AT&T May Manage Your iPhone Data Usage
AT&T may need to monitor iPhone data usage to make room for new subscribers.
Today during the CTIA Conference in San Diego, California, AT&T Wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega hinted to wireless industry professionals that the company may manage iPhone data usage in the near future. Without proper management, he said, the regular data users will be "crowded out" by the smaller number of users (notably the iPhone consumers) hogging massive loads of bandwidth.
His comments were backed by eleven slides, according to Macworld, that presented AT&T's 3G wireless network as "vibrant." He even said that the network needed no additional regulation from the FCC.
But the speech seemingly became darker. Growth and consumer demand require more wireless spectrum, however such empty space is hard to come by. Even when new chunks become available, it takes years to build a network that can access the new wireless highway.
Vega eventually revealed that 3-percent of AT&T's smartphone customers (meaning iPhone owners) use 40-percent of all smartphone data, consuming 13 times more data than AT&T's standard subscribers. With a growing subscriber-base and the virtual space growing thinner, AT&T may have no choice but to do something to accommodate the new subscribers--whether you like it or not.
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Isn't this why i pay 100 bucks a month for the damn thing? FIX IT
They charge 30 dollars a month for the data plan no including text, then they say the small amount of users(iphoners)are using up the bandwidth. Isn't that what we pay for? I'm going to be selling my iPhone, and dropping AT&T if this keeps up, wtf
So what happened to trying to predict how much service you're going to expect before it happens? You know, that whole "planning" thing.
How about allowing people to drop the data plan and putting a 3G data block on their iPhone? Not all iPhone user need (or use) 3G anyway.
I mostly connect to WiFi at work and home and only listen to music while in commute on my iPhone.
The $30 incentive may be enough to free up a few percent of the bandwidth.
so pretty much what they are saying is, they rather limited your bandwidth and put caps on your service and charge you and arm and leg and not upgrade their network because they think its better to get more customers to further crowd their networks and lock them in 2 year contracts. I wonder why they don't want any FCC regulation...............
"Vega eventually revealed that 3-percent of AT&T's smartphone customers (meaning iPhone owners) use 40-percent of all smartphone data, consuming 13 times more data than AT&T's standard subscribers."
This is becuase its lame to use on any other phone. I had a blackjack 2 before my iphone and navigating the internet/videos/audio sucked (but I did like windows mobile a little).
Apple needs to Un-Exclusive the iPhone. There is no reason to tether it to AT&T. This would allow for using other 3G networks, and not only AT&Ts, unless of course they are sharing the network with other providers like Verizon.
AT&T...TOO BAD! The iPhone being tethered to your network and "hogging" bandwith is your problem, NOT OURS! We already pay an additional $30 a month for the data plan. I will write a letter to my senator and to the FCC. Perhaps more regulation and less customer "screwing" is needed...
Wait... it says here that it's 2009, not 1984. AT&T should look at a calendar.
AT&T is just pathetic! What the hell do you guys do with the 30$ you make per iphone user?!
Why does everyone hate AT&T? I mean really? I haven't had a single issue with their service. All of you must be complaining about not having service buried inside your mother's basement. Get above ground and breath some fresh air.
ATT needs to lose it's exclusivity, I have no current quarrels with them with my 3G, but if they cannot meet the demand then it's time for other networks to share the load, and the bank.
LOL. The iPhone uses 13 times more data than standard flip phones with not data abilities? Really??? LOL @ AT&T. Regulate my iPhone data I'll gladly end my contract. As if I needed more of a reason to rid myself of the disaster that is AT&T anyways.
I just though of something else anyways. As soon as AT&T loses exclusive rights to the iPhone their network usage will go down as customers like myself jump ship ASAP. They should just wait for their customers to leave and their crappy network won't be a problem.
AT&T advertised the 3GS as having faster network access. After purchasing the phone, I find out that AT&T will not be rolling out its faster 3G network until 2011. Can you say class action (or expanding one of the cases already filed)?
Why does everyone hate AT&T? I mean really?
Why? How about the shameless display of price gouging they send you once a month? If the bottom line doesn't bother you, ask your T-Mobile or Sprint friends what they pay for their services?
Thats why we pay extra for a F'n "unlimited data" service...... of course a highly web based phone designed to constantly update many applications from the web and stream audio/video is going to suck more data than a crappy flip phone. if their infrastructure cant handle the added strain its not our problem, the contract says unlimited. they should just use all the money they make from texting charges which costs them almost nothing
Dear ATT,
While I understand in the corporate world, showing weakness is never an option. Even with thousands of intelligent, vocal and loyal customers attempt to prove you wrong, I understand that you must create new facts, and spin the numbers.
The numbers you fake are crumbling (along with your network), your users are hating you (Google Verizon+iPhone and you'll see..) and you are becoming the laughing stock of the entire tech community. ATT, I know that you are cheap, you are shrewd and you are greedy. But for the love of god ATT- it's not too late to turn your ship around.
