According to Gizmodo your new shiney iPhone may soon come with a data cap. That’s right my fellow iPhone phreaks. We pay a premium to have an iPhone over other smartphones and now we might be hobbled at the knees.
Without the proper management of these networks, De la Vega said, regular data users will be “crowded out” by the small number of users who use massive amounts of data. – Ralph de la Vega CEO AT&T mobility
If you’re like me and Gizmodo you find those words very scary. Toss in the following quote and there is no doubt that bottom is about to drop out of the word “UNLIMITED”.
“We have to manage the network to make sure that the few cannot crowd out the many,” De la Vega continued. He said the words “crowded out” at least five times in that part of his keynote address.
Crowded out! I hear repeatedly that the only reason people tolerate AT&T is the iPhone. With other smartphones improving constantly I do hope that AT&T thinks before they act in this case. Incase anyone from AT&T is reading.
UNLIMTED = without LIMITS!
8 Comments at "iPhone Users Prepare for Data Caps"
If they’re only talking about limiting the top 3%, that must mean people who are tethering and frequently browsing and downloading from their computer. That seems pretty reasonable to me, I’d rather they give a certain (reasonable) data limit and let us use it however we want rather than charging extra for tethering even if our overall data usage isn’t that high.
It would truly be stupid for their “unlimited” to become limited. They should just hike the price on unlimited and create a lower tier plan for people who aren’t abusing.
iPhone 3G users in the US are putting up with a lot. Aside from the sub-par AT&T phone service, they had a rate increase for the mandatory data plan, they lost the 200 text messages that used to be included, they accept the stipulation to that AT&T can automatically bill you for its data plan if it discovers that you’re using another “ineligible” data plan with your iPhone, and now this. And if you want to get just phone coverge from AT&T and rely on your own WiFi for data on the iPhone, you have to go through some stupid workaround to trick AT&T into activating your phone.
When you buy into an “unlimited” plan, the point is that whatever new data needs that you can’t predict now but may run into later will be serviced at a pre-budgeted rate. The whole point of the plan is to eliminate risk. That’s what you’re paying a premium for.
The pricing models for unlimited may change, but people with pre-existing contracts should still be able to receive the same level of service for the contracted price. To do anything else would be a violation of the contract, vis-a-vis, the law.
As long as contract law is still kept up, you should have to worry for the short term.
Usually they reserve the right to change the agreement with or without your approval. I know, it’s crazy.
T Mobile just started charging an additional fee of $1.50 every month just to keep getting your bill in the mail. That’s another issue, but my point is they change things and will force you to pay more or get less- because you are the little guy. What can you do?
I still can’t believe that they force you to pay separately for a text messaging plan; it’s no longer included in the unlimited data plan. How much bandwidth does a text message actually use?
In Canada we are paying $30 for 1 gig/month or if we were lucky enough to sign on during the launch promotion $30 for 6gig/month. Then we pay another $20 for visual voice mail etc… That is over and above our voice plan – mind you it is optional.
[...] it means. According to Apple Insider, a story that we first brought to you back in October “iPhone users prepare for data caps” might be coming [...]
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