Re: ATT throttles unlimited account when data usage is only 1.5Gb

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

stufried wrote:

I disagree about sunsetting unless they are prepared to rebate purchase prices and cancellation fees. I renewed until 2013 and had them note up my file that I could keep my plan and I was off contracting and really didn't want to upgrade from a 3gs to a 4. At what point does my detrimental reliance come into this? They should be required to give us advance notice that they don't intend to renew a certain provision when our contracts are up so we can plan our exit strategies.

We have no bargaining power in these contracts. I can't call ATT up, schedule an appointment with their counsel, and negotiate my family plan. I think this is a reason that arbiters should hold them to good faith and fair dealing. The US Supreme Court stole one of best protections when it ruled that ATT could ethically waive our right to file a class action suit against them when we clicked through their contract. This is all irrelevant, I doubt that anyone in ATT who really matters is paying the slightest attention to the rants and raves going on with this forum.

If they sunset it exaclty how they did the no data required on smartphone option they do not have to refund anything and it gives you plenty of time to plan as long as you don;t SIM swap a lot.

The no data required was sunseted by tieing it to the device that was currently covered by grandfathered feature, upgrade or switch the device the grandfather flag was removed. That is how that one was done - so if that comes about as long asthe SIM is not removed from the device that currently has the grandfathered unlimited data plan on it and place it in another device you would have no problems until then next upgrade period came around, at that time when you upgraded your phone the grandfather flag would be removed and you would have to choose another data plan.

I suspect that someone is, but also suspect that they will not make any major changes other then maybe relaxing the formula used to calacute the top 5 percent (even that is doubtful) but anything else changing I doubt it, Verizon announced they are going to start throttling their grand fathered unlimited data users also - using a similiar method - the top 5 percent again, it has also been reported the Sprint is thinking about removing unlimited when the new mobile data technology starts rolling out

tonester · ‎07-14-2006

wingrider01 wrote:

tonester wrote:

BadBadLeroyBrown wrote:

Do you understand what "bait & switch" really means? AT&T has never had a truly "unlimited" plan, much to the chagrin of outraged posters over the years. They always governed their plan terms & conditions pretty tightly, although in the past they lacked the technology to crack down on the truly egregious offenders (the illegal tetherers and such).

Your story is meaningless. Even buffets can set reasonable limits on what and how people eat (i.e., the guy who comes in to eat nothing but king crab legs), and they WILL toss you out if you they feel you're abusing their product.

Neither wingrider01 nor I work for AT&T.

purplecow827 wrote:

This is a bait and switch tactic.

You may have a different view on what unlimited data is. People who signed up for unlimited data did not expect AT&T's response at all! Throttling didn't exist when we signed up and it shouldn't exist even now. The contract didn't state anything about restricting bandwidth when I signed up.

wingrider01, why do you have 4,779 posts on here? What do you do with your time? Is monitoring these forums your job? Why are you supporting AT&T so adamently? Do you work for them? Is this some sick and twisted publicity stunt to keep up the image of AT&T?

I'm going to tell you a story and you tell me what you think.

Let's say you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet for dinner. And let's say that the buffet costed you $30 each for each member of your family. When you first sit dow, they give you regular dinner plates and regular tableware to eat with. But after one serving, they take away the regular dinner plates, forks, & spoons and they tell you that dinner is still all-you-can-eat but you have to use toothpicks and small desert plates for the rest of your meal? They tell you, "We not limiting how much you can eat. We just want to make sure that people do not each too fast because we can't cook the food fast enough."

However, let's say that this restaurant also caters to people that doesn't want all-you-can-eat. These people pay $25 for large dinner plates and for each additional large plate, they pay $10.

You ask the owner, "How is it that we can't use large plates for our entire meal?"

And he says, "Did you see the sign we have posted on the wall? It only says that the buffet is all-you-can-eat. It never stated how you will be serviced. And by the way, since we didn't explicitly state the terms, we have the right to change how we see fit."

What do you think about this business practice? Certain terms may not be explicitly stated, however there is common sense of what is right vs. what is wrong.

.

Wow, even the AT&T pundits in this forum apparently aren't consistent when it comes to the unlimited data plan--you have one guy here offering that the unlimited plan was never truly "unlimited"...then you have another guy stating (I read it in a different thread in this forum) that the unlimited plan is indeed "unlimited" but that it didn't guarantee anything as to speed--thus clearly insinuating that unlimited data really means just that--UNLIMITED DATA.

