AT&T to throttle unlimited data plan users...

[txsnafu]

txsnafu wrote:

At least now AT&T has REALLY addressed the issue of "if speed is important to you then upgarade to a tiered plan" as conveyed by customer service reps when inquiring as well as explaining how they will throttle.

If this plan is carried out the way it's explained it really is about as fair and equitable as it can get. With this many people effected not everyone is going to be satisfied but I for one can live with this.

Look at it this way, AT&T could have sunsetted all the unlimited data plans......

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raisingthethrottle wrote:

They can't or else they would have.  If they do so, that means everyone can leave without paying ETF.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh yes they can.

As has been address numerous times in this thread go back and read your terms of service.

[4sskyrocket]

Oh no....don't start that again....

[Thiscompanysuks]

Well since I was throttled yesterday at 2gb they told me there's nothing they can do until my next billing cycle which is 2 weeks away. This is such crap. I want unthrottled!!

[tracy96720]

I have been with this company for a long time...since it was Cingular. I thought I would be with them for a long time to come since I had a grandfathered unlimited data plan that I couldn't get back if I left but the fact is that I live in a city where I can barely get useable data speeds and my coverage sucks.  I can't even use my phone at work unless I stand in the right part of the building. I don't actually use that much data but I was hoping that in the future I would be covered in case I did but today I learned that they will throttle my data plan at 3GB, same as the limited user who pays the same price so now I know that I have nothing to lose by going to another carrier and since AT&T isn't the exclusive iPhone carrier anymore that's an enticing option now. Especially since Verizon has a better 4G network right now (I'm hoping the next iPhone or iPad will be 4G).

[Dellman87]

I hope you know that IF the next IPhone is LTE enabled, this whole capacity thing is going to BLOW UP. The IPhone was the phone that started this whole throttling and over capacity thing.

I think it would be smart if Apple paid off AT&T so they could have true unlimited data. That would make me want to have true unlimited. I'd pay more to have that option... Oh wait, I already do, except AT&T sees it differently...

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

I mentioned before they ARE looking at other plans (pay more) for true Unlimited.  It was mentioned several times in an e-panel survey (from ATT).

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Dellman87 wrote:

I hope you know that IF the next IPhone is LTE enabled, this whole capacity thing is going to BLOW UP. The IPhone was the phone that started this whole throttling and over capacity thing.

I think it would be smart if Apple paid off AT&T so they could have true unlimited data. That would make me want to have true unlimited. I'd pay more to have that option... Oh wait, I already do, except AT&T sees it differently...

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[Captain Quantum]

Well this is a start and honestly, it's more than I expected. But still, not cool the way this was handled. This has really left a bad taste in my mouth. The way AT&T constantly complains about it's customers data usage is so fail. It's THEIR fault if they sold 17 million plans and couldn't really handle the crunch when people use these plans exactly as they were intended. No matter what they say, people can't get beyond the redefining of "unlimited." Now it means 3gb or 5gb on LTE. As the now famous petition says: "This just isn't fair -- no one who buys an unlimited data subscription should be punished for using unlimited data. "

That being said, having clear terms is better then undocumented limits. This is a step in the right direction. I'd like to say thanks to all those who stuck up for themselves and voiced their opionons on this matter. A few posters here had convinced me that even this move wasn't going to happen.

It's not over though... :-/

[Dellman87]

It will never be over till we get our TRUE unlimited data plans back!!!

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Captain Quantum wrote:

Well this is a start and honestly, it's more than I expected. But still, not cool the way this was handled. This has really left a bad taste in my mouth. The way AT&T constantly complains about it's customers data usage is so fail. It's THEIR fault if they sold 17 million plans and couldn't really handle the crunch when people use these plans exactly as they were intended. No matter what they say, people can't get beyond the redefining of "unlimited." Now it means 3gb or 5gb on LTE. As the now famous petition says: "This just isn't fair -- no one who buys an unlimited data subscription should be punished for using unlimited data. "

That being said, having clear terms is better then undocumented limits. This is a step in the right direction. I'd like to say thanks to all those who stuck up for themselves and voiced their opionons on this matter. A few posters here had convinced me that even this move wasn't going to happen.

It's not over though... :-/

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[Felixderkater]

If 3G users get 3GB of data before the cap and 4G LTE users get up to 5GB of data prior to being capped, it seems only fair that HSPA+ users get something in the middle, such as 4GB.

AT&T, after all, claims we HSPA+ users are getting 4G coverage on their service maps...

