Data packages only avalable with monthly plans starting 4/18!!

[Feefer]

[QUOTE=PL1;14783144]Excuse me? Here is the blurb for PAYG [\QUOTE]

Yeah, I overstated. Specifically they've barred certain phones (eg iPhones) to be used on prepaid PAYG data plans, as they have a more costly plans designed for those suckers, eh, customers...

Why? Presumably the iPhone uses more expensive, hand-crafted electronic data bits (like premium fuel vs regular).

[ceredon]

Yeah, I overstated. Specifically they've barred certain phones (eg iPhones) to be used on prepaid PAYG data plans, as they have a more costly plans designed for those suckers, eh, customers...

Why? Presumably the iPhone uses more expensive, hand-crafted electronic data bits (like premium fuel vs regular).

Again, your info is very out of date. iPhones are allowed, no problem, on goPhone. The only limitation on smartphones, iPhone or not, is you need a separate data option and not the $50 all in plan.

[Jairzinho]

That text MSG looks spoofed, eg would AT&T REALLY need to use SMS short-hand like "pls" and "2"?

In looking at past official messages from AT&T, the ONLY time they've used shorthand was to avoid writing out "packages" (pkgs), which interestingly is NOT used above. There's no link to their website, for more info. I smell a rat.

Methinks you guys are pranking, or being pranked by someone who knows your #s and is sending a spoof SMS.

The number it came from (3727 in my case) looks legit as it's been used in the past for official at&t notices. I don't know if someone can spoof that. You are correct in the writing style but it's SMS so who knows. Also, at&t hasn't denied the change so far and they must have noticed by now, threads about the change had been posted since the first day on the own at&t forums themselves, and people here got confirmation by some at&t CSRs (I know, not good enough).

[CeluGeek]

That text MSG looks spoofed, eg would AT&T REALLY need to use SMS short-hand like "pls" and "2"?

In looking at past official messages from AT&T, the ONLY time they've used shorthand was to avoid writing out "packages" (pkgs), which interestingly is NOT used above. There's no link to their website, for more info. I smell a rat.

Methinks you guys are pranking, or being pranked by someone who knows your #s and is sending a spoof SMS.

AT&T does use TXT shorthand in their messages. I remember seeing those in *MIN# and *DATA# back in my postpaid service days. So don't write them off from being legit messages because of the use of TXT shorthand.

[PL1]

AT&T does use TXT shorthand in their messages. I remember seeing those in *MIN# and *DATA# back in my postpaid service days. So don't write them off from being legit messages because of the use of TXT shorthand.

Certainly not an appropriate change to the TOS, though. I think there should be ample notice and a formal notice. It seems like the customer has to follow all of the rules and the carrier has none.

[Feefer]

You are confusing a bunch of policies here. Let's clear this up, shall we?

1. Smartphones CAN be used on any Go Phone plan as long as you buy a data package. You can buy from 10 MB for $5 up to 500 MB for $25. If you don't buy a data package, you can still use a smartphone just fine for voice and texting, and use Wi-Fi for your data needs. You are in 100% compliance with AT&T's terms of service by doing things this way.

2. If you have the $50 unlimited talk, text and web monthly plan, the WEB portion of it will not be available if using a smartphone. You are required to buy a data package, see item #1 above. Some users get around this limitation by using unbranded smartphones AT&T doesn't know about, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the issue being discussed in this thread.

My point was that the blurb mentions "ELIGIBLE smart phones" for data use.

Many users seem to have forgotten that they've violated a term of their contract by using a device that isn't eligible. Whether AT&T has the technological capability to figure it out is a secondary consideration: they could sever the contract at that point, and send you packing with a now-useless device, if they gain that capability...

If not a hoax, I strongly suspect the proposed change MAY be a reaction to the recent official unlocking of iPhones, with AT&T fearing the lost revenue as these users realize they are out of contract and CAN get out of their costly iPhone plan to save some $$$$.

Some will realize they could even stay with AT&T on a PAYG with data pkg, with no unlock/jb req'd. Heck, I've been doing exactly that for a few years now, just to keep AT&T's 3G service, avoiding the need to carry my Sprint mobile 4G wi-fi everywhere (and T-mo EDGE dialup speeds is not a serious option for many).

Point being, patching up the holes within AT&T plans makes some sense from a business standpoint: diabolical, yes, but logical.

[PL1]

My point was that the blurb mentions "ELIGIBLE smart phones" for data use.

I think you are confusing "eligible smart phones" with "eligible phones". Only eligible non-smart phones were/are allowed to use the web only data plan. Smart phones were never allowed to use those data plans. They had to pay for a block of data.

Now, it is my understanding, that a lot of people would sign up with a non-smart phone and switch SIMS to a smart phone, and then get away with being on the phone web data plan.

If I'm right in what I'm saying, that may be where you are confusing the issue. But as far as I know, if you are using a smart phone, you can not get data per use, only by pre-paying for a block of data. That is all I'm aware of.

