Just a heads up for everyone who has unlimited data, a good freind of mine that works for att told me today that att is gonna get rid of everyones unlimited data within the next few months and put them on a data plan. She told me that there keeping it quiet so after they change everybodies plan itll be too late to go back to unlimited. Just a heads up for the people who havent heard about it since I havent seen anything about if myself
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Here I come T-Mobile.
Who wants to be on the unlimited throttle plan anyways. I came off that throttle crap years ago.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
they cant remove it without consent.
Tinag379 said:
they cant remove it without consent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You already gave them consent in the contract. You'd know this if you read the contract.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
toxicpaulution said:
You already gave them consent in the contract. You'd know this if you read the contract.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. KIND OF. If "THEY" decide to change your plan from the unlimited data plan they are voiding your contract. So "IF" this is the case buy as many NEW phones as you have unlimited Data plans on asap. Then when "THEY" change your contract then you are free and clear of your commitment. Read the print.
So in my case I too will be saying BYE BYE ATT and Hello TMobile. I am just waiting for the chance to leave them over bs like this over the years. I was FORCED onto a Unlimited Data Plan with my first smartphone (really a dumb phone by today's standards). The ONLY reason I have stayed with them is call quality and data has been pretty good in my area. But now T-Mobile data and call quality in my area is just as good if not better. So eventually this will be my route.
Now IF they do not do this change I will NOT be buying the S5 from them anyways with locked bootloaders. So I was gonna have to buy either international or T-Mobile S5 anyways and then possibly stay with ATT until my contract runs out for all my lines. Which is about a year or less away anyways.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
RockRatt said:
Yes. KIND OF. If "THEY" decide to change your plan from the unlimited data plan they are voiding your contract. So "IF" this is the case buy as many NEW phones as you have unlimited Data plans on asap. Then when "THEY" change your contract then you are free and clear of your commitment. Read the print.
So in my case I too will be saying BYE BYE ATT and Hello TMobile. I am just waiting for the chance to leave them over bs like this over the years. I was FORCED onto a Unlimited Data Plan with my first smartphone (really a dumb phone by today's standards). The ONLY reason I have stayed with them is call quality and data has been pretty good in my area. But now T-Mobile data and call quality in my area is just as good if not better. So eventually this will be my route.
Now IF they do not do this change I will NOT be buying the S5 from them anyways with locked bootloaders. So I was gonna have to buy either international or T-Mobile S5 anyways and then possibly stay with ATT until my contract runs out for all my lines. Which is about a year or less away anyways.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not if within the contract it says they can chagne your plan to whatever whenever they feel like it.
i just reviewed my contract. nothing in it states they can change anything at any time.
toxicpaulution said:
not if within the contract it says they can chagne your plan to whatever whenever they feel like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that was the case they would have forced us all of it years ago when the decided to start throttling you as "in the top 5% of data users". They were trying VERY HARD to get us off of unlimited data. I have been through two phones since they implemented this. With the S2 and huspa+ plan you are throttled at 3Gb, on my S3 with LTE I am throttled at 5Gb, and same on the S4. So IF they were gonna attempt something like this they would have already.
Also if they want to keep losing customers to T-Mobile then go at it. I am not sure if you have seen all the commercials, but once Tmobile makes some cool changes to their service ATT/VERIZON didn't change anything. But as T-Mobile keeps chipping away at ATT/VERIZON customer base then these two companies are starting to play catch up and make some changes. Like T-Mobile being able to upgrade when you want, now ATT and Verizon have their own crappy versions of this. T-Mobile has unlimited data so ATT/Verizon are trying to fool people with unlimited text and call and raise the download limits with some of their newer plans. But they keep refusing to just five in and make a unlimited data plan, seems like out of spite at times. Because they cannot get rid of enough grandfathered Unlimited data plan users.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
RockRatt said:
If that was the case they would have forced us all of it years ago when the decided to start throttling you as "in the top 5% of data users". They were trying VERY HARD to get us off of unlimited data. I have been through two phones since they implemented this. With the S2 and huspa+ plan you are throttled at 3Gb, on my S3 with LTE I am throttled at 5Gb, and same on the S4. So IF they were gonna attempt something like this they would have already.
Also if they want to keep losing customers to T-Mobile then go at it. I am not sure if you have seen all the commercials, but once Tmobile makes some cool changes to their service ATT/VERIZON didn't change anything. But as T-Mobile keeps chipping away at ATT/VERIZON customer base then these two companies are starting to play catch up and make some changes. Like T-Mobile being able to upgrade when you want, now ATT and Verizon have their own crappy versions of this. T-Mobile has unlimited data so ATT/Verizon are trying to fool people with unlimited text and call and raise the download limits with some of their newer plans. But they keep refusing to just five in and make a unlimited data plan, seems like out of spite at times. Because they cannot get rid of enough grandfathered Unlimited data plan users.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People abusing "unlimited" by using exceptional amounts of data tethering is the reason the true "unlimited" plans went away and will not come back to the major carriers. Sure, there are people that use a lot of data on their phone alone and there are people that tether some, but not all of the times. They are actually a small part of the overall users. A little tethering from time to time or a month of high data use due to watching the play-offs on the phone is not an issue The problem is the people that tether all of the time using their phones as their main internet connection. Mobile data was not meant for this. Basically, a few people keep finding ways to screw the system so no one else can benefit from it.
Of course, the major carriers should be providing plans at a better price and, for now, that seems to be happening because of T-Mobile's changes. However, the unlimited demise is definitely the fault of the abusers.
@scott14719 I do know what you are saying and do believe this to be the case as well.
But as technology on these phones grow so will the demand for more data. With streaming being more and more capable (and i am not just talking about netflix, youtube, and such) then the providers need to upgrade their data networks to accommodate for the future. T-Mobile seems to be doing just that as of right now. So I am happy that T-Mobile is changing things and forcing the other networks to change a bit. I hope they keep pushing the issue.
I am totally cool with paying full price for unsubsidized phones and less for better/faster data.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
I dropped my unlimited for the new 10 GB shared plan. On three phones I will get more data than I have ever used in a month, no throttling, and I save $60 per month. If 10 is not enough I will go to 15 and still save $30 every month.
I thought about "BRIEFLY" doing the same but I usually do at least 10Gb a month on my S4 already. Let alone the three other smart phones on my plan.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
Capt said:
Here I come T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already there and I love it
Been thinking about switching. Never really use data though. Mainly I think because I have to live it and watch myself. I assume you find more use for it if it's more readily at your disposal.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I467 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Id like to see them try haha
They might make it mandatory for phone upgrades, etc.. but from last time they tried to do it they can't just change you. If they wanna break my contract I'm fine with that, I've been looking at cheaper carriers anyways. Even if they put it somewhere in the contract that they can break it my papers say "unlimited data" as the name so you can get the contract broken easily if it's no longer unlimited data.
