at&t to begin throttling 'unlimited' data plan holders

[SMEGMA STENCH]

Whats real funny is they have a 200Mb package. That one is good for a laugh .

[cde21]

Sprint FTW. I used 7.8G last month and didn't get "throttled".

[Tx Redneck]

They're not worth my time. I'm up for renewal on 2/29/12, and was planning to upgrade to an iPhone 4S from my existing 4, that's just over a year old. Our company is getting discounts through Verizon, so it looks like I will probably be switching in the near future.

Fwiw, if you'll get an LTE device on ATT, you can switch the APN to use HSPA+ SPEEDS when you get throttled. Nothing like that can be done on
VZW.

I'm switching mobile carriers today, Verizon will never do this to me!

Their throttle policy is different and if I had to choose, I'd prefer it over ATT'S.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[Treasure Chest]

I'm switching mobile carriers today, Verizon will never do this to me!

I don't doubt that they will screw up royally at some point, but their customer relations ratings are significantly higher than AT&T's, and AT&T has been steadily declining over the years. They now hold the honor of being the worst in the industry. The only thing that kept me with AT&T was the unlimited data.

Bottom line, why would I stay with a company where I'm paying more for less, when I can get the same service at half the price?

[CexMashean]

Actually, you won't get throttles with a new plan on new carriers. When you hit their cap, they'll just bill you for another gig and let you continue.

[78X]

All good things must come to an end

[Slowhand]

Fwiw, if you'll get an LTE device on ATT, you can switch the APN to use HSPA+ SPEEDS when you get throttled. Nothing like that can be done on
VZW.



Their throttle policy is different and if I had to choose, I'd prefer it over ATT'S.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

I don't doubt that they will screw up royally at some point, but their customer relations ratings are significantly higher than AT&T's, and AT&T has been steadily declining over the years. They now hold the honor of being the worst in the industry. The only thing that kept me with AT&T was the unlimited data.

Bottom line, why would I stay with a company where I'm paying more for less, when I can get the same service at half the price?

Short term your points stand, but like Jody said, there are some very potent, non-so-long-term ramifications due to the complete lack of appropriate infrastructure that are going to completely rewrite the revenue structure for every major carrier in this country, and that effect will absolutely be passed down to the consumer.

[Treasure Chest]

Short term your points stand, but like Jody said, there are some very potent, non-so-long-term ramifications due to the complete lack of appropriate infrastructure that are going to completely rewrite the revenue structure for every major carrier in this country, and that effect will absolutely be passed down to the consumer.

I get it. If they're affecting every major carrier, it still makes sense that I go with the company that carries a hefty discount in services.

[03trubluGT]

Fwiw, if you'll get an LTE device on ATT, you can switch the APN to use HSPA+ SPEEDS when you get throttled. Nothing like that can be done on
VZW.

WTF did you say?

[mikeb]

As a long time at&t and at&t precursor customer (anyone remember metrocel? - my cel # comes from way back then) i'm torn on this issue. Of course i have the "unlimited" but now suddenly limited plan for 4 iphones and 2 ipads and i'm a little miffed at the change.

I understand that Cellular bandwidth is not an unlimited resource and management of usage is important, but this move smacks of at&t wanting to avoid infrastructure improvement costs while keeping the bills as high as possible. How can I be "damaging" the network if i download more than 2gb on my unlimited plan, but if i'm on a tiered plan that's charging me for the data - i'm not damaging the network? Seems like the only damage i'd be doing is to at&t's bottom line - but that's the deal that they made way back then.

I hope that a lawsuit gets filed over this.

[Slowhand]

As a long time at&t and at&t precursor customer (anyone remember metrocel? - my cel # comes from way back then) i'm torn on this issue. Of course i have the "unlimited" but now suddenly limited plan for 4 iphones and 2 ipads and i'm a little miffed at the change.

I understand that Cellular bandwidth is not an unlimited resource and management of usage is important, but this move smacks of at&t wanting to avoid infrastructure improvement costs while keeping the bills as high as possible. How can I be "damaging" the network if i download more than 2gb on my unlimited plan, but if i'm on a tiered plan that's charging me for the data - i'm not damaging the network? Seems like the only damage i'd be doing is to at&t's bottom line - but that's the deal that they made way back then.

I hope that a lawsuit gets filed over this.

There's no way to "avoid" the infrastructure improvements.

[Tx Redneck]

WTF did you say?

If you have an LTE(newest network tech) device, ATT throttles your connection based on the default APN(Access Point Name). When/if that happens, you can create a new APN that won't allow your phone to work on the LTE network/force it to work on the HSPA+(3.5G network billed as 4G) and not get throttled.

[bcoop]

There's no way to "avoid" the infrastructure improvements.

He said "avoid" the infrastructure improvement costs, not avoid the improvements.

[racrguy]

He said "avoid" the infrastructure improvement costs, not avoid the improvements.

Not that I'm disagreeing with you or anything, but arent infrastructure improvements a cost of doing business as your client base grows?

[Tx Redneck]

Not that I'm disagreeing with you or anything, but arent infrastructure improvements a cost of doing business as your client base grows?

In an ideal world, yes. Att has received millions of taxpayers dollars from teh gubment for infrastructure improvements, yet we'll likely see rates jacked over "network expansions ".

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion