Boo AT&T- tethering AND FaceTime are extra??

[Invictus1775]

I'm getting tired of being nickeled and dimed by this company and I'm ready to jailbreak and just be done with it.

I have three lines (all iPhones), all with the 3gb plan. I pay over $220 per month and have been a customer since the first iPhone. 

No lectures on capitalism please, I understand our system very well, thank you. If anything, rates should be falling based upon competition and technology costing less, yet my bill keeps going up up up. I own MY phone, not AT&T. I don't consent to being constantly harangued for more money, just because some bean counter figured out a new thing to charge us for. 

Before the att lemmings say "it's stealing," let you're remind you that I paid for 3gb of data. Whatever means I utilize to spend that data is my business, not big brother att's.  If I buy a hamburger and decide to bring it home, should I be charged extra to eat it at home?  I also have a minutes plan for X-amount of minutes- will AT&T start charging me for using the speakerphone or Bluetooth? Maybe start charging me extra to call non Att customers? How about charging me extra to use predictive text? Where does the extortion end? Probably shouldn't give them any ideas...

For those of you old enough to remember AT&T as a landline monopoly, it was heavy-handed garbage like this that led to this monopoly being ended. It appears AT&T is up to her old tricks again, and perhaps the Feds should step in again before the market is again victimized by a company that thinks they own MY phone. 

I've called/emailed customer service to tell them how dissatisfied I am with this policy of extortion. If you feel the same, please share your opinion with AT&T.  I've also contacted apple, telling them how disappointed I am with MY phone being hijacked by this carrier. Somali pirates of wireless carriers, I swear, ALWAYS wanting more. Enough is enough AT&T. 

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

I do feel data is data and you should have the right to use it how you want without being penalized within your allotted amount of service and think things like this keep putting companies on the 10 worst list very bad PR.

Lets say it strains the infrastructure then the infrastructure needs improving because technology will continue to move on as we are a mobile society and for the masses the novelty of FaceTime will wear off after a while and not be used as often as the analysts think. A good example of this is the younger crowd likes to text rather than call or video chat.

[dwill05]

Tethering has been extra since they started. Right or wrong, that's how AT&T is playing it and part of the terms of service you agree to when using an iPhone on AT&Ts network. You might be able to get around it by jail breaking, but if AT&T detects it, they can and probably will add the proper plans to your account and charge you for it. No amount of complaining is going to change that.

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

Three lines on the new shared data plan that includes FT and Tethering for all devices and 10GB shared data should come in under $220/mo and get you unlimited talk/text to boot.

[21stNow]

You pay a monthly fee to use AT&T's network. Since it is their network, they can place restrictions on its use as they see fit. If you don't like their restrictions, your choice as the consumer is to not use AT&T's network.

[Planet-Ed ACE - Geek]

I can see tethering being extra, but FaceTime should not require a shared data plan.

AT&T excuse for not allowing FaceTime on the unlimited plans was pretty lame.  They tried to claim network issues.  But it doesn't fly for two reasons.

1) if you switch to the shared data it will work.  Well what if everyone switched to the shared data then what?  ATT is either lying and there is no issue and it's only to get people off the old plan and onto the new, or they are saying their network would crash because it the same number of people.  

2) I can't FaceTime (to only people with Apple products) on unlimited data because of network issues, But I can use Skype, Tango and a slew of other third party apps that can connect with a lot more users and devices and those do not cause network issues but little ol Apples app is the network killer.

No it's nothing more than a ploy of little lies to get peoplle off the grandfathered plan.  I'd rather just see AT&T cancel the unlimited plan at the end of each persons contract and be honest than to lie to us about the network to get their agenda..

[mendomar012]

Just change carriers and stop complaining.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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mendomar012 wrote:
Just change carriers and stop complaining.

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Sprint tethering and hotspot are extra charges also, verizon only has shared data plans that allow it, they would have to get a different phone to switch to either of those

[cousintim]

As noted, the fee for tethering has been in place since tethering was introduced.  The restriction for FaceTime over Wi-Fi for unlimited users was annouced several weeks before the iPhone 5 was released.

Crying "extortion" when you have a choice of vendors is laughable.

[jane697]

I thought Facetime over cellular was allowed only on the Mobile Share plans, thus implying that not only is it not allowed on the unlimited data plan, it is not allowed on any of the tiered individual data plans as well; guess I could be mistaken in that regard but I thought I had read that somewhere...

