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Comments on news posted 2009-06-26 17:17:45: It's been a few months since the last time a mobile broadband user received a roaming bandwidth bill that required a second mortgage, so we were clearly overdue. ..

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a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY

1 edit

a333

Member

Hardly surprising...

.... considering that probably 65% or more of the general populace has no CLUE as to what the heck a GB is, how do you expect them to understand that using their 3G aircards outside the US costs extra? I personally know several people who were surprised to learn that voice roaming costs extra when you go international... That, coupled with a complete lack of technical interest or even desire to learn, is what has these people rushing to the nearest media outlet faster than you can say "roaming".....
I mean, yes, it would TEND to help if wireless companies were a tad more helpful when it came to notifications, i.e. the walled garden system, but as they say... you can't fix stupid.

Peace,
a333

Maccawolf
Premium Member
join:2001-02-20
Hillsdale, NJ

2 recommendations

Maccawolf

Premium Member

Myth BUSTED

I have no sympathy for him. He should READ the TOC just like everyone else. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to live in a nanny state where THEY look after me to keep me from doing something STUPID.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

1 recommendation

Matt3

Premium Member

This Day and Age

I still don't understand why it takes AT&T DAYS to provide a data usage total. In this day and age, you would think they could track it simply. It just goes to show what a dinosaur AT&T and their systems really are.

jchambers28
Premium Member
join:2007-05-12
Peculiar, MO

jchambers28

Premium Member

3g service is a con game

yet another reason I wont be getting a 3g mobile broadband service anytime soon stupid caps.

banditws6
Shrinking Time and Distance
Premium Member
join:2001-08-18
Frisco, TX

banditws6 to a333

Premium Member

to a333

Re: Hardly surprising...

No, you can't fix stupid, and boy have we got a lot of stupid.

At the same time, 3G aircards and other means of getting onto wireless data networks are becoming more and more mainstream, especially with the subsidized netbooks being bundled with them as the article mentions. We're going to be seeing more and more non-tech savvy people getting on board with these devices and not understanding all of the minutiae.

It is therefore my belief that the wireless companies need to do a better job of warning users when bandwidth consumption strays into the "ludicrously expensive" category. And I mean really warning people, like by calling the number associated with the account holder, not just sending a fire-and-forget SMS that isn't guaranteed to be received by the device in question and saying "Due diligence done!" Or, provide the customer with an option to have their service suspended when a particular amount of bandwidth has been consumed, just in case.

But then the wireless companies couldn't profit from your stupidity, ignorance, or honest mistakes...could they.

canesfan2001
join:2003-02-04
Hialeah, FL

1 edit

1 recommendation

canesfan2001 to Maccawolf

Member

to Maccawolf

Re: Myth BUSTED

If you examine his Twitter feed you see that ATT claims 9GB of use, he is very aware of what the rates/Data use is. This case happens to involve ATT possibly being wrong about the data usage total, not him not knowing better. Wouldn't be the first time a carrier was wrong about data usage.
jjeffeory
jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04
Bloomington, IN

2 recommendations

jjeffeory to Maccawolf

Member

to Maccawolf
said by Maccawolf:

I have no sympathy for him. He should READ the TOC just like everyone else. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to live in a nanny state where THEY look after me to keep me from doing something STUPID.
Too late!

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

1 recommendation

morbo to Matt3

Member

to Matt3

Re: This Day and Age

they can, they just don't want to.

why? they make more money this way. they've run the numbers with providing instant feedback or at least, daily feedback on usage to users vs. dealing with negative PR from these types of stories. you can tell the choice they have made.

funchords
Hello
MVM
join:2001-03-11
Yarmouth Port, MA

1 edit

3 recommendations

funchords to Maccawolf

MVM

to Maccawolf

Re: Myth BUSTED

said by Maccawolf:

I have no sympathy for him.
That says volumes about you and nothing about him.
said by Maccawolf:

He should READ the TOC just like everyone else.
My guess is that he read the TOC just like everyone else, which is to say that he either didn't read it or understand it because it was too long or too dense. Those things aren't meant for consumers to read, they're meant to protect the carrier from claims.
said by Maccawolf:

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to live in a nanny state where THEY look after me to keep me from doing something STUPID.
Be sure to wear your seat belt.

Surprise charges on telecom bills is very similar to the surprises folks would see on consumer loans. This is exactly the reason why loan applications have that big disclosure box giving out the key rates and fees in easy-to-read font. It's a useful tool.

These laws aren't there to protect you from yourself, they're there to protect you from the acts of others that just take advantage of the fact that you're a human being minding his own business.
expert007
join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY

expert007

Member

People don't know what a GB is...