Now let's not argue over semantics by saying that it is impossible for anyone to use "unlimited" data since there eventually comes a point where you can consume only so much data within a given month/billing cycle, based on the rate of data flow--to me, I interpret the unlimited plan as meaning that I should be allowed to use as much data as I want to without being capped as to how much data I can consume in any given billing cycle, throttle or no throttle. If someone wants to argue that even that would not be considered as truly "unlimited", then please explain to me as to what does "unlimited" mean, in that regard?

It is normally called an addendeum - aka better know as the fair use policy that sets the restrictions

Do you really think that the carriers would start imposing restrictions that where not already there and not already reviewed from every angle in existance by their teams of knowledgable professionals that spent years going to school and working in their profession to show that they are well within contrsctural terms? Suspect the polciy makers don;t eveen breath without consulting them. This is the first thing that any business does before they make a change.

Seems like it is time to sunset this grandfathered plan just like they did the no data plan required for smartphone excemption and get rid of it completely

Re: your comment about sunsetting the grandfathered unlimited plan--seems like you would love to see that happen, given that you stated it at least twice now. Tell you what--I'm all for it...and while they're at it, AT&T should bump the price of the 2 GB plan from $25 to $30 ($50 for 4 GB plan). I would love for anyone--especially those on the 2 GB plan--to argue why AT&T shouldn't do so; I mean what--are those folks gonna go running to VZW or Sprint if AT&T decides to jack up the price? I'm willing to bet that more than a few of these folks used to be on the unlimited plan--they certainly didn't balk at having to pay $30 back then...why should they blink an eye if AT&T decides they should start paying $30 again (for 2 GB)?

telistar · ‎01-03-2007

I called AT&T on Friday to complain about the rediculously slow speeds on my iphone... I was given a credit for the trouble and also told that their customer service center is logging all complains for corporate to review as they may change their mind about throttling.... I'm not holding my breath about them changing their minds but I do suggest everyone getting throttled call in and complain, if anything you'll get a service credit on your account. I was specially upset as I'm on the $40 Data Unlimited for Enterprise which is suppose to allow me access to business applications, etc. With the slow speeds I currently have my VPN connection on my phone is all but useless as it times out....

So call customer service and complain

DimentoGraven · ‎03-25-2008

Wild Banchi wrote:
I don't see anything particularly surprising in that post. It appears that your view is very, very different than mine.

You are obviously an Unlimited Data plan user whose speeds are being throttled. Smartphones are not made to replace full-featured keyboard desktop computers and laptops. It just would not make any sense. Would you rather prefer surfing the Internet on a 3.5"-5" screen or a 15"+ computer screen? I would certainly take the computer, although they are not quite as handy as mobile devices are. It's a cell phone for crying out loud, with the main purpose of it to send and receive calls and text messages. Having data connectivity to the Internet should not make smartphones full-time computers. Streaming large amounts of music and video totaling over 5GB+ per month is very excessive, in my opinion.

Nobody "dictates" the way I use my data; as a matter of fact, I don't even use cellular data at all! Wi-Fi is my data connection.

Yes, obviously our views are different.

Your premise that smart phones were not intended to 'replace full-featured keyboard computers' is flawed as there is at least one smart phone that was designed specifically for that purpose. As I recall from the adds, you could plug your phone into keyboard/display and the phone effectively became a laptop.

When, where or how I do my browsing is irrelevant. I signed a contract that contained the word "unlimmited" and AT&T is doing its best to fudge up the english language so that "unlimmited" ISN'T any more. I'd rather have them rename their "unlimmited" plan to "GB independant", with all the rules bullet pointed instead of hidden in other sections.

Also, it's no longer just a "cell phone" like you keep trying to insist. This is a SMART PHONE, a data access device that supports multiple multimedia functions, up to and including streaming video, email, MMS messaging, etc., etc.. You are enforcing a view point which AT&T itself does not maintain. Otherwise, if these were "just cellphones" as you posit, there'd be NO NEED for AT&T to make a distinction and create a special "smart phone data plan" set.

Your assumption that I am an "unlimmited" user being throttled is also wrong. I am an unlimmited user. With my usage I have not yet been throttled.

Your opinion on streaming "large amounts of music and videos totalling over 5gb" is also irrelevant. I do not care what you think is 'excessive'. YOU are not in charge of providing my service, my contract is not with YOU, AND coincedentally enough, AT&T ALSO does not think this is excessive as if AT&T really and truly thought it was excessive, they'd throttle their tiered data plan users too. Since AT&T apparently does not, it is NOT ACTUALLY "excessive use", it's just that AT&T is trying to apply additional pressure to get off of the "GB independant" plan, so that they can recieve income they have not actually "earned".