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

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cousintim wrote:

As noted, the fee for tethering has been in place since tethering was introduced.  The restriction for FaceTime over Wi-Fi for unlimited users was annouced several weeks before the iPhone 5 was released.

Crying "extortion" when you have a choice of vendors is laughable.

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No one is crying extortion and you are right everyone that disagrees with AT&T's policy can simply choose another carrier providing they pay an early termination fee if required and the device they are using is compatible with the next carrier.

People have a right to express their discontent with certain practices of a company but telling them to go to another carrier would be bad PR.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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jane697 wrote:

I thought Facetime over cellular was allowed only on the Mobile Share plans, thus implying that not only is it not allowed on the unlimited data plan, it is not allowed on any of the tiered individual data plans as well; guess I could be mistaken in that regard but I thought I had read that somewhere...

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you are correct, at this time facetime over cellualr is only authorized if you have a shared data plan, it is not authorized on the grandfathered unlimited plan nor the tiered plans

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

I just wish carriers would let us use our data how we want to whether it be 300mb, 2 or 5 gb its data we pay for each month if you go over pay the penalty but you should be able to choose how you want to use it up to your allotted amount unless something has changed data is just that data. i believe this actions will get the attention of the FCC and other government groups whether they deem paying fines and continuing on is up to them Verizon got hit with a good one but it may be acceptable loss to them.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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oz_1 wrote:

I just wish carriers would let us use our data how we want to whether it be 300mb, 2 or 5 gb its data we pay for each month if you go over pay the penalty but you should be able to choose how you want to use it up to your allotted amount unless something has changed data is just that data. i believe this actions will get the attention of the FCC and other government groups whether they deem paying fines and continuing on is up to them Verizon got hit with a good one but it may be acceptable loss to them.

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But they have - just switch to the shared plan and you can utilize the data plan in any way you want to.

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

I just wish carriers would let us use our data how we want to whether it be 300mb, 2 or 5 gb its data we pay for each month if you go over pay the penalty but you should be able to choose how you want to use it up to your allotted amount unless something has changed data is just that data. i believe this actions will get the attention of the FCC and other government groups whether they deem paying fines and continuing on is up to them Verizon got hit with a good one but it may be acceptable loss to them.

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But they have - just switch to the shared plan and you can utilize the data plan in any way you want to.

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Share with what my wife uses a regular razor non smart phone and I have no other 3g devices and I am quite sure I am not alone on this it can not be sugar coated no matter how its worded.

I like AT&T's sevices since I have everything they offer the consummer that I need and have been a customer for over 35years but when I see a wrong i will point it out.

THINK POSSIBLE!

[21stNow]

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oz_1 wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

I just wish carriers would let us use our data how we want to whether it be 300mb, 2 or 5 gb its data we pay for each month if you go over pay the penalty but you should be able to choose how you want to use it up to your allotted amount unless something has changed data is just that data. i believe this actions will get the attention of the FCC and other government groups whether they deem paying fines and continuing on is up to them Verizon got hit with a good one but it may be acceptable loss to them.

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But they have - just switch to the shared plan and you can utilize the data plan in any way you want to.

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Share with what my wife uses a regular razor non smart phone and I have no other 3g devices and I am quite sure I am not alone on this it can not be sugar coated no matter how its worded.

I like AT&T's sevices since I have everything they offer the consummer that I need and have been a customer for over 35years but when I see a wrong i will point it out.

THINK POSSIBLE!

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I thought that the whole point of your post was that you wanted to share data (by tethering/mobile hotspot) with other devices.  If that's not the case, then what is the argument that you should be able to use data however you want about?  The "share" in Mobile Share is not just about the devices that are on the plan.

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

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21stNow wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

I just wish carriers would let us use our data how we want to whether it be 300mb, 2 or 5 gb its data we pay for each month if you go over pay the penalty but you should be able to choose how you want to use it up to your allotted amount unless something has changed data is just that data. i believe this actions will get the attention of the FCC and other government groups whether they deem paying fines and continuing on is up to them Verizon got hit with a good one but it may be acceptable loss to them.

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But they have - just switch to the shared plan and you can utilize the data plan in any way you want to.