Unlimited Data/Voice for a fee is the future anyways, they should stop trying to nickle and dime us as the change gets closer.
Only time I need my unlimited is when I travel and watch lots of movies but still it's the ONLY reason I am still with them as everyone has better prices, and signal with any carrier is not a issue in socal.
I am wondering what AT&T has up their sleeve.
Could it be that they will finally get rid of voice over cellular? That would mean that the unlimited text and talk comes out of your data.
scott14719 said:
People abusing "unlimited" by using exceptional amounts of data tethering is the reason the true "unlimited" plans went away and will not come back to the major carriers. Sure, there are people that use a lot of data on their phone alone and there are people that tether some, but not all of the times. They are actually a small part of the overall users. A little tethering from time to time or a month of high data use due to watching the play-offs on the phone is not an issue The problem is the people that tether all of the time using their phones as their main internet connection. Mobile data was not meant for this. Basically, a few people keep finding ways to screw the system so no one else can benefit from it.
Of course, the major carriers should be providing plans at a better price and, for now, that seems to be happening because of T-Mobile's changes. However, the unlimited demise is definitely the fault of the abusers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not trying to start a flame war, so don't take this the wrong way. I do get where you are coming from. But if you think about it, if you pay for unlimited data, shouldn't you receive "Unlimited data"? Yes, it puts that much more stress on carriers trying to provide users with reliable data, but it also pushes them to become more efficient, and improve towers, resulting in a better user experience. It makes sense to want to cut the extra expenses from a carriers perspective. That said, It's still sad to see unlimited data go, whatever the reason.
willblake13 said:
I am not trying to start a flame war, so don't take this the wrong way. I do get where you are coming from. But if you think about it, if you pay for unlimited data, shouldn't you receive "Unlimited data"? Yes, it puts that much more stress on carriers trying to provide users with reliable data, but it also pushes them to become more efficient, and improve towers, resulting in a better user experience. It makes sense to want to cut the extra expenses from a carriers perspective. That said, It's still sad to see unlimited data go, whatever the reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlimited data for your phone, not for your household internet provider. There is a difference. If you use 50 gigs a month on pure phone usage...it should be ok, but if you tether and use 50 gigs for your entire house, it is not. And that is where the problem is.
I love hearing those say "I'll just switch to T-Mobile."
What's the point in having unlimited data if it only works in certain spots?
I'd recommend some hands-on coverage experimentation, and you'll realize why AT&T and Verizon get away with some of the crap that they pull.
Sent from my Hyperdriven S4
Related
So I just signed up for at&t right after the unlimited data plan was retired.. But I heard the at&t unlimited data plan might be pulling a jay-z (comeback) ..
Does anyone know if this is true? Its all I need to be 100% happy/satisfied with my captivate..
Samsung captivate running d11igaf 5.5
francous said:
So I just signed up for at&t right after the unlimited data plan was retired.. But I heard the at&t unlimited data plan might be pulling a jay-z (comeback) ..
Does anyone know if this is true? Its all I need to be 100% happy/satisfied with my captivate..
Samsung captivate running d11igaf 5.5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To add to this question: If it were to come back, would it cost more? That will be BS if it does! What sly corporation skills for taking away something people like, and then giving it back for a higher cost. D:
HERE ya go
bigsmitty64 said:
HERE ya go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info...sucks "new users"like me who were never on a unlimited plan can't have the option tho :/hopefully some day.. I hate being limited!
Samsung captivate running d11igaf 5.5
francous said:
Thanks for the info...sucks "new users"like me who were never on a unlimited plan can't have the option tho :/hopefully some day.. I hate being limited!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, I feel ya. Sort of...I have the unlimited plan
But you'd be surprise how many people don't even come close to the 2gb plan. I use the tethering moderately and stream pandora quite a bit, and there's only been a handful of times that I went over the 2gb mark. I'd say for the majority the 2gb is enough, plus they are offering another extra 2gb. I just don't like how they are charging extra for the tethering.
I also have the unlimited and I can admit I never come close to the 2GB.
There will be a day that even the grandfathered unlimited plan will be terminated one way or another. AT&T's network congestion means it should never offered unlimited plan to begin with.
Verizon actually made it clear, even though it offer unlimited for new iPhone users, top 5% of the data users will be throttled. I sense AT&T will soon follow suit.
If 2GB is not enough for you today, you're on the way to be throttled soon.
Lancered said:
I also have the unlimited and I can admit I never come close to the 2GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here - never reachd 2gb... but I need it for peace of mind. I don't have even check what I've used on my phone. I have to worry constantly about my wife and daughter going over their limits. In fact, my wife accidently went over her 200mb limit by using DroidTV and not having it set for "Wifi Only", coupled with her WIFI settings still at the default setting of "Turn off WIFI when screen goes off" instead of "Never". Even if she was set at 2gb I could see an accident like this happening and costing extra money.
AT&T claims that they notify you when you reach 60%, 90% and 100% of your limit. This is bullsh*t. They don't. First, data use reporting is about 12 hours behind. You can blow your cap by quite a bit in 12 hours. Next, when she went over 200, they sold her another 200 for $15 without any text. I believe this can happen up to 5 times ($90 for 1.2gb). 12 hours later she got a text and I got an email saying she was nearing her limit - but the limit she was nearing was 400mb (the second set of 200mb). We were never informed as she blasted right past the first 200mb. Thank goodness she only had a couple movies set to download. If she had a series recording it would have cost a fortune.
I want to set a hard limit and then have data shut off at that point. Don't sell me extra data automatically. Maybe for technical reasons, they don't know for 12 hours... so they once they find out turn off my data and don't charge me for the overage. Until they can and will do this, I don't think they should be selling limited data plans. Until they can send you warnings in a timely manner, they shouldn't be selling limited data plans.
To AT&T's credit, I was able to retroactively change her data plan to the 2gb plan back to the beginning of my billing cycle - so the mistake cost me $10. Now out of piece of mind I will probably have to keep her at the 2gb plan even though in the past she's never even come close to the 200mb.
RE: Verizon "unlimited"... I can understand temporarily throttling back a heavy user maybe for few hours or days, but not for the rest of the billing cycle and definately not for the next billing cycle. Can you imagine you make one mistake like my wife did and have your speed crippled for up to 2 months? How can they even legally cripple service for a future billing period?
