Will AT&T end the grandfathered people's unlimited data when Facetime goes 3G?

[appleguy123]

Leave us out to dry?!?!? Nonsense. I have unlimited and I tether!
Shhh. Don't tell them I'm using HandyLight

I mean that there are no official way to tether with unlimited. Facetime will be the same way. Right now MY3G allows Facetime over 3G and it is how we will always have to use it.
Imagine if AT&T made an unlimited facetime for $15 a month, and you used it all the time. They'd be about hundreds of Gigabytes and couldn't bill you for phone minutes.

 

[Applejuiced]

It ain't a game, I checked.



It has been given to me as a priviledge of his Master Tallest Skil. Which is why only I have handled and wielded it. However, in the month of his banishment, it is imperative others use it to conmemorate his departure and show respect to him. Hence, everyone is using it.

Interesting
I dont remember him much, the name rings a bell though since I probably came across his posts.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Possibly but I doubt it, more likely LTE (4G) will leave us unlimited people high and dry.

 

[JustinSaneV2]

Possibly but I doubt it, more likely LTE (4G) will leave us unlimited people high and dry.

With as little 3G coverage that AT&T already has I don't see very high adoption rates for LTE in the near-future. Does make one hopeful for the iPhone appearing on another carrier though.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

TS was banned? I always thought he just changed or signed up with a new name with the same avatar.

man that blows. he still helped alot of people, specially in the MBP forum. one gets a little frustrated when someone asks the same question over and over again

oh back to topic.

Uhm. ATT will let us keep our current plan until they shift to LTE or whatever the next gen upgrade is.

Then they'll change the cost and force us to a metered plan if we decide to purchase the newest iPhone that utilizes the technology.

Just as everyone who wanted to stick with a 2G iPhone only had to pay edge rates, but 3G users were forced to the $30 unlimited.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Uhm. ATT will let us keep our current plan until they shift to LTE or whatever the next gen upgrade is.

Then they'll change the cost and force us to a metered plan if we decide to purchase the newest iPhone that utilizes the technology.

Just as everyone who wanted to stick with a 2G iPhone only had to pay edge rates, but 3G users were forced to the $30 unlimited.

That's most likely what will happen. I don't see them automatically converting our 3G unlimited plans to 4G unlimited plans. But there is always the option of them not enabling 4G on people with 3G plans although odds are they would just auto change your plan to a 4G one.

The good thing is AT&T is focusing on 3.5/3.9G upgrades right now so by the time we do get an iPhone LTE, the speed upgrade may not even be worth it. Plus on the hardware side, by then Apple will most likely have already added everything but the kitchen sink into the iPhone, so the hardware upgrade (smaller form factor, 2x memory, etc) may not even be that appealing.

 

[caligurl]

He was a little too curt with some people .

hmmmmmm selective bannishment? there are people on here still that are curt (downright rude?) to posters and are still here... i immediatetly thought of one gal the minute i read your curt comment!

 

[chakraj]

When ATT takes away my unlimited data plan. I am out of there, no questions asked. Thats all thats keeping me on ATT lately

 

[jlake02]

When ATT takes away my unlimited data plan. I am out of there, no questions asked. Thats all thats keeping me on ATT lately

I agree. I've been with AT&T for 12 years but if they mess with my unlimited data I'll probably move to whatever new network has the iPhone, just out of spite.

 

[caligurl]

I agree. I've been with AT&T for 12 years but if they mess with my unlimited data I'll probably move to whatever new network has the iPhone, just out of spite.

that may be easier said than done... verizon even switched to tierd data....

 

[ToroidalZeus]

When ATT takes away my unlimited data plan. I am out of there, no questions asked. Thats all thats keeping me on ATT lately

Unlimited data plans are a thing of the past, good cheap ones that is, for a while atleast.

With wireless speeds where they are, 3G makes is very tempting to drop your landline for wireless internet exclusively, just like what happened to cell phones 10 years ago. The last thing a carrier needs is 1 person using 30x more data then the average mobile user because he doesn't have a landline.

 

[jacollins]

My understanding is that if AT&T drops unlimited for the grandfathered plans, they trigger a contract change, so those people can leave AT&T without paying the EFT.

So it's really going to be a question of whether or not they care if they lose those people midcontract with subsidized iPhone 4's...

 

[Block]

My understanding is that if AT&T drops unlimited for the grandfathered plans, they trigger a contract change, so those people can leave AT&T without paying the EFT.

So it's really going to be a question of whether or not they care if they lose those people midcontract with subsidized iPhone 4's...