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Share with what my wife uses a regular razor non smart phone and I have no other 3g devices and I am quite sure I am not alone on this it can not be sugar coated no matter how its worded.

I like AT&T's sevices since I have everything they offer the consummer that I need and have been a customer for over 35years but when I see a wrong i will point it out.

THINK POSSIBLE!

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I thought that the whole point of your post was that you wanted to share data (by tethering/mobile hotspot) with other devices.  If that's not the case, then what is the argument that you should be able to use data however you want about?  The "share" in Mobile Share is not just about the devices that are on the plan.

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Using Face Time ,tethering was not my gripe if I want data on other devices outside of my home I will simply pull into one of many free wi-fi spots as i said earlier having FT is a convience that uses data you me or whoever has a plan in play has payed for already its not like its using a seperate device it will use the same as GPS ,email and surfing.

[xxliquidicexx]

I completely agree with you, cause I am also one of the grandfathered in customers that's getting screwed over with this separation between internet usage and FT data usage, IT'S ALL DATA! I have been paying extra every month to have unlimited data for about 8 years now and I believe that Face Time should be included with my unlimited data plan that I have been paying for. I just hope that more people that were smart enough to figure out that companies like ATT were going to start charging people for data usage would step up and tell this crappy company that we saw this coming and want our unlimited data back, regardless of the content of the data!!!

executives for trying to squeeze more money out of your already long term customers!!!!

[Inappropriate content removed]

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

http://www.slashgear.com/fcc-promises-to-review-objections-against-att-facetime-fees-26249236/

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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oz_1 wrote:

http://www.slashgear.com/fcc-promises-to-review-objections-against-att-facetime-fees-26249236/

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would be willing to bet that the plan will be sunsetted if anything comes out of that like verizon did

[jane697]

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

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jane697 wrote:

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

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That worries me as to the pre-installed whats next ?

[jane697]

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oz_1 wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

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That worries me as to the pre-installed whats next ?

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In addition to what I mentioned in my previous post, why is AT&T allowing FaceTime over cellular only on Mobile Share plans, yet allow Mobile Hotspot/Tethering on both the 5 GB Individual and Mobile Share data plans?  Yes I realize that FaceTime can be used over both Wifi and cellular, while Hotspot/Tethering is pretty much a feature that is meant to be used over celluar but again, based on their argument they could "rightfully" limit Mobile Hotspot/Tethering to just Mobile Share plans...yet they currently aren't doing so.  Or are they already thinking about doing that as well in the near future?

[21stNow]

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jane697 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

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That worries me as to the pre-installed whats next ?

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In addition to what I mentioned in my previous post, why is AT&T allowing FaceTime over cellular only on Mobile Share plans, yet allow Mobile Hotspot/Tethering on both the 5 GB Individual and Mobile Share data plans?  Yes I realize that FaceTime can be used over both Wifi and cellular, while Hotspot/Tethering is pretty much a feature that is meant to be used over celluar but again, based on their argument they could "rightfully" limit Mobile Hotspot/Tethering to just Mobile Share plans...yet they currently aren't doing so.  Or are they already thinking about doing that as well in the near future?

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I beg all of you not to give AT&T ideas that would cost me more money as a customer.

[jane697]

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21stNow wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

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That worries me as to the pre-installed whats next ?

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In addition to what I mentioned in my previous post, why is AT&T allowing FaceTime over cellular only on Mobile Share plans, yet allow Mobile Hotspot/Tethering on both the 5 GB Individual and Mobile Share data plans?  Yes I realize that FaceTime can be used over both Wifi and cellular, while Hotspot/Tethering is pretty much a feature that is meant to be used over celluar but again, based on their argument they could "rightfully" limit Mobile Hotspot/Tethering to just Mobile Share plans...yet they currently aren't doing so.  Or are they already thinking about doing that as well in the near future?

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I beg all of you not to give AT&T ideas that would cost me more money as a customer.

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LOL I'm willing to bet the AT&T bean counters have already thought about limiting Mobile Hotspot to Mobile Share plans.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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jane697 wrote:

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21stNow wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

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That worries me as to the pre-installed whats next ?