Don't let AT&T sucker you into believing they should be able to change the rules on the fly just because it doesn't affect you at the moment. We've paid extra for the most flexable plan, but AT&T seems intent on lying and sneaking their way out of honoring the original intent, all in the name of being paid more.

DimentoGraven · ‎03-25-2008

johninsj wrote:

And you STILL have unlimited data. The contract didn't say anything about speed, did it?

I've been paying for an "unlimited data" plan at 3G speeds.

The only reason I should be receiving less than "standard" 3G speeds is due to actual network error, NOT because AT&T has suddenly decided that they no longer like the rules I originally signed under and therefore have decided to bait and switch my service.

One41 · ‎12-19-2011

A few days ago I got throttled... Over the past several months I managed a maximum of 20GB in a month on my 3G connection. And somewhere around 6GB this month I got slapped down to 20kb/s or less. So after a least 4 calls and almost 4 hours of complaining, the best they can do is to tell me to get a fixed plan and use wireless as much as possible...Hahahahahaha

I only found out:
-Only unlimited users are calculated for throttling
-It's region based
-It's based on the current data trends and not a past month
-No one at AT&T can give any decent information

Phone numbers:
Direct to:
After hours: 1-866-801-3600
Tier 2 support: 1-866-700-2105
"Top 5% specialist": 1-866-344-7584
Off-network team: 1-888-860-6789 (I got accused of tethering)
They consider watching YouTube with a video out cable connected to a tv to be tethering!!!

So the best way for everyone to proceed is to contact the top 5% specialist and get them to mark your frustrations on your account. I have trouble loading webpages and apps complain a lot at the low throttling speed. I'm holding up the line at Target trying to load my giftcards even!

Also use as much data as possible! Encourage all AT&T unlimited data users to use as much data as possible. Teach people how to get the most out of their iPhone! Keep downloads going 24/7... a 700MB will never complete now, so I just keep trying to download the same one. Or find some decent sized torrents and keep iTransmission going.

The towers had the bandwidth to give me 150-320kb/s before, now I get 20kb/s. This just frees up some of the backhaul on the tower so when a LTE user comes along they get that tiny little addition stolen from me. They need to either give 50kb/s at the lowest speed or have individual towers manage the data use in realtime. I should not be at 20kb/s during free times, when before I got my usual max.

Also their top 5% is flawed, over a period of time the top 5% group comprises more than the top 5%. Since as soon as you are throttled, you never get released before a new billing cycle. Over time others will be able to pass your usage since you are severly throttled, and then these new people enter the threshold to be throttled. All this is happening without the lowest users released, causing an increase over 5% instead of a steady dynamic 5%.

Spread the word about your 20kb/s AT&T speeds--it clearly shows they are pushing out faster devices without the network to handle them, and they rather punish the people who have stayed with them.

To me my iPhone is my main computer. And AT&T is showing me just how important current customers are...
If something doesn't make sense, I do apoligise--this website is not exactly iPhone friendly.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

DimentoGraven wrote:

johninsj wrote:

And you STILL have unlimited data. The contract didn't say anything about speed, did it?

I've been paying for an "unlimited data" plan at 3G speeds.

The only reason I should be receiving less than "standard" 3G speeds is due to actual network error, NOT because AT&T has suddenly decided that they no longer like the rules I originally signed under and therefore have decided to bait and switch my service.

where did it state "at 3g speeds" in your agreement?

BadBadLeroyBrown · ‎07-12-2011

You've been around too long to be trolling, so I think you're counting semantical angels on the head of a pin. I've lurked in various forums for a while, so I know there were people who claimed that an "unlimited" data plan meant they could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted with their data plan. If they wanted to install a tethering wi-fi hotspot app & network their entire group house from their phone, that was within their right to do so since the phone had that capability and their plan was "unlimited". Just wanted to throw it out there that unlimited only really ever meant a quantity of data, and even that as a bit of a misnomer as uncapped plans became soft or hard capped plans became this.

