Slashdot Mirror


AT&T Will Raise Cost of Old Unlimited Data Plans By $5 In February (theverge.com)

An anonymous reader writes: AT&T customers trying to hold on to their old unlimited-data plans will have to pay a little more starting in February. AT&T's legacy plans for unlimited data will soon be $35 a month, instead of the current $30, on top of normal monthly bill costs. The Verge reports: "This is the first price hike AT&T has levied on grandfathered unlimited customers in seven years; the plan in question was discontinued in 2010 and as such is no longer offered to new customers. The $35 unlimited data feature is in addition to the costs associated with your voice and texting plan(s)."

56 comments

  1. Translation: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Waah! We aren't gouging people enough, waaah! How will we make our Lamborghini payment and buy another Yacht, waaah! We'll show you, we'll just keep squeezing you until you pop like a zit!

    #FirstWorldProblems

  2. A great cost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Watches the exodus of AT&T customers to T-mobile.

    1. Re:A great cost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Watches the exodus of AT&T customers to T-mobile.

      Seriously??? T-Mobile is a joke here in DFW. Verizon or ATT is the only game in town. I'll gladly pay the extra $5 since I figure it has saved me a lot since I've had the grandfathered unlimited plan...

    2. Re:A great cost by Jax+Omen · · Score: 1

      So... watch the last couple of years?

    3. Re:A great cost by sims+2 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Lucky at&t customers your bill is only going up $5 verizon wireless is raising ours $20.

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    4. Re: A great cost by slasher999 · · Score: 1

      It's a joke here in NJ too. Personally I don't have an unlimited plan with them, but I've been with AT&T for many years now and really have no complaints. Verizon has caught up by now coverage-wise, but no reason to switch.

    5. Re:A great cost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good luck with your unlimited* data

      * - All data after 1GB ill be transferred at up to 2G speeds.

    6. Re:A great cost by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      22 gigs, actually.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    7. Re: A great cost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You haven't saved anything. You spent less. Now you spend more. To save money you have to decrease your cost, and it has nothing to do with other options that are more expensive.

    8. Re: A great cost by piojo · · Score: 1

      You haven't saved anything. You spent less. Now you spend more. To save money you have to decrease your cost, and it has nothing to do with other options

      Nonsense. You save money by spending less than you would spend if that option weren't available. For example, if you desperately need a car and you see one that's $2000 cheaper than the other options, you've saved $2000. If you don't need a car, then buying it is not saving money.

      I'm not sure if this is precisely the correct term, but this is basically opportunity cost. You have $X net money, as opposed to your alternative choices, where you would have less than $X.

      --
      A cat can't teach a dog to bark.
    9. Re:A great cost by Chris453 · · Score: 1

      You are only throttled to 2G speeds AFTER you have consumed your data allotment. So in your example if you were only paying for 1GB per month you would start getting 2G speeds after 1GB is used. You shouldn't expect to continue surfing at full speed after you used your allotment. I'm glad they don't charge you additional fees for overages like AT&T and Verizon.

  3. Obligatory Fuck AT&T Comment Thread by zenlessyank · · Score: 0

    FUCK AT&T. That is all.

    1. Re:Obligatory Fuck AT&T Comment Thread by reboot246 · · Score: 1

      That's not a bad idea, if the one I get to fuck is that cute brunette on their television commercials. I think her name is Milana Aleksandrovna Vayntrub. Cute face and nice rear end, too.

    2. Re: Obligatory Fuck AT&T Comment Thread by slasher999 · · Score: 1

      You should visit AT&T offices for sales related events and who they hire for THOSE roles. Models.

  4. Why are you still using these loosers? by Charcharodon · · Score: 1
    Switched to Metro-PCS. $60 a month unlimited 4G which now includes either 6 or 8GB (don't remember which) of tethered data to go with that. Other than getting no signal in West Texas and parts of New Mexico (no one gets signal in West Texas or parts of New Mexico) I've been pretty happy with bandwidth and coverage.

    Yeah it's kind of a ghetto company, but frankly I'm not that stuck up. Data is data. I also like the fact that every month is the end of the contract. If they piss me off I walk.