[aristizzle]

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jamileh wrote:

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txsnafu wrote:

Thanks for the heads up jamileh. My apologies. I wasn't aware of your posting.

I have the HTC Inspire 4G which was introduced as AT&Ts first 4G phone. Based on your information I should not be throttled now until 5GB of unlimited use. Is that correct?

If so then I'm a happy camper.......  

All along my beef was being throttled at 2GB when paying the same as the 3GB tiered plans yet they weren't being throttled at 2GB.

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That's correct. If you have a 4G LTE smartphone (like the HTC Inspire) and an unlimited data plan, the process applies at 5GB of data usage, instead of 3GB.

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Jam I'd like to go ahead and correct you with this post. The HTC Inspire 4G is an HSPA+ device, not LTE. Therefore the HTC Inspire will be throttled at 3GB. Only 4G LTE phones can go up to 5GB, such as the Samsung galaxy s2 skyrocket. Just want to make sure everyone is getting accurate information

[ghostryder ACE - Professor]

My Inspire 4G is not a LTE device. I didn't know that they were. Why isn't my Inspire 4G LTE?

[ghostryder ACE - Professor]

Hi aristizzle, how can us Inspire 4G users get throttled at 3Gs when we are upgrade to AT&Ts 3G plan? Are the going to throttle me when I'm paying for the data amount? If so, there's going serious issues between me and AT&T.

[Mecoli]

Another corporation changing the rules in the middle of the game. I'm switching to Verizon! Gods luck and good riddance AT&T. {Inappropriate content removed}

[ghostryder ACE - Professor]

Just so you know, I don't work for AT&T.
But they can change what ever they want, as long as it doesn't affect the wording of the contract between you and them. If that happens, then they can get into trouble.

[jamileh]

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aristizzle wrote:

Jam I'd like to go ahead and correct you with this post. The HTC Inspire 4G is an HSPA+ device, not LTE. Therefore the HTC Inspire will be throttled at 3GB. Only 4G LTE phones can go up to 5GB, such as the Samsung galaxy s2 skyrocket. Just want to make sure everyone is getting accurate information

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You're right. I'll edit my post. I am going to get some clarification on this though.

[aBenjamin]

Lots of good info here...

http://www.att.com/esupport/datausage.jsp

[wingrider01 ACE - Expert]

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Mecoli wrote:

Another corporation changing the rules in the middle of the game. I'm switching to Verizon! Gods luck and good riddance AT&T. {Inappropriate content removed}

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thing is they did not change in the middle of the game

Good luck at verizon, they only have tiered plans available also now, outside of the limited time promotion they are running their prices are actually higher then ATT's for the tiered data plan

[golfgreg74]

Is there someone who works for AT&T that can answer a question?

If throttled, what speed is my device going to be receiving?  Is it going to take 2-3minutes to load a webpage?  Is it going to take 12minutes to watch a one minute YouTube Video?  These two examples are taken from the AT&T Facebook wall.

I just want to know what to expect if the day comes...

[networktcp]

I've been a happy ATT customer for over 5 years.

Decent 3G in my ciity

No 4G coverage in my city.

I typically use 6gb on my "unlimited" data plan via Pandora, Podcasts, and Netflix.

I will not permit ATT to charge me additional usage fees for what is my normal usage profile (and has been for over a year)while the quality of their service has not improved and essentially remains stagnant. I would especially not allow them to degrade my service based on my average usage profile for an "unlimited" user.

How am I not allowing them to take the above actions...  I've been testing a Verizon Droid Razr, and will be porting my ATT number today. Voting with your wallet works. I'm additionally recommending that the organizations I manage, consider their wireless provider choices carefully and away from ATT.

Prediction:

Based on today's announcement, many ATT Wireless subscribers will jump ship.

PS:

Verizon offers similar tiered / priced data plans, which typically give you a few gigs more that ATT. It's worth it, as Verizon offers better speed / true 4G coverage. Pay a slight bit more for tremendously better service, or pay a bit more for the same quality of service. 

So long ATT,

It's been bland. :-)

[wingrider01 ACE - Expert]

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networktcp wrote:

I've been a happy ATT customer for over 5 years.

Decent 3G in my ciity

No 4G coverage in my city.

I typically use 6gb on my "unlimited" data plan via Pandora, Podcasts, and Netflix.

I will not permit ATT to charge me additional usage fees for what is my normal usage profile (and has been for over a year)while the quality of their service has not improved and essentially remains stagnant. I would especially not allow them to degrade my service based on my average usage profile for an "unlimited" user.