$30 for unlimited data (which by the way, is more than your average home-line DSL service you offer..) on the iPhone was reluctantly welcomed by millions; and yet, you propose new ways to curtail their usage of data. When will your madness end? When will you realize that you have very little public capital left to expend?
Either you can drown out the noise of your critics, gaining in momentum and along with it, quarter upon quarter of negative growth- or change. Since assimilating back into Ma' Bell, I'll assume you'll be avoiding the latter. These may be your last days of iPhone driven power, make the most of them (while they last) ATT.
wow....it sucks to be an iPhone owner, really.
If you guys want, just start a class action retaliation. Everyone go to ATT's Headquarters, get ur iPhone out, and toss them iGrenades...I mean iPhone.
ATT: Here is some bandwidth
ME: Thank you....Here is some $
ATT: Oh...Don't you can't use what you just paid for!
ME: ???? WTF
I have an iphone, can't live without it at this point, but MAN, the SECOND another carrier gets the iphone "this birds gonna fly".
And, exactly what everyone else already said: wtf are you doing with my $100 a month......FIX THE PROBLEM.
Since Apple introudced iphone and
))
ATT was hit buy extra 2mln customers a year in avarage. meaning
2million # $30 data plan. means that 60mln a month and in avarage 600mln a year just from iphone customers from first year
now they got probably 7-10 mln iphone users for last 3 years
meaning at least 210mln a month is coming to ATT
and they are saying that they have to limit it whether we like it or not.
The Good news, that ATT-Apple deal will be over soon, and othes will be selling it like crazy, all that nonesence talk is wastfull
people will go back to their t-mpbiles and sprints and crickets and respeckts
then we will be calculating outflow from ATT
Burn ATT burn!
Apple may not be the best company, seemingly incapable of making good decisions, but they might just look to rip of the contract with AT&T. It does not mean they will cease offering the phone through AT&T, but they may push to sell phones through Verizon.
Verizon has a far better network. Yeah, I know they have very little international coverage, but most of you would never need international coverage. The GSM/HSPDA/UTMS versions will cover overseas markets, but give us access to a better network.
I am currently an AT&T customer and their claims of the fastest network is total bullshit. It is not only NOT the fastest, they barely have any 3G coverage. Verizon, on the other hand, has a large coverage of 3G on their network(practically everywhere they have service coverage) and Apple would be stupid not to make use of that.
Of course, Verizon has the stupid 5 GB per month limit on data plans(I use their wireless broadband for internet at home, which sucks with the limit), but at least their network is better.
I forgot to add:
You guys realize that this comes from the same corporation that brought in 12.9 billion USD in profit(not revenue, profit) and wanted to screw their employees out of benefits. I say fuck AT&T, or Southwestern Bell, or whatever they want to be called. AT&T use to be a good company, just like Bellsouth an other companies, but Southwestern Bell bought them all out and really screwed them up.
Randall Stephenson and the rest of the executive level employees should be ashamed of what they have turned that company into. With over USD $284 billion in total assets and over USD $112 billion in equity, AT&T should be capable of building a network that can support anything that is thrown at it.
Apple needs to Un-Exclusive the iPhone. There is no reason to tether it to AT&T. This would allow for using other 3G networks, and not only AT&Ts, unless of course they are sharing the network with other providers like Verizon.
You do understand the differences between GSM(TDMA with a twist) and CDMA, right? Different technologies do not share anything, as they perform on different platforms. GSM has worldwise saturation, where CDMA does not. This is why Verizon and Sprint(their PCS platform is now based on CDMA as they got rid of the GSM platform) will not work in most countries, unless you have one of their "world phones". Those phones are CDMA based, mixed with GSM for voice-only communications.
Apple may not be the best company, seemingly incapable of making good decisions, but they might just look to rip of the contract with AT&T. It does not mean they will cease offering the phone through AT&T, but they may push to sell phones through Verizon.Verizon has a far better network. Yeah, I know they have very little international coverage, but most of you would never need international coverage. The GSM/HSPDA/UTMS versions will cover overseas markets, but give us access to a better network.I am currently an AT&T customer and their claims of the fastest network is total bullshit. It is not only NOT the fastest, they barely have any 3G coverage. Verizon, on the other hand, has a large coverage of 3G on their network(practically everywhere they have service coverage) and Apple would be stupid not to make use of that.Of course, Verizon has the stupid 5 GB per month limit on data plans(I use their wireless broadband for internet at home, which sucks with the limit), but at least their network is better.
Better is only relative. In my area, Verizon blows. I have had ATT for over 5 years with several different smartphones. Before I had the iPhone, I hardly used the internet on my other HTC Windows Mobile phones. If Verizon had to support all the data that the ATT network supports with just the Iphone alone, it would crash and burn. Also, ATT is the only company with a signal strong enough to work in my building here at work. Why would anyone get a phone plan with a service that does not work at the place they spend almost 60 hours a week?