I guess you missed the post where I said that AT&T had, in reactionary fashion, gone overboard with enforcement and was doing so in a rather draconian manner. But that's my opinion, and it & 75 cents will buy me a soda. People who don't like it have options, especially if they wean themselves off the cheap upgrade cycle AT&T offers. If I was sufficiently fed up with AT&T, I"d take my business elsewhere. You can call that punditry; I call it maintaining a sense of perspective.

tonester wrote:

Wow, even the AT&T pundits in this forum apparently aren't consistent when it comes to the unlimited data plan--you have one guy here offering that the unlimited plan was never truly "unlimited"...then you have another guy stating (I read it in a different thread in this forum) that the unlimited plan is indeed "unlimited" but that it didn't guarantee anything as to speed--thus clearly insinuating that unlimited data really means just that--UNLIMITED DATA.

Now let's not argue over semantics by saying that it is impossible for anyone to use "unlimited" data since there eventually comes a point where you can consume only so much data within a given month/billing cycle, based on the rate of data flow--to me, I interpret the unlimited plan as meaning that I should be allowed to use as much data as I want to without being capped as to how much data I can consume in any given billing cycle, throttle or no throttle. If someone wants to argue that even that would not be considered as truly "unlimited", then please explain to me as to what does "unlimited" mean, in that regard?

One41 · ‎12-19-2011

There are two things people don't seem to grasp. The first is the towers capacity. AT&T is in a fight with other providers trying to support the fastest speeds and to do this they took a totally wrong approach. Sure a decent throttle level is ok(not what I'm getting now), but it needs to be released when the tower has bandwidth to spare. These hours at a minimum are typically: 9-11am, 1-4pm, and 11pm-5am.

The other thing is AT&T is paying for capacity to other network backbones to make the Internet work. It does not matter how much data goes though these backbones, the price remains the same. So again why limit users excessively while essentially free resources are available to handle whatever comes at them during off-peak hours. They are only making upset/angry customers, while instead they can do it much more fairly.

DimentoGraven · ‎03-25-2008

Where in the heck does it state they'll reduce my data speeds to the point that all my multimedia functions and browsing capabilities are crippled beyond the point where they are able to be used?

Our contracts state that we will be provided the best service possible barring unforeseen network failures or going out of a supported area. All I'm asking for AT&T to not 'nerf' their service because I happen to be a "less profitable" customer for them.

As much as I pay for their services, they're still making a hefty profit. If they want to rob me, just come to my house and stick a gun in my face, at least THAT is more "honest"...

telistar · ‎01-03-2007

wingrider01 wrote:
DimentoGraven wrote:
johninsj wrote:

And you STILL have unlimited data. The contract didn't say anything about speed, did it?
I've been paying for an "unlimited data" plan at 3G speeds.

The only reason I should be receiving less than "standard" 3G speeds is due to actual network error, NOT because AT&T has suddenly decided that they no longer like the rules I originally signed under and therefore have decided to bait and switch my service.
where did it state "at 3g speeds" in your agreement?

Correct me if I'm wrong but AT&T increased the price of the unlimited data plan when the iPhone 3G came out presumably because of the bump from EDGE to 3G speeds... if that was the case it would be reasonable for people to assume they were paying for an unlimited data plan at 3G speeds...

archermoo · ‎11-29-2006

telistar wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong but AT&T increased the price of the unlimited data plan when the iPhone 3G came out presumably because of the bump from EDGE to 3G speeds... if that was the case it would be reasonable for people to assume they were paying for an unlimited data plan at 3G speeds...

They did increase the price of the required data plan between the iPhone and the iPhone 3G. However which data network the phone could use wasn't the only thing that changed. The original iPhone was not a subsidized phone. So the up front cost of the phone was higher, but the monthly cost was lower. All of the subsequent iPhones have been subsidized, with a lower up front cost but a higher monthly cost for the data plan.

johninsj · ‎07-07-2010

telistar wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong but AT&T increased the price of the unlimited data plan when the iPhone 3G came out presumably because of the bump from EDGE to 3G speeds... if that was the case it would be reasonable for people to assume they were paying for an unlimited data plan at 3G speeds...

People assume all manner of things that aren't true - just assuming it doesn't make it real.

AT&T does not guarentee data speeds, ever, on any device or any plan. Because there is no way for AT&T to actually deliver a guarenteed speed in all situations.

You have an unlimited plan, which remains active and available for the entire 30 days, every month, even if throttled. It is unlimted. If it were limited, then at some point you would not be able to get any more data in a month (for free, or ever.)

DimentoGraven · ‎03-25-2008

johninsj wrote:

People assume all manner of things that aren't true - just assuming it doesn't make it real.

AT&T does not guarentee data speeds, ever, on any device or any plan. Because there is no way for AT&T to actually deliver a guarenteed speed in all situations.

