Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, David, Thresher
derFunkenstein wrote:How much are they charging for 2GB? Is it still $30 or whatever the unlimited was when it came out?
I have to think that 2GB is "effectively unlimited" if you allow your iDevice to connect to wifi networks at your most frequently-visited locations and don't update apps over 3G.
derFunkenstein wrote:I have to think that 2GB is "effectively unlimited" if you allow your iDevice to connect to wifi networks at your most frequently-visited locations and don't update apps over 3G.
SNM wrote:derFunkenstein wrote:I have to think that 2GB is "effectively unlimited" if you allow your iDevice to connect to wifi networks at your most frequently-visited locations and don't update apps over 3G.
I have an iPhone and I finally gave in and switched so I could buy tethering. (*sigh*) It's not effectively unlimited at all. I think the most data I've ever used is 600MB, but with a ceiling (any ceiling) I'm paranoid I'll lose my connection and not be able to work so I don't do the occasional Youtube video over 3G, ever, anymore. And when I do tether (which does not buy you any extra data, just costs an extra $20) it's a constant exercise in paranoia to make sure I'm not doing anything like downloading software updates. Adium in particular is bad about this...
Lucky Jack Aubrey wrote:I wonder if you would have lost the unlimited option if you had updated your credit card info via a call to AT&T Customer Service? I know you called them afterwards, but if you had called them before? I would agree that it is a stupid distinction, but...
SNM wrote:I have an iPhone and I finally gave in and switched so I could buy tethering. (*sigh*) It's not effectively unlimited at all. I think the most data I've ever used is 600MB, but with a ceiling (any ceiling) I'm paranoid I'll lose my connection and not be able to work so I don't do the occasional Youtube video over 3G, ever, anymore. And when I do tether (which does not buy you any extra data, just costs an extra $20) it's a constant exercise in paranoia to make sure I'm not doing anything like downloading software updates. Adium in particular is bad about this...
derFunkenstein wrote:SNM wrote:I have an iPhone and I finally gave in and switched so I could buy tethering. (*sigh*) It's not effectively unlimited at all. I think the most data I've ever used is 600MB, but with a ceiling (any ceiling) I'm paranoid I'll lose my connection and not be able to work so I don't do the occasional Youtube video over 3G, ever, anymore. And when I do tether (which does not buy you any extra data, just costs an extra $20) it's a constant exercise in paranoia to make sure I'm not doing anything like downloading software updates. Adium in particular is bad about this...
Does AT&T offer some sort of usage meter that you can view (probably at the cost of a couple hundred kb of data. )? That would certainly help. I know just normally surfing the web from home, my wife and I rarely cross 4-5GB according to Comcast (and my subtraction of Steam downloads based on their install size, so I admit I might be a little low) and that's for the two of us watching anything we want on Youtube, surfing all over, downloading apps and music on iTunes, etc. I still have to think it would take alot of effort to use more than 2GB just web surfing away from a wifi connection. I guess that just because I can't fathom it doesn't mean it exists.
cphite wrote:There was actually a press release about this a couple of months ago - you might still be able to find it on their site if you search around a bit.
Basically the gist was that while the vast majority of users tend to use less than 2GB a month, there were outliers who were using a LOT more than that. AT&T decided it would be more cost effective to offer a slightly cheaper 2GB plan and then charge for anything over that. For most users, it actually ends up being cheaper; but it allows them to reign in the more extreme users a bit.
Apparently, when you have millions and millions of customers, you eventually reach a point where offering truly "unlimited" data at a fixed rate isn't cost effective. I would not be surprised if other providers go this route.
derFunkenstein wrote:Does AT&T offer some sort of usage meter that you can view (probably at the cost of a couple hundred kb of data. )? That would certainly help. I know just normally surfing the web from home, my wife and I rarely cross 4-5GB according to Comcast (and my subtraction of Steam downloads based on their install size, so I admit I might be a little low) and that's for the two of us watching anything we want on Youtube, surfing all over, downloading apps and music on iTunes, etc. I still have to think it would take alot of effort to use more than 2GB just web surfing away from a wifi connection. I guess that just because I can't fathom it doesn't mean it exists.
SNM wrote:Also, the Netflix app would have been nice to play with on an unlimited account.
derFunkenstein wrote:Yeah, I guess I could see netflix being useful. Was the video quality any good over 3G?
tanker27 wrote:derFunkenstein wrote:Yeah, I guess I could see netflix being useful. Was the video quality any good over 3G?
It was excellent. FWIW last month I sometimes played something just to play something at work, you know background noise. I have started coding a lot and it helps me concentrate.
I have thought about keeping the iPad and then getting and Android to tether with and even going to another company for it. But really I have been with ATT for a very very long time. I firmly believe that the grass isnt always greener on the other side. Everyone will be going to tiered plans. /shrug
This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed with your AT&T LIMTED PLAN and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes
Skrying wrote:Your work doesn't have a WiFi connection you can get on? Or do they block traffic that would prevent it? I can't imagine using that much data outside of available WiFi areas.
Dposcorp wrote:
In 3 years, I have been with Verizon, MetroPCS, and now Sprint. Sprint's $69 plan is great, unless you call more landlines then cell phones.
Also, they offer discounts from likes 5% to 25% for certain company employees, credit unions, etc, so almost everyone I talk to gets it cheaper.