Suggestions to AT&T (and other Wireless Carriers) to improve service Part 1 [ Edited ]

[JulienPDX]

1) All phones that are no longer "under contract" should be unlocked--period.  This should always have been the case as it is just common sense.  If a customer is no longer under subsidy with you--then you don't "own" their wireless device.  [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].   It is really upsetting that it took AT&T 4 years to start finally unlocking out-of-contract iPhones.

2) All devices should be fairly offered the same data plans.  Feature phones should not get "reduced data" plans comapred to Smartphones.   This is ridiculous.  All Devices should be able to choose from something reasonable per month.  I suggest the following breakdown:

1) 500 MB or less == 20.00/month

2) 3GB == 30.00/month

3) 5GB == 45.00/month

The 3GB/month plan should include the ability to tether to another device and should not require an upgrade to a 5GB plan. My reason for expecting this is two fold:

a)   If I pay for 3GB of data usage on a plan, then it should not matter to you HOW i use that data plan as long as I'm not doing anything illegal.  I  take high exception with AT&T "disabling" the Personal Hotspot on iPhone (for example) unless I pay for the most expensive data plan offered.  In fact, I take exception with AT&T disabling any feature on a device that comes with it for this reason.

b) Metered data plan users are automatically billed an overage of $10 per 1GB of service when an overage occurs. You have a built-in check and balance system for handling overages, so it isn't like your revenue is being harmed if people tether on the more reasonably priced plan.

3) Offer "unsubsidized" pricing to your post-paid customers.  It is ridiculous that if I'm out of contract, I can't enjoy a lower rate as an incentive to stay with you and that I am instead, shuffled into a sales channel and pressured to get a new device.  If I'm not under contract--my rate should be lower..period.  

4) Offer the Advanced CSS features you pushed out to landlines in the late 90s. While I'd love to see these features be "standard" for all lines, I can certainly respect if they would be considered premium features.  These services would be; Caller ID Blocking per Line, Call Rejection, Last Call Rejection,  Distinctive Ring, Blocked call Rejection.

That is all, otherwise I love my AT&T service.  

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

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JulienPDX wrote:

1) All phones that are no longer "under contract" should be unlocked--period.  This should always have been the case as it is just common sense.  If a customer is no longer under subsidy with you--then you don't "own" their wireless device.  [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].   It is really upsetting that it took AT&T 4 years to start finally unlocking out-of-contract iPhones.

2) All devices should be fairly offered the same data plans.  Feature phones should not get "reduced data" plans comapred to Smartphones.   This is ridiculous.  All Devices should be able to choose from something reasonable per month.  I suggest the following breakdown:

1) 500 MB or less == 20.00/month

2) 3GB == 30.00/month

3) 5GB == 45.00/month

The 3GB/month plan should include the ability to tether to another device and should not require an upgrade to a 5GB plan. My reason for expecting this is two fold:

a)   If I pay for 3GB of data usage on a plan, then it should not matter to you HOW i use that data plan as long as I'm not doing anything illegal.  I  take high exception with AT&T "disabling" the Personal Hotspot on iPhone (for example) unless I pay for the most expensive data plan offered.  In fact, I take exception with AT&T disabling any feature on a device that comes with it for this reason.

b) Metered data plan users are automatically billed an overage of $10 per 1GB of service when an overage occurs. You have a built-in check and balance system for handling overages, so it isn't like your revenue is being harmed if people tether on the more reasonably priced plan.

3) Offer "unsubsidized" pricing to your post-paid customers.  It is ridiculous that if I'm out of contract, I can't enjoy a lower rate as an incentive to stay with you and that I am instead, shuffled into a sales channel and pressured to get a new device.  If I'm not under contract--my rate should be lower..period.  

4) Offer the Advanced CSS features you pushed out to landlines in the late 90s. While I'd love to see these features be "standard" for all lines, I can certainly respect if they would be considered premium features.  These services would be; Caller ID Blocking per Line, Call Rejection, Last Call Rejection,  Distinctive Ring, Blocked call Rejection.

That is all, otherwise I love my AT&T service.  

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I like your suggestion.

I would like to add one thing, a lower tier data plan for feature phones like the LG A340 flip phone that can use data for GPS navigation. For example 100MB for $5. This type of phone, and quick messaging phones don't use a lot of data.

[harryspar]

They won't do any of those things because then they will make less money.
ATT doesn't really need us to like their pricing or policies. As long as Verizon does the same stuff, which they do, we don't really have options.
There isn't competition.
In Europe where there are more companies to switch to, the prices on cell service are amazing.