You have an unlimited plan, which remains active and available for the entire 30 days, every month, even if throttled. It is unlimted. If it were limited, then at some point you would not be able to get any more data in a month (for free, or ever.)

Actually the contract specifies a 'best efforts' as I recall in my quick perusal. Certainly 'best efforts' does not include their superfluous application of throttling.

You keep using that word, "unlimited" and in those famous words, '...I don' think it means what you think it means..."

The fact that the speeds get so reduced that the result is to effectively make streaming multimedia, browsing, or retreiving email near impossible, well, I'd pretty much say you've eliminated the data service. Sure, you could deliver 1 bit every 15 minutes and say you're honoring the "unlimited" portion of the contract, but that's just being a two faced lying SOB when you know the result is that data is delivered to slow for the data functions of the phone to actually work correctly.

After ALL THESE YEARS of advertising "unlimited" service and having customers use the phone AS DESIGNED, and the service AS DESIGNED (no tethering, no hacking, etc.) just a day to day, streaming of music, videos, retreival of email with attachments, web browsing, GPS directions with traffic updates, downloading apps, app updates and utilizing all the new CLOUD features, etc. etc. etc. (the EXACT same way the tiered users are now utilizing their phones by the way), AT&T has decided that they're going to take their MAD FOLDS contract and say, "Oh well, if we fold in our non-specific very generically termed acceptable use policies, and add in the lack of a specific data rate, we can and will decide to change the level of service we deliver to you at our whim."

The ONLY reason AT&T is doing this is to force more people off of the "unlimited" plan. They know the fallout from forcing customers off of the plan would be quite ugly, and so they're doing it serreptitiously, sneakily, weasel-like so that eventually they can claim, "Gee, we don't have enough people on "unlimited" any more, I guess no one really wants that plan, we're just going to switch the last of you customers over to tiered now, no choice..."

Keep in mind AT&T's total inability to actually accurately measure and report data usage cycle to cycle... What's a bit of "accidental" over charging among friends?

This is yet another attempt by AT&T to deliver LESS service and charge more for it and if you can't see and admit it, well, you really are the "shill" you've always sounded like.

johninsj · ‎07-07-2010

I hope to goodness they sunset this plan with the 4s.

dwill05 · ‎04-06-2005

johninsj wrote:
I hope to goodness they sunset this plan with the 4s.

+1. That would stop all the complaints of people being treated differently. Just put out that when your current contract ends, you have to choose a tiered plan. Then everyone gets treated exactly the same.

One41 · ‎12-19-2011

Contracts can not be changed like that. At most they could say you can not continue on your plan with a brand new faster phone. So in that case, people could keep their current device and plan as long as they decide to keep going on the same phone. But eventually, slow 3G speeds will not be an issue.

Hbalfour · ‎05-22-2008

You summed up exactly what AT&T is doing. And I agree wholeheartedly with what you said.

Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

One41 wrote:
Contracts can not be changed like that. At most they could say you can not continue on your plan with a brand new faster phone. So in that case, people could keep their current device and plan as long as they decide to keep going on the same phone. But eventually, slow 3G speeds will not be an issue.

Actually active features cannot be changed without enforcing another clause in their agreement, grandfathered features can be modified or removed at any time with no problems or reprecussions.will be interesting to see if they sunset the data plan like they did the no data plan required for a smartphone years ago.

All they need to is change the grandfather clause on the unlimited data plan to tie it to the device and not the account, upgrade or move your sim and the unlimited plan is removed. Part of it is already in place, they just need to add the device clause.

Sunsetting is in the best interests, will save on the calls complaining about throttling. Lets hope 1st quarter 2012 sees that change made and the whole issue being put to bed once and for all

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

archermoo wrote:

telistar wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong but AT&T increased the price of the unlimited data plan when the iPhone 3G came out presumably because of the bump from EDGE to 3G speeds... if that was the case it would be reasonable for people to assume they were paying for an unlimited data plan at 3G speeds...

They did increase the price of the required data plan between the iPhone and the iPhone 3G. However which data network the phone could use wasn't the only thing that changed. The original iPhone was not a subsidized phone. So the up front cost of the phone was higher, but the monthly cost was lower. All of the subsequent iPhones have been subsidized, with a lower up front cost but a higher monthly cost for the data plan.

seem to recall paying 30.00 for personal smartphone data plans on every other smartphone except for the iphone (when it came out) long before the 2G came on the market, the business plan for unlimited was 45.00. Would have to pull records to see what we where paying for the blackberry and palm smarthphones before the iphone came out. Think they only switched the data plan requirement from the special 2G configuration to the stock smarthpne configuration. contrary to popular belief - smartphones existed on att infrastructure long before the iphone was even on the drawing board.