What I can't understand is why everyone puts the iPhone up on a pedestal.
Item 270467114776 ebay.
As a former iPhone (3G) user, I had a great time using the phone and the pleasant GUI. After some months of use, I saw the HTC Pure when getting my iPhone serviced at the store (screen became unflush with the border). The screen was MUCH higher is resolution, had a wonderful interface, comparable web browser, and touted a longer battery life (removeable as well) and a memory card slot.. it also basically beat the iPhone 3G on paper. I bought it to try it out since I had the option to return for a full refund. BEST DECISION I have made when it comes to a handset. I do use it for work so that was part of my reasoning as well. I may eventually switch to another carrier due to my service issues with AT&T. I've seen other handsets in Verizon and Sprint stores that are truly a wonderful piece of technology.
Saying that. Many of my friends own an iPhone and are completely smug about it. WHY? I don't know. It reminds me of the Apple PC fanboys I experienced while in school.
Bid on my 3G if you want
I second that Blackened.
It all depends on where you live. FOr those just pulling comments out their rears... just don't. Here is my EXPERIENCE:
My iphone gets 140 Kbytes down, 34 Kbytes up on, on AVERAGE. The ping is somewhere in the 400 range, and I wouldn't expect it to be any quicker using cell towers. Don't get those numbers in your area? I feel sorry for you. Point is ATT is GREAT in my area, cause I don't live in some city with people piled on top of people which are on top of more people, so for those saying the network sucks again: It depends on where you are.
I do NOT like the idea of my data usage being curtailed. Why? Cause looking at my real world data usage, I only use how much bandwidth per month ATT? The most I have ever used is 300MB down, 200 MB up. That's about half a gig total. ATT, you wanted the device on your network, you got it. Don't threaten me with data throttling for 'abusing' your network while you take my hard-earned cash.
I just got my G1 phone with Tmobile earlier this week... transitioned from Blackberry with alltel. enjoying it greatly. so far i'm getting 3G coverage no problem where I live. however i actually turn off my 3g and even wifi to save battery. so glad i have that option. i was entertaining getting an iphone a while ago, but so glad I didn't... this ATT fiasco is a complete mess. for those of you caught in with iphone/att.. just hang in there. a situation this shoddy doesn't last long.......
It's amazing how AT&T will charge a minimum of $70 a month for access to an iPhone, and realistically it's going to be closer to $100 a month when you do add in the services that you'll need. Considering that most iPhone users don't use it for voice, $100 is awfully expensive for just data and text and now they want to "Manage" my data. AT&T might want to think carefully about biting the hand that feeds it.
What I can't understand is why everyone puts the iPhone up on a pedestal.As a former iPhone (3G) user, I had a great time using the phone and the pleasant GUI. After some months of use, I saw the HTC Pure when getting my iPhone serviced at the store (screen became unflush with the border). The screen was MUCH higher is resolution, had a wonderful interface, comparable web browser, and touted a longer battery life (removeable as well) and a memory card slot.. it also basically beat the iPhone 3G on paper. I bought it to try it out since I had the option to return for a full refund. BEST DECISION I have made when it comes to a handset. I do use it for work so that was part of my reasoning as well. I may eventually switch to another carrier due to my service issues with AT&T. I've seen other handsets in Verizon and Sprint stores that are truly a wonderful piece of technology. Saying that. Many of my friends own an iPhone and are completely smug about it. WHY? I don't know. It reminds me of the Apple PC fanboys I experienced while in school. Bid on my 3G if you want Item 270467114776 ebay.
Its all a matter of timing.. Before I got my iPhone, I had the HTC 8125 and the 8525 so I can VERY familiar with HTC phones.. When it came time to renew my contract they wanted $299 for the Tilt, which SUCKS compared to the iPhone for $199. It was an easy choice. They have been making other phones though, and a year from now when my contract is up again, we'll see whats available. Unless their is a G4 iPhone out there, I will likely be getting a phone from a different maker.
It's amazing how AT&T will charge a minimum of $70 a month for access to an iPhone, and realistically it's going to be closer to $100 a month when you do add in the services that you'll need. Considering that most iPhone users don't use it for voice, $100 is awfully expensive for just data and text and now they want to "Manage" my data. AT&T might want to think carefully about biting the hand that feeds it.
My plan includes more minutes than I ever use in a month(I have thousands of rollover minutes to boot), unlimited data plan, unlimited txts, and now unlimited mms, for $106/month.. Its $8 more/month than I paid for the same service with my previous HTC smart phonesphones. And since I use the 3g service about 20x more often than I ever used my previous phones, I dont see an $8 increase per month as being excessive.