TXT and e-mail from AT&T regarding "ineligible" data plan with iPhone 3G

[RF9]

Very well said. And that's pretty much all that needs to be said.

[Louse76]

Can someone clarify something for me?

I have come to the point where I really should have an iPhone. I work for an agency, and we're big into social media, etc, so I need to be able to be on the edge of new applications, etc.

Anyway, I am also in the midst of a personal cost-cutting project. I actually sold one of my cars and now daily ride a 49cc scooter that gets 100MPG and will pay itself off in a matter of months.

So there's no way that I'm going to pay $30 per month for a paltry amount of data transmission. Even if I wasn't being cheap - that's just ridiculous!

So if I buy an iPhone from AT&T, is there any way to cancel the data plan and simply not use 3G? I'm around WiFi all day.

Or is it a better option to buy my friend's old iPhone, slip my card in, and not use 3G?

I know I could buy an iPod Touch, but it would be much better to have just one device.

On that note, isn't the iPod Touch missing some features - like the calendar and/or contacts?

Thanks!

[suthurnlatino]

It's probably more of a hassle to get a 3G iPhone and have the internet plan removed. In the original iPhone it was pretty easy to do Media Max (or Smart phone Connect for the people who didn't care about 200 text msgs and preferred a discountable data plan ) or remove the data plan with a rep.

As for opting for the original, I like the potential of location services (b/c of GPS) on the new iPhone but if you just need Web/Email and are around WiFi spots all day the old unit should be enough.

[Haas_Dave]

So if I buy an iPhone from AT&T, is there any way to cancel the data plan and simply not use 3G? I'm around WiFi all day.

Or is it a better option to buy my friend's old iPhone, slip my card in, and not use 3G?

I know I could buy an iPod Touch, but it would be much better to have just one device.

On that note, isn't the iPod Touch missing some features - like the calendar and/or contacts?

Thanks!

The Touch, if you purchased it new, should have Mail, Maps, Contacts and Calendar (if I recall, the contacts and calendar were even available in the original Touch firmware), and if it's the new model the ability to use the AppStore.

If you do decide to go the iPhone sans data plan route, you might be good to call CS and have them disable all data on your account (you won't get MMS on other phones if you do this, but that won't matter on the iPhone). Then the phone won't connect outside of wifi.

[iMuggle]

Sure thay can. A change in rate plans means a new contract.

You couldn't be more wrong. You can change your rate plan without extending your contract. I have done it several times.

You can change your minutes, data, text packages, etc all online through OLAM.

None of that renews your contract.

[Red Setter]

When you activate a phone (ANY phone) on AT&T's network there is a recording you have to listen to and terms you have to agree to.

In that recording it states: If you use an iPhone or a Blackberry you are agreeing to be bound by the additional terms and conditions imposed by Apple and RIM (Paraphrasing here but that's the gist of it) including but not limited to maintaining the appropriate data plan for your device

You can make all the excuses you want to: I didn't buy the phone from AT&T, I don't need data, my great Aunt Sally has WIFI and doesn't need 3G, but the fact of the matter is, when you signed on to AT&T you agreed to the terms - even if you signed on with a Blackjack or Tilt - that state you need the appropriate data plan.

They've got you by the short hairs and can do what they want with your plan. Including add the data plan or convert an inappropriate (MediaMax or 2G on a 3G phone, whatever) to the right one.

And they don't need your permission to do it. You already gave it to them when you activated your first handset with them.

[thadoggfather]

Just wondering... the dev team should develop an app that alters the IMEI # so auditing is prevented.

I'll probably stick with the official plan though because two other family members who have non-jailbroken iPhones are on the plan, and I'm not fitting the bill AND I like visual voicemail.

just curious though.

[thadoggfather]

I guess this would follow under that thread, but I was wondering if anyone has still been coasting WITHOUT getting caught. Oh well, mods delete if you please.