This is important for us to follow because AT&T is probably watching this approach closely and will eventually adopt it for us as well.
foxbat121 said:
There will be a day that even the grandfathered unlimited plan will be terminated one way or another. AT&T's network congestion means it should never offered unlimited plan to begin with.
Verizon actually made it clear, even though it offer unlimited for new iPhone users, top 5% of the data users will be throttled. I sense AT&T will soon follow suit.
If 2GB is not enough for you today, you're on the way to be throttled soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5% is a huge number of customers - probably a lot of them being business customers. Once enough people get throttled back Verizon may have to rethink this approach. Consider what Comcast did. They went from unlimited to 250gb. That's a very reasonable limit that certainly doesn't catch 5% of their internet customers. Of course as time goes by they will have to adjust that 250 up or they will start catching more and more customers.
I don't think they've defined what they consider heavy users yet. It must be pretty low to include 5% of data users.
An even better option would be data buckets, where your unused data rollsover. I've gone near the 200mb cap quite a few times since the default settings cleverly turn off wifi when the phone sleeps :rollseyes:
Sent from my Captivate using XDA App
"Demographic Research" is why we have the 2gb plan in the first place.
That's why I believe the unlimited plan will be eventually phased out also. Yea, their offering the unlimited plan again, but to me that's mostly PR to get more customers because cases like this: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/verizon-breaks-first-day-sales-record-with-iphone-4-pre-orders/ I don't really know how truthful that is, since corporate tend to inflate stats for the press.
But competition is good for the consumers, as long as both these billion dollar companies are in high competition, it should be easier on the wallet for us. Hoping...but still believe they are ripping us off as consumers (and I will keep the reasons why to myself, I've seen what it did to the other threads )
These are all opinions, and I take your posts as opinions. So...can we keep this civil. The other threads I've seen regarding this subject matter tend to get heated, which I do avoid (I have enough drama in my life
I believe that the limited plans were and still are a great idea. 2 gigs is a ton of data in my opinion.I rarely every go above 1 a month and I am on my phone a fair amount. It just all depends how much data people want. and lets face it the people who want and need the unlimited plan are the 1-5% of people that killed at &ts wireless network speed by streaming 1080p content for several hours a day
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
crystalhand said:
I believe that the limited plans were and still are a great idea. 2 gigs is a ton of data in my opinion.I rarely every go above 1 a month and I am on my phone a fair amount. It just all depends how much data people want. and lets face it the people who want and need the unlimited plan are the 1-5% of people that killed at &ts wireless network speed by streaming 1080p content for several hours a day
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the limited plan is a bad idea, but I do see the amount going up and up. Since mobile internet access will exceed home internet access in the future, in my opinion. Which in turn costing us more and more.
As richb500 said, it is important to follow this and see what AT$T does.
When I was following the Fuze/Tilt2 forums it was pointed out that the is no true unlimited plan. The plan is called unlimited but in the TOS it states that over 5G of data transfered ATT can terminate your service.
All carriers have that clause in their respective TOS.
I have the old unlimited plan and have gone ovef 5G once but repeated go over 4G and never got any warning messages about my use.
Just a word of caution.
Sprint seems to be very loose with enforcement. A co-worker has an EVO and uses upwards of 20G a month using it has a hotspot and has never been warned about abusive use which is again in the Sprint TOS.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
foxbat121 said:
There will be a day that even the grandfathered unlimited plan will be terminated one way or another. AT&T's network congestion means it should never offered unlimited plan to begin with.
Verizon actually made it clear, even though it offer unlimited for new iPhone users, top 5% of the data users will be throttled. I sense AT&T will soon follow suit.
If 2GB is not enough for you today, you're on the way to be throttled soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shouldn't have to terminate it.
if they weren't greedy and shortsighted they could get most to move over voluntarily with the right incentives.
For Example - Anyone with unlimited who is willing to Renew a new 2 year contract on their voice and take a capped data plan gets to choose any At&t Phone @ no cost with the upgrade. Couple this with informing users that stay on the unlimited they will face throttling if it is abused....(soft cap of 5 or 6 gb).
75% or more would likely take advantage if they could get the latest phone for free (iphone, atrix, whatever else comes down the pike).
Couple it with a marketing campaign to the effect of TETHER AWAY. No charges for tether as we respect your right to use the full potential of your phone. Give 250mb data free to all smartphone users. Offer 2gb @ $25 and 4GB @ 45$ (same as tether pricing but removes the stigma and bad taste of being charged for something that costs them nothing and is a native capability of the OS/Device). Keep the $10 overage charge per every GB of data over the cap.
crystalhand said:
I believe that the limited plans were and still are a great idea. 2 gigs is a ton of data in my opinion.I rarely every go above 1 a month and I am on my phone a fair amount. It just all depends how much data people want. and lets face it the people who want and need the unlimited plan are the 1-5% of people that killed at &ts wireless network speed by streaming 1080p content for several hours a day
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn you guys are making me feel like I have a problem lol...
I go over 2 gigs almost every month and have to pay the additional 10$ for another gig..came to the point I have to turn off my data and use it only when I need to just to stay under.. (when I'm not home under wifi)
Il trade with you unlimited ppl any day!
Samsung captivate running d11igaf 5.5
francous said:
Damn you guys are making me feel like I have a problem lol...
I go over 2 gigs almost every month and have to pay the additional 10$ for another gig..came to the point I have to turn off my data and use it only when I need to just to stay under.. (when I'm not home under wifi)
Il trade with you unlimited ppl any day!
Samsung captivate running d11igaf 5.5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have your wifi set to never turn off? A lot of people think they're safe at home on their wifi... But as soon as the screen turns off, so does the wifi. They default this way to save battery.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
richb500 said:
Do you have your wifi set to never turn off? A lot of people think they're safe at home on their wifi... But as soon as the screen turns off, so does the wifi. They default this way to save battery.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine stays on all the time.. but i turn my Data Off while my wifi is on so if wifi were to cut out it wouldnt use my data anyway
UPDATE: i called AT&T just for kicks to see if there were a unlimited data plan no one knew about.. turns out there isnt for us smartphone customers but there is for NON Smartphone customers because they use less data.. wtf..
Can we LIE and say we are not a smartphone, say we're on some ol' school slidey phone or something and get that plan!? lol..