EDIT To Quote Again:

Data/mobile Web browsing†
(on eligible phones)

†Smartphone users must purchase a data package to use data services with any plan. Pay-per-use is not available with smartphones.

[brett91364]

Have you considered a "Straight Talk" plan? $45 unlimited everything and it's on AT&T network. I'm amazed more people haven't figured it out.

Sent from my Lumia 800 via the HowardForums WP7 App

[brad880]

What makes you think anyone on paygo is willing to pay $45/mo? I would bet, that most people on GoPhone paygo use very little voice/texts/data and have no need for unlimited everything. For me, that would bump up my equivalent monthly bill by $30... no thanks. Airvoice and H2O appear to be the most logical options with their $10/mo plans for paygo users that are affected by this change.

[PL1]

Have you considered a "Straight Talk" plan? $45 unlimited everything and it's on AT&T network. I'm amazed more people haven't figured it out.

If I DO go monthly, it is going to be the $30/mo plan from T-Mobile with unlimited text&data&100 min talk.
If AT&T is not changing, I will stay on the PAYG, or if so, I will go T-Mobile PAYG.

[CeluGeek]

Have you considered a "Straight Talk" plan? $45 unlimited everything and it's on AT&T network. I'm amazed more people haven't figured it out.

Sent from my Lumia 800 via the HowardForums WP7 App

Straight Talk's evil practices and hidden limitations notwithstanding, most users who are on PAYG have chosen PAYG precisely to avoid a monthly plan (with or without contract), whether because they can't afford it (not a consistent income each month) or because they just don't want to. So no, Straight Talk is not an aswer to the problem Go Phone PAYG customers are likely to experience two days from now.

[Jairzinho]

Some wireless industry news services have picked up the story...

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/...ess/2012-04-16

From the article (emphasis added):

Current Analysis analyst Deepa Karthikeyan wrote in a report that the move "will help the carrier earn a greater percentage of predictable revenue from this segment."

...Yeah predictable ZERO revenue out of all those who will stop using your service at&t if you go ahead with his.

AT&T was the only carrier to offer the benefits of a data package to its pay-as-you-go smartphone users, so its withdrawal should not result in too many negative reactions from its users.

Huh? I don't know what this Deepa guy is smoking but it must be illegal.

[fonezfonz]

They try to hedge their bets by saying it might not be a perfect decision with potential downsides with this part of the article:

However, there are daily plan options that include different forms of unlimited Web access available at rival carriers, which might impact the carrier if its users decide that it is not worth spending north of $30 per month on a prepaid plan that can only offer them up to 10 MB of data access."
Despite the upsides for AT&T, Karthikeyan wrote that AT&T 's decision may present problems because it robs AT&T of its unique factor in the prepaid segment, especially among Tier 1 carriers, and the decision may lead to higher immediate prepaid churn. Additionally, the 1 cent per 5 KB option is "not a viable solution for moderate-to-high data users, compelling them to opt for a $25 monthly plan at the minimum," according to Karthikeyan.

I think Boost and Tmo may be getting some ex Att smartphone paygo data users. Att is making a big mistake. If they were one of the only ones offering this unique market segment, why mess with it?

Greed, my boy. Simple greed.

[graveboss]

Personally the text message I received earlier this month along with with several GoPhone users calling AT&T customer service tells me that on 4/18, there will be a change in the GoPhone rates. It's just sad that this is the way AT&T does it.

So I will refill my data one more time tomorrow and then over the next 30 days use up the 200MB I have and that's it for data. And yes I am staying at AT&T GoPhone considering I'm a very light voice/text user (10 cents/per minute plan works good for me) and that data is just an extra to me...going unplugged will save me $120/year, AT&T's lose, my gain.

Good luck everybody and we will see what Wednesday, Thursday and Friday bring us GoPhone users.

[PL1]

So I will refill my data one more time tomorrow and then over the next 30 days use up the 200MB I have and that's it for data. And yes I am staying at AT&T GoPhone considering I'm a very light voice/text user (10 cents/per minute plan works good for me)

I "would" probably do the same, except, I can't stand paying 20 cents in/out text. Every chat conversation costs at least a $1.00, which is ridiculous. Also, I don't like being forced to prepay $100 for a year. With TMO, once you have paid $100, any amount you add rolls over and is good for a year. What AT&T is pulling helps them to (I want to say steal) force you to either stay with them until your funds expire, or let them keep it if you leave. At least with TMO, your exposure is a lot lighter.

TMO is cheaper. Always has been. If you don't have coverage in your area, then that's certainly a reason not to go there. For me the coverage is a little weaker than AT&T, but, in general the ONLY reason I switched to AT&T was the data. PERIOD. And if there are a bunch of other subs that came to them only because of the data, are they that dense to actually think they will stay now?

EDIT: If a customer is savvy enough to come to them with a new SIM for data, they are savvy enough to leave with a new SIM. And, they are also going to tell anyone who listens, stay far far away.