AT&T to throttle unlimited data plan users...

[davidusr]

Starting 10/1. This applies to those that have the grandfather unlimited smartphone data plans. Most have nothing to worry about. It's the users that end up in the top 5% of the heaviest users on the network.

http://www.phonedog.com/2011/07/29/at-t-confirms-data-throttling-for-unlimited-users-will-begin-octo...

[coolstorybro]

Haha wow, i was just reading that too.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=20535&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=32318&mapcode=corporate

[RaymondLar]

I was wondering if any of you could let me know if this means i can cancel my contract?

Part 1.3 Can AT&T Change My Terms And Rates?:
"IF WE INCREASE THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE, BEYOND THE LIMITS SET FORTH IN YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SUMMARY, OR IF WE MATERIALLY DECREASE THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IN WHICH YOUR AIRTIME RATE APPLIES (OTHER THAN A TEMPORARY DECREASE FOR REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE), WE'LL DISCLOSE THE CHANGE AT LEAST ONE BILLING CYCLE IN ADVANCE (EITHER THROUGH A NOTICE WITH YOUR BILL, A TEXT MESSAGE TO YOUR DEVICE, OR OTHERWISE), AND YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OR RETURNING OR PAYING FOR ANY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE."

on http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/index.jsp?q_termsKey=wirelessCustomerAgreement&...
(( their Wireless Customer Agreement ))

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

"To rank among the top 5 percent, you have to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period."

I wonder how much data would be classified as "extraordinary"? Say, 50GB? More, even? Unless you're a movie addict or daily music streamer, I don't see how anyone could get that high on the data numbers.

I wonder if this will be a good thing for the network and the rest of the smartphone customers? That way, no one is hogging the bandwidth all to themselves.

[Dellman87]

AT&T THROTTLE

Everyone cry with me. Personally I am really upset by this. It's called UNLIMITED DATA for a reason... Sprint is the only true unlimited data provider now. I watch a lot of netflix and I do talk on Skype and Tango alot. AT&T should not punish us for only using our plans the way WE want to.

Things I understand

AT&T's 3G network is ok. I do get that the 3G towers can only handle so many users. When the "top 5%" go over 2gb a month, they want to offer speeds to their customers who don't exceed that. The towers are working hard, I get that. They should open more spectrum... oh wait, its called LTE. It's coming - which leads me to my 2nd point. AT&T should allow UNLIMITED DATA to those who are in LTE areas (whenever it may come) b/c LTE can allow for more traffic, more users, and heavily useage.

What to do about it

3G users should be able to have true unlimited - non throttled internet UNTIL the LTE is available in most markets. After and ONLY after it is installed, running, and is working properly, they should impliment this new rule. Why hurt those users who are only using their unlimited data plan for good?

Thoughts?

[Ann154]

I recently read of someone using 135+ GB per month on their smartphone. (Hint: They weren't on AT&T.)

[Dellman87]

Curious, how much data do you guys use?

how to

Task	Steps
Check your data usage  (online)	Log in to myAT&T. From the myAT&T tab at the top of the page, hover over the Wireless link and select the Usage & Recent Activity link from the My Wireless Services heading. The Voice & Data Usage screen will display your data usage which is listed below your Minute Usage.

This is mine. (Remember to edit the phone number on top before posting image. 

[davidusr]

My usage falls inline with yours Dellman.

I think this will affect the people that goes 10, 15 maybe 20+ GB per month. Unlimited has (arguably) always had a soft cap of 5GB per month, which I've yet to cross. Those that illegally tether will be the first to get throttled... They use more data obviously.

[RaymondLar]

i use from 2GB - 3GB on average..

This month tho, im using HEAVY 4GB's of data.. and its because i've been working 40 hour's a week finally.. i stream Pandora like its nothing at work.

I have already noticed tho, that when i do heavy data, i get throttled.. or atleast it feels like it, music pauses.. Data restarts, 3 devices still doing it.
and even browsing the web.. Sometimes i just loose connection. Not even moving from my spot.

[Dellman87]

if I remember, it was those who go over 2gb?

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davidusr wrote:
My usage falls inline with yours Dellman.

I think this will affect the people that goes 10, 15 maybe 20+ GB per month. Unlimited has (arguably) always had a soft cap of 5GB per month, which I've yet to cross. Those that illegally tether will be the first to get throttled... They use more data obviously.

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[davidusr]

You have to be in the top 5% of their heaviest data users. We aren't anywhere near that. We should be unaffected.

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

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Dellman87 wrote:

Sprint is the only true unlimited data provider now.