DimentoGraven · ‎03-25-2008

wingrider01 wrote:

Sunsetting is in the best interests, will save on the calls complaining about throttling. Lets hope 1st quarter 2012 sees that change made and the whole issue being put to bed once and for all

You know what else would save on the calls complaining about throttling, and be a lot easier and cheaper?

Stop throttling.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

DimentoGraven wrote:

wingrider01 wrote:

Sunsetting is in the best interests, will save on the calls complaining about throttling. Lets hope 1st quarter 2012 sees that change made and the whole issue being put to bed once and for all

You know what else would save on the calls complaining about throttling, and be a lot easier and cheaper?

Stop throttling.

Doubt that will ever be a considered option, the built in restraint for tiered plans is paying for overages, for unlimited plans there the fair use policy is be the restraint. unlimted plans are dead, they just need to be buried and forgotten

Verizon is throttling now and Sprint has mentioned hat unlimited data in the new network technolgy may not be there

purplecow827 · ‎06-03-2010

wingrider01 wrote:

Sunsetting is in the best interests, will save on the calls complaining about throttling. Lets hope 1st quarter 2012 sees that change made and the whole issue being put to bed once and for all

If AT&T sunsets the unlimited data, I will leave them for good and never do business with them. I will not only dump my phone service, but I will also dump u-verse for tv and data. They're not the only kid around the block.

wingrider01, whose side are you on? The type of business practice isn't good for us consumers. If AT&T takes this away from us, there is no telling what else they can take away in the future.

And even if you were working for AT&T, would this increase your paycheck? I don't think so. If you do work for AT&T and is hanging around this forum posting thousands of messages, chances are that you're not part of upper management and the money will never flow down to where you are on the totem pole.

The quality of service should improve and the cost decrease as time goes on. This is what we see in the high tech industry. For example, when flat panel TVs first came out, they were over $10,000. Now, TVs that are higher quality, better performers could be had for less than $100. Another example is the cost of having a cell service. My cellphone bill was over $300 10 years ago. I expect the same thing with data service; not the other way around.

What AT&T is doing is that they are not increasing capacity for the additional bandwidth and is penalizing us users.

What AT&T should be doing is to provide unlimited for everyone and increase their network capacity. T-mobile deal is dead. They have the billions which can be re-Invested into improving your network.

telistar · ‎01-03-2007

johninsj wrote:
People assume all manner of things that aren't true - just assuming it doesn't make it real.

AT&T does not guarentee data speeds, ever, on any device or any plan. Because there is no way for AT&T to actually deliver a guarenteed speed in all situations.

You have an unlimited plan, which remains active and available for the entire 30 days, every month, even if throttled. It is unlimted. If it were limited, then at some point you would not be able to get any more data in a month (for free, or ever.)

I think it would be a little ridiculous of me to assume that I would get theoretical 3G speeds 100% of the time... no one in this forum is requesting this. I have been paying for a data plan which AT&T has sold to me as a requirement for full usage of the phone's features and now they have capped my speeds making many of the features they have advertised unusable (slow data speeds causing apps and browsing to stop responding due to time outs). I can understand their need to slow speeds down but to go from around 1.5 - 4Mbps download speeds at the beginning of the month to a maximum of 0.02Mbps only a day after getting a warning stating I was approaching the 5% mark is frustrating. It would be like buying a car and although you can see that the speedometer has the capability of going up to 140 MPH you are happy going the average 60 MPH, then one day the manufacture send you an email stating that you've driven a lot this month and although you have the freedom to continue to drive all you want they will now cap your car speeds to a maximum of 5 MPH... I'd be upset as I'm sure many people in this post would be too. I understand that speed was not guaranteed by AT&T but they also never stated my speed would be capped at such slow speeds once I hit some mystery 5% mark. If AT&T doesn't want to honor the service sold to me then why not offer an option to get rid of data all together? All they are offering is an upsell to their tiered data plan, a pay more or live with the slow speeds approach...

DimentoGraven · ‎03-25-2008

At the moment all this 'throttling' doesn't affect me. I am on AT&T's "unlimited" plan and I've never been throttled.

What has caused me to argue this is all the out right lying AT&T has done on this subject.

