ATT iPhone users - Important Info Inside

[Dallas]

If you are currently using an iPhone w/ ATT and plan to upgrade to the iPhone 4, please read below.



ATT will not allow folks upgrading to the iPhone 4 to keep his/her unlimited data plans. You read that right. The iPhone 4's will not have an unlimited data plan available for customers to purchase.


I just got off the phone w/ ATT and gave them an EAR FULL. This will probably push me over to Verizon now. What a crock of @#!$#.

just checked the data plans

25.00 / 2GB
15.00 / 200MB


I guess that isn't so bad. I still use a lot of data when im traveling.

[kmp77]

What?? There's no unlimited data plan for iphone 4G?!?!?! LOL LOL

I'll stick with my 3G for now...what utter crud.

[AmarilloCowboyFan]

This is definitely a crock. But, I believe this applies to all of their smartphone data plans. When your current contract runs out you will have to go to this option.

Of course, WiFi is still unlimited.

[WoodysGirl]

This is definitely a crock. But, I believe this applies to all of their smartphone data plans. When your current contract runs out you will have to go to this option.

Of course, WiFi is still unlimited.
Not true, existing customers get to keep their plan. But new customers will have go to the modified data plans.

NEW YORK — Just in time for the release of a new iPhone, AT&T will stop letting new customers sign up for its unlimited Internet data plan for smart phones and iPads and charge more for users who hog the most bandwidth.

AT&T hopes to ease congestion on its network, which has drawn complaints, particularly in big cities. But the approach could confuse customers unfamiliar with how much data it takes to watch a YouTube video or fire up a favorite app.

Current subscribers will be able to keep their $30-per-month unlimited plans, even if they renew their contracts. But starting Monday, new customers will have to choose one of two new data plans for all smart phones, including iPhones and BlackBerrys.

Subscribers who use little data – like those who may get dozens of e-mails a day but don't watch much video – will pay slightly less every month than they do now, while heavy users will be dinged with higher bills.

The move takes effect in time for the expected unveiling of Apple's new iPhone next week. Analysts said they expect other phone companies to follow. With no caps on consumption, data use could swamp wireless networks while revenue for the operators remains flat.

Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless carrier and AT&T's chief rival, had no immediate comment on AT&T's move. There has been much speculation about Verizon getting to sell its own version of the iPhone, but that prospect still appears distant.

One of the new AT&T plans will cost $25 per month and offer two gigabytes of data per month, which AT&T says will be enough for 98 percent of its smart phone customers. Additional gigabytes will cost $10 each.

A second plan will cost $15 per month for 200 megabytes of data, which AT&T says is enough for 65 percent of its smart phone customers. If they go over, they'll pay another $15 for 200 more megabytes.

A gigabyte is enough for hundreds of e-mails and Web pages, but it's quickly eaten up by Internet video and videoconferencing. The 200 megabytes offered under the $15 plan is enough for more than 1,000 e-mails, hundreds of Web pages and about 20 minutes of streaming video, AT&T says.


Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/02/att-data-plan-caps-phone-_n_597285.html

[AmarilloCowboyFan]

Not true, existing customers get to keep their plan. But new customers will have go to the modified data plans.



Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/02/att-data-plan-caps-phone-_n_597285.html

Ah, ok. I was given misinformation.

Still a crock.

[WoodysGirl]

I have a blackberry, not an iPhone. I just looked at my data usage for the past six months, I don't use anywhere near a GB of data.

The most I've used has been this month and it's only been 114 MB.

I don't necessarily want to give up my unlimited plan, but seeing as I don't use as much, I might consider changing it up.

[Dallas]

That is not what came from the ATT service rep I talked to this morning. He said that if I upgraded from my current 3GS phone to the new iPhone 4, that I would not be able to keep my unlimited data plan.

Some misinformation going on?

Hmmm

[Sam I Am]

What I heard was that if you "upgrade" to the new phone, you lose it. If your contract completes, you can still keep it. (Grandfathered in) Just don't make any changes to your contract or you get a new one!

If you sign/agree to a NEW contract, then you get the new limited plan. Obviously, you need to physically call AT&T to verify.

Reason for it? Got to make room on the network for all those new iPads sucking down video content. :laugh2:

[Dallas]

UPDATED:

I just got off the phone w/ another ATT rep and they again told me the same news. I asked them to please go verify w/ a supervisor. They did and came back and appologized. They were giving out the WRONG information.

Current subscribers regardless if you have to sign a new contract will be grandfathered in and be allowed to keep the unlimited data plan.

I asked the girl to make sure the rest of her team knows this because she was the 3rd person I spoke w/ who gave me the WRONG information.

:laugh2:

[Maikeru-sama]

I also heard that existing customers would be able to keep their unlimited plan.

But it is clear that as some point, they are going to eliminate unlimited plans.

[vta]

They're going to squeeze as much as they can in this last year and half of their exclusive contract, because I'm sure as soon as Verizon is available, there will be a mass exodus.

[Maikeru-sama]

On the iPhone, under General->Usage->Cellular Network Data, for the Sent/Receive stats, are those numbers for the entire time I have had the phone or is it for a week/month etc etc?