Hell, many folks don't even realize there's a difference between wifi and 2/3/4G. All they know is that when they turn their computer on, it wirelessly connects to something or other.....

I know plenty of non-techies who are ordinary, intelligent everyday citizens, and they're used to sitting at their computer for minutes/hours/etc and sipping all they can without worry of an obscene overage bill.

I'm not part of the crowd that screams "READ THE TOS".....though I do agree that this should be done. This is quite obvious a predatory tactic though and it will come to a head at some point.

drew
Radiant
Premium Member
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA

drew to Matt3

Premium Member

to Matt3

Re: This Day and Age

I only hope that Adam is a big enough celeb that can really do something to fight them on this and maybe get something done about it for good.

Godspeed Mr. Savage

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

1 recommendation

fifty nine to Maccawolf

Member

to Maccawolf

Re: Myth BUSTED

said by Maccawolf:

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to live in a nanny state where THEY look after me to keep me from doing something STUPID.
The irony of this of course is that you live in NJ.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

2 edits

FFH5 to morbo

Premium Member

to morbo

Re: This Day and Age

said by morbo:

they can, they just don't want to.

why? they make more money this way. they've run the numbers with providing instant feedback or at least, daily feedback on usage to users vs. dealing with negative PR from these types of stories. you can tell the choice they have made.
My Sprint account keeps up to date within about a 15 min window. I can check minutes used; data used; # text msgs; etc. If Sprint, the poster child for poor customer svc can do this so easily, so should AT&T.




Used about 49 MB of data in 3 weeks. A weakly enforced 5GB/month is the cap.

funchords
Hello
MVM
join:2001-03-11
Yarmouth Port, MA

funchords to expert007

MVM

to expert007

Re: People don't know what a GB is...

said by expert007:

This is quite obvious a predatory tactic though and it will come to a head at some point.
Just to illustrate this further, this page here is 56 KB -- and at AT&T's roaming rates in Canada (which are $0.015 per KB) means that every time your computer loads the page costs about a dollar (or just under a dollar).

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

4 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

said by funchords:
said by expert007:

This is quite obvious a predatory tactic though and it will come to a head at some point.
Just to illustrate this further, this page here is 56 KB -- and at AT&T's roaming rates in Canada (which are $0.015 per KB) means that every time your computer loads the page costs about a dollar (or just under a dollar).
$.84

Good incentive to use text based web sites designed for mobile use. Like this:
»tkjunkmail.googlepages.c ··· ilelinks

Besides, the text based web pages show the info you need much faster and are much easier to read on those smartphone screens.

""http: //text.dslreports.com/""
4.5 KB approx $.07
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678 to canesfan2001

Member

to canesfan2001

Re: Myth BUSTED

said by canesfan2001:

If you examine his Twitter feed you see that ATT claims 9GB of use, he is very aware of what the rates/Data use is. This case happens to involve ATT possibly being wrong about the data usage total, not him not knowing better. Wouldn't be the first time a carrier was wrong about data usage.
Doen't The Iphone do a lot of background data use?

Did thing it was on the rogers network and it endless tried to download some software over and over again?

MrMaster
Rum Connoisseur
Premium Member
join:2000-12-16
St Thomas, VI

MrMaster to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5

Re: People don't know what a GB is...

said by FFH5:

said by funchords:
said by expert007:

This is quite obvious a predatory tactic though and it will come to a head at some point.
Just to illustrate this further, this page here is 56 KB -- and at AT&T's roaming rates in Canada (which are $0.015 per KB) means that every time your computer loads the page costs about a dollar (or just under a dollar).
$.84

Good incentive to use text based web sites designed for mobile use. Like this:
»tkjunkmail.googlepages.c ··· ilelinks

»/
4.5 KB approx $.07
not really. It goes to show you how much a ripoff data roaming rates are.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5

Re: This Day and Age

Not only does it not update frequently, I've called in before and they couldn't even tell me what the data usage was FOR. They bury their data usage under a subpage -- all they show on the main account management page is txt msgs under the data tab.

It looks like my usage has been updated as of 2AM this morning, but nothing since.
k1ll3rdr4g0n
join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL

k1ll3rdr4g0n to morbo

Member

to morbo
said by morbo:

they can, they just don't want to.

why? they make more money this way. they've run the numbers with providing instant feedback or at least, daily feedback on usage to users vs. dealing with negative PR from these types of stories. you can tell the choice they have made.
No they can't because when you "roam" AT&T has to wait for the other provider to bill AT&T with the data usage so therefore usage is lagged.