---

AT&T never really was a "truly unlimited data" provider - they implemented the 200MB and 2GB caps, but they did still allow some customers to keep their unlimited plans. I don't know if they did anything to mess around with the grandfathered unlimited data plans, like softcapping or the like, but I would say that AT&T's grandfathered unlimited plan, well, never really was *truly* unlimited.

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Why hurt those users who are only using their unlimited data plan for good?

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I would say this is because AT&T does no longer want their customers having unlimited data plans as an unlimited data allowance would allow customers to stream/use data as much as they please. I guess you could say that this is AT&T's way of "putting an end to it", or at least limiting it in one way or another.

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

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Ann154 wrote:
I recently read of someone using 135+ GB per month on their smartphone. (Hint: They weren't on AT&T.)

---

Wow, I can't imagine anyone using THAT much data all in one month! They must have had their life connected to their phone! On AT&T, they would have been in debt due to overage fees.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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RaymondLar wrote:
I was wondering if any of you could let me know if this means i can cancel my contract?

Part 1.3 Can AT&T Change My Terms And Rates?:
"IF WE INCREASE THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE, BEYOND THE LIMITS SET FORTH IN YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SUMMARY, OR IF WE MATERIALLY DECREASE THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IN WHICH YOUR AIRTIME RATE APPLIES (OTHER THAN A TEMPORARY DECREASE FOR REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE), WE'LL DISCLOSE THE CHANGE AT LEAST ONE BILLING CYCLE IN ADVANCE (EITHER THROUGH A NOTICE WITH YOUR BILL, A TEXT MESSAGE TO YOUR DEVICE, OR OTHERWISE), AND YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OR RETURNING OR PAYING FOR ANY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE."

on http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/index.jsp?q_termsKey=wirelessCustomerAgreement&...
(( their Wireless Customer Agreement ))

---

doubt it - you still ahve unlimited data, just at a slower speed. Besides unlimited is a grandfathered plan that is no longer offered, so more then likely it wil not fall under that aspice. I also believe tht ATT has always had a fair use policy in effect

[Ann154]

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Wild Banchi wrote:

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Ann154 wrote:
I recently read of someone using 135+ GB per month on their smartphone. (Hint: They weren't on AT&T.)

---

Wow, I can't imagine anyone using THAT much data all in one month! They must have had their life connected to their phone! On AT&T, they would have been in debt due to overage fees.

---

Liked didn't ya!? If I recall correctly, they were using a recently ended promotion to have other devices and computers connected to the phone's data connection.

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

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Ann154 wrote:

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Wild Banchi wrote:

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Ann154 wrote:
I recently read of someone using 135+ GB per month on their smartphone. (Hint: They weren't on AT&T.)

---

Wow, I can't imagine anyone using THAT much data all in one month! They must have had their life connected to their phone! On AT&T, they would have been in debt due to overage fees.

---

Liked didn't ya!? If I recall correctly, they were using a recently ended promotion to have other devices and computers connected to the phone's data connection.

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THAT would explain such the high usage amount. I still wonder how much the one phone itself had tacked on to the final total.

[Ann154]

That's the thing there was no way to tell. With the promotion, all data whether it was phone data or tethered data was lumped together in one total on the bill.

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

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Ann154 wrote:
That's the thing there was no way to tell. With the promotion, all data whether it was phone data or tethered data was lumped together in one total on the bill.

---

I'm guessing that the user did have an unlimited data plan? If you know? They would have been screwed in overage fees had they not.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

AT&T to throttle data speeds for 'unlimited' hogs...

Starting Oct. 1, customers who clog airwaves the most will see data slowed...

In case you're with ATT Wireless.

OFFICIAL Press Release here.

[JFizDaWiz]

This is mainly for people using double to triple digits in GBs. Cell phone data plans were not meant as a replacement if a hardline. Only people to complain are those abusing it. If you use less than 10GB you more than likely have nothing to worry about

[RicoLX]

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Wild Banchi wrote:
"To rank among the top 5 percent, you have to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period."

I wonder how much data would be classified as "extraordinary"? Say, 50GB? More, even? Unless you're a movie addict or daily music streamer, I don't see how anyone could get that high on the data numbers.

I wonder if this will be a good thing for the network and the rest of the smartphone customers? That way, no one is hogging the bandwidth all to themselves.

---

The problem with this "top 5%" rule is what ATT deams "top 5" will and can vary each month. There is not a hardcode , set limit that a use will cross over that flags them as among the top 5.

This is their way to finally 'force' unlimited plans itself aaway from customers.  I have it; never have gotten close to the current "limits" and each time i called CSR lately, they constantly feel they must share with me all the other neat packages I should give up unlimited for.    I guess many other unlimited customers didnt give in to that tactic, so this is ATTs ultimate way of doing it.