At this point I think AT&T should rename the plan from "Unlimited" to "Fixed Fee Data":

Depending on the region your in, the bandwidth utilization of the region, and where the top 5% range falls, you can use unrestricted, unthrottled data, up to Xgb/month. After you get Xgb, data throughput will be reduced from 'best available' to no better than 'Y kbps' until the next cycle. Once total throughput reaches Zgb within current billing cycle, all data services will be shut off until the next billing cycle.

The benefit being, you will always know what your data bill is going to be, you never have to worry about 'accidentally' going over and paying more, while at the same time you understand there is a limit to how much you can consume.

It's why I have the "unlimited" plan. I don't need tethering and I now rarely use more than 2gb per month, but because I want to know exactly how much I will owe, come end of the month, without having to deal with the extra effort of monitoring my data consumption.

Heck with a plan like "Fixed Fee Data", they could even allow tethering. After all, what's it matter at that point? Turn on tethering with this plan, and if people find that tethering causes them to consistantly get throttled, obviously the next step is to go up to the 45 dollar plan with 4gb+tethering+additional fees for additional gigabit+NO throttling.

That would CERTAINLY encourage more people to swith to one of their preferred billing models, and absolutely be upfront and honest about it.

archermoo · ‎11-29-2006

wingrider01 wrote:
archermoo wrote:
telistar wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong but AT&T increased the price of the unlimited data plan when the iPhone 3G came out presumably because of the bump from EDGE to 3G speeds... if that was the case it would be reasonable for people to assume they were paying for an unlimited data plan at 3G speeds...
They did increase the price of the required data plan between the iPhone and the iPhone 3G. However which data network the phone could use wasn't the only thing that changed. The original iPhone was not a subsidized phone. So the up front cost of the phone was higher, but the monthly cost was lower. All of the subsequent iPhones have been subsidized, with a lower up front cost but a higher monthly cost for the data plan.
seem to recall paying 30.00 for personal smartphone data plans on every other smartphone except for the iphone (when it came out) long before the 2G came on the market, the business plan for unlimited was 45.00. Would have to pull records to see what we where paying for the blackberry and palm smarthphones before the iphone came out. Think they only switched the data plan requirement from the special 2G configuration to the stock smarthpne configuration. contrary to popular belief - smartphones existed on att infrastructure long before the iphone was even on the drawing board.

Very true. Certainly I was paying $30/month for data on my Windows Mobile phone. My point was that I don't believe it had anything to do with the speed the original iPhone was capable of. It had to do with the contract they had with Apple, which included the iPhone not being a subsidized phone. With the 3G they negotiated a different contract, and the iPhone became subsidized. The data plan changed from unlimited data + 200 text messages for $20 to unlimited data only for $30, but a much lower up front cost for the phone.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

purplecow827 wrote:

wingrider01 wrote:

Sunsetting is in the best interests, will save on the calls complaining about throttling. Lets hope 1st quarter 2012 sees that change made and the whole issue being put to bed once and for all

If AT&T sunsets the unlimited data, I will leave them for good and never do business with them. I will not only dump my phone service, but I will also dump u-verse for tv and data. They're not the only kid around the block.

wingrider01, whose side are you on? The type of business practice isn't good for us consumers. If AT&T takes this away from us, there is no telling what else they can take away in the future.

And even if you were working for AT&T, would this increase your paycheck? I don't think so. If you do work for AT&T and is hanging around this forum posting thousands of messages, chances are that you're not part of upper management and the money will never flow down to where you are on the totem pole.

The quality of service should improve and the cost decrease as time goes on. This is what we see in the high tech industry. For example, when flat panel TVs first came out, they were over $10,000. Now, TVs that are higher quality, better performers could be had for less than $100. Another example is the cost of having a cell service. My cellphone bill was over $300 10 years ago. I expect the same thing with data service; not the other way around.

What AT&T is doing is that they are not increasing capacity for the additional bandwidth and is penalizing us users.

What AT&T should be doing is to provide unlimited for everyone and increase their network capacity. T-mobile deal is dead. They have the billions which can be re-Invested into improving your network.

