iPhone Unlimited Data vs. Unlimited Data

[elmerg]

So I spoke with an AT&T rep a little bit ago, just asking some general questions about the differences between the iPhone data plan and the other unlimited data plans. In the words of the representative that I spoke with 'technically there is no difference between the data plans, however the smart phones constantly access the internet and receive and send data packages.' I've got little experience with iPhones, so I'd love to know what aspects of the iPhone actually do this constant access to the internet (not talking about apps, talking about the iPhone itself, ignoring apps). A friend of mine was going to give me her outdated 2G iPhone, and I was curious, since i have the Family Messaging Unlimited (for MMS/texts) and Family Data Unlimited (on my line).

I access email, web via Opera Mini and GPS and googlemaps and other stuff from my Samsung Impression, and rarely go over a hundred MB a month (this is with watching HQ YouTube videos or getting other stuff via Opera Mini). Has anyone else ever questioned this cost disconnect? I mean, how much more data does an iPhone use, ignoring apps, than the casual use that I've racked up?

[funcritter · Accepted solution]

Email and push notifications are the most frequent.

Way way back when the original iPhone  was the current one, I was using one on prepaid. I had over $100 in credit. Went to sleep one night and was surprised to find out the iPhone used up all my credit in six hours.  The iPhone uses allot of data.

[elmerg]

Duly noted.

I guess it's not a big deal to fork over the extra $10 to have the $20 iPhone plan for a 2G iPhone when I get it then.

Thanks for the reply! 

[jragosta]

I hope someone can explain this to me. AT&T's plans are terribly confusing.

OK. I have two smartphones (one iPhone, one Backflip). Each phone contract says I need to have a data plan, so I signed up for the $15 monthly 200 MB plan for each. THEN I found out about the Family Unlimited Plan which says:

"The Family Data plan gives you unlimited data use when added to your FamilyTalk voice plan. This is added on a per-line basis (up to 5 lines). Pay-Per-Use options are also available, but because that option can result in excessive charges, we recommend adding the appropriate data plan to your existing voice plan. 

To qualify for the $10 per month per line FamilyTalk Data plan you must be on a current FamilyTalk voice plan. Current FamilyTalk plans include our most popular features, such as Rollover minutes, Unlimited Nights & Weekends, and Mobile-to-Mobile Calling. All of these features can be shared among your FamilyTalk group."

That raises several questions:

1. Can I use the Family unlimited plan instead of the monthly $15 plan for the iPhone and/or the Backflip?

2. If I can't do that, can I just get the minimum $15 plan for each phone and then get the $10 family unlimited plan to cover any amounts that go over the limit - so I'd effectively have unlimited data on both phones for $40 per month?

Thanks.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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jragosta wrote:

I hope someone can explain this to me. AT&T's plans are terribly confusing.

OK. I have two smartphones (one iPhone, one Backflip). Each phone contract says I need to have a data plan, so I signed up for the $15 monthly 200 MB plan for each. THEN I found out about the Family Unlimited Plan which says:

"The Family Data plan gives you unlimited data use when added to your FamilyTalk voice plan. This is added on a per-line basis (up to 5 lines). Pay-Per-Use options are also available, but because that option can result in excessive charges, we recommend adding the appropriate data plan to your existing voice plan. 

To qualify for the $10 per month per line FamilyTalk Data plan you must be on a current FamilyTalk voice plan. Current FamilyTalk plans include our most popular features, such as Rollover minutes, Unlimited Nights & Weekends, and Mobile-to-Mobile Calling. All of these features can be shared among your FamilyTalk group."

That raises several questions:

1. Can I use the Family unlimited plan instead of the monthly $15 plan for the iPhone and/or the Backflip?

2. If I can't do that, can I just get the minimum $15 plan for each phone and then get the $10 family unlimited plan to cover any amounts that go over the limit - so I'd effectively have unlimited data on both phones for $40 per month?

Thanks.

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the family unlimited data plan cannot be used for a smartphone or the iphone. Only plans are 15/25/45 (45 = 25.00 plan + tethering). The answer is no for both your questions

[jragosta]

That's for the reply.

I'm not sure what good it does to have a data plan for a dumb phone, though.