Well, the less choices of carriers there are for us, this is only the beginning of many more forced options we will have to deal with.  Soon, we will be locked to only certain choices of phone devices as well. 

And YEP, this all started with the I'crap release . THATS the first group that brought att to its knees (even though, it was already there when it was making that Jobs deal...heh)

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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RicoLX wrote:

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Wild Banchi wrote:
"To rank among the top 5 percent, you have to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period."

I wonder how much data would be classified as "extraordinary"? Say, 50GB? More, even? Unless you're a movie addict or daily music streamer, I don't see how anyone could get that high on the data numbers.

I wonder if this will be a good thing for the network and the rest of the smartphone customers? That way, no one is hogging the bandwidth all to themselves.

---

The problem with this "top 5%" rule is what ATT deams "top 5" will and can vary each month. There is not a hardcode , set limit that a use will cross over that flags them as among the top 5.

This is their way to finally 'force' unlimited plans itself aaway from customers.  I have it; never have gotten close to the current "limits" and each time i called CSR lately, they constantly feel they must share with me all the other neat packages I should give up unlimited for.    I guess many other unlimited customers didnt give in to that tactic, so this is ATTs ultimate way of doing it.

Well, the less choices of carriers there are for us, this is only the beginning of many more forced options we will have to deal with.  Soon, we will be locked to only certain choices of phone devices as well. 

And YEP, this all started with the I'crap release . THATS the first group that brought att to its knees (even though, it was already there when it was making that Jobs deal...heh)

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contrary to what you beleive, suspect the larger availability of the android based phones contributed more in the short time they have been out to the data caps and loss of unlimited plan then the iphone did. The caps and loss of unlimited plans did not raise they head until recently - about mid-2010, the iphone had already been on the market for 3 years with no hint of capping or loss of unlimited plans. Palm OS based phones data back to around 2004 and RIM Blackberries go back to 1999. The caps and loss of unlimited plans coincide with the rise in popularity and low cost availability of android based phones mid year last year

[Ann154]

But didn't AT&T remove the option for an unlimited data plan BEFORE android phones were available on its network?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Ann154 wrote:
But didn't AT&T remove the option for an unlimited data plan BEFORE android phones were available on its network?

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the Motorola backflip was AT&T's first release for the Android based phones and it was in March of 2010, as of the end of the year of 2010 there where about 200K android apps on the market. If I recall correctly ATT had a HTC and a dell available shorlty after that

[RicoLX]

What we see today is an exact result first, of the release of the iphone and how poorly att could not even support the phone on the network. Att removed such plan from iphone first, then gave it back so to try and keep its iphoners from jumping ship. The tier plan was spoken of back then as well. By the time tiered plans were implimented it was still the iphone that att was in bed with. With the release of more android phones, only those with grandfathered plans were able to utilize their unlimited data. So no, its not android that forced a removal of unlimited. Believe as you wish, icraps history and usage initiated the whole concept of att saving its own neck "throttling"its plans and cutting out certaing services out of sheer embarassment ant taunts from verizon and other carriers when they called att out for their incapability of providing "the fastest network experience" as it bragged.


But thats all under the bridge now. And this is not the end of t he monopolized service we will be offered , with so few carriers. And NO, im not going anywhere and NO I am not removing my unlimited and unless anyone pays my monthly bill, opinions as far as my account is mute

[RicoLX]

I gotta add that I am not too upset about this decision by att. I have to say recently my neighborhood has hsdpa upgrade and finally I can move data on the Streak as if I am using my home wi-fi. BUT, I aint turning off my wifi. Oh I read that clause in atts new announcement. The top 5 throttling will effect only those unlimited users who are not utilizing wifi while surfing.

But thats a contradiction. Wifi or not, if you hit that top 5 status, you get choked service

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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RicoLX wrote:

What we see today is an exact result first, of the release of the iphone and how poorly att could not even support the phone on the network. Att removed such plan from iphone first, then gave it back so to try and keep its iphoners from jumping ship. The tier plan was spoken of back then as well. By the time tiered plans were implimented it was still the iphone that att was in bed with. With the release of more android phones, only those with grandfathered plans were able to utilize their unlimited data. So no, its not android that forced a removal of unlimited. Believe as you wish, icraps history and usage initiated the whole concept of att saving its own neck "throttling"its plans and cutting out certaing services out of sheer embarassment ant taunts from verizon and other carriers when they called att out for their incapability of providing "the fastest network experience" as it bragged.


But thats all under the bridge now. And this is not the end of t he monopolized service we will be offered , with so few carriers. And NO, im not going anywhere and NO I am not removing my unlimited and unless anyone pays my monthly bill, opinions as far as my account is mute

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two different opinions, just starnge that the iphone was out for a good 3 years before the the considertion of  removing the availability of unlimited data plans was brought up. The avaiable evidence points to the Iphone not being the reason for the lose of data plans considering the lenght of time the unlimited plan had been avaiable after the iphone was released.

