AT&T to require smartphone data plans starting September 6th
AT&T subscribers, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that as of September 6th, AT&T will begin requiring that all smartphones sign up for a smartphone data plan. The good news is that customers with smartphones purchased prior to September 6th with non-smartphone data plans will be grandfathered in and will not have to upgrade their current plans. Note that if you currently use a feature phone with a data plan and you upgrade to a smartphone on or after September 6th, you will not be able to keep your current MediaNet plan.
We’ve been hearing rumblings to this effect for a few weeks now but as of this morning it’s 100% confirmed thanks to an internal email from one of our ninjas. AT&T’s claimed reasoning behind the move: to ensure customers receive a predictable bill each month. Mmm hmm. Note that this only applies to smartphones purchased from AT&T or a dealer of course, so those of you who opt for unlocked handsets should be unaffected. Hit the jump for the internal email circulated today at AT&T.
Beginning September 6, 2009, customers who activate or upgrade to a Smartphone will need to sign up for an appropriate data plan. Existing Smartphone customers active prior to September 6, 2009 will be grandfathered and exempt from the new policy.
Why we are making this change?
We want our customers to have the best possible experience with their Smartphones. A predictable bill is a key factor in customer satisfaction, so effective September 6, 2009 Smartphone customers will need to subscribe to a data plan, as the vast majority of customers already do. Data plans let customers fully utilize their device, without the worry of bill shock.How we will ensure an extraordinary customer experience?
The sales representative is the customer’s expert resource in helping select the right device for their needs. When a customer does not want a data plan, we will position other devices in our industry leading portfolio for the customer to choose from, as many devices do not require a data plan.Action Required:
Sales Managers will review the Know the Facts, Job Aid, and FAQs (found under Related Links) with their sales teams and ensure all sales representatives fully understand the new policy and how to position the Smartphone data requirement to customers. A Sales Coaching Session will be available on September 5, 2009 (document to be distributed in advance).
BTW getting and unlocked phone won’t save you.
The moment they detect a smartphone they charge you the data plan. And if you have an phone that was grandfathered in and something happens and you get the SAME data phone and put your old chip in.. you also get charge for the data plan cause they detect the new IMEI.
out of curiosity..how do you know this
umm sounds like he is either a troll or probably part of atts master grand scheme….of corporate dominiation….
but he is slightly incorrect tho…att will know if you put in your sim to another phone, but they do not care as att does not have the resources to make sure everybody is using their phone properly…..here is what i did to remove my data plan…the other day when i upgraded…
1 I put my sim into another non smartphone and called/chatted with att…
2 I told att that my smartphone is going to be sold to someone else….and that I do not want the data plan on my nonsmartphone…
3 they told me to switch back to the old phone and they turned off my data plan…viola! no data plan!
Hate to break it to you. I purchased a BlackJack II for my son because he thought the phone was cool and he had a Razr before.
Once At&t detected the Blackjack II, they added the $30.00/month data plan. We have to call customer service to cancel the plan. For now, it is cancelled, but if the Blackjack II is used again, then they would still charge us for the data plan. Since At&t can tell what type of phone you are using, you will have to stay away from the smart phones or you will be charged.
Yea I called att customer service and they told something similar.
I agree. The SAME EXACT thing happened to me. My husband and I both have had the Blackberry 8310 curve for a couple of years and both phones were grandfathered in and were not required to pay the $30 data plan. A couple of months ago, I broke my phone and bought the exact same one from another person and as soon as I switched my SIM card and started using the phone, they added the $30 data plan. I have spent hours on the phone with ATT cust svc and “supervisors” who all told me sorry but that’s the way it is. My husband is still using his BB and is not being charged because he is still using his BB from a couple of years ago so his phone is still grandfathered in. They said the only way to avoid it would have been if I got my phone replaced through a warranty or insurance on my old phone. Im so angry at ATT and also all the other ones Verizon and Sprint. I told cust svc to check my billing history I have never and will never need to use the internet on my phone because I work from home and have a computer for internet purposes. I am currently looking into maybe Tmobil. Everyone needs to call and raise hell and complain not just once. Also someone here posted the info to the CEO and the FCC we all need to protest this. All of a sudden my phone bill went up $30 for NO reason AND of course they havent lowered their voice plan fees to help offset the price of the data plan. In this economy they think this is ok to rape their customers. If you have two phones thats $60 per month thats $720 PER YEAR!!! F you ATT you will not force me to give you $720 of my hard earned money. I have a mortgage to pay and kids to feed. Thanks for looking out for your customers ! NOT!
I WOULD HAPPILY JOIN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT if or when it is started.
Count me in. I use my phone for constant texting to my family. I hate the small tiny keyboards. I told the guy at AT&T Monday I wanted a certain phone. he sold me the phone and when i get home I see I am charged 30.00 fee. I am shocked. I never said I needed to use it for anything other than Texting and calling. What crap. Now I need to go in, pay the 35.00 restocking fee and get a phone I HATE??? I am willing to pay the full price of this phone, if that is the issue, but I am not allowed? The phone is 299.99, I got it for 99.99. Thirty dollars a month for 2 years is 720.00. Um…let me think…SCAM!?!