[ormom51]

elmerg, I am not sure that the $20 data plan would be available for a new user of the iPhone 2g.  If you already have one, you can keep it, but for new  users the data plans are now limited.  If you currently have another smartphone with an unlimited data plan, then you can keep unlimited for a new-to-you iPhone 2g-but I do not think you can get the old $20 unlimited plan that was in place when the iPhone was brand new.  Check with AT&T or maybe someone else can tell you for sure.  But I am 99.9% positive that a new user of an iPhone 2g who does not already  have an unlimited smartphone data plan will NOT be able to get the original iPhone data plan for $20.

[jimdarcy]

my family has 3 iphones, unlimted text(30$) and each line has 200MB data(15$), so what is the deal with the family data unlimted, can i switch to that and cancel my 200MB(15$) service???

this is crazy

[willie21996]

I have unlimited data from my old iPhone 3GS they said I can keep it so ha I'm good lol :-)

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

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jimdarcy wrote:

my family has 3 iphones, unlimted text(30$) and each line has 200MB data(15$), so what is the deal with the family data unlimted, can i switch to that and cancel my 200MB(15$) service???

this is crazy

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No. You must have either the 200MB or the 2GB data plan for EACH iPhone. It's clearly laid out in their iPhone page

[GeekBoy]

My understanding is that any "smartphone" requires a "smartphone data plan".  Regretfully, the "family data unimited" does not qualify for "smartphones", only for phones considered to be "feature phones".  I believe that this is due to the nature of the device.  With a "feature phone" it is painful to try to use internet data services, and therefore the general data usage is very limited.  On a "smartphone" it is designed for ease of use and internet access, so the usage is  much easier and much higher, thus the requirement for a more expensive data plan. 

[BrianfromNO]

The Family Data Unlimited is NOT for use with smartphones.  That plan can ONLY be used with feature phones and messaging phones.  iPhones must have one of the two new smartphone plans - Data Plus or Data Pro.

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jimdarcy wrote:

my family has 3 iphones, unlimted text(30$) and each line has 200MB data(15$), so what is the deal with the family data unlimted, can i switch to that and cancel my 200MB(15$) service???

this is crazy

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[jimdarcy]

thanks everybody

[unamor07]

Ok, so me and my boyfriend just switched over to AT&T from t-mobile and got the new iphone 4 last month.  We signed up for unlimited messaging and 2GB data.  I noticed 10 days into this months bill that my boyfriend had already used up 65% of his 2GBs.  We are really annoyed because we don't know what is eating up all his data.  I watch videos on youtube, search the internet, and receive emails daily but I have only used 500 or so MB.  Can anyone tell me what could be eating up his data? I talked with a rep and they said that streaming music or movies can be a big part of it so he has stopped that since but still.  What's the use of having an awesome phone but not being able to fully use it if AT&T only offers 2GB of data a month?? I really wish they didn't get rid of the unlimited data for new iphone users.  I totally wouldn't have minded paying 30$ a month for it.

[satchev]

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unamor07 wrote:

Ok, so me and my boyfriend just switched over to AT&T from t-mobile and got the new iphone 4 last month.  We signed up for unlimited messaging and 2GB data.  I noticed 10 days into this months bill that my boyfriend had already used up 65% of his 2GBs.  We are really annoyed because we don't know what is eating up all his data.  I watch videos on youtube, search the internet, and receive emails daily but I have only used 500 or so MB.  Can anyone tell me what could be eating up his data? I talked with a rep and they said that streaming music or movies can be a big part of it so he has stopped that since but still.  What's the use of having an awesome phone but not being able to fully use it if AT&T only offers 2GB of data a month?? I really wish they didn't get rid of the unlimited data for new iphone users.  I totally wouldn't have minded paying 30$ a month for it.

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Yes, streaming audio and video eats up data.  If you are trying to stream audio or video for hours a day, you WILL eat up your 2GB allotment. 

WiFi is NOT included in your data allotment.  Turn on you WiFi and use it whenever available.

[sandblaster]

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satchev wrote:

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unamor07 wrote:

Ok, so me and my boyfriend just switched over to AT&T from t-mobile and got the new iphone 4 last month.  We signed up for unlimited messaging and 2GB data.  I noticed 10 days into this months bill that my boyfriend had already used up 65% of his 2GBs.  We are really annoyed because we don't know what is eating up all his data.  I watch videos on youtube, search the internet, and receive emails daily but I have only used 500 or so MB.  Can anyone tell me what could be eating up his data? I talked with a rep and they said that streaming music or movies can be a big part of it so he has stopped that since but still.  What's the use of having an awesome phone but not being able to fully use it if AT&T only offers 2GB of data a month?? I really wish they didn't get rid of the unlimited data for new iphone users.  I totally wouldn't have minded paying 30$ a month for it.

