Solutions for AT&T Data Plans

[FreakyLocz14]

Since AT&T is unwilling to offer unlimited data on smarthphones, I've thought of some reasonable compromises.

1) Make a 5 GB data plan for around $30-35 per month. And/or bring back Unlimited data, but charge around $40-45 per month for it.
Then make the overage rate $10 per each additional 2 GB of data. This should be enough for even the heaviest data users, granted they aren't on the network all the time and do use Wi-Fi the majority of time. And there are those iPhone fanboys who would probably pay more for the piece of mind an overpriced Unlimited data plan would bring.

2) Allow Rollover on data.
A reasonable solution would be to say you can only have a certain amount of extra data allowance in your Rollover balance at a time.

3) Either provide extra data for people who pay the tethering fee or don't charge the extra fee.
I can understand why a tethering fee is needed on an unlimited data plan, but on a capped plan that doesn't offer an extra data allowance, it's pretty much just an unnecessary convenience fee. They could; however charge the additional fee if the feature is added to an Unlimited data plan, if they ever bring that back.

4) Don't count background data towards the data limit.
I'm referring to the small amounts of data that is used when your phone is communicating with the network.

These last ones isn't really about the Data Plans, but if AT&T does this, they would seem more appealing than Verizon as far as price goes.

5) Add the A-List feature to the $39.99 voice plan, and make N&W minutes Unlimited on that plan. And better yet, lower each voice plan's price by $10.
With Sprint's Unlimited Plan on the rise, and smaller regional/prepaid carriers getting popular, I smell a price war brewing.

6) Offer discounts on texting plans when bundled with a data plan.
Even if this is just a $5 per month discount, it would help bring their prices down and attract customers who would otherwise be weary.

 

[Snow_Fox]

At&t is the master of claiming to use one logic..

Then sticking with that same logic a long time after it is obsolete.

And the use it to charge the **** out of you.

I saw you mention texting. I always wondered why if you have the 20$ texting plan.. you get 5$ off dumb phone data.. but, not smartphone data.

Or how phones with WIFI which NEVER need 3g data (I'm not talking android or iphone here) are still required to get the data plan, even if you pay full price for the device.

They get away with a lot of crap.

 

[IOWA]

Since AT&T is unwilling to offer unlimited data on smarthphones, I've thought of some reasonable compromises.

1) Make a 5 GB data plan for around $30-35 per month. And/or bring back Unlimited data, but charge around $40-45 per month for it.
Then make the overage rate $10 per each additional 2 GB of data. This should be enough for even the heaviest data users, granted they aren't on the network all the time and do use Wi-Fi the majority of time. And there are those iPhone fanboys who would probably pay more for the piece of mind an overpriced Unlimited data plan would bring.

2) Allow Rollover on data.
A reasonable solution would be to say you can only have a certain amount of extra data allowance in your Rollover balance at a time.

3) Either provide extra data for people who pay the tethering fee or don't charge the extra fee.
I can understand why a tethering fee is needed on an unlimited data plan, but on a capped plan that doesn't offer an extra data allowance, it's pretty much just an unnecessary convenience fee. They could; however charge the additional fee if the feature is added to an Unlimited data plan, if they ever bring that back.

4) Don't count background data towards the data limit.
I'm referring to the small amounts of data that is used when your phone is communicating with the network.

These last ones isn't really about the Data Plans, but if AT&T does this, they would seem more appealing than Verizon as far as price goes.

5) Add the A-List feature to the $39.99 voice plan, and make N&W minutes Unlimited on that plan. And better yet, lower each voice plan's price by $10.
With Sprint's Unlimited Plan on the rise, and smaller regional/prepaid carriers getting popular, I smell a price war brewing.

6) Offer discounts on texting plans when bundled with a data plan.
Even if this is just a $5 per month discount, it would help bring their prices down and attract customers who would otherwise be weary.

$40+ for a data plan on a PHONE???? Nty..

