Thoughts on the new AT&T data plans?

[jediobiwan]

You can check the past six months of data usage by logging in to your wireless account and clicking on "View past data usage" on the Account overview page.

 

[Disneygeek714]

I don't have an iPad myself, but I am guessing the 4.7gb is your 3g data amount. As for downloads, unless there was a bug in the download limits for iPad, the cap is 20mb per file. It used to be 10mb but they upped it a little recently. As for keeping your unlimited pla, IF you keep your plan current, you can be grandfathered in at $30/unlimited. If you do not keep it up to date, you will be able to manually start a new month once you reach the 2gb cap. So if you used 4gb a month, you would start another $25 plan every fifteen days. Still much more expensive, so I would reccomentd keeping it current.

Interesting. I assumed that the 4.7 GB was total 3G and WiFi. I used more than 250 MB my first day when I got my new Ipad! The way I read it, once you use the initial 2 GB they charge $10 for the next GB and each GB after. That's fifty bucks! One of the reasons I waited for the 3G model was because of it's $30/month unlimited data plan.

 

[disneysteve]

I am guessing the 4.7gb is your 3g data amount.

I assumed that the 4.7 GB was total 3G and WiFi.

I also assumed that the data usage listed on the bill was the 3G usage, not including WiFi. I don't see how AT&T could know my WiFi usage since it doesn't go over their network. They have no way to track that.

 

[Golf4food]

According to our data usage on the website my DW used over the last three months, in megabytes: 151, 440, 164.

I, on the other hand, who listen to a lot of Pandora radio and streamed podcasts (because I forget to download them at home on WiFi first or else they are released during the day and I don't want to wait to listen to them), used, in Gigabytes: 0.3, 3.5, and 4.0.

So they'd want to hit me up for more but not DW. But when I used the data plan estimator on their site it comes up that I should be using only 0.43 GB. So either their estimator is way off or I'm using something that hits the 3G more than I think, and that's with 100 hours of streaming music per month (5 hrs per day for 5 work days for 4 weeks each month).

 

[disneysteve]

I have been streaming music in the car but that is partly due to the novelty factor of being able to do so and partly due to the fact that I've been too lazy to actually load music into my iPod library since getting the phone. I guess I need to do that before we drive to Disney World in August. It will be nice to not have that big box of CDs taking up space between the seats of the van.

 

[jediobiwan]

Interesting. I assumed that the 4.7 GB was total 3G and WiFi. I used more than 250 MB my first day when I got my new Ipad! The way I read it, once you use the initial 2 GB they charge $10 for the next GB and each GB after. That's fifty bucks! One of the reasons I waited for the 3G model was because of it's $30/month unlimited data plan.

I don't think it will make a very big difference in you case because that would be a little over two 2GB data plans in a month, or a little more than $50.

 

[jediobiwan]

According to our data usage on the website my DW used over the last three months, in megabytes: 151, 440, 164.

I, on the other hand, who listen to a lot of Pandora radio and streamed podcasts (because I forget to download them at home on WiFi first or else they are released during the day and I don't want to wait to listen to them), used, in Gigabytes: 0.3, 3.5, and 4.0.

So they'd want to hit me up for more but not DW. But when I used the data plan estimator on their site it comes up that I should be using only 0.43 GB. So either their estimator is way off or I'm using something that hits the 3G more than I think, and that's with 100 hours of streaming music per month (5 hrs per day for 5 work days for 4 weeks each month).

What apps are you using? It may be the Pandora. First, do you have it set to use lower quality audio on cell networks? That will reduce your usage and likely also decrease your stutters. I can't tell a noticeable difference between the two other than less stutters. Also, about how many hours are you listening to a day?

 

[jediobiwan]

Also, here is a good FAQ about the new data plan details, specifically for ipad/iphone users

 

[FireDancer]

There's something fishy going on and I'm not sure what it is. If most people don't use more than 2Gigs, then what's all the hubbub about? I think for me, it will lower my cost a bit, so I'm happy about it.

I think the issue isn't with the current way people use the phone but is instead a way of putting a cap in now in anticipation of the future. Right now the percentage of people going over the cap is very small but as more and more services start streaming better and better content over the Internet those numbers will start jumping up.

I think they found it easier to put the caps in now when they can say it only effects 2% of users is less of a PR headache than waiting until that number creeps up. To be fair, most "unlimited" plans actually had caps buried in the fine print. If nothing else this is more honest representation of what you are actually paying for.

 

[Disneygeek714]

I don't think it will make a very big difference in you case because that would be a little over two 2GB data plans in a month, or a little more than $50.