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Yes, streaming audio and video eats up data.  If you are trying to stream audio or video for hours a day, you WILL eat up your 2GB allotment. 

WiFi is NOT included in your data allotment.  Turn on you WiFi and use it whenever available.

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He also needs to ensure his phone isn't set up to send daily diagnostic data to Apple. That can be as much as 70mb/day which by itself could eat up the entire 2GB over a 30 day period.

[unamor07]

Well the thing is that, according to our online account, he is using a lot of data at 1AM. He's asleep at this time and no one else is using his phone.  I was getting very mad with AT&T because they kept saying well he's using it at that time because that information is coming from his SIM card.  So he's using it when I know he isn't. I am going to talk to Apple to see if they can help me narrow it down to a specific source tomorrow because we both use our phones as much as the other but yet he only has like 500MB of data left with 15 days left in the billing cycle.  ahhhh why did they get ride of the unlimited data!!?? It should have been kept available to anyone that was going to use their phone a lot or new iphone users

[sandblaster]

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unamor07 wrote:

Well the thing is that, according to our online account, he is using a lot of data at 1AM. He's asleep at this time and no one else is using his phone.  I was getting very mad with AT&T because they kept saying well he's using it at that time because that information is coming from his SIM card.  So he's using it when I know he isn't. I am going to talk to Apple to see if they can help me narrow it down to a specific source tomorrow because we both use our phones as much as the other but yet he only has like 500MB of data left with 15 days left in the billing cycle.  ahhhh why did they get ride of the unlimited data!!?? It should have been kept available to anyone that was going to use their phone a lot or new iphone users

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What you also need to realize is that the time it shows on your on-line account does not necessarily equate to the time the data was transferred. That 1am entry could actually be an aggregation of all data transferred for the last 6 hours, or 12 hours, or longer.

[tomwoolner]

I had an unlocked iPhone and had an unlimted data plan with t-mobile for $25, 1000 minutes for $49.00.  For some reason I thought i needed an iphone 4.  I now pay at least $15 more a month, and I do not have an option to have an unlimited data plan.  for some reason, I missed that part of the deal when I signed up - I did not realize ATT and T no longer offered it at any price.

What really gets my goat, though, is how many dropped calls I am experiencing in areas that the map indicates should be a strong signal.

I regret not taking everything back in the first 30 days.  Now I am stuck for 2 years.

Tom

[satchev]

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tomwoolner wrote:

What really gets my goat, though, is how many dropped calls I am experiencing in areas that the map indicates should be a strong signal.

Tom

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And you know for a fact that every dropped call is the result of your handset or the AT&T network?

I am not trying to take up for AT&T here, but there is honestly no way to know (from a customer perspective) what caused the call to drop.  It could be an AT&T issue, it could be an iPhone issue, it could be the other parties carrier or handset.

Nothing is perfect, despite the fact that many consider the iPhone a "Jesus Phone", it's wireless, problems occur and interferance happens.

There is a very good reason why you shop for coverage when dealing with cellular phones and NOT devices.

[Black_Knight]

well said and thats exactly why i sold my iphone 4 and will wait for it to come out on Verizon. It sucks when I work in a big city and have 3g coverage EVERYWHERE, then go home and have 1 bar everywhere. Also, noticed that since I switched back to my old blackjack for the time being, still having the data plan mind you, that absolutely NO phantom data usage has occurred.

[oneryt]

@Black_Knight

If you've got wifi internet at home, you could always download the multitude of applications which should be flooding the market for VOIP and SMS via wifi. Apple just lately released some of their chokehold on their application markets, allowing apps like Google Voice to be downloaded from their app market. (However, some think Google will skip out on an iOS Google Voice app just to pit a blow against Mr. Jobs)

Either way, there are alternatives if you do have a working wifi internet connection at home. 

sources:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/09/09statement.html

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/09/technology/apple_developer_guidelines/index.htm

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/09/20/google_no_comment_on_resubmitting_official_voice_app_f...