 

[FreakyLocz14]

$40+ for a data plan on a PHONE???? Nty..

AT&T would get iPhone fanboys who would be willing to pay out the arse for an Unlimited plan even if they don't need one. They should make the old $30 Unlimited plan a 5 GB plan with $10 per each additional 2 GB. Even I, who streams several YouTube videos a day, could live within those means.

 

[MarcMaiden]

the truth, AT&T needed the tiered data plans. and when more people merge over to other carriers and start using more data, im sure other carriers will follow.

people were abusing data on their phone, and clogging AT&T's bandwidth. Plus, the plans are also to get people to use WIFI more. If people used WIFI when they can, and 3g when they cant use WIFI, these data plans wouldnt even matter.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

the truth, AT&T needed the tiered data plans. and when more people merge over to other carriers and start using more data, im sure other carriers will follow.

people were abusing data on their phone, and clogging AT&T's bandwidth. Plus, the plans are also to get people to use WIFI more. If people used WIFI when they can, and 3g when they cant use WIFI, these data plans wouldnt even matter.

These plans do matter to a lot of people. I don't see the other carriers doing this anytime soon. Verizon and Sprint have 4G networks (well, Verizon will soon have one) that can handle heavy data usage more efficiently, and T-Mobile has a pseudo-4G network that does so as well. Sprint, small regional carriers like MetroPCS, and prepaid providers are becoming more popular because the big carriers keep looking for ways to milk customers out of even more money.

 

[nb_mitch]

I don't see the other carriers doing this anytime soon. Verizon and Sprint have 4G networks

I think you will be surprised then, because that is the future. When I went to price Verizon yesterday, they had 2 plans, $15 for ??MB and $30 unlimited.

Like someone already said, if you stay on wifi, data isn't an issue, I am sure that more and more devices/software will look for wifi and only fall back to 3/4G when it isn't available.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

I think you will be surprised then, because that is the future. When I went to price Verizon yesterday, they had 2 plans, $15 for ??MB and $30 unlimited.

Like someone already said, if you stay on wifi, data isn't an issue, I am sure that more and more devices/software will look for wifi and only fall back to 3/4G when it isn't available.

Not completely true. AT&T customers have been seeing data usage on their bills even when on Wi-Fi. Apparently, you have to disable network connection entirely when on Wi-Fi to completely safe; which means you will miss calls while online.

 

[Snow_Fox]

the truth, AT&T needed the tiered data plans. and when more people merge over to other carriers and start using more data, im sure other carriers will follow.

people were abusing data on their phone, and clogging AT&T's bandwidth. Plus, the plans are also to get people to use WIFI more. If people used WIFI when they can, and 3g when they cant use WIFI, these data plans wouldnt even matter.

Instead of actually upgrading towers and using all that money they are being paid to actually *do* something about the bandwidith issue they just charge people more..

Which in turn means people are less likely to use data *and* they make more money.

At&t isn't even providing phone service anymore..

THey are in the business of making money..

Before you know it people will just give at&t money for no real reason at all.. thats how good at&t is at making money.

 

[colnago]

Instead of actually upgrading towers and using all that money they are being paid to actually *do* something about the bandwidith issue they just charge people more..

Which in turn means people are less likely to use data *and* they make more money.

At&t isn't even providing phone service anymore..

THey are in the business of making money..

Before you know it people will just give at&t money for no real reason at all.. thats how good at&t is at making money.

I think AT&T has been doing a few upgrades by rolling out the CRS-3s:

Cisco Introduces Foundation for Next-Generation Internet: The Cisco CRS-3 Carrier Routing System -> Cisco News


"Overview:

• The Cisco CRS-3 triples the capacity of its predecessor, the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System, with up to 322 Terabits per second, which enables the entire printed collection of the Library of Congress to be downloaded in just over one second; every man, woman and child in China to make a video call, simultaneously; and every motion picture ever created to be streamed in less than four minutes."