[iMuggle]

I guess this would follow under that thread, but I was wondering if anyone has still been coasting WITHOUT getting caught. Oh well, mods delete if you please.

you do realize that's fraud right?

auditing is there for a reason.

i don't understand why so many people are trying to pay 10 bucks less a month. the iPhone is now considered a PDA. It is the same priced data now as any other PDA. Get over it or get a dumbphone.

Corporations have to make some kind of profit and people that just continuously try to get away with fraud and theft (yes, that is what it is, don't try to argue it), that's why consumers see higher prices. They have to make it up somehow, so the people who are honest end up eventually paying for it.

[XFF]

I'm not condoning fraud or anything, but I would like to point out that it is inconsistent for AT&T to offer the same product under two different names at two different price points (MediaNet and PDA Data). There's absolutely no difference between the two other than what they call it and what they charge for it. This type of product positioning begs for customers to exploit any loophole available.

If the reason for the different features (and price points) is that feature phones (for which MediaNet is positioned) and smartphones (for which PDA Data) is positioned use different amounts of data, then I'd say the right solution would be to offer metered data plans at various price points instead of unlimited data at two different price points. Let feature phone customers get 15 MB @ $5 or 50 MB @ $10, and let smartphone customers get 100 MB @ $15 or 200 MB @ $20 or 500 MB @ $25 or 1 GB @ 30, or something like that. You get the idea.

It's the whole nature of GSM to have device-independent SIM cards that can be ported between handsets easily and without re-provisioning service. By tying certain features to certain types of handsets, they're doing the same thing VZW does with their clamps-on philosophy and policies.

IMHO, AT&T has brought this upon themselves by offering the same product under two names at two price points. They should have been prepared for the consequences.

Now I realize I'm not gonna be very popular for saying this, but in my opinion, Rogers' data pricing makes a lot more sense, both for the consumer and for the company (although I think you should be able to mix and match any of the voice brackets with any of the data brackets and any of the TXT brackets). I don't wanna argue their specific prices for a given number of MB's, but the basic concept of high-demand users paying more for their data than casual users makes a lot of sense to me. I never go over 200 MB/month myself, why should I pay the same price for data as someone who consistently uses 1 GB or more? Just like they charge more for higher voice allowances and charge more for higher MSG allowances, why wouldn't they charge more for higher data allowances (and consequently less for lower data allowances)? Then this whole problem of people trying to cheat with "ineligible" data plans wouldn't exist. Think about that!

[RF9]

It's that kind of thinking that causes provders to lock down lesser data plans like t-zones. We should be grateful that they DON'T limit media net, not be upset that it's not for a lower price. Despite it being technically identcal doesn't make it the same product.
People jus aren't happy until the provider is forced to differmtiate the plan that will upset us more.
The are not inviting this exploration. They name and market media net differently on purpose and not even as a data plan.
When you call CS, go to a store or use OLAM you can not get media net added for the wrong phone.

What AT&T should do is just go back to one or a few plans that at compatible with all devices just like voice and text plans. let you get a $30 any phone (smart or dumb) or a $15 any dumbphone and stop this nonsense with a new plan for every phone.
There's no reason the iPhone has to be a different plan anymore.

[IndyBoiler]

It's that kind of thinking that causes provders to lock down lesser data plans like t-zones. We should be grateful that they DON'T limit media net, not be upset that it's not for a lower price. Despite it being technically identcal doesn't make it the same product.
People jus aren't happy until the provider is forced to differmtiate the plan that will upset us more.
The are not inviting this exploration. They name and market media net differently on purpose and not even as a data plan.
When you call CS, go to a store or use OLAM you can not get media net added for the wrong phone.

What AT&T should do is just go back to one or a few plans that at compatible with all devices just like voice and text plans. let you get a $30 any phone (smart or dumb) or a $15 any dumbphone and stop this nonsense with a new plan for every phone.
There's no reason the iPhone has to be a different plan anymore.

It's really pretty simple if you purchased an iphone version 1 you paid $399 for the phone and $20 for data.
20x24 months = $480

If you purchased a version 2 you only paid $199 for the phone and $35 for data plus 200 texts.
35x24 months = $840

Simply put AT&T has to make up the $200 you saved at purchase somehow.