Fifty bucks is a BIG difference over thirty bucks, a 66% cost increase. Luckily, I have the option to continue with my current plan, which in my case is worth keeping.

Posted from my Ipad

 

[Disneygeek714]

I also assumed that the data usage listed on the bill was the 3G usage, not including WiFi. I don't see how AT&T could know my WiFi usage since it doesn't go over their network. They have no way to track that.

I naively thought that my Ipad was keeping its own tally of data usage, not that this number came from ATT. Maybe I overlooked that in the Ipad manual.
Of course, there is no Ipad manual

 

[muffinator]

I'm keeping an eye on this trend... I left AT&T for Verizon last fall (Droid), and now I am very glad I did... I use my phone for all my internet browsing (not tethering). There is no wifi where I live and at work, I have to well, work. I checked last night and I regularly use between 2 and 4 GB per month. Usually averaging around 3. From what I was reading you this is going to slam people. Even current customers will get it eventually- when you upgrade your phone you lose your unlimited plan!

 

[heartsy77]

Current smartphone customers who like your unlimited plans do not have to switch to one of the new plans. Even if you’re upgrading to a new device or signing a new contract. After June 7, new smartphone customers will be able to choose between the new plans. Details are here: http://srm.vitrue.com/igu


This was on the ATT facebook page.

 

[jediobiwan]

Fifty bucks is a BIG difference over thirty bucks, a 66% cost increase. Luckily, I have the option to continue with my current plan, which in my case is worth keeping.

Posted from my Ipad

Oh, 50 opposed to 30 is a big difference. I was saying the starting a new plan and paying that extra rate for each additional gig would end up closer to the same amount.

 

[sunshine girl]

So now I don't know if I should get an iPhone immediately (before June 7) just to get on an unlimited plan, and then upgrade the phone when the new one comes out. Short term a greater expense but long term... if I do expect to go over the data limit regularly ... ?

Then again, who is to say that they won't suddenly decide to scrap the unlimited data plans for everyone at any given time, anyway.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

I downloaded the AT&T App that tells me how many minutes I've used & the data usage as well! I like the convenience instead of having to get on my computer to get this info. (last month I used approx . 373 MB of data.)

 

[WebmasterAlex]

This is a bad, bad, bad thing. ATT would not be doing this if it didn't eventualy take more money out of your pocket and put it into theirs.
It's also the start of a trend, Comcast, Verizon (both wireless and FIOS) are desperate to do this, they have been trying experiments and hinting around for years. Nobody wanted to be first.
The issue is they are still in love with their old revenue models. They love overage charges, more confusing contracts and anything that is billed by use.
The unfortunate side effect is going to be that the United States, which is already behind a lot of the developed world in broadband willl fall even further behind. The last I saw the US ranked 28th in average broadband speed among developed countries and we are falling further behind.
The major ISP's both cell and landline would rather find ways to wring more profit out of their existing infrastructure than build anything new

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'm pretty confused by all of this, to be honest. I went onto the AT&T bill site to check out my usage. In Dec. I was at 290 MB, Jan 98, Feb 121, Mar 85, Apr 79, and May 106. So it's apparently better for me to go to the $15/200MB plan? If I go over, then I just pay an additional $15 for 200MB more? I have this fear of switching out of the unlimited for $30/month and then getting socked with a huge bill when I'm on vacation.

 

[DiRTyBuNNy]

I'm pretty confused by all of this, to be honest. I went onto the AT&T bill site to check out my usage. In Dec. I was at 290 MB, Jan 98, Feb 121, Mar 85, Apr 79, and May 106. So it's apparently better for me to go to the $15/200MB plan? If I go over, then I just pay an additional $15 for 200MB more? I have this fear of switching out of the unlimited for $30/month and then getting socked with a huge bill when I'm on vacation.

You could always bump it up when on vacation and then drop it back down when you get back if you're worried about usage.

--DB

 

[disneysteve]

In Dec. I was at 290 MB, Jan 98, Feb 121, Mar 85, Apr 79, and May 106. So it's apparently better for me to go to the $15/200MB plan? If I go over, then I just pay an additional $15 for 200MB more? I have this fear of switching out of the unlimited for $30/month and then getting socked with a huge bill when I'm on vacation.

You could always bump it up when on vacation and then drop it back down when you get back if you're worried about usage.

And even the 2GB plan for $25 would represent a $5 savings over the current $30 charge. Plus, if you are vacationing anywhere with WiFi access, which most hotels have now, you can use that and it won't count toward your plan usage.