How am I not allowing them to take the above actions...  I've been testing a Verizon Droid Razr, and will be porting my ATT number today. Voting with your wallet works. I'm additionally recommending that the organizations I manage, consider their wireless provider choices carefully and away from ATT.

Prediction:

Based on today's announcement, many ATT Wireless subscribers will jump ship.

PS:

Verizon offers similar tiered / priced data plans, which typically give you a few gigs more that ATT. It's worth it, as Verizon offers better speed / true 4G coverage. Pay a slight bit more for tremendously better service, or pay a bit more for the same quality of service. 

So long ATT,

It's been bland. :-)

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unles somethig has drasticly changed for verizon - the increased data allotment is a limited time promotion and can disappear at any timg, comparing plan to plan without the limited time promotion the prices for verizon are higher

[ghostryder ACE - Professor]

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jamileh wrote:

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aristizzle wrote:

Jam I'd like to go ahead and correct you with this post. The HTC Inspire 4G is an HSPA+ device, not LTE. Therefore the HTC Inspire will be throttled at 3GB. Only 4G LTE phones can go up to 5GB, such as the Samsung galaxy s2 skyrocket. Just want to make sure everyone is getting accurate information

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You're right. I'll edit my post. I am going to get some clarification on this though.

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That's better jamileh. Just keeping you up to date on our AT&T phone capabilities.

[chaosjh]

http://thesmartphonechamp.com/att-secretly-throttling-their-smartphone-customers-video/

[Dellman87]

I hope at&t loses all its subscribers, and it crashes to the ground. THEN, someone who actually cares about customers will rebuild it and actually provide the people with what they bought in the first place.

I know I could run AT&T better than they do.

[ghostryder ACE - Professor]

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Dellman87 wrote:

I hope at&t loses all its subscribers, and it crashes to the ground. THEN, someone who actually cares about customers will rebuild it and actually provide the people with what they bought in the first place.

I know I could run AT&T better than they do.

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There is now way I would want to run AT&T. What a huge, frustrating, pressure filled job to have. How can you possibly make hundreds of thousands of people happy when everyone is so different in what makes them happy. No, I have enough trouble trying to keep my wife happy much less the rest of my family.

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Apparently, rolling out the 4G/LTE network/phones is what started this?

[aristizzle]

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ghostryder wrote:
Hi aristizzle, how can us Inspire 4G users get throttled at 3Gs when we are upgrade to AT&Ts 3G plan? Are the going to throttle me when I'm paying for the data amount? If so, there's going serious issues between me and AT&T.

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I think you misunderstood my post. This thread is not about throttling tiered data plans, this is about unlimited smartphone data plans.If you have an Inspire 4G with an unlimited data plan, you will be throttled at 3GB of use.

If you are on a tiered data plan you will NOT be throttled.

[wingrider01 ACE - Expert]

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chaosjh wrote:

http://thesmartphonechamp.com/att-secretly-throttling-their-smartphone-customers-video/

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funny - "secretly throttling"  how can something be a "secret" if all the 5th estate reporting sites knew about it back in October, and att notfied people in their bill. That has to be the worst kept secret in the world.

[ghostryder ACE - Professor]

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aristizzle wrote:

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ghostryder wrote:
Hi aristizzle, how can us Inspire 4G users get throttled at 3Gs when we are upgrade to AT&Ts 3G plan? Are the going to throttle me when I'm paying for the data amount? If so, there's going serious issues between me and AT&T.

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I think you misunderstood my post. This thread is not about throttling tiered data plans, this is about unlimited smartphone data plans.If you have an Inspire 4G with an unlimited data plan, you will be throttled at 3GB of use.

If you are on a tiered data plan you will NOT be throttled.

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Thanks for the clarification aristizzle, I'm in sync now.

[LTRwithFitChaser]

There is a new article from CNet regarding AT&T's throttlling called "Guess who'd like to 'throttle' AT&T now?"  Be sure to Google it and give it a read. 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

[Moonbaseone]

I have a question. I currently have a 3G speed device. My next will most likely be a 4G. I have "Unlimited" data. What happens when I get a 4G device but I turn off the 4G speed throughout the day or 90% of the time? Will I still fall under the 5GB Data cap or the 3G Data cap?

Speaking of which, seeing as I do currently have "Unlimited" data on a 3G device, does the "Unlimited" data plan transfer if/when I decide to get a 4G Device?