When people say they are going to drop unlimited, they mean for the next generation of wireless technology, i.e. LTE. When it is time to upgrade to the newest iPhone, your only choice would likely be to upgrade to the newest capped tier plans on LTE, or just finish off your 3G contract.

 

[MCRunning]

I highly doubt this will be anytime soon. Maybe we will see some change when 4g starts rolling out

 

[anonymous guy]

People who are holding onto their 3G unlimited plans will have some breathing room.

AT&T is banking on HSDPA+ upgrades for their 3G network and hoping it lasts them some time during Verizon's LTE rollout.

Unfortunately, that probably means AT&T will be even further behind when LTE becomes the standard.

 

[jacollins]

When people say they are going to drop unlimited, they mean for the next generation of wireless technology, i.e. LTE. When it is time to upgrade to the newest iPhone, your only choice would likely be to upgrade to the newest capped tier plans on LTE, or just finish off your 3G contract.

The OP's question was:
"I'm assuming that AT&T would have the right to force us to switch to 2GB or raise the unlimited price even if we are locked into a 2 year contract with them, right?"

While I agree that when LTE comes out, AT&T could use that as an excuse like with tethering, or to say that the data's "different" so you need to change your plan. ie. "You can't get LTE unless you get the 2GB data plan".

However, that's not the same as forcing people to switch, even if you're locked in.

 

[Block]

The OP's question was:
"I'm assuming that AT&T would have the right to force us to switch to 2GB or raise the unlimited price even if we are locked into a 2 year contract with them, right?"

While I agree that when LTE comes out, AT&T could use that as an excuse like with tethering, or to say that the data's "different" so you need to change your plan. ie. "You can't get LTE unless you get the 2GB data plan".

However, that's not the same as forcing people to switch, even if you're locked in.

I was more referring to the trail of comments right before yours. It made more logical sense that you were replying to them than to the OP.

But yes, if they do "force" people out of unlimited then they may have some problems with the contract. But that is very unlikely though. If it became a serious issue they'd just throttle your bandwidth after 5GB like all the other carriers do for their unlimited plans.

 

[tigres]

If AT&T knows what is best, they will leave well enough alone for current users.
Future adopters will of course, get the hammer.

So every time  comes out with an enhancement to the phone, AT&T is supposed to tag/charge everyone to actually use it? I suppose that is the thinking here.

 

[ks-man]

My understanding is that if AT&T drops unlimited for the grandfathered plans, they trigger a contract change, so those people can leave AT&T without paying the EFT.

So it's really going to be a question of whether or not they care if they lose those people midcontract with subsidized iPhone 4's...

The OP's question was:
"I'm assuming that AT&T would have the right to force us to switch to 2GB or raise the unlimited price even if we are locked into a 2 year contract with them, right?"

While I agree that when LTE comes out, AT&T could use that as an excuse like with tethering, or to say that the data's "different" so you need to change your plan. ie. "You can't get LTE unless you get the 2GB data plan".

However, that's not the same as forcing people to switch, even if you're locked in.

I did quote it in a way of them "forcing us" to switch (which I do wonder), but for my purposes holding back features is essentially the same thing. I am not close to 2GB now so I am keeping the unlimited plan as is with the idea that I may start using a lot more in the future. I now wonder though if it is a smart move as I likely won't get close to 2GB unless:

1. Facetime goes 3G and works with iChat
2. I can continue keeping unlimited with each new upgrade of my phone

It sounds like most people around here (yourselves included) believe that unlimited data will mean fewer features and older phones.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Be careful on what you wish for lol....

When ATT takes away my unlimited data plan. I am out of there, no questions asked. Thats all thats keeping me on ATT lately

I am on the iPad with an unlimited plan and feel the same way... I am averaging between 2 and 3gb a month so far... On my original iPhone I am averaging just 90mb's a month here so far. So I am on the fence here as to whether to keep the unlimited plan once I decide on getting the iPhone 4.

 

[UCLAKoolman]

Even with FaceTime over 3G I'll never go over my 2GB limit. At 3 MB/s, I would need to be on FaceTime on 3G for several hours to even come close to breaking the limit. Then again, everywhere I go has wifi... Work, Bars, Restaurants, Home, Friends, Airports, Coffee Shops, etc.

And I'm saving $5 a month with this data plan. That's two Arrogant Bastards during happy hour at my local bar!

 

[appleguy123]

hmmmmmm selective bannishment? there are people on here still that are curt (downright rude?) to posters and are still here... i immediatetly thought of one gal the minute i read your curt comment!

They all go too far eventually. I'm not sure what TS did to push himself over the edge, but I'm sure it wasn't good.