    Downside to make the deal a good deal you need to pay for the phone upfront, so if you want the latest and the greatest it will cost you. I got the 5S when it came out for $600. It's a great deal these days for around $300.

    1. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They use the T-Mobile network, so their coverage is not as extensive as AT&T.

      Just sayin'.

    2. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you considered T-Mobile's "Walmart plan". BYOD, 100min talk, unlimited txt, 5GB 3G/4G data then unlimited 2G after that for $30/mo. It worked well for me on a Nexus 4 when I was in the city, not so well in the boonies. You'd just have to order a prepaid SIM, which usually go on sale for free or $0.99 around this time of year.

      I've since switched to Project Fi, which so far is cheaper - even counting ~$3.20 in taxes - since they credit you back for your unused data, down to the MB, so there's an incentive to restrict your data usage and jump on wifi as much as possible. The LTE service (TMO and Sprint) also works in more places than my old 3G/HSPA+ service, which is a blessing (yay, service!) and a curse (agh! i'm cutting in to my credit!). Of course the major downside is that you're restricted to three devices. But then, early adopters of the iPhone were restricted to one phone and one carrier, and look at where they are now.

    3. Re: Why are you still using these loosers? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      StraightTalk gives you 5GB of 4G data (plus "unlimited 2G" but nobody is that nuts) and unlimited voice and text. Anybody who can operate a savings account can handle a BYOD - I don't get why so many people pay so much more.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    4. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > $60 a month unlimited 4G

      Sounds good!

      > which now includes either 6 or 8GB (don't remember which) of tethered data to go with that.

      Oh... So it had limits after all?

    5. Re: Why are you still using these loosers? by tysonedwards · · Score: 2

      Unlimited for the phone, limited for tethering.

      --
      Thirty four characters live here.
    6. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by SirMasterboy · · Score: 1

      Because I'm getting great deal with ATT. I still have the unlimited LTE plan for $50/mo and now it's going to $55/mo. Still cheaper than that Metro PCS plan and ATT LTE is a better and faster network, at least in my location.

      Plus they still give me discounts on new phones so I only pay $199 for my new iPhone every 2 years.

    7. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by Charcharodon · · Score: 1

      Nope unlimited for the phone. The tethered has always been limited, but used to be 2-4GB and an extra $5 charge.

    8. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by Charcharodon · · Score: 1

      That plan doesn't exist anymore for new customers it would seem. It's $100 a month for 5GB data and 5GB tethered. I get unlimited data and 8GB tethered for $60 with no contract.

    9. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by SirMasterboy · · Score: 1

      Right, but you asked why do people still use them. Well that's why many, many people still use them. They have great grandfathered legacy plans. For a new plan, sure you can get a better deal elsewhere now.

    10. Re:Why are you still using these loosers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah it's kind of a ghetto company, but frankly I'm not that stuck up.

      Sorry to tell you this, hipster, but Metro-PCS merged with T-Mobile years ago.

  5. cue the qq.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    people will bitch and cry but five bucks over 7 years is peanuts for something that costs more to provide to those qq'ers than what they pay for it... and that at&t actually is under no contractual obligation to continue to provide to most... they could simply dump or change terms for anyone who's ever gone month to month and not extended and extended and extended every single time before contract expiry... but qq'ers and negative media attention has 'forced' at&t to keep them all.

    if it were me, i'd dump all the sorry asses except those that did renew before expiry every single time and had zero days of month to month service terms.

    1. Re: cue the qq.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think it costs more then $30 to provide unlimited with from what I hear is fairly restrictive throttling.

      It's kinda bullshit that they throttle even when the network isn't busy, for example late at night

  6. Thanks AT&T by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was afraid you'd raise it even more.

  7. So this means the caps are gone right? RIGHTTT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nothing but another greedy Telco who over promised and under delivered.

  8. Already leaving. by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 1

    Contract's up on January 5th. The last straw for me was when they refused to unlock my old iPhone so I could sell it after I upgraded to the 6s.

    I'll be on T-Mobile before they get that $5.