I dropped the 2nd line on my family plan last Dec. because the phone I bought only worked on T-Mo 3G. When AT&T announced they were going to the tiered plans, I added the 2nd line back on my family plan, to get grandfathered on an Unlimited MediaNet (still waiting for a good unlocked smartphone with 850/1900 3G) since I'm having trouble inside some buildings with T-Mo's signal.

I agree that tiered data sux all around, especially now that I'm working on a site that has "restricted" internet access, as it is the "client's" network. That means I have to fend for myself to get my company's email over my own internet plan. I've only streamed a few hours of slingmobile (Hooray free Dish Remote access app and sling adapter for VIP722!!!) and I'm already at 3GB since Nov 23rd.

 

[Snow_Fox]

I think AT&T has been doing a few upgrades by rolling out the CRS-3s:

Cisco Introduces Foundation for Next-Generation Internet: The Cisco CRS-3 Carrier Routing System -> Cisco News


"Overview:

• The Cisco CRS-3 triples the capacity of its predecessor, the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System, with up to 322 Terabits per second, which enables the entire printed collection of the Library of Congress to be downloaded in just over one second; every man, woman and child in China to make a video call, simultaneously; and every motion picture ever created to be streamed in less than four minutes."

I dropped the 2nd line on my family plan last Dec. because the phone I bought only worked on T-Mo 3G. When AT&T announced they were going to the tiered plans, I added the 2nd line back on my family plan, to get grandfathered on an Unlimited MediaNet (still waiting for a good unlocked smartphone with 850/1900 3G) since I'm having trouble inside some buildings with T-Mo's signal.

I agree that tiered data sux all around, especially now that I'm working on a site that has "restricted" internet access, as it is the "client's" network. That means I have to fend for myself to get my company's email over my own internet plan. I've only streamed a few hours of slingmobile (Hooray free Dish Remote access app and sling adapter for VIP722!!!) and I'm already at 3GB since Nov 23rd.

I really don't believe that..

And My point was more at&t should hve been working on that for a while now..

At&t may roll that out or they may not.. but, if they did I would hope to see a price drop... (lol not happening).

 

[colnago]

I really don't believe that..

And My point was more at&t should hve been working on that for a while now..

At&t may roll that out or they may not.. but, if they did I would hope to see a price drop... (lol not happening).

What is not to believe? The Cisco CEO went on TV and stated that AT&T is rolling out their flagship router throughout the network, specifically to handle mobile traffic loads.

 

[Snow_Fox]

Every man woman and china making a video call is pretty impressive...

While I love hearing about theoretical capabilities.. I remain skeptical.

It is hard to believe that they are going to roll something out on a single carrier with that much power.

I guess part of why I don't believe it isn't so much that I don't believe it.

I would just think if they could *really* do it, data prices would have to drop some since they now have the capability and it is no longer a horribly limited resource.

Then again, I've been reading not long until supposed 50 mbps rates of data on phones.. more than my home connection x.x

(not that mine is impressive but, highest I really hear of is like 24 mpbs. maybe 30 mpbs.. )

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Every man woman and china making a video call is pretty impressive...

While I love hearing about theoretical capabilities.. I remain skeptical.

It is hard to believe that they are going to roll something out on a single carrier with that much power.

I guess part of why I don't believe it isn't so much that I don't believe it.

I would just think if they could *really* do it, data prices would have to drop some since they now have the capability and it is no longer a horribly limited resource.

Then again, I've been reading not long until supposed 50 mbps rates of data on phones.. more than my home connection x.x

(not that mine is impressive but, highest I really hear of is like 24 mpbs. maybe 30 mpbs.. )

That's a theoretical maximum. Real-life speeds won't come close to that. Sprint's WiMax can theoretically achieve 70 Mbps down, and Verizon's upcoming LTE network can theoretical achieve 100 Mbps down, but users will be getting 3-10 Mbps down average.