Good for us consumers, but anyone that is like me that uses 1GB a day with ease "when you are at work with nothing better to do then surf the net, and watch movies" it becomes a problem, lucky I have unlimited data though and I don't see why they don't sell it to more customers because most who have it don't use nearly that much so its extra money in the pocket
francous said:
mine stays on all the time.. but i turn my Data Off while my wifi is on so if wifi were to cut out it wouldnt use my data anyway
UPDATE: i called AT&T just for kicks to see if there were a unlimited data plan no one knew about.. turns out there isnt for us smartphone customers but there is for NON Smartphone customers because they use less data.. wtf..
Can we LIE and say we are not a smartphone, say we're on some ol' school slidey phone or something and get that plan!? lol..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The unlimited data plan offering is not official, and I don't think customer service will know anything until Verizon iphone official launch date. What I've been reading (ex.) http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/at-t-quietly-matching-vzws-unlimited-data-plan-for-iphone/9317
But this is only a business move, in my opinion, since there are certain criteria you must meet to get back the unlimited plan.
And for your question: No you can't lie about not having a smartphone, when actually you are using a smartphone, they will know.
My VZW source told me about a new Point-of-Sale system being implemented for corporate Verizon stores (a nationwide rollout as far as I know, but I could be wrong on that assumption). Regardless, this new POS system goes live June 26th. In the online training for the new POS system, Verizon Employees saw some mention given to new calling plans + tiered data implementation coming at the same time as the new POS system rollout.
What I was told is this: calling plans are being renamed, probably changed (in terms of text/voice minute allowance, price, inclusion [or not] of data, etc.) FOR SURE the plans are being renamed, and it's not a far stretch of the imagination to think that this is the perfect time for VZW to roll out new data plans. The reason for that thought is the fact that VZW has been talking about a summer debut for tiered data plans for a while now. Well, summer is here... so it's about time for this to happen.
No specific details have been given at this time, likely no one will know much until the day before or day of the announcement. But at least we have a time frame for this. If there is going to be an end of unlimited data, I predict it will come with the roll out of new calling plans.
Also, this makes sense in light of the July 6th extended tethering promotion. In the event someone wants to keep tethering after July 6th on their Thunderbolt, it will require a data plan change (adding a paid monthly tethering plan). This is one way for Verizon to force people into the new calling plans. If they are capping data or upping prices for LTE/4G devices (or across the board for all devices - who knows?), this is a great way for Verizon to steal people away from their unlimited data plans. You want tethering? OK. Change your plan to one of our "new" plans with tiered (capped) data and you can have tethering!
I think this "free" tethering was a cold, money grubbing calculation from the beginning. I digress...
Anyway, just passing along what I heard today. Anyone else hear anything similar to this today? I could have some details wrong, and though this is clearly just speculation, I don't want to obfuscate the truth if someone has it on good authority something here isn't true or I have some of the details a little wrong.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Here's the reason free tethering was extended:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20...-4g-tethering/
As for tiered data, they can pry my unlimited 4G from my cold, lifeless hands. Or I'm going to Sprint
That link is broken for me. Was the story about the issues with the Charge's hotspot being unreliable? I know the previous extension was supposedly because of the 24 hour EHRPD network outage that affected so many Thunderbolt users.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
JFMFT said:
That link is broken for me. Was the story about the issues with the Charge's hotspot being unreliable? I know the previous extension was supposedly because of the 24 hour EHRPD network outage that affected so many Thunderbolt users.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, it worked for me earlier today I just assumed it still worked..
It was something about how the Free Press filed a complaint with the FCC saying that Verizon shouldn't be allowed to tell us how to use our data, etc and that the conditions with which the 700 mhz spectrum was bought somewhat prevent Verizon from charging for it.
And no, but the Charge did receive an update a few days ago fixing their hotspot.
Ah, I forgot about the free press filing. Good to know the Charge was updated, too.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
joshnichols189 said:
Here's the reason free tethering was extended:
[broken url]
As for tiered data, they can pry my unlimited 4G from my cold, lifeless hands. Or I'm going to Sprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a working link. Forum cut yours off...
news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20069580-264/complaint-to-fcc-verizon-mustnt-bar-4g-tethering
I tried to post as a link, but I'm such a newb that it is only allowed after my 8th post
JFMFT said:
My VZW source told me about a new Point-of-Sale system being implemented for corporate Verizon stores (a nationwide rollout as far as I know, but I could be wrong on that assumption). Regardless, this new POS system goes live June 26th. In the online training for the new POS system, Verizon Employees saw some mention given to new calling plans + tiered data implementation coming at the same time as the new POS system rollout.
What I was told is this: calling plans are being renamed, probably changed (in terms of text/voice minute allowance, price, inclusion [or not] of data, etc.) FOR SURE the plans are being renamed, and it's not a far stretch of the imagination to think that this is the perfect time for VZW to roll out new data plans. The reason for that thought is the fact that VZW has been talking about a summer debut for tiered data plans for a while now. Well, summer is here... so it's about time for this to happen.
No specific details have been given at this time, likely no one will know much until the day before or day of the announcement. But at least we have a time frame for this. If there is going to be an end of unlimited data, I predict it will come with the roll out of new calling plans.
Also, this makes sense in light of the July 6th extended tethering promotion. In the event someone wants to keep tethering after July 6th on their Thunderbolt, it will require a data plan change (adding a paid monthly tethering plan). This is one way for Verizon to force people into the new calling plans. If they are capping data or upping prices for LTE/4G devices (or across the board for all devices - who knows?), this is a great way for Verizon to steal people away from their unlimited data plans. You want tethering? OK. Change your plan to one of our "new" plans with tiered (capped) data and you can have tethering!
I think this "free" tethering was a cold, money grubbing calculation from the beginning. I digress...
Anyway, just passing along what I heard today. Anyone else hear anything similar to this today? I could have some details wrong, and though this is clearly just speculation, I don't want to obfuscate the truth if someone has it on good authority something here isn't true or I have some of the details a little wrong.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a vast majority of users have a tiered plan with bucket data (tethering included) would actually be a good thing. For alot of users who frequent this, and other, forums it would not. If the prices are not totally outrageous, ie $20/GB, I see no problem with VZW implimenting a tiered system that included tethering. Its for users like many of us on XDA that it will be a problem, those who regularly go over 2, 3, 4, 5 etc GB a month by constantly flashing, downloading and redownloading apps and the power tetherers (those who play Xbox etc while tethered). I know people who barely hit 500 megs a month on their data plans, so something along the lines of 1GB for a reasonable price would be perfect for them.
abn75 said:
Its for users like many of us on XDA that it will be a problem, those who regularly go over 2, 3, 4, 5 etc GB a month by constantly flashing, downloading and redownloading apps and the power tetherers (those who play Xbox etc while tethered). I know people who barely hit 500 megs a month on their data plans, so something along the lines of 1GB for a reasonable price would be perfect for them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Over 12 days of this cycle, my wife hit 0.04 GB... I just hit 11.62 GB (I'm not joking). Tiered would be perfect for her if it's cheaper than the current unlimited plan... for me, I'm praying they grandfather us in!!
