Comments on: AT&T Cracking Down on iPhone 3G Users who aren’t on iPhone data plans

By: VB

VB — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:51:39 +0000

I dont understand why att has to charge. There really is no point. If a customer wants to purchase an iphone that runs on wifi only then the customer should. If you don’t purchase the data plan then you wont have visual voicemail and you wont be able to use the internet out of your home or in certain wifi hotspots. If somebody wants his or her phone to run that way then they should be able to. And if they want 3g connectivity then they can call att and buy the plan. But the way apple and att are handling the iphone is bull. Not just this. For example: Where’s multimedia messaging? Where’s video recording? Where’s customizing your iphone? Apple and Att are obviously being stupid because they aren’t adding features that would attract more customers.

By: Mr Tether

Mr Tether — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:41:08 +0000

You can’t tether your iPhone ?

*cough* Cydia *cough* PdaNet

By: JakeyBoy

JakeyBoy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:06:12 +0000

Has anyone using a 3G on a 1st gen sim card been having issues the past month with service? I have noticed that on occasion, I lose signal completely even when on EDGE only on the 3G version phone. Usually after a little while, i’ll get service again. I have still gotten texts from AT&T regarding uprgrading. I’ve had to rely on my EDGE iphone to continue to have service. How can AT&T do this? If i’m using my 3G phone on EDGE, they can’t do anything to me. Also, if I were to use the 3G feature, then they should charge me accordingly. I’d much rather have the phone with GPS. I’d like to know if I’m the only one with these problems of service drop outs for no reason. Just to clarify, its only on my 3G phone. If I pop the sim card back and forth, the EDGE phone has service everytime, whereas the 3G phone does not. Its very strange. I’ll have to see if an alternate 3G phone will also not have service during these times.

By: jrk

jrk — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:32:39 +0000

The part left out by all the people defending AT&T from “theft” of service is that this differentiation is justified by the subsidized price of the iPhone 3G. If you have an unlocked device and live without visual voicemail — just like any random unlocked, arbitrarily dumb-or-smart imported phone — how do they justify forcing you to pay down a subsidy you never actually got from them? When you buy a subsidized iPhone 3G, you’re contractually obligated to the higher price. The same is true for the aggressive subsidized prices on Windows Mobile devices, etc. When you have an open line with no subsidized hardware, how are you suddenly contractually obligated to pay this, purely depending on what device *you* paid for?

(And as for Blackberry pricing, there they clearly offer additional service — they pay RIM the $10-15/mo difference from standard to “Blackberry” pricing to run the servers that proxy ALL web and email traffic on the device. With an unlocked iPhone with no visual voicemail, they literally provide identical service to the $15 data plans, no hardware subsidy, or anything.)

And no, the “they’re a business so they need to make money” argument doesn’t hold water. Taken to a logical extreme, all that says is we should have no right to complain when they take our houses and retirement funds in exchange for a single month’s service, “because they’re a business and need to make money.” There are two sides to the contract: what they offer you, and what you agree to pay for it. If they offer you a subsidized device with more expensive data service, fine. But if they offer generic data service with no subsidy, and you pay for it (while *taking* no subsidy), they can’t suddenly decide to charge you 2X as much just because they feel like it.

By: JakeyBoy

JakeyBoy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:09:54 +0000

…as i’m reading these over, i’m seeing it says 2:04&2:07AM, but i’m PST, so its only 11 here….thanks for waking me up AT&T

By: JakeyBoy

JakeyBoy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:07:20 +0000

and by the way…got my text at 2:53AM, yes AM! I’m staring to wonder if its a hoax. Since when does AT&T send texts at ungodly hours of the morning…

By: JakeyBoy

JakeyBoy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:04:25 +0000

I have my 3G iPhone on my 1st gen iPhone sim card. So what if I just never use the 3G features and turn it off(EDGE was slow, but it still worked)? Should I still be charged? I already have an unlimited data plan and here is what AT&T says it is: “iPhone Data Plan + 200 Text includes unlimited data for internet and email, Visual Voicemail, and 200 messages which can be SMS or IM. Add’l messages are $0.05″. Plainly, it says “includes unlimited data for internet and email”. It doesn’t say anything about 3G service. Plus, I paid good money to get a previously activated 3G iPhone, so as far as i’m concerned, AT&T already got their money from the dummy that sold me their phone, either in cancelling or continuing to pay the iPhone charges. I think AT&T has a big fight on their hands here. I can understand concern over the prepaids and others, but what about those who are actually paying an iPhone unlimited data package already? What happens when I break or drop my 1st Gen iPhone? I go to my 3g motorola Razr backup phone. Am I going to be charged for using 3G on it? How can AT&T charge me for using a “interum” phone while i’m repairing my iPhone? There are too many blurred lines here. I can rack up data just as much or more on a “dumbphone” if I tried hard enough or created some sort of open tethering to a laptop or something. To be continued i’m sure…

By: SS

SS — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:14:47 +0000

Folks, you really need to step back and stop complaining about the data fee. ATT and Apple has been very clear since the iphone 3g was released what the data plan fee cost. I and many others accepted this fee and have paid it. You really shouldn’t complain because ATT has caught you essentially stealing service at a reduced rate. You folks can complain about the quality of the service all you want, however the fact is you are stealing if you are not paying the $30.