AT&T's current 3G network can theoretically achieve 7.2 Mbps down; but in reality, it's only slightly faster (and often on par) with Sprint and Verizon's 3G networks.

 

[Snow_Fox]

That's a theoretical maximum. Real-life speeds won't come close to that. Sprint's WiMax can theoretically achieve 70 Mbps down, and Verizon's upcoming LTE network can theoretical achieve 100 Mbps down, but users will be getting 3-10 Mbps down average.

AT&T's current 3G network can theoretically achieve 7.2 Mbps down; but in reality, it's only slightly faster (and often on par) with Sprint and Verizon's 3G networks.

lol 500kbps average....

 

[colnago]

Every man woman and china making a video call is pretty impressive...

While I love hearing about theoretical capabilities.. I remain skeptical.

It is hard to believe that they are going to roll something out on a single carrier with that much power.

I guess part of why I don't believe it isn't so much that I don't believe it.

I would just think if they could *really* do it, data prices would have to drop some since they now have the capability and it is no longer a horribly limited resource.

Then again, I've been reading not long until supposed 50 mbps rates of data on phones.. more than my home connection x.x

(not that mine is impressive but, highest I really hear of is like 24 mpbs. maybe 30 mpbs.. )

From what I understand, CRS-3s are just the line card upgrade to the CRS-1s, which most backbone ISPs already have. AT&T is already deploying them. Prices will typically "not" go down, as customers will foot the bill, one way or another, for the upgrades. That and AT&T will nickel and dime customers to death. T-Mo seems to be the only carrier where you "pay for what you get" (e.g. - lower monthly payments for "non-subsidized/non-contract" plans).

I'm actually surprised that I'm getting consistent 2-4Mbs, w/my unlocked T-Mo Defy, on AT&Ts 3G.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

From what I understand, CRS-3s are just the line card upgrade to the CRS-1s, which most backbone ISPs already have. AT&T is already deploying them. Prices will typically "not" go down, as customers will foot the bill, one way or another, for the upgrades. That and AT&T will nickel and dime customers to death. T-Mo seems to be the only carrier where you "pay for what you get" (e.g. - lower monthly payments for "non-subsidized/non-contract" plans).

I'm actually surprised that I'm getting consistent 2-4Mbs, w/my unlocked T-Mo Defy, on AT&Ts 3G.

That makes no sense. Any T-Mobile phone on AT&T would run on the EDGE network. Are you sure you're not on Wi-Fi?

 

[Snow_Fox]

That makes no sense. Any T-Mobile phone on AT&T would run on the EDGE network. Are you sure you're not on Wi-Fi?

There have been a number of tmo phone's confirmed to have at least one at&t 3g band. Either usually the 850 I believe.

@Colnago

Thats kinda what I mean though.. at&t has had these problems for a long time now.

They even started pushing a data plan on anything they could. "smartphone? DATA PLAN!" even when the data plan was totally not needed.

Now argue with your "average" person and they've been brainwashed into believing all smartphones will magically give you an unbearable bill if you don't have the data plan.. but, I digress..

For two years now, at&t has been requiring data plans on phones that use almost no data. They have now moved to an even more expensive system.

There is no rollover, and while I do see complaints online.. I am willing to bet there are more people out there like my parents than you would think. Paying 25$ a month per line "just to make sure" and using less than 200 mb a month :/

That is a lot of extra money for unused bandwidth to be generated.

Considering at&t has "the largest network" I would think they of all people would be the most capable of rolling out this upgrade especially the way they nickle and dime everything.

Then again I'm not in their shoes... I'm not the on raking in the money.

 

[colnago]

That makes no sense. Any T-Mobile phone on AT&T would run on the EDGE network. Are you sure you're not on Wi-Fi?

You tell me:

http://androidforums.com/t/217819-t-mo-motorola-defy-working-t-3g-850-band-only.html