The unlimited data trough was a dinosaur waiting for extinction in any respect, the trend was started when home based broadband providers started imposing hard caps on personal internet access - and is just starting to be felt in the mobile world.

 would be curious to see your validation for the statement - "The tier plan was spoken of back then as well. By the time tiered plans were implimented it was still the iphone that att was in bed with' considering ATT also had Android and blackberry phones in use - the blackberries where by far the largest users of wireless data processes at tthe time considered they where primarily in use by corprorate america and in the govermental agencies.

One error - Att did not remove the plan from the iphone first, they removed  the plan from every personal use smartphone they supported at the exact same time. when  the unlimited plan was discontinued they had iphones, blackberries, androids and plam based smartphones available - they did not just remove the plan from the iphone - it was removed from every smartphone. right not the facts point to a different theory then what you try to spout, by the way who manufacturers that phone you speak f, never seen it advertised anyplace, is that a one off you have?

 As for you removng your plan - that is your choice, as long as you stay within the tos that att places on the plan you would be the only one to make the decision of removing it - violate the tos and stt will be able to make the decision for you.

[RicoLX]

Yep, att saw that they can make more money off of users going over a capped plan rather than a flat unlimited deal...that is old debate thats so plain to see, so, right, att wanted to get rid of it long ago. Its iphone flooding the bsndwidth that helped put it in motion. No way anyone can convince us otherwise after all customers felt the effects of when icrap hit the waves. No need keep bringing up alternate reasoning.

Att only had one or two androids duri g the period referred to in the last post. These few devices, one of which were the backflip, where att got its grabby hands so deep into it before its release is hardly a comparison to the icrap usage and choking the network.

We didnt start seeing ANY androids at att until AFTER it was iminent and publically confirmed that jobs found another woman and took its icrap over to verison too. ONLY when it was very close to the debut of icrap at V, did att start rolling out android aftef android, after 3 years of ignoring customers desires for androids instead of getting the iphone pushed down our throats constantly. Even CRICKET was pudhing out androids then.

We didnt see androids with JUICE to them until around this time too, when verizon was about to release their iphone. And even THEN, att still choked their androids, releasing 4g devices that were when att-crippled , meaning, if att had 4g, the 4( device sure couldnt utilize it and purchasers raised holy hayale, getting atts attention. Then att finally released the chokehold of not allowing users to decide which apps they want to install.

I really dont care what dsl and home internet providers were doing. When I pay for the deal I signed up for, thats what I want. Att knew, once again, they cannot TAKE it away, but even up to this very second, they are amending their clauses and terms so to "PENALIZE" unlimited customers with every new way they come up with until its practically the only option left to do but take what options left.


I know how much data I use monthly and I KNOW it doesnt come close to what iphone or other users does thats causes all customers to have to subject to terms new users sign in under. So I am not concerned one bit of att "taking" my unlimited plan..... Unless their next clever tactic to shake the remaining unlimited customers , is drastically changing what att deams too much usage even if its less than half a gig. And I can actually SEE this company doing such, for their own advantage.

[Dellman87]

My friend is on Verizon LTE via a Samsung Droid Charge, so far (20 days) he has used 4GB of data. Mostly Netflix.

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Wild Banchi wrote:

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Ann154 wrote:
I recently read of someone using 135+ GB per month on their smartphone. (Hint: They weren't on AT&T.)

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[RicoLX]

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Dellman87 wrote:

My friend is on Verizon LTE via a Samsung Droid Charge, so far (20 days) he has used 4GB of data. Mostly Netflix.

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Wild Banchi wrote:

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Ann154 wrote:
I recently read of someone using 135+ GB per month on their smartphone. (Hint: They weren't on AT&T.)

---

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Where ATT will catch you is , by the time a customer receive the 'Data Usage Alert' email, they really have no idea just how much usage it really is since the online amount shown "can be lagged up to 72 hours". I'd like to know how many have been hit with this message so far.

I have a second line that  , was already on a lesser package anyway, and is on one of the capped plans.  It got some additional gigs (due to an issue that ATT resolved and provided as a means of consolation), so, it never went over the limits set on that phone.  This second line recently got upgraded to a second Streak phone.  I am going to "work" the hayale out of it next cycle and see how close i can get to the 2GIG and log daily usage .

I am going to compare that to what ATT posts daily and see: 1. how much lag att displays before its shown on my account onscreen, 2: how long it takes to get to 2Gig, and 3: see how soon i takes to go over the 2g.

I am sure it doesnt take much, once it gets  close to my  second line's allotted "food stamps" limits.