tbns said:
Over 12 days of this cycle, my wife hit 0.04 GB... I just hit 11.62 GB (I'm not joking). Tiered would be perfect for her if it's cheaper than the current unlimited plan... for me, I'm praying they grandfather us in!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have to or let you out of your contract.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
tbns said:
Over 12 days of this cycle, my wife hit 0.04 GB... I just hit 11.62 GB (I'm not joking). Tiered would be perfect for her if it's cheaper than the current unlimited plan... for me, I'm praying they grandfather us in!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My wife was hitting .17 gb with her old blackberry and now uses about 3 gb with my old Droid X, I used 6-8 on the X and 8-10 on the Thunderbolt on average, and have went up to 16 gb in one month on the X. I have never tethered. Maybe the shared data will even out prices if they don't grandfather us in (after the T-bolt)
I really think that until they announce plans/prices for the tiered system people are just over reacting to it. Who knows, it might actually be a good thing for them to roll it out. Yeah yeah yeah i know "but we haz unlimited" thats well and good. but if your like me and have more than one smart phone line with it, and one of those lines using 200 megs a month...well its not worth it to have unlimited. I would rather have a small tiered plan for that, or hell even a family data plan with bucket data alotment. But we all know how people are, they have to have their unlimited data plan no matter what, even if they are only using 100 megs.
There is already a $15 plan, and its been around for awhile, for all the people using very little data
JFMFT said:
I think this "free" tethering was a cold, money grubbing calculation from the beginning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same business scheme as crack dealers.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
abn75 said:
If your like me and have more than one smart phone line with it, and one of those lines using 200 megs a month...well its not worth it to have unlimited. I would rather have a small tiered plan for that, or hell even a family data plan with bucket data alotment. But we all know how people are, they have to have their unlimited data plan no matter what, even if they are only using 100 megs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But as 4G extends to more markets, that will change. Ppl will starting downloading/streaming more media & 100-200 megs/month will become a drop in the bucket.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Unlimited data is already gone for new subs. Tiered data is already in place. Go to the VZ website, it lists all tiers.
Mercutio5 said:
Unlimited data is already gone for new subs. Tiered data is already in place. Go to the VZ website, it lists all tiers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you looked at the wrong place. those "tiered" plans are for mobile broadband, ie tablets, mifi and such. for smartphones its still showing unlimited
Mercutio5 said:
Unlimited data is already gone for new subs. Tiered data is already in place. Go to the VZ website, it lists all tiers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Where is that link? I just checked and it still shows "unlimited data" for 4G phones at the $29.99 price
You're all correct.
eraursls1984 said:
My wife was hitting .17 gb with her old blackberry and now uses about 3 gb with my old Droid X, I used 6-8 on the X and 8-10 on the Thunderbolt on average, and have went up to 16 gb in one month on the X. I have never tethered. Maybe the shared data will even out prices if they don't grandfather us in (after the T-bolt)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was around 5 GB last month on the Tbolt until Netflix happened. I have done very little tethering this month and my data usage is at 15GB and I still have 4 days left in my billing cycle.
Verizon please force tiered data plans on us I would love a free switch to sprint =P
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App
It's a sad thought, but I think Verizon is really killing it for us Android/smart phone users. Their new tiered plans will start July 7 and the prices are ridiculous. (80$ for 10GB) (30$ for 2GB) and more, but It's not that I hate Verizon. I'm new to them, I've only been with them for 2 months, and I love the quality of service I get. Good thing is we all keep our unlimited data due to our contracts having been signed before July 7th.
But it's like Verizon is trying to kick out all the smart phone users with their already overpriced plans. Att isn't looking any better, but when I look at Sprint (which I left for Verizon) and their new LTE contract and unlimited data it looks like a haven for me.
Now I love my Thunderbolt and will stay with it for most likely half my contract (maybe the whole 2 years) then switch over to Sprint because I really don't want to pay that much for data, I always go above 10GB sadly, I hope Sprint stays unlimited until then, or I could hope for the impossible. That Verizon will stop being greedy. :/
What are your thoughts on this? Will you be sticking with the new plans when your contract is over? or will you switch over to a new carrier? (if so which carrier?) I felt like making a topic about this to read other people's thoughts on this.
I have little choice where I live. It's Verizon or crap signal. Sprint has zero coverage here. I despise Verizon's policies and outright greed. The price on data plans and tethering was shocking when we got these phones (first smart phones for us). I had read some where that their agreement with the FCC when they bought the 700mhz spectrum for LTE is going to cause problems for their tethering plans. It was something about being required to allow tethering on that spectrum.
Regardless, I'm not a heavy wireless bandwidth user, but it would be convenient to be able to link my laptop up when I'm out in the boonies and need to remote into work. And not get raped for $20 every time I need it.
I only signed a one year contract. I hope my rates don't change when its over. Looks like ill be buying all my phones cash to avoid a data plan upgrade.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using XDA Premium App
Glad I got in when I did.
I don't use my data that much, or so I thought...but my bill every month is 6 to 8 GB. I know I can cut that back by downloading all the different ROMs and Kernals on my PC then moving them over...but man it sure is nice using LTE speeds to download 200 plus MB...
I'm not one to start rumors...only this discussion.
Anyone feel this might be a pre-cursor to an iPhone 5? I still don't believe it'll have LTE...
RjsShadows said:
It's a sad thought, but I think Verizon is really killing it for us Android/smart phone users. Their new tiered plans will start July 7 and the prices are ridiculous. (80$ for 10GB) (30$ for 2GB) and more, but It's not that I hate Verizon. I'm new to them, I've only been with them for 2 months, and I love the quality of service I get. Good thing is we all keep our unlimited data due to our contracts having been signed before July 7th.
But it's like Verizon is trying to kick out all the smart phone users with their already overpriced plans. Att isn't looking any better, but when I look at Sprint (which I left for Verizon) and their new LTE contract and unlimited data it looks like a haven for me.