If you leave, where would you go? At this particualr time only one of the top 3 providers have a unlimited plan, and their bandwidth speeds are the pits. You would be better off taking the hit and going tiered then using moderation to prevent over charges

I am on the business side of things, I see the need to throttling and they already had the terms of service in place, the only tihng I disagreed with is that it should have been enfoced on day one when they grandfathered the plan. Persoannly have no problem with them or any other carrier removing plans or features they want to discontinue, we do it all the time in our contracts

Sorry to disappoint you, I do not work for ATT, I have a very successful business that has been in existance for decades. Before you ask, yes every one of my personal smarthpones are on the unlimited plan, rarely utilize a lot of data on them, every one of the business phones that I issue have unlimited plans as part of the contract that is in effect until 2014, again get monthly data usage statistics and have not have anyone utilize enough data to warrent throttling. The employee discount plan in place doe not cover data plans so those are non-entities. As far as my paycheck, nope it won't increase or decrease it, but then I look at it forom the contract end and the published terms of service. The practice of enforcing contractural terms is best for all concerned, consumer of company

If you want cost to decrease, then don;t except build outs or improvements in infrastructure, new equipment is not cheap and current installed technology will not be capable handling future technology. Your comparisions are all for low tech items, yes led / lcd technology is low tech when you compare it to fiber backbone technology, infrstructure switching, mobile broadband transmit and recieve horns, geo-syncronis orbiting transievers (google the cost of lifting 1 lb in to stable orbit anf the time it takes to test and bing a sat online). Billions might get you seed money, try 10's of billions from design to full 100 percent implementation and you might be close.

Bottom line - I have no issue with them or verizon enforcing the policies that are in effect, you make the mistake that att is the only carrier doing this - they are not, check the other carriers fair use policies, even down to the lowly cricket, they all have one and they all are starting to enforce them

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

DimentoGraven wrote:

At the moment all this 'throttling' doesn't affect me. I am on AT&T's "unlimited" plan and I've never been throttled.

What has caused me to argue this is all the out right lying AT&T has done on this subject.

At this point I think AT&T should rename the plan from "Unlimited" to "Fixed Fee Data":

Depending on the region your in, the bandwidth utilization of the region, and where the top 5% range falls, you can use unrestricted, unthrottled data, up to Xgb/month. After you get Xgb, data throughput will be reduced from 'best available' to no better than 'Y kbps' until the next cycle. Once total throughput reaches Zgb within current billing cycle, all data services will be shut off until the next billing cycle.

The benefit being, you will always know what your data bill is going to be, you never have to worry about 'accidentally' going over and paying more, while at the same time you understand there is a limit to how much you can consume.

It's why I have the "unlimited" plan. I don't need tethering and I now rarely use more than 2gb per month, but because I want to know exactly how much I will owe, come end of the month, without having to deal with the extra effort of monitoring my data consumption.

Heck with a plan like "Fixed Fee Data", they could even allow tethering. After all, what's it matter at that point? Turn on tethering with this plan, and if people find that tethering causes them to consistantly get throttled, obviously the next step is to go up to the 45 dollar plan with 4gb+tethering+additional fees for additional gigabit+NO throttling.

That would CERTAINLY encourage more people to swith to one of their preferred billing models, and absolutely be upfront and honest about it.

so basicly implment a 200MB or 2GB plan that when you use it all, then shut it off? That wouldbe the definition of a fixed fee plan

what you are basicly asking for is already there, you pay for 200MB or 2GB, if you exceed that block you pay for the additional data

One41 · ‎12-19-2011

The problem is the data choices to invest in where not finalized fast enough for slow AT&T. Over the years they have made plenty of money in voice and especially SMS, that money sadly went into pockets and not enough went for future improvements. I tried AT&T DSL, and I dropped it. They lowered the caps too excessively. I had AT&T home phone, I dropped it. It's just an additional waste of money now. If AT&T is still betting on fiber for the home(Uverse), they need to discourage big users from the beginning, instead of constantly upsetting people.

I know I'm a big data user, but when I bought the iPhone I had no idea about it's full potential. And now AT&T is making the phone an unenjoyable device--not exactly fair to give me less than 1/10th of my previous minimum speeds.

They have rollover for phone minutes, why not data? Currently I could get by on a 10GB plan if it had forward and reverse rollover. Anything left over will go towards the next month, and anything over will be taken from the next month. And add a prepay option for adding more data that rolls over as well. The practice of overcharging for overages needs to stop.

johninsj · ‎07-07-2010

telistar wrote:

I have been paying for a data plan which AT&T has sold to me as a requirement for full usage of the phone's features.

You can use all the features. If you would like to use all the features and use as much data as you want to pay for, at full speed, switch to a metered plan.

To clain you MUST have UNLIMITED FULL SPEED DATA as a requirment for full usage of the phone is not even close to true.