[RF9]

It's really pretty simple if you purchased an iphone version 1 you paid $399 for the phone and $20 for data.
20x24 months = $480

If you purchased a version 2 you only paid $199 for the phone and $35 for data plus 200 texts.
35x24 months = $840

Simply put AT&T has to make up the $200 you saved at purchase somehow.

Was this a general reply or directed toward my post?
It doesn't seem to have anything to do with what I said.

And yes, as with all PDAs that are subsidized, they have the same higher $30 data plan. The 2G iPhone was not subsidized and that may or may not have something to do with the lower price.

AT&T makes the subsidy back your rate plan, not the data plan.
As with all subsidized phones and PDAs, they still make a profit over 2 years with not selling data.
As with all subsidized phones, data is an added profit that AT&T desperately wants.
The iPhone is simply no different than other PDAs regarding this.

However, most other PDAs have $50-$100 mail in rebates for taking a data plan (bigger subsidy in return for bigger profit in 2 years.) The iPhone doesn't have a rebate. It's assumed that cost savings is built in to the subsidy, hence the requirement for the data plan.

So the data plan really has nothing to do with making it back based on subsidy.
It has everything to do with, and only to do, with raising profit margin per customer.

AT&T has always subsidized phones $200-$300 and historically people paid about $60-$80 per month. Now with data, they can get $110 per month with the same subsidy.
However infrastructure upgrades and network overhead eat in to that profit, so it's not all gravy.

[Haas_Dave]

If the reason for the different features (and price points) is that feature phones (for which MediaNet is positioned) and smartphones (for which PDA Data) is positioned use different amounts of data, then I'd say the right solution would be to offer metered data plans at various price points instead of unlimited data at two different price points. Let feature phone customers get 15 MB @ $5 or 50 MB @ $10, and let smartphone customers get 100 MB @ $15 or 200 MB @ $20 or 500 MB @ $25 or 1 GB @ 30, or something like that. You get the idea.

[truncated]

Now I realize I'm not gonna be very popular for saying this, but in my opinion, Rogers' data pricing makes a lot more sense, both for the consumer and for the company (although I think you should be able to mix and match any of the voice brackets with any of the data brackets and any of the TXT brackets). I don't wanna argue their specific prices for a given number of MB's, but the basic concept of high-demand users paying more for their data than casual users makes a lot of sense to me. I never go over 200 MB/month myself, why should I pay the same price for data as someone who consistently uses 1 GB or more? Just like they charge more for higher voice allowances and charge more for higher MSG allowances, why wouldn't they charge more for higher data allowances (and consequently less for lower data allowances)? Then this whole problem of people trying to cheat with "ineligible" data plans wouldn't exist. Think about that!

AT&T did have the 'tiered' data plan system just as Rogers does and regional providers across the U.S. do. They however were, just like Rogers' plans, very costly plans (10-15$ for 5MB) and were subsequently dropped within the last 2 years. Now they only offer these 'add-ons' to prepaid plans.

What would really make it differentiate: if AT&T forced MediaNet use to its own APN and limit that APN's access speeds (several regional providers do this already). If someone wanted full speed data access, they would pay the extra money; that would be really feasible too. Just like DSL and Cable users, pay more money for faster speeds or a higher data cap.

Either do that or offer a one-price-all-devices scenario like T-Mobile does for the most part.

But really, AT&T isn't the only GSM provider doing the 'provisioning by device type' ordeal...

[Louse76]

The Touch, if you purchased it new, should have Mail, Maps, Contacts and Calendar (if I recall, the contacts and calendar were even available in the original Touch firmware), and if it's the new model the ability to use the AppStore.

If you do decide to go the iPhone sans data plan route, you might be good to call CS and have them disable all data on your account (you won't get MMS on other phones if you do this, but that won't matter on the iPhone). Then the phone won't connect outside of wifi.

What if I get the touch that's not the new version - can't it get the software update and have those features?

If I buy a new refurb unit from apple - will it come with the software update and all of those features?