    --
    Imagine all the people...
    1. Re:Already leaving. by erp_consultant · · Score: 4, Informative

      Did you know that they are legally required to unlock your phone? I just upgraded a few months ago and they unlocked mine. It used to be that you could call them and they would give you the unlock code over the phone. Now you have to go to a website and request it. They will email you the code. The only criteria is that your account has to be paid up in full and that your contract is up.

    2. Re: Already leaving. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's likely your phone isn't paid off, based on the months you have had it, even if the monthly charge is zero going forward. Their app sucks when it comes to giving you the reason they won't unlock your phone. Call them they will give you the actual reason and tell you when your phones actually off contract. This happened with my phone, where I was paying nothing for it, but had to wait about 45 days for the actual contract to complete.

    3. Re:Already leaving. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same, been shopping for a prepay plan for a while. Wasn't there a settlement because of the throttling they were doing? Is this just them offsetting the cost to the customer?

  9. ATT pretty much made this plan useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    6 or so years ago when they disabled tethering or wifi on this service. I know I used to have it until 2 years ago.

    Since then I ditched all plans and just do pay as you go. $60 bucks a month and I don't pay a dime extra....like it should be. I seemed to remember no matter what carrier I used to use they always ended up jacking the price up dollar by dollar every few months...until somehow you're $80 plan somehow morphs into a $130....for one line. Screw these assholes and their contracts.

  10. Doesn't concern me... by moronikos · · Score: 1

    ...since I usually use less than a GB a month. I have WiFi turned on and I don't watch movies on my damn phone. I have a TV for that. I have the 10 GB plan. My teenage daughter uses about 4 GB a month. If it ever gets close to going over, I try to turn off her data until the end of the month or have her pay for overages. Haven't run over yet.

    It will effect my friend who pays out the nose because he has a 30 year old daughter with a college degree on the plan. Our company got bought out and now we get a 22 % discount on standard price of service, but he won't switch because of his daughter. I think, fuck if she is 30 years old, then she needs her own damn plan. You pay over $250 a month when you could pay $160 so that your 30 year old daughter can have unlimited data? And, you complain about money sometimes? I know where you can save a boatload of money. Cut the cord...

  11. Knew this was coming by erp_consultant · · Score: 1

    I'm one of the grandfathered ones and it's the main reason I stick with AT&T. Sure it sucks that I have to pay another $5 a month but to have unlimited data (even if they throttle it after a while) is worth it to me.

    1. Re:Knew this was coming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      My wife and I pay $100/month for unlimited, no throttle 4G, with unlimited texts and 7gb hotspot. Those grandfathered contracts used to be awesome, now you're paying too much.

    2. Re:Knew this was coming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'm another grandfathered plan holder.

      I'm surprised they haven't raised the rate before.

      It's still worth it.

      It seems to me that most of the people making negative comments don't have the grandfathered plan.

      A side note. When I have needed to call customer service the reps have noted that I'm a long time customer, and solved the issue quickly. Much better service than I'm accustomed to phone companies giving. I even get good service when I've gone into the local AT&T store to get a my sim card replaced with the new smaller version for a no plan phone I bought somewhere else. A few years ago Verizon cancelled their unlimited plan. AT&T decided customer loyalty was worth it.

    3. Re:Knew this was coming by KGIII · · Score: 1

      An observation about your complaint comment;

      The people who complain loudest about Microsoft don't buy Microsoft products.
      The people who complain most about Apple don't use Apple products.
      The people who complain most about Linux don't use Linux.

      I may be noticing a trend - one might even call it trendy.

      Aside:
      Some systemd users are really vocal about using it and not wanting to use it.

      So, there are some exceptions (like game console owners who don't appear to ever be happy but buy regardless of their complaints) but it's seemingly true that the loudest complainers are not the target market but feel obligated to bloviate as though they *should* be the targeted group. It might be entitlement, it might be ego, I don't know - I'm not an expert. 'Tis just an observation.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    4. Re:Knew this was coming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "People complain when they shouldn't, they don't even have the product! Also, game consoles are the worst!"

  12. It's because networking equipment costs are rising by QuietLagoon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    We all know that the cost of networking equipment is rising and the performance of said equipment is dropping. So it is getting much more expensive to provide the same amount of data. /sarcasm

  13. Re:It's because networking equipment costs are ris by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

    I know it is fashionable to make fun of AT&T, but per network device costs are not rising, but investing in more infrastructure, like replacing one tower with 6 towers is, as you can imagine, expensive.