---

In addition to what I mentioned in my previous post, why is AT&T allowing FaceTime over cellular only on Mobile Share plans, yet allow Mobile Hotspot/Tethering on both the 5 GB Individual and Mobile Share data plans?  Yes I realize that FaceTime can be used over both Wifi and cellular, while Hotspot/Tethering is pretty much a feature that is meant to be used over celluar but again, based on their argument they could "rightfully" limit Mobile Hotspot/Tethering to just Mobile Share plans...yet they currently aren't doing so.  Or are they already thinking about doing that as well in the near future?

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I beg all of you not to give AT&T ideas that would cost me more money as a customer.

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LOL I'm willing to bet the AT&T bean counters have already thought about limiting Mobile Hotspot to Mobile Share plans.

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itis only allowed on the share program and the 5GB tiered program already, before the shared program game out only the 5GB tiered plan was eligible for hotspot or tethering.  To the best of my knowledge it was never allowed on the unlimtied plan

[oz_1 ACE - Wizard]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

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21stNow wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

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oz_1 wrote:

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jane697 wrote:

Quoted from the Slashgear article provided in the link mentioned earlier in this thread:

"AT&T believes it is compliant with its FaceTime blocking because the application comes pre-installed."

If that was the case, then why don't they block iMessage?  Although technically not an "app", it is built into the functionality of the "pre-installed" Messages app, and just like FaceTime, iMessage works only between iPhones (and I think other iDevices but not 100% sure about that part).  Now if AT&T had also stated in the same sentence that it was blocking it to also control network bandwidth/traffic issues, then it would make sense that AT&T wouldn't need to block iMessage...but since they didn't explicitly mention that in the statement, my argument still holds, IMHO.

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That worries me as to the pre-installed whats next ?

---

In addition to what I mentioned in my previous post, why is AT&T allowing FaceTime over cellular only on Mobile Share plans, yet allow Mobile Hotspot/Tethering on both the 5 GB Individual and Mobile Share data plans?  Yes I realize that FaceTime can be used over both Wifi and cellular, while Hotspot/Tethering is pretty much a feature that is meant to be used over celluar but again, based on their argument they could "rightfully" limit Mobile Hotspot/Tethering to just Mobile Share plans...yet they currently aren't doing so.  Or are they already thinking about doing that as well in the near future?

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I beg all of you not to give AT&T ideas that would cost me more money as a customer.

---

LOL I'm willing to bet the AT&T bean counters have already thought about limiting Mobile Hotspot to Mobile Share plans.

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itis only allowed on the share program and the 5GB tiered program already, before the shared program game out only the 5GB tiered plan was eligible for hotspot or tethering.  To the best of my knowledge it was never allowed on the unlimtied plan

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You are correct I have had unlimited since the beginning and tethering and hotspot has not been offered ever and its not that big of a deal there are far to many free wi-fi hot spots available or at least for me.

But FT would come in handy on and off the job for a quick look when something needs to be viewed in motion or active and not having it with normal data on the same device is an impeadment to progress IMO without having to change plans which results in less data and more money.

[Upstart27]

Seriously AT&T?  No FaceTime over cellular for my brand new iPhone 5, nor my IPad 3 with AT&T LTE? I don't understand how the iPad was never part of the 'family plan' now all of a sudden they want to bundle it with the same account. I can understand having one unified account, but forcing me to change so less desirable plan in the process? Seriously??  I have 5 phones on my account, 2 iPhones, 2 andriod smartphones and 1 basic phone. AT&T will lose my business, and probably a lot of other angry iPhone users over FaceTime. So my pay-as-you go plan with the iPad suffers too? Totally unjustified. As I sit in a Hamton inn using the crappy AT&T wifi to try to get FaceTime with my wife, I realize, no ETF will keep me with a company that is not treating me the way I would like to be treated. Hope the FCC fines them for such audacity.

[Upstart27]

What about facetime for iPad I pay $30 for, is that laughable too? Even tiered plans have to switch to a shared data plan. Any yes it is extortion. The fact that most people don't want to pay ETF is why most people put up with it. Imagine if AT&T allowed customers to switch to Verizon if the were upset about having to switch  to a shared data plan, even thought Verizon now has the same shared data plans, most people out of anger over FaceTime would just switch to Verizon.

[T. Lynn]

I have never used or had the capabilities of facetime before. I have the unlimited data plan, does that mean I can't use this feature at all?

If I can, how is it billed or can it only be used if I have a wifi connection?