My Sent is 192 MB and my Received is 1.3 GB and I have never reset the stats, so I guess that is since I had the phone?

[Dallas]

On the iPhone, under General->Usage->Cellular Network Data, for the Sent/Receive stats, are those numbers for the entire time I have had the phone or is it for a week/month etc etc?

My Sent is 192 MB and my Received is 1.3 GB and I have never reset the stats, so I guess that is since I had the phone?


You can login to your account on ATT and see your monthly data usage for that month.

[Maikeru-sama]

They're going to squeeze as much as they can in this last year and half of their exclusive contract, because I'm sure as soon as Verizon is available, there will be a mass exodus.

I thought ATT just recently signed an new deal to have exclusive rights to the iPhone?

If the iPhone is made available at Verizon, I may go back because the only reason I left was because of the iPhone.

[WoodysGirl]

You can login to your account on ATT and see your monthly data usage for that month.
Yeah, that's what I did to check. Saved a ton of time.

[Dallas]

I thought ATT just recently signed an new deal to have exclusive rights to the iPhone?

If the iPhone is made available at Verizon, I may go back because the only reason I left was because of the iPhone.


The iPhones are still exclusive to AT&T. There is a rumor going around that Apple will be availble on the Verizon platform but I haven't seen anything that says if that is a fact or when it would happen.

[vta]

I thought ATT just recently signed an new deal to have exclusive rights to the iPhone?

If the iPhone is made available at Verizon, I may go back because the only reason I left was because of the iPhone.

I'm pretty sure they had only confirmed it recently it was a 5 year deal from 2007 - 2012.

I'll have to try and find the article, it was from Gizmodo or Engadget.

[Dallas]

Yeah, that's what I did to check. Saved a ton of time.


The reason they went to this new 2gb data plan thing is because they opened up tethering on the network and now you basically can't do crap in any big city on the 3g network.

I was in Santa Ana last week and I couldn't do CRAP. I finally gave up and went back to the pool to watch the bikinis.

Dallas 1 AT&T 0

[vta]

AT&T Deal Confirmed (http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/confirmed-apple-and-atandt-signed-five-year-iphone-exclusivity-de/)

There are carrier exclusivity agreements, and there are carrier exclusivity agreements -- and Apple's iPhone deal must have been pretty sweet for Cupertino to guarantee their new hotness to AT&T and AT&T alone for five friggin years. USA Today reports the supposed half-decade deal precludes Apple from developing a CDMA handset in that time (duh), meaning that if you live in the US and don't want to move to AT&T, it's going to be 2012 before you even have a chance at an iPhone. Better still, Today reports that Cingular's arch-nemesis Verizon is claiming to have an iPhone-killer in the wings. According to Denny Strigl, Verizon CEO, "We do have a very good response in the mill. You'll see that from us in the late summer." It's war, people, make no mistake about it.

[Maikeru-sama]

The reason they went to this new 2gb data plan thing is because they opened up tethering on the network and now you basically can't do crap in any big city on the 3g network.

I was in Santa Ana last week and I couldn't do CRAP. I finally gave up and went back to the pool to watch the bikinis.

Dallas 1 AT&T 0

Yeah, I think everyone would benefit if the iPhone was available through multiple carriers.

[vta]

Yeah, I think everyone would benefit if the iPhone was available through multiple carriers.

It will be in 2012.
If the world doesn't end. :D

[WoodysGirl]

The reason they went to this new 2gb data plan thing is because they opened up tethering on the network and now you basically can't do crap in any big city on the 3g network.

I was in Santa Ana last week and I couldn't do CRAP. I finally gave up and went back to the pool to watch the bikinis.

Dallas 1 AT&T 0
Oh I see..

I was actually thinking of getting the tethering plan, but I have Wifi almost everywhere I go now. No real need for it.

[Dallas]

Oh I see..

I was actually thinking of getting the tethering plan, but I have Wifi almost everywhere I go now. No real need for it.


You folks are so fortunate in the lower 48. You have free wi-fi pretty much everywhere you go.

It isn't like that here in Anchorage. :(

[Sam I Am]

You folks are so fortunate in the lower 48. You have free wi-fi pretty much everywhere you go.

It isn't like that here in Anchorage. :(

:omg: You should move! :laugh2:

[Dallas]

:omg: You should move! :laugh2:
Take at least a 50k pay cut?

No thanks. I'll fly.

[Sam I Am]

Take at least a 50k pay cut?

No thanks. I'll fly.

I hope you're packing that away for an early retirement. Cause it isn't worth it to live there!

[Dallas]

I hope you're packing that away for an early retirement. Cause it isn't worth it to live there!


Sure it is. Ive lived here for nearly 27 years. I wouldn't trade the summers for anywhere in the world.

The winters are long but they aren't so bad. I have all the toys and a cabin we escape to.


I fly out regularly to Cali and Hawaii and Texas.


Im not missing anything really. =)

[AmarilloCowboyFan]

What I heard was that if you "upgrade" to the new phone, you lose it. If your contract completes, you can still keep it. (Grandfathered in) Just don't make any changes to your contract or you get a new one!

If you sign/agree to a NEW contract, then you get the new limited plan. Obviously, you need to physically call AT&T to verify.

Reason for it? Got to make room on the network for all those new iPads sucking down video content. :laugh2:

Damn Pr0n!

[TheCount]

It's only a matter of time really. Soon all carrier will follow this model.

You think it's a coincidence things like Netflix, Video Chat and Skype didn't make an apperance until they got rid of unlimited data?

This is also what Internet Providers want to start doing now too, charging you based on how much you download instead of just how fast the connection is.

People have been fighting that for years, but Mobile companies have never had to play by any sort of rules so there's no resistance there.

If this makes you mad, you should think about the fact that they still charge you for text messages when the amount of data sent via text is miniscule in comparison to what you'd use just viewing a single web page.

Cell companies have always ran a racket, so getting upset now is a little too late.

[Meat-O-Rama]

Even if you are grandfathered in on the unlimited plan, if you add tethering you'll get bumped down to one of the limited plans. I'm going to have to look over my past bills and see how much I've been using. Probably not anywhere near 2GB a month, so it wouldn't hurt. But then I don't really *need* tethering either so...

[Maikeru-sama]

Yeah, I think this move is something proponents of net neutrality will frown on.

I read an interesting blog by Mark Cuban several years ago called "The Internet is Dead" or something like that. When you look at the title, you think it is crap but after reading it, he makes a lot of interesting points. Basically stating that since the Internet infrastructure is in the control of a handful of companies, there really is no incentive for those companies to improve the infrastructure and ultimately this will stifle innovation because developers will not be able to make applications that require more bandwidth .

That was kind of the gist of his argument.

[Hoofbite]

Take at least a 50k pay cut?

No thanks. I'll fly.

If you don't mind........what do you do?

[Hoofbite]

It's only a matter of time really. Soon all carrier will follow this model.

You think it's a coincidence things like Netflix, Video Chat and Skype didn't make an apperance until they got rid of unlimited data?

This is also what Internet Providers want to start doing now too, charging you based on how much you download instead of just how fast the connection is.

People have been fighting that for years, but Mobile companies have never had to play by any sort of rules so there's no resistance there.

If this makes you mad, you should think about the fact that they still charge you for text messages when the amount of data sent via text is miniscule in comparison to what you'd use just viewing a single web page.

Cell companies have always ran a racket, so getting upset now is a little too late.

Damn. This post really hits the nail.

[theogt]

I averaged just under 100 MB per month for the past 6 months and I use my phone a lot; granted, most of my app and music downloads occur when I'm at home on wifi. Looks like this will save me a few bucks.

AT&T has said that 98% of their users use less than 2 GB per month.

[theogt]

This website (http://www.appleiphoneschool.com/2010/06/05/att-unlimited-data-the-truth/) seems to refute this:

As a current iPhone owner, can I keep my unlimited plan when I purchase my new iPhone 4?
Yes. Although AT&T won’t comment on the new iPhone since it’s not released yet, they will say this:

http://www.appleiphoneschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Screen-shot-2010-06-05-at-12.12.52-AM.png

Same here (http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/25508/):

Existing AT&T smartphone customers upgrading to iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS are not required to switch to a new plan, but can choose to do so. iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G customers can add tethering to AT&T DataPro for an additional $20 per month.

Lots of places around the net saying you can keep the unlimited plan if you're upgrading.

[CliffnMesquite]

How many times must I say this...AT&T is SATAN!

:)

[kapolani]

All of you screaming to move to Verizon etc. fail to realize that this is inevitable.

If Verizon ever put out a device as popular as the iPhone it would suffer the same bandwidth/throughput problem.

As more and more people get smartphones ,bandwidth on any carrier will start suffering.

All of you act like there is a unlimited supply of internet magic.

[tomson75]

All of you screaming to move to Verizon etc. fail to realize that this is inevitable.

If Verizon ever put out a device as popular as the iPhone it would suffer the same bandwidth/throughput problem.

As more and more people get smartphones ,bandwidth on any carrier will start suffering.

All of you act like there is a unlimited supply of internet magic.

I don't think its just a scream for Verison, but rather a scream for options. Spreading the bandwidth out over multiple carriers is going to alleviate some of the headaches. Also, AT&T customer service blows goats for quarters. As does their marketing department.

I'm going to try and hold off for a few months when the iphone is released to other carriers...to try and see how smoothly the transition is (should be seamless with as much time as they've had to prepare), but I'm definitely thinking of joining the exodus from AT&T.

[Dallas]

If you don't mind........what do you do?


I do network security for the State of Alaska.

[Sam I Am]

I do network security for the State of Alaska.

...and you think you will make $50k less if you move to the lower 48? :laugh2:

[theogt]

FYI, this is officially not true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yR0V96CCl4&feature=player_embedded

[windward]

The most I've ever used in a month was 875 mb and that was when I was in Texas/ California for 2 weeks and used my iphone to watch non-Cowboys games.

So I dont think Ill be terribly affected by this.