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Comments on news posted 2009-10-21 18:29:34: Sure, heavy wireless broadband users might call it pure madness, but there are some smartphone users out there who like to ditch the 3G data plan and simply use free Wi-Fi when it's available. To stop this utter insanity (well ok, to further bloat.. ..

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divefox
join:2005-08-15
Huntsville, AL

divefox

Member

Those fellas at the freakin' FCC

I hope the FCC shoves their foot up AT&T's rear end. "Pick one: Net Neutrality or Fair Billing."

Hah, not in this lifetime.

longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX

1 edit

longstreet

Member

hmm

Well, in light of this, I suggest those people that take issue with this decision find another carrier.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Verizon requires data plans on anything but dumb-phones now. Sprint requires a data plan on thier smartphones. T-Mobile requires a data plan on smartphones.

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

FFH5

Premium Member

Question? - for subsidized smartphones or all smartphones

Do these rules apply to all smartphones - even those bought at full price and not part of a subsidized 2 yr plan?

For subsidized smartphones I can see the telcos point of requiring a data plan. But if you went and bought an unsubsidized smartphone somewhere for $800, I think you should be able to buy whatever services you want at a la carte rates.

longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX

longstreet to iansltx

Member

to iansltx

Re: hmm

You can find a smaller carrier that doesn't force the data option, or you can get a different phone.


Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 recommendation

Karl Bode to iansltx

News Guy

to iansltx
Yes, so many choices.

longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX

longstreet

Member

As they like to say in some places . . .'the choice is yours'

b1gdr3
I Blame Your Mother
join:2001-07-28
York, PA

b1gdr3

Member

I have an iPhone...

and I don't appreciate that text messaging isn't included in this mandatory $30 data plan. It's not like it's costing ATT loads to process these messages.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

1 recommendation

KrK

Premium Member

Market fail. Regulation is only way

When there simply isn't enough competition to provide consumers with choices they want to make, it's only fair to come in and control the carriers via Government regulations.

And they have only themselves to blame. Abuse and false claims of "The market will self regulate" leads itself to the outcome the carriers least want. Greed is not good. Not for consumers, and not for the long term profitability of the carriers.

I will not cry for them one bit.
KrK

KrK to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5

Re: Question? - for subsidized smartphones or all smartphones

Looks like all Smartphones, period.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode to longstreet

News Guy

to longstreet

Re: hmm

Clearly.

chasmn83
@comcast.net

chasmn83 to longstreet

Anon

to longstreet
I already switched my phone service to a little juke and purchased an ipod touch for the wifi... I even blocked my data so i dont get mb charges just to look at the verizon online store!!! Never had a problem with verizon service or customer service but not staying when contract over.

dwhayden
join:2000-12-23
Greenwood, IN

dwhayden to FFH5

Member

to FFH5

Re: Question? - for subsidized smartphones or all smartphones

An AT&T person told me I can cancel the data plan at any time since I'm grandfathered in, but if I were to signup with it again I'd be forced into keeping it "FOREVER". I said what if I "Downgrade" to a dumb phone (wink wink). I could then cancel the plan? She said, "Yes". I said I can then put my SIM back in my smartphone, and be without data. She said, "Well, I guess you could do that".

This seems so ridiculous. I can understand why they would force someone who is buying a subsidized phone, but it doesn't make sense to force someone into a service that brings their own equipment. The AT&T person said they do it for my protection to avoid the accidental high fees of pay per use. Again that is stupid, because if that was true they would just opt people out of data instead.

DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey

DaveDude

Member

Could i not have a voice plan ?

If this is mandatory, couldn't i just use Google voice, or whoever, and not have voice plan ?

IT Guy
Ow, My Balls
Premium Member
join:2004-07-29
Las Cruces, NM
Cisco ASA 5505
Cisco Meraki MX64

1 edit

IT Guy to iansltx

Premium Member

to iansltx

Re: hmm

said by iansltx:

T-Mobile requires a data plan on smartphones.
That's not exactly true. I had bought a G1 off of eBay and while I was required to use T-mobile's data network to register my device with Google's server, the G1 support tech. told me I was not required to have a data plan, although it was recommended since many of the functions of the phone relied to some extent on having a data plan to update and if an update caused my phone to request that I register the phone to Google's provisioning server, I would have to call into T-Mo's G1 support dept. and have them temporarily add my phone to the data plan again. Regardless, I shelled out the extra cash for the plan, but in retrospect and after several factors including my data usage being very low vs. my Wifi usage and being stuck on EDGE with no idea when 3g will be available in my area, I'm having second thoughts about shelling out that extra money every month that could be better spent on other bills..

Edit: This was back in March, so I know it's quite possible that policy has changed.
nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

1 edit

nonymous (banned)

Member

Yep, and $30 is only the start

For $30 you get almost no data then a per unit charge for any overages. So do anything besides read a few emails and the $30 easily turns into more. Think of the CEOs golden parachute. The USA is only number one in overpaying money grubbing CEOs with no real ideas except how to make their paychecks bigger.

longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX

1 edit

longstreet

Member

hmm

If they still offered al la carte services, i'm sure we'd hear 'oh these overages are such bs! it should be free'

At some point, you have to decide whether or not the service they provide is worth the money they are asking for. If it's not worth it to everyone, then everyone would call up and cancel

Obviously, Apple is enjoying record stock prices and iPhone sales, I don't see many people doing that.
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Mr Matt

Member

Did wireless providers management contract the Swine Flu?

Did the upper management of the wireless service providers contracted the Swine Flu or did some other force turn them into pigs? I wonder if the wireless service providers will refund the purchase price of smart phones to those customers that purchased smart phones and do not want to have the cost of wireless data plans shoved up their butts. It looks like a change in terms of service to me.

longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX

3 edits

longstreet

Member

I wouldn't count on it, those who purchased a subsidized phone also signed a contract that basically let's AT&T do whatever they want.