I’m on the phone right now with AT&T about this whole thing! Stuck SIM card in unlocked iPhone and the system detected it and now they want to tack on the data plan charge. I dont want a data plan; don’t need one. Just want the great features of the iPhone that are sufficient without a data plan.
I GOT THE ANSWER!!!!!
I GOT THE ANSWER!!!!!
AT&T just gave me “SMART EXCLUSION”!!!
This means that I can keep my unlocked iPhone on my plan without a data plan! God is very good!
Call ATT and with the prompts, go to the “CLOSE ACCOUNT”; this give you their CUSTOMER RETENTION DEPT. They hand these out but you have to be firm that you will change carriers if they don’t accommodate you. The lady said that this was the second “smart exclusion she’s handed out in her 3 hrs of work today. You may need to talk with “CUSTOMER CARE” dept. She did the talking for me after her supervisor said I had no choice.
Spread the news; we don’t have to be forced into submission.
PUSH IT PEOPLE! PUSH IT!
I should have the right to use whatever device I want to use the SERVICE I CHOOSE to have. If I only have a voice plan, I should be able to call them and tell them I DO NOT WANT A DATA PLAN: DISABLE ALL POSSIBLE DATA TRAFFIC FROM MY PHONE. That is exactly what I have done for the last couple of years. I use my smart phone for smart purposes only. I do not consider the ability to connect to their slow a$$ network a smart feature. If they are going to force me to have a data plan instead of just disabling the data traffic like they have in the past; that seems to me that they care more about their bottom line than my satisfaction. I call this:
1- A privacy violation for even knowing what device I have and using that information against me.
2- Extortion, for forcing me to pay for something I do not want.
Oh boy I feel a lawsuit is coming!
Any lawyers reading this thread?
I talked with an ATT customer service guy, his manager and manager’s manager – all told me a force $30 data plan is required if you use a smartphone – even if you don’t access the data network (APN removed). I said ATT cannot dictate what customers use to make voice call, all three said sorry, ATT policy requires $30 a month if you use a smartphone even if you don’t access data network.
We need lawyers sometimes.
Verizon makes it customers have data plans on phones now also. I have talked with both Verizon and ATT who say the reason for this being done is because folks would get phones that would let them get on the internet and would rack up huge bills…Thus is the data plan is in place then such things might not happen. I do understand that some will never use the data on such phones. However I am glad to know now that if I want to us the internet or other things I won’t rack up such a high bill like I would if I did not have data as part of my plan
I have a huge problem with this logic. If AT&T truly wants nothing more than to ensure that customers don’t rack up a huge bill then fine. But I think that people have the right not to pay for what they are not using. If I want to use pay as you go data for $2 a mb then I should have that right. If they are concerned that I might run up a bill that is not going to get payed why not cut me off at 15 mb of automatically add the data plan at that point. There has got to be a way for this to get worked out. IBesides, I’m sure there are some people who just pay for what they have used and others who complaint that they didn’t know they used that much. It is at that point in the game that AT&T should require a data plan. I bought a blackjack because my impression was constantly dialing up that media net. I was getting charges for something I was not actually using. With a blackjack you actually have to hit IE to get on the internet and there is no way around it. I used one for over a year with not one single data charge. Then I got that stupid impression and now I am paying for it. I am going back to my blackjack and I don’t think it is fair that I am paying a data charge now. I didn’t get my blackjack from ATT I got it from samsung. This is a joke. So you think they would allow us to shut off their service for such crap? or satisfy what we want to keep us?
I have been using a Nokia E62, NOT PURCHASED FROM ATT, on and off since August of 09. I signed my contract in July of 08. These terms of service were not applicable to as of July 08, OR August 09 when I started using my E62, and they still charged me today. Anyone know if this is legit? I understand if you buy a smartphone after Spt. 6,, no matter from who, and then start using it, they will add the Data Package, but I had been using this phone since before the change in service. ATT is going to lose a LOT of customers if they add things to peoples account without consulting them first. It’s one thing to have silly rules on an account, but to add things to peoples accounts without their permission is pretty shady.
What’s sad is that I’ve been with ATT for 5 years and considered a “valued customer”, but once I want to upgrade my phone they want me to sign another 2 year deal. Stop asking your “valued customers” to sign more 2 year deals! I’ve spent much money with ATT and this is what I get in return. I’m leaving ATT in May and can’t wait because this stuff is getting silly. My dsl is cheaper than having smart phones. I’ll get an ipod if I want to surf outside the home and go back to using phone booths if I have too lol.
I had this same problem. I had a data plan pushed to 2 of the 3 blackberries on my plan. I got rid of them by calling them and telling them I didn’t want the plan anymore since I switched to my old phone. They removed it… I’ve had it working fine without the plan for about 2 weeks.
There is no reason to not be able to have a smartphone without a data plan. If you use T-mobile’s Even More Plus plans they are Month to Month no contract plans. It is your choice to either have just phone or phone + text or phone+text+data. It is on the SIM card what you have. If they can do this then so can others. I’m sure there are many people like me that have no use for data on their smartphone. I use WiFi and don’t need it. If it weren’t $30 extra a month it might be a good feature, but there seems to be enough WiFi locations (and I live in a pretty rural area) that WiFi is all I need.