By: Shan

Shan — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:13:17 +0000

I’m definitely getting more bars since the upgrade. At home when in the bathroom – not that I really make calls from the bathroom – but I was only getting 1 bar, now I get 4 or 5. I’ve also had less “dropped” calls. Although they weren’t so much dropping more so never connecting in the first place.

By: kYm D

kYm D — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:49:02 +0000

I had to pay for data plan with my blackberry and when I switched to the iPhone it costs the same amount so no complaining there.. I live in west texas and just now got 3G out here 2 weeks ago.. It works great, it’s fast and I don’t have any problems making phone calls. The only problem I have with the iPhone is the lagging when switching applications and an occasional freezing..

By: Likeabite

Likeabite — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:03:37 +0000

well put DingoBerry and NtroP you can’t defend AT&T by saying that the sales of the iphone and it’s internet usage took them by storm. That doesn’t even make sense as you can clearly see that the first iphone sold out in a matter of minutes so if they did not learn and prepare better then it’s their fault. The iphone as the best UI of all the phones but for practical uses it really sucks and AT&T is a big part of the reason why

By: Likeabite

Likeabite — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:56:29 +0000

@ Perspective – I think he meant the fact that they advertised the new iphone as being twice as fast (which was the exact tagline of the commercial and that is why they claimed it was better than the original iphone) and it’s still the same old crappy nonsense as the 2G…no receptions/slow data plans.
I don’t know why you guys sit here and complain. I know you want to have the phone that everyone else has and be like EVERYONE ELSE but if the phone sucks get rid of it and if the network sucks switch, pretty simple to me.

By: James Katt

James Katt — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:54:58 +0000

If you are using any iPhone without the iPhone data plan,
the iPhone, itself, will use data without your control,
to the tune of up to $700 a month.

The iPhone is very aggressive about trying to contact
various services such as the weather, stocks, setting the
time, etc.

Even with an unlocked iPhone, as long as you have an AT&T
SIM card in the iPhone, you will be charged for the
iPhone’s data use if you don’t have an iPhone DATA account.

AND IT IS NOT PRETTY.

By: me!!

me!! — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:11:57 +0000

ahhh… AT&T and their craptacular 3G service ….

By: Prorock

Prorock — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:47:33 +0000

I live in the Pittsburgh area and 3g data coverage has always been good (not so much for phone service though). After 2.1 I might have dropped one call, so I am happy with that but GPS is terrible. I want to throw the damn phone into a toliet and piss on it. Why can’t everything work the way it should AT THE SAME time? One update gives you App Store + keyboard lag, next update fixes keyboard lag and kills GPS? I waited seven months before I bought my first iPhone, should have done the same for the new one.

By: PoPPaP

PoPPaP — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:39:12 +0000

@Steallz
Changing IMEI is illegal.

By: mac-symbian lvr

mac-symbian lvr — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:48:39 +0000

@MadMike – Nice! I just transferred to a family plan a couple of months ago from t-mobile to att and I had an unlocked iPhone. I left the media net alone and such, along with leaving the texting alone. I called them one day and the person was talking to me and she was telling me that if I keep the iPhone, i will start getting charged by each kb, as well as getting charged for each text because i was in the wrong plan. I promptly sold the iPhone for a nokia because i didn’t want to deal with any of their stuff. I enjoy the 3g. I am not complaining about any of the 3g i have with att. i get anywhere from .7 – 1.1 or so when i run the test. A lot faster than t-mobile, and only media net internet plans for my smart phone!

By: RF9

RF9 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:39:08 +0000

Sara Said:
“This is just starting with the iphone, soon it should spread out to all users who are using a media net plan with a smartphone. We have a new department that is analyzing data usage.”
You AT&T people have been saying that “we have a new department enforcing data plans” for about 3-4 years now. I have no doubt that AT&T has tightened up with iPhone 3G with near immediate enforcement, but enforcement on other PDAs for Media Net will remain spotty and random at best.

