires a wifi connection by the way.
 
HAHAH...well, my answer is in the other thread....

Well, Simplify Media now available in the store.... go check it out, see what it does....
:D:D:D:D
 
Small White Car said:
Well, excuse me. I'm so sorry my opinion offended you.

Why it did, I haven't a clue, since you declined to give your opinion.
Click to expand...

no need to get bitter.....

i just pointed out the whole att contract and its points were brought to verbatim with the netshare app. so instead of being hostile, i recommended a thread for you to look at. some people:rolleyes:

edit: and you apparently changed your post during the time i read it and when i quoted it which referred to me "sliming around here" and something about reading all threads....
 
dukebound85 said:
no need to get bitter.....

i just pointed out the whole att contract and its points were brought to verbatim with the netshare app. so instead of being hostile, i recommended a thread for you to look at. some people:rolleyes:

edit: and you apparently changed your post during the time i read it and when i quoted it.
Click to expand...

I was referring more to the guy that told me to "shut the f*** up" without any other information, not to you.

EDIT: Yes, my fault. I had quoted both of you at first, posted, and then realized you didn't say anything mean and removed your quote. Sorry you saw it in those 10 seconds. I didn't mean to include you.
 
nt

dukebound85 said:
no need to get bitter.....

i just pointed out the whole att contract and its points were brought to verbatim with the netshare app
Click to expand...

The issue of netshare is a completely different part of the contract which is related to tethering your device which is quite clearly a supplemental plan with smartphones that costs $30/month.

I, for one, am also curious about the contradictions between the contract and officially supported uses of wireless data on the iPhone. I am not very concerned, but even if all you do is flip to the last page and sign, it is a legal contract. Seems like AT&T needs to review the terms of use (which they can change without any notice to you, by the way, as you were made aware of and agreed to by signing the contract).
 
You neglected to quote the sentence RIGHT BEFORE the one you quoted. That paragraph actually reads:

EXCEPT FOR CONTENT FORMATTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AT&T'S CONTENT STANDARDS, UNLIMITED PLANS CANNOT BE USED FOR UPLOADING, DOWNLOADING OR STREAMING OF VIDEO CONTENT (E.G. MOVIES, TV), MUSIC OR GAMES.
Click to expand...

So as long as the content conforms to some standards that AT&T has (probably regarding bitrate), streaming content does not violate your TOS.
 
What exactly are AT&T's content standards? Does that mean anything provided on the AppStore is good to use over EDGE and 3G?
 
TheSpaz said:
What exactly are AT&T's content standards? Does that mean anything provided on the AppStore is good to use over EDGE and 3G?
Click to expand...

Saying "content standards" just allows them to have an excuse to terminate someone if they turn out to be doing something new and sneaky that uses 15GB of their bandwidth every month. It doesn't matter what it means because they'll never find out/actually care that you're streaming music using Tuner, or Last.FM, or YouTube, or anything else.
 
Eso said:
The issue of netshare is a completely different part of the contract which is related to tethering your device which is quite clearly a supplemental plan with smartphones that costs $30/month.

I, for one, am also curious about the contradictions between the contract and officially supported uses of wireless data on the iPhone. I am not very concerned, but even if all you do is flip to the last page and sign, it is a legal contract. Seems like AT&T needs to review the terms of use (which they can change without any notice to you, by the way, as you were made aware of and agreed to by signing the contract).
Click to expand...

i know...

i was saying that the points of wirelessly streaming music and videos and such was brought up in that netshare thread becasue they too violated the contract. with that logic, you could argue that netshare is ok as all the other apps are apple sponsored
 
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