Now I love my Thunderbolt and will stay with it for most likely half my contract (maybe the whole 2 years) then switch over to Sprint because I really don't want to pay that much for data, I always go above 10GB sadly, I hope Sprint stays unlimited until then, or I could hope for the impossible. That Verizon will stop being greedy. :/
What are your thoughts on this? Will you be sticking with the new plans when your contract is over? or will you switch over to a new carrier? (if so which carrier?) I felt like making a topic about this to read other people's thoughts on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from what i heard on droidworld is that even when ur due for an upgrade u can still keep ur unlimited 4g plan. so u dont ever have to switch.
qman66 said:
from what i heard on droidworld is that even when ur due for an upgrade u can still keep ur unlimited 4g plan. so u dont ever have to switch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense...but I wouldn't believe that if Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were working the counter at the VZW store.
qman66 said:
from what i heard on droidworld is that even when ur due for an upgrade u can still keep ur unlimited 4g plan. so u dont ever have to switch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've heard as long as you don't remove data from your plan it will stay unlimited.
Mustang02 said:
From what I've heard as long as you don't remove data from your plan it will stay unlimited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are only a small handful of phones you can even buy and not be forced to use a data plan.
I would bet my money, if I were a gamblin' man, that when your contract is up...you will be forced to tiered data IF you get a new handset and sign a new contract.
If you're renewing a current unlimited data plan, you will keep your unlimited data. It will apply to new service contracts only.
I skated on unlimited data for 3 years after a 5 gig cap was placed on sprint's aircards because I kept renewing my original contract.
Now, once you let your contract lapse, without renewing it, you will be subject to changes with your service when you do sign back up.
Sent from my BAMF GingerRemix v2.1 powered Thunderbolt using XDA App
This is gonna suck for us flash addicts. Since every Rom we download is about 300 mb. Time to seek treatment.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
Eh I'm all for hard capped plans.
das BAMF sense 3.0 rocking the bolt
abn75 said:
Eh I'm all for hard capped plans.
das BAMF sense 3.0 rocking the bolt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with the exception that if I'm paying for a set amount of data I shouldn't have to pay extra just for the right to tether.
phoney6 said:
I agree with the exception that if I'm paying for a set amount of data I shouldn't have to pay extra just for the right to tether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I agree with that. As I stated in the other thread lack of included tether is my only issue with the rumored plans/prices
das BAMF sense 3.0 rocking the bolt
I don't get where people think verizon is so expensive. Compaired to other carriers vzw is not that much more expensive, and even cheaper in some scenarios. Now boost mobile or cricket may be cheaper but that's like walking into a cadillac dealer and *****ing that the cts-v you're looking at is more then the 1998 Taurus you seen down the street. If you want to deal with sprints ****ty service go with them... I'm sure Walmart has some cheap prepay options too. You are paying for a service, you get what you pay for. You pay 29.99 for unlimited 4g data on your phone and ***** because they want to charge you if you choose to enable a different data service on your phone? So you think for the meisly 30 bucks a month you should be able to use 100gbs of bandwith tethering your pc and seeding 50 torrents? All they want is another 29.99 to tether, and guess what, that's unlimited too! On top of that they gave it to you for free for three months for buying your phone.. I can't wait for teired data. And another FYI, Verizon currently does not charge to use mobile hotspot on their tabs, guess why? Because you pay for teired data, they actually don't care how you you ur data, you bought it! Who needs to use 10 gigs of data on their phone a month? I use my phone constantly for work and play, stream Pandora for hours, and have never hit five gigs... Download all your firmware on ur home WiFi network if you want to download straight to Ur phone, or use Ur data cable ( they gave that to you for free too ) home WiFi not fast enough? Drop it and get Ur 29.99 tethering plan, bet that's cheaper then what Ur paying Ur isp now
Quit *****ing, what are we a bunch of 16 year old kids working at the local fast food joint? You shouldn't be carrying a 250 dollar phone in that case, that's not financially responsible at all.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
stayin100 Please use sentence breaks, paragraphs, etc. Your wall of text is unreadable. Not trying to be mean.
The whole reason I got the Bolt instead of holding out hope for the Bionic was because of this. Needless to say when the day comes that I dont have unlimited data, I'll be switching to sprint.
stayin100 said:
Quit *****ing, what are we a bunch of 16 year old kids working at the local fast food joint? You shouldn't be carrying a 250 dollar phone in that case, that's not financially responsible at all.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, did you type that wall of text on your phone? LOL That's just sick . I like reading and think that if people put more effort into what they wrote, this would be a more informed world instead of posting 2-3 line paragraphs. I for one applaud you for your wall of text. I bow at you doing it on your Thunderbolt. lol.
That said, love your last part there that I quoted. Agreed 100%. I'm all for saving money but no one is forcing us to use smartphones.
Lol I would have used better grammar if I was not mobile atm...
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
dajogejr said:
No offense...but I wouldn't believe that if Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were working the counter at the VZW store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't change your plan you can keep renewing for the same price with the same features.. so you can keep renewing your plan and keep unlimited data
It's also hilarious how people think sprint will stay unlimited forever. Everyone seems to have forgotten how their own ceo who preaches unlimited has said that they were looking at a switch as well.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA Premium App
stayin100 said:
Quit *****ing, what are we a bunch of 16 year old kids working at the local fast food joint? You shouldn't be carrying a 250 dollar phone in that case, that's not financially responsible at all.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it wasn't going to cost more than my phone's value each month in data charges, you might be right. However, for those of us who actually use the phone for work or anything else with high data usage, the new changes are ridiculous.
If they don't grandfather users, I'll be dropping my family plan. I already pay $250/mo for 5 lines - mine is the only one with high usage (data/voice/txting) due to work.
AT&T Says it will Move Unlimited Data Customers Who are Tethering to a Tiered Plan
http://androidcommunity.com/att-say...-who-are-tethering-to-a-tiered-plan-20110804/
AT&T has said that starting as soon as August 11th, it will start moving those customers whom they’ve contacted about tethering without a specific tethering plan on to one. Those customers in question will be moved onto AT&T’s Data Pro plus Tethering, giving them 4 GB of data to use for $45 a month.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean they will actually enforce their terms of service all users agreed to?
Shocking. You don't like it, don't agree to it. Simple.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Hold your horses there hotrod and lose the holier than thou facade, I could care less since I don't tether, I just despise the fact that they rape you for the use of data transferring. Data is data is data no matter how you cut it.
I personally believe the carriers should be taken to the cleaners over this issue on principle alone.
/rant
Tx Redneck said:
Hold your horses there hotrod and lose the holier than thou facade, I could care less since I don't tether, I just despise the fact that they rape you for the use of data transferring. Data is data is data no matter how you cut it.
I personally believe the carriers should be taken to the cleaners over this issue on principle alone.
/rant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whoah Nellie, that wasn't directed at you at all. My fault. It was directed at those who are sure to complain. I'm with you 100% on this, but I did sign an agreement so i can't complain about it.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
..........