No matter what ANY provider says (pointing at LiamJunket) they cannot provide instant up to date information with data that comes from different networks. In order for "instant feedback" to work, the providers would actually have to *work* with each other instead of bickering, complaining, and lying like little children. And you will always have that one oddball provider out in the middle of nowhere that no major carrier cares enough to invite into their "roaming billing system".
k1ll3rdr4g0n

k1ll3rdr4g0n to funchords

Member

to funchords

Re: People don't know what a GB is...

said by funchords:

said by expert007:

This is quite obvious a predatory tactic though and it will come to a head at some point.
Just to illustrate this further, this page here is 56 KB -- and at AT&T's roaming rates in Canada (which are $0.015 per KB) means that every time your computer loads the page costs about a dollar (or just under a dollar).
What I don't get is how providers can charge for things like advertisements when I don't want them loaded. Sure, I can install extensions to block ads and such, but do you think the netbooks has them installed by default? Defiantly not.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5 to k1ll3rdr4g0n

Premium Member

to k1ll3rdr4g0n

Re: This Day and Age

said by k1ll3rdr4g0n:

No matter what ANY provider says (pointing at LiamJunket) they cannot provide instant up to date information with data that comes from different networks.
If you are going to a different country, 1st rule, unless you are filthy rich, is don't use wireless cell data. Use WiFi only.

My smartphone is set to REFUSE data roaming(that is the default) off of Sprint's network. I can't do it by accident. If I turn it on, then I accepted the costs involved.

ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA

1 edit

ninjatutle to canesfan2001

Member

to canesfan2001

Re: Myth BUSTED

I think his course of action now would be to look at the Canadian networked he tapped into. I haven't roamed yet so I don't know what the data would look like.

Thats what my 3G details look like from logging into my account. They show you each time you log on and the amount of data consumed.

9GB? Was he doing a remote backup? Uploading footage back to his home office? Was he the only person using the PC? Why did he bring his 3G card in the first place? I'm never bringing my card out side of the states.

ee4
@comcast.net

ee4 to Maccawolf

Anon

to Maccawolf
talk about stupid. try reading and understanding what you are reading. adam wants to make sure att can add right.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo to k1ll3rdr4g0n

Member

to k1ll3rdr4g0n

Re: This Day and Age

AT&T and other providers have zero incentive to provide this near-real time data and to work together to accomplish it.

So, there are a few options here. All rely upon the goodness of AT&T's (and others') heart to care for the consumer except one: mandate it.

Problem solved.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode to drew

News Guy

to drew
He'll get a call and refund within 24 hours I bet, speaking to the power of the Tweet (and blogs). But I dunno if they'll improve this system any.
Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium Member
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO

Corydon to a333

Premium Member

to a333

Re: Hardly surprising...

Part of the problem may be a lack of understanding when it comes to what kind of roaming we're talking about.

Lots (all?) of mobile phone companies make a big deal of offering free roaming (for voice within the US). How many sales pitches come with those caveats?

The customer hears free roaming and figures he doesn't have to worry about traveling.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3 to k1ll3rdr4g0n

Premium Member

to k1ll3rdr4g0n

Re: This Day and Age

said by k1ll3rdr4g0n:

said by morbo:

they can, they just don't want to.

why? they make more money this way. they've run the numbers with providing instant feedback or at least, daily feedback on usage to users vs. dealing with negative PR from these types of stories. you can tell the choice they have made.
No they can't because when you "roam" AT&T has to wait for the other provider to bill AT&T with the data usage so therefore usage is lagged.

No matter what ANY provider says (pointing at LiamJunket) they cannot provide instant up to date information with data that comes from different networks. In order for "instant feedback" to work, the providers would actually have to *work* with each other instead of bickering, complaining, and lying like little children. And you will always have that one oddball provider out in the middle of nowhere that no major carrier cares enough to invite into their "roaming billing system".
Why can't they even provide up-to-date information for domestic usage on their OWN network?
Matt3

Matt3 to Karl Bode

Premium Member

to Karl Bode
said by Karl Bode:

He'll get a call and refund within 24 hours I bet, speaking to the power of the Tweet (and blogs). But I dunno if they'll improve this system any.
I completely agree. The squeaky wheel and all that ...

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to funchords

Premium Member

to funchords

Re: People don't know what a GB is...

said by funchords:

AT&T's roaming rates in Canada (which are $0.015 per KB) means that every time your computer loads the page costs about a dollar (or just under a dollar).
»www.nextel.com/assets/pd ··· lyer.pdf
Sprint's rates for Canada are:
Canada $0.002/KB
More than 7x cheaper than AT&T

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 recommendation

Karl Bode to Matt3

News Guy

to Matt3

Re: This Day and Age

AT&T just e-mailed me to note they're already working with him.

I plan to inquire why they can't improve the high bill notification system for a future bit.
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