This is just the greed of the Cell companies requiring this. It’s one thing if you buy a subsidized phone from them, but I bought my smartphone and should be able to just buy Cell service. Until Cell companies lose their stranglehold on phones they can make up their own rules. This is changing slowly as companies like Google (selling their own phone) and T-mobile giving you choices, come into play. There is really no reason for Cell companies to sell you anything but Cell service period. I should be able to walk into Best-Buy or Wal-Mart and buy a phone and then choose where to buy my Cell service. Just like buying a computer and choosing what OS I want to use and what ISP I want to use. T-mobile is still too small in the U.S. for everyone to change too, but they also realize that they are Cell service providers and want your business. They are the only ones I know of that will let you just buy a SIM card and your choice of plan if you own a phone. That is the business model that I want, not these rip offs from the other major carriers.
Once people stop buying these subsidized phones and demanding to use their own phone as they choose will this model change, it will take time but it should happen. Now with cheaper smartphones being made in Asia we will see prices come down to where they should be anyway, why should a phone cost as much if not more than a lot of laptops. It is only because the Cell companies control them.
I have not had a contract on my phones in many years and will never do it again, it can be done, you have to do some research to get something that will work for you, whether it’s a prepay plan or an unlimited everything plan from a non major carrier for $40/month or a month to month plan from T-mobile with your choice of services, there are ways to get out from the two major carriers rip offs and as more and more people leave them, the faster they will have to change to sell what they are supposed to sell, Cell service. Cheers.
I called AT&T Customer CARE twice on this issue to have the data plan remove from my account. My son likes to use the Samsung Jack (which I got as a gift) not subsidized by AT&T because it has WiFi and full keyboard. There ought to be a legal way to stop AT&T and other mobile operators from force sales service that we don’t want to buy. I retired from AT&T and have been a customer of AT&T mobile service for 16 years but am now seriously consider looking for a different cell phone provider because of this lousy sales ploy of greedy AT&T executives!!!!
I called AT&T Customer CARE twice on this issue to have the data plan remove from my account. My son likes to use the Samsung Jack (which I got as a gift) not subsidized by AT&T because it has WiFi and full keyboard. There ought to be a legal way to stop AT&T and other mobile operators from force sales service that we don’t want to buy. I retired from AT&T and have been a customer of AT&T mobile service for 16 years but am now seriously consider looking for a different cell phone provider because of this lousy sales ploy of greedy AT&T executives!!!!
I called AT&T yesterday after I gat a text message stating that they added data to my phone. I have had this Tilt2 for 3 months, bought it on AT&T website and was not told on the website to purchase a data plan. I told them i did not want it, did not need it, and would not use it. I want it taken off. I was told my choice was to pay it or buy a non smart phone. I just spent $300 3 months ago for this. After one operator and 2 “supervisors” I hung up. I feel like this is extortion. I use the PDA features of the phone but not the internet. I have home and work internet to use. I wrote the FCC, not sure if there is anything else i can do.
I know perfectly how AT&T works (I won’t say it with ALL WORDS, but you can imagine…) and there are few things about smartphone requeriment:
1.- It is imposible to update non-smartphone to smartphone without paying $30 data package, also you cannot change IMEI for a non-smartphone to avoid feature and then use SIM in a smartphone cuz AT&T system will detect it and will add data feature. There is no way to avoid it if you have an smartphone.
2.- I’m not user, but I know A LOT of AT&T and I believe this is not fair… We cannot explain why at&t is forcing people to have this but we do believe it is causing a lot of people are leaving company…
3.- The only thing you can do, customer, is COMPLAIN. When calling customer service ask them to let the company know you are totally disagree with this policy… believe it or not customer service gets report of all people that is complaining about data feature and they speak about it in meetings with managers and all the thing, well, at least in spanish care deparment they are doing it.
i have been an AT&T customer almost 3 yrs,and am switching because of the forced data package.
Suggestion:
Power down your older feature phone. Buy an unlocked smartphone off the market, take it to a dealer to change the IMEI number of smartphone to IMEI of older feature phone. Plug SIM card into smartphone.
Be advised this practice may be illegal in certain countries (ie UK)
I’ve only read a few comments, but the point here is that these new smartphones have wi-fi. And nowadays, you can connect to the net for free via wi-fi in a lot more places than you could before. ATT knows this, if your smartphone has wi-fi and can connecto to any network for free, then why would any customers PAY for a data plan, when they can just use their wi-fi enabled smartphone to access the net…not ATT’s crappy medianet service.
Bottom line, it’s wi-fi that made ATT come to this decision and it’s ability to get you onto the internet WITHOUT having to use ATT’s network or data plans…not to keep you from racking up huge bills. If you are connected to your own home network, via wi-fi with your smartphone and browsing the net, it costs you nothing…and ATT makes no money from it. They know this, so they say go ahead and get your wi-fi phone, cause if your phone has wi-fi, you’re paying for a data plan. It’s not just smartphones…it’s any phone that is wi-fi capable.