As i've said before in a thread somewhere...I definetly use wifi tether....when i absolutely need it. IE, i'm out of town and not around a wifi hotspot. I do not use it to download, like some others do. I've been using wifi hotspot since February, and not once have i been contacted by AT&T about "illegally" using the hotspot. The difference is...when you are doing something youre not supposed to, common sense says to stay low key and keep a low profile to stay under the radar. This decreases your chances of getting caught. So as far as I am concerned, for those who abuse this feature deserve to get caught and get sent to a tiered plan.
Corporate Greed
I also tether lightly occasionally and have not been contacted ...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
ThEiiNoCeNT said:
I also tether lightly occasionally and have not been contacted ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here...
Is this the same threat they were spouting about three months ago, when those mass emails went out?
i still have my grandfathered unlimited data plan, and honestly i will fight to keep it. i dont tether. but when the highest plan is $25 for what 2gb i think, and i pay 30 for unlimited i will keep it thank you. but dont really see a reason to tether anyway... where arent you nowadays that doesnt have a free wifi hotspot? hell the grocery store has one here because there is a starbucks inside...
Data is data is data is not correct. Data cost money no matter how u want to look at it. Yes u are paying for a plan with a certain amount of data, lets say 2gb. First they are a company for profit not a non profit company, Most people dont use all there data, not even close to it, and they factor this in before pricing it. Data isnt cheap, while u feel like your paying for 2gb of data, that u should beable to use it how u want, doesnt mean you can tether and increase the amount of data u use.
if everyone who has a 2gb plan for 25 dollars uses 90% of there data or more every month, u would be paying alot more than 25 dollars for internet.
Do u really think when they created unlimited plans they also can give unlimited amounts of data away and it doesnt cost them any extra? while u feel you are being cheated, the ones actually being cheated are the ones not tethering paying high prices for data.
What you are saying is the same thing as saying a bank can give everyone all there money back, or that a insurance company can afford to pay claims for every person that has insurance, its not feasable. If u truely want it that way they would probaly more than double the current price for data if everyone used there max but they count on alot not using it so there cost is down and so is yours.
A couple of things-first off I too have unlimited data and if they decide to alter my plan in any way I will leave and not look back. As far as unlimited data goes, I guess I don't know what it means. If I pay for unlimited I expect to have unlimated why does it matter how I use it. Is there a differnece from downloading something on my phone vs my pc, if not than who cares.
When I stopped at att today the chick was viewinf my account and noticed I don't use that much data on my 3 lines, she was begging me to switch to a 2gb plan, I laughed in her face. Side note- att has no idea of any attain coming.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997R using XDA Premium App
@jc,
I read an article a few weeks back that the average cost for an ISP to support 1GB of network traffic is $0.10. Let's say it's double that for a wireless provider even though it's all 1's and 0's, that would mean on average what we pay $25 per month for 2GB of traffic generation only cost the $0.40 to serve.
I agree that they're in it to make money and don't fault them for it, but their profit margin is GROSSLY disproportionate to the Co's most folk like to piss and moan about(Exxon Mobile..).
Tx
http://gigaom.com/broadband/mobile-data-costs-to-jump-7x-for-operators-to-370b-by-2016/
its not as cheap as u think.mobile data is alot more expensive than cable internet or dsl
Btw all major isp's have caps on there unlimited plans, mine is 450gb a month, comcast i think is 250gb. There was also a story recently of a guy that got suspended by cable isp for a few months after exceeding cap, and after he exceeded cap for a second time was suspended for 1 year.
It is your right to switch to a different mobile carrier, but fact is they all have caps. and with att buying tmobile who is left? not many choices.
I use tethering when I really need some Internet in the middle of nowhere where there is no free wifi or free with aircrackng. Att has never said anything because I use less than 400mb of data per month with occasional 1 to 3 gb spikes if I'm tethering or I look down and notice I have ridiculous reception and run a ****load of 200mb tests from testmy.net
If they do say anything about my infrequent tethering resulting in the loss of my unlimited I think I will give testmy.net money so I can have it run the huge test repeatedly for a month.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
I posted the same info in the other similiar thead. For those that don't know it or never read it, there was a 5GB fair use clause for your unlimited data plan. So that might be the magical number to watch.
Ok guys I am gonna close this up. On a side note if you look at the TOS everyone agreed to when then signed the contract it states that as long as ATT sends you an email or a text to notify you, they can change your account to the proper plans.
But no one will know for sure till it hits. Could be they are gonna bring this policy over from tmobile with the merger but till then no one knows for sure.
Thread closed
So I went to the local AT&t warranty center to exchange a bricked captivate.
Luckily I had exchanged my captivate 3 months ago hoping the gps would be fixed, it wasnt. They give you a 90 day warranty on the exchange if 90 days is past your 1 year warranty. otherwise I would have been sol 2 months ago. He told me that even my 90 day warranty was up 2 days ago, and he still exchanged it!
but thats not why Im writing this
there was a woman waiting in line with me, bragging that she was grandfathered on the unlimited data plan. I proceded to tell her that its not truly unlimited as At&t has announced the throttling of customers who use lots of data.
One of the women working the counter said something to me that I hope is not true for you who have an unlimited data plan. She said that At&t has plans to soon implement policy which would require you to choose a new tiered data plan if you want to upgrade your phone.
Now this is an At&t employee, however there is always a chance she does not know what shes saying..
Wouldn't be surprised. After this t-mobile merger thing at&t is going haywire with its policies...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
I think sprint did the same thing to people on sero plans iirc. I'm not really surprised.
Sent from my Captivate
Retail pricing ftw?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G via XDA Premium
I think they have been doing this already, I had to go back to At&t from Cingular. When I had the Cingular 3125 with Unlimited Data, I was told there was no grandfathered plans if I went to HTC Fuze with At&t since Cingular didn't count the 3125 as "smartphone" data plan. Unless I got the iphone 1 or something I forget.
AT&T is indeed forcing all unlimited contracts onto tiered data when they can. The best policy is to buy a phone without using the upgrade/contract extension. If you take the upgrade, it triggers a conversion to tiered data.
There is a major caveat to all of this....do you remember when they decided to force you onto a data plan just for the privilege of owning a smartphone? Well, it worked once before, so they are doing it again. This time, if you try to activate any device with an EMEI that is listed as 4G capable, you will be forced to change to a 4G plan. Since it is a 'new' contract, you are forced to accept the tiered data, as well. This means that a SGS or the unbranded SGSII is the best choice (since it is considered 3G). The AT&T version of the the SGSII (Attain) has different hardware and is a 4G device, if you can call HSPA+ 4G, which I don't.