I have 2 iPhones, so i'm at nearly $150 + a month.

If I go to any other large provider and nearly any other smartphone, it's the same price.

I'll ride my contract out another 4 months and go with a smaller, local company that offers basic service and keep my wifi.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx to longstreet

Member

to longstreet

Re: hmm

I need a national carrier (school is 900 mi away from home) and want a carrier that has a decent network.

NOCMan
MadMacHatter
Premium Member
join:2004-09-30
Colorado Springs, CO

NOCMan

Premium Member

Doing a Study

I have seen family bills and my own for 9 iphones and our average data usage is about 350megs a month. I find it bull that we have to pay 40 dollars a month when were not using any more than the 30 dollar plans are getting.

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

batterup

Premium Member

This is the way you people wanted it.

Ma Bell is dead and yet the people bitch.
Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL

Zoder to dwhayden

Member

to dwhayden

Re: Question? - for subsidized smartphones or all smartphones

said by dwhayden:

The AT&T person said they do it for my protection to avoid the accidental high fees of pay per use. Again that is stupid, because if that was true they would just opt people out of data instead.
If that was their real concern they could cut you off after a set amount of overages kicks in or allow customers to set caps.
bigjoesmith
join:2000-11-21
Peoria, IL

bigjoesmith

Member

Data plans not necessary for everyone.

No dataplan on my smartphone. I run a lot of apps on it, I do my media on it, and I look for wifi when I need net access. When I'm overseas, I use VoIP over wifi to make calls. The data plans are not worth it to me.
Poetique
join:2007-08-05
Auburn, AL

Poetique to nonymous

Member

to nonymous

Re: Yep, and $30 is only6 the start

Basically if you want to sidestep and not have to deal with this, start buying your own phones.

I can't recall the last time I owned an AT&T (or any other vendor's) phone, nor can I recall the last time they had one that interested me, so I'm not too concerned with the new policy, although I do think it is completely and utter bullshit.

Fortunately vendors tend to stay lightyears behind any of the devices I find myself buying. My last AT&T device was a Razr V3, and this is only about a month after they became popular, lol.

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

Gbcue to DaveDude

Premium Member

to DaveDude

Re: Could i not have a voice plan ?

said by DaveDude:

If this is mandatory, couldn't i just use Google voice, or whoever, and not have voice plan ?
That's not how GV works.
Gbcue

Gbcue to b1gdr3

Premium Member

to b1gdr3

Re: I have an iPhone...

said by b1gdr3:

and I don't appreciate that text messaging isn't included in this mandatory $30 data plan. It's not like it's costing ATT loads to process these messages.
Messages are included in my $24.99 data plan from T-Mobile. 400 messages. With the $34.99 plan, you get unlimited messages.

The Limit
Premium Member
join:2007-09-25
Denver, CO

The Limit

Premium Member

These are my thoughts and experiences thus far...

My sprint bill is right at $80 atm, of course that doesn't come with unlimited voice minutes, but I can call anybody's mobile number on any carrier and the minutes are free for that, provided that I'm doing this in the sprint network, which surprisingly seems to be a lot better than verizon's network. My gf has verizon, and I constantly compare my signal to hers, and I get better service out in the sticks than she does. Not only that, but my browsing speeds are way faster than what I was getting on verizon's network.

I have to say, I'm impressed with Sprint's performance thus far. I haven't had to really call customer service, and from what many say here, Sprint's customer service is not great. Yet, at the same time, it seems like billing isn't run by a bunch of monkeys either. This month's bill is correct; Verizon didn't even get my bill straight the first month. On top of that, I have called customer service about questions regarding the palm pre, and the technician I spoke with was very nice, and honest about sprint's network. She knew that Verizon's coverage was better in other parts of the states, and she didn't deny it at all, but the pricing is right, and some people really underestimate Sprint's network in terms of coverage. On top of that, the csr I spoke with before I spoke with the technician didn't try to sell anything to me; she was polite, and didn't badmouth other carriers like I've witnessed in Verizon stores.

Not only that, but Sprint has roaming agreements with Verizon. Big deal that you roam on 1x, but at least you still have voice services. Wifi is also available at many locations, so if you are roaming, then if you have a wifi-capable phone (which I do), then I can access wifi.

PS: Sprint does offer unlimited data for the phone. The only service that's capped is the data card. The technician I spoke with said that Sprint's 5 gigabyte cap is a softcap; I can tell you now, I haven't even gotten close to this cap on my phone, let alone if I decide to tether, unless I start downloading large files.

I do agree with this article though. It would be nice if I had the option to pay per gigabyte, but is that really going to happen?

How do I go about letting the higher ups know about how I feel in terms of paying by the byte? I'm sure it would be a heck of a lot cheaper if this were to happen.

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList to Karl Bode

Premium Member

to Karl Bode

Re: hmm

said by Karl Bode:

Yes, so many choices.
especially with verizon. there is just sooooo much crap to choose from
broccoli
join:2007-11-29
Portland, OR
Draytek Vigor2860Vac
EnGenius EAP600
Obihai OBi100

broccoli to iansltx

Member

to iansltx
said by iansltx:

T-Mobile requires a data plan on smartphones.
No.

I have 3 WinMo phones (only one was bought from T-Mobile, and without a contract) and one S60 phone (bought while vacationing in Asia), and 2 lines with T-Mobile, only one of which has a data plan. If I attempt to use GPRS/EDGE/3G on the line with no data plan, I am prompted to subscribe to a data plan first, but I can still connect to WiFi APs. I have never been forced to get a data plan.
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