By: Steallz

Steallz — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:03:23 +0000

OR…would could just get the program that changes your IMEI for the IPHONE and make it a razor or such…..

By: Joseph Singer

Joseph Singer — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:50:00 +0000

Any GSM phone that transmits over the network broadcasts its IMEI so the operator always knows what device you’re using. The IMEI is for each individual phone so AT&T can just match up the IMEI with the phone and account and cello or viola you have what they’re doing on the network!

By: Stop-N-Go

Stop-N-Go — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:32:27 +0000

I look and see all these problems and people have the audacity to to dog Blackberry’s… wow..

By: Duvi

Duvi — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:19:34 +0000

@ NtroP: You are not paying for 3g access. You are paying for data access and visual voicemail. The increase isn’t because of 3g, but because it is being considered a smartphone rather than a phone with PDA capabilities. How would they even begin to split those who have 3g vs. 2g to price them differently and then when the 3g is offered in your area to have the plan switched to the higher price.

I do understand where you are coming from, but there isn’t a real easy way to split that except to charge everyone the same.

By: chuck g

chuck g — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:15:08 +0000

money,lawyers,contracts, (set the capitalists on a journey into your wallet credit cards) read the small print, you go ouside of there plan, heard of an ankle braclet, they have communication towers. the___end____steve jobs smart, at&t was alway clear businessmen, been here before the iceage, no outsmarting this fox.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:02:45 +0000

Have you ever thought that AT&T would know you were using the 3G iPhone because you were using their 3G network? Not rocket science to figure that one out.

By: jaywil07

jaywil07 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:54:06 +0000

Listen you guys are hilarious …….. Pay the damn 30 dollars and enjoy the 3g= 1.5 g speeds so that we can free up bandwidth and start the release of the bold .

*** remember little cell junkies CDMA will always be better here due to the more stable network so deal with the GSM woes for crying out loud***

People good night wake up

I want cheap service I want no war I want lower taxes I want great cell service

*** well guess what I want people to stop complaining when that happens we can open our eyes and start to change some of the things that bother us.*** instead of complaining

*** I don’t want to go back to Iraq but shit happens and you just have to learn to deal with it.***

By: Will Robinson

Will Robinson — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:53:11 +0000

Every carrier knows exactly what phone you are using. Not just AT&T. The carriers use that info to tune their networks, and as you can see, to ensure that customers are paying the correct fee’s. Other uses are to determine what games you can download, ringtones. To help in billing disputes. Also to help prevent fraud.

But don’t worry BG, the big magenta has your backs, the Andriod is just around the corner with the big announcement on Tuesday. And I haven’t heard any rumors or stories of the big T changing their price plans.

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:52:31 +0000

They can find out thru phone’s IMEI #.

By: MadMike

MadMike — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:51:58 +0000

@mac-symbian lvr: Actually the Family Unlimited Texting does work with the iPhone. I called up because of an unfair overage and while going through the bill she also told me I could save $40/month because I was paying for two iPhones with unlimited text and didn’t need to be since U already had unlimited family texting on the plan. That was an AT&T rep that told me… I recorded the conversation – so if they try to take me off of it, I can nail them and then I won’t have to worry about paying any cell bill for at least a few years.

By: MadMike

MadMike — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:46:26 +0000

Marc is right. I got my iPhone 3G through direct fulfillment and was disappointing in how long it took them to get me the phone. I called up and they gave me a $50 credit, just like that – didn’t even put up a fight. As far as the 3G data plan – that’s just like a blackberry. Sure MEdia Net Unlimited is cheaper – but that plan was priced based on “dumbphones” that only handled basic web, e-mail and data. They priced it cheaper, because those phones don’t nearly use the amount of data a smartphone plan. Even though its “unlimited” through the devices its meant for, its limited.

Once you step into a Treo, Blackberry or iPhone – your in a different ballgame. The devices are capable of doing so much more. On average they use more data than a regular phone.

Honestly, milking MEdia Net while the rest of us pay the regular fee is kind of sleazy. It’s only $30. Sure, if I could save $15 a month I wouldn’t turn it down – but they will never lower their data rate. If you want a smart phone, you need to pay to play. If you don’t like it, start your own cell company or get a job as a high ranking VP in a current one and change it.

By: James Bond

James Bond — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:40:24 +0000

Have you ever gotten the exact predicted mileage out of your car? Have you ever paid for high speed internet and had it be slow at times? Do you shed weight every time you eat at subway? Do new clothes make you crazy attractive? Does a gym membership automatically give you bulging muscles like in the commercials? Have you ever been charged by blockbuster since the “End of Late Fees”?

Commercials exaggerate, it’s nothing new.