I for one sincerely hope the T-mobile merger is nixed by the FCC and/or SEC. I'm just about ten seconds away from switching to the Tmob Walmart plan, which only charges for the data you use, and you can pre-purchase 'blocks' of data. You can bet your sweet patootie that will evaporate if NewMaBell gets ahold of Tmob. Just in case you might be thinking that AT&T is not all that bad, and are just getting a bad rap, here is a link to an article all AT&T customers need to read.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20097133-17/fcc-asks-at-t-for-more-information-on-lte-rollout/
What are we to do? Simple. Write your congressmen and senators and tell them to pass a simple bit of law. Require all cellular devices to operate equally well on all versions of LTE. Level the playing field. I cry foul on all cellular providers, who worked their way around the FCC's requirement to allow wholesale access to wireless networks by running different protocols. We need to unify the cellular spectrums and protocols, and let them differentiate themselves based service, price and coverage. Since they have spectrum and protocol niches, competition is stifled, and we are paying the price with higher costs and reduced coverage and data rates. Wanna change networks? It's gonna cost you! You have this nasty $4000, 2 year contract, supposedly justified by the cost of providing you new phones that you can only use on one network.
OwenW71 said:
AT&T is indeed forcing all unlimited contracts onto tiered data when they can. The best policy is to buy a phone without using the upgrade/contract extension. If you take the upgrade, it triggers a conversion to tiered data.
There is a major caveat to all of this....do you remember when they decided to force you onto a data plan just for the privilege of owning a smartphone? Well, it worked once before, so they are doing it again. This time, if you try to activate any device with an EMEI that is listed as 4G capable, you will be forced to change to a 4G plan. Since it is a 'new' contract, you are forced to accept the tiered data, as well. This means that a SGS or the unbranded SGSII is the best choice (since it is considered 3G). The AT&T version of the the SGSII (Attain) has different hardware and is a 4G device, if you can call HSPA+ 4G, which I don't.
I for one sincerely hope the T-mobile merger is nixed by the FCC and/or SEC. I'm just about ten seconds away from switching to the Tmob Walmart plan, which only charges for the data you use, and you can pre-purchase 'blocks' of data. You can bet your sweet patootie that will evaporate if NewMaBell gets ahold of Tmob. Just in case you might be thinking that AT&T is not all that bad, and are just getting a bad rap, here is a link to an article all AT&T customers need to read.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20097133-17/fcc-asks-at-t-for-more-information-on-lte-rollout/
What are we to do? Simple. Write your congressmen and senators and tell them to pass a simple bit of law. Require all cellular devices to operate equally well on all versions of LTE. Level the playing field. I cry foul on all cellular providers, who worked their way around the FCC's requirement to allow wholesale access to wireless networks by running different protocols. We need to unify the cellular spectrums and protocols, and let them differentiate themselves based service, price and coverage. Since they have spectrum and protocol niches, competition is stifled, and we are paying the price with higher costs and reduced coverage and data rates. Wanna change networks? It's gonna cost you! You have this nasty $4000, 2 year contract, supposedly justified by the cost of providing you new phones that you can only use on one network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on unlimited data when I got my iphone 3g. I bought a captivate at full retail a year later, and used it for almost a year. By the time my 2 year contact was up from my iphone, I decided to use my upgrade to get the infuse 4g. They let me stay grandfathered in to unlimited data, even though I had to switch to the 4g data plan.
So in other words, since I'm drunk right now, haha, if you are grandfathered in to 3g unlimited data, switching to a 4g phone still lets you keep unlimited data, unless they changed something in the last couple of months.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA Premium App
I just went nine rounds with the CS manager at a local store, and there was no way I was going to be allowed to keep my unlimited data and go to a 4G phone. My situation was perhaps a little different, however. I am a former Alltel customer, and in our area, they grandfathered our $20 unlimited data from Alltel (they did revoke my free tethering) and they are doing anything they can to get that back from those of us that still have it.
I am honestly surprised that they let you go 4G without a change to tiered. Not sure how you pulled it off, since the manager I was working with showed me the plan options and unlimited 4G was not anywhere to be seen. He did say that there were people that had unlimited 4G prior to the tiered plan roll-out, but that was no longer an option for plan changes.
Unlimited plans will be going away. Deal with it.
Pay for what you use, or don't use anything at all.
You sound like you work with att.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
silver91342 said:
I think they have been doing this already, I had to go back to At&t from Cingular. When I had the Cingular 3125 with Unlimited Data, I was told there was no grandfathered plans if I went to HTC Fuze with At&t since Cingular didn't count the 3125 as "smartphone" data plan. Unless I got the iphone 1 or something I forget.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3125 is using a cheaper $20/mo unlimited plan just like iPhone1. Such $20 plan is known to be not grandfathered in. Only the $30+ plans are grandfathered in.
I can't help but think of the irony that with every new generation of phone the big selling features are how much faster it can use data and all the data consuming features, while at the same time the phone companies are trying to keep us from using data. They keep it up eventually the new generation phones will be low data consumption Razors.
bulletproof1013 said:
You sound like you work with att.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17044408&postcount=42
That would be an easy way to get out of your contract early. If they alter your contract then you can refuse and they have to let you out of your contract without penalty.
Sure AT&T I'll upgrade... to Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint!!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
toy028 said:
That would be an easy way to get out of your contract early. If they alter your contract then you can refuse and they have to let you out of your contract without penalty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great point.
unlimited data- they are going to allow you to keep it, but are using the throttling to scare you into a tierd plan. Either way, I'm keeping my unlimited.
refer to this post for directions. A friend who was also originally with Alltel, just did a transfer of responsibility, and they said he had to change plans entirely since he was leaving a family plan. He now has the unlimited data on his phone as well. Hope you guys find this helpful.
I doubt they truely revoke it, as their customer base would be non-existent.
ashies7 said:
unlimited data- they are going to allow you to keep it, but are using the throttling to scare you into a tierd plan. Either way, I'm keeping my unlimited.
refer to this post for directions. A friend who was also originally with Alltel, just did a transfer of responsibility, and they said he had to change plans entirely since he was leaving a family plan. He now has the unlimited data on his phone as well. Hope you guys find this helpful.
I doubt they truely revoke it, as their customer base would be non-existent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except that very few customers are still on that plan. And most of those are people that frequent sites like XDA. Hardly AT&T's bread and butter sadly...
Unfortunately, by the time I got a smart phone, a captivate, they didn't even offer an unlimited plan.
Eventually, I would think that data plans, in general, would become more affordable.... supply and demand, baby!!