  14. Re:It's because networking equipment costs are ris by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

    Improving LTE coverage is also expensive

  15. Re:It's because networking equipment costs are ris by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Especially for the land leasing deals to put those towers up...Oh you though they just plunk an antennae down wherever they like for no charge? They can pay upwards of $175,00 USD to put an antennae on an existing pole in places like New York and San Francisco

  16. Re:It's because networking equipment costs are ris by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And have you seen the costs for hookers and blow?! Outrageous!

  17. Re:It's because networking equipment costs are ris by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    Meh. I've been paying the same rate since 2008. I wish all my other services worked like that. AT&T can have the $5.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  18. Re:It's because networking equipment costs are ris by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And yet, I'm not using any more service. Even though the cost of equipment has dropped an order of magnitude and there are more customers to amortize costs against, I'm paying more? I'm pretty sure that's monopoly logic, not competition based logic ... note that T-mobile is decreasing costs and increasing service even though AT&T and Verizon have a majority of the bandwidth.

  19. Contracts for me but not for thee by radarskiy · · Score: 1

    AT&T can hold the customer to the terms of a contract, but the customer cannot hold AT&T to the terms of a contract.

    1. Re:Contracts for me but not for thee by whoever57 · · Score: 1

      AT&T can hold the customer to the terms of a contract, but the customer cannot hold AT&T to the terms of a contract.

      What do you mean? The customers have been able to cancel this contract for years. AT&T would be very happy if the customers with unlimited contracts cancelled. Even if the customers did not have a pre-existing right to cancel, this rate rise would create a right to cancel.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    2. Re:Contracts for me but not for thee by laie_techie · · Score: 1

      AT&T can hold the customer to the terms of a contract, but the customer cannot hold AT&T to the terms of a contract.

      What do you mean? The customers have been able to cancel this contract for years. AT&T would be very happy if the customers with unlimited contracts cancelled. Even if the customers did not have a pre-existing right to cancel, this rate rise would create a right to cancel.

      These change come after I renewed my contract. If the terms have changed, we should be able to cancel without penalty.

    3. Re:Contracts for me but not for thee by whoever57 · · Score: 1

      These change come after I renewed my contract. If the terms have changed, we should be able to cancel without penalty.

      You can.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    4. Re:Contracts for me but not for thee by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      All the customer can do is cancel, and AT&T is graciously giving 60 days after the change to cancel without penalty which they would charge at other times. The customer cannot change any of the terms at any time.

  20. Anyone know if there's a difference between by sabbede · · Score: 1

    Voice and Data for modern cellphones? Are they transmitted or handled differently, or is the only difference in how they are billed?

    1. Re:Anyone know if there's a difference between by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would sure *hope* that "voice packets" have higher priority than "data packets", even if they're the same thing at the network level.

      Someone calling 911 should have higher priority than registering that they solved a level of Candy Crush.

  21. Able to cancel? by laie_techie · · Score: 1

    I just bought a phone in September (son destroyed previous 4-year old phone), so I had to renew my 2-year contract. Since the terms of the contract have changed (notably the monthly charge for data), can I cancel the contract without having to pay an early cancellation fee?

  22. And their justification? by PortHaven · · Score: 1

    Increased data cap prior to throttling?

    Oh here's the rub... so for the past few years I have averaged around 5-7 gigs a month on my Unlimited plan. Recently, AT&T upped the throttling cap to 22gigs. And suddenly, this past month I received a warning that I was approaching my 22gig cap.

    My average for the year prior was 8 gigs. And that is higher than my long standing average with an increase the last few months before AT&T announced the change. My average since the change 14gigs, with last month at 18gigs.

    Mind you, there has been no change in my usage. In fact, I'd say recent months have involved significantly less usage. So I find it quite bizarre to have averaged around 5-8 gigs for years. And now that AT&T has announced a new 22gig cap, my usage since September has been 9/15 = 16gb, 10/15=12gb, 11/15=18gb, and here it is with 2 weeks till my next billing date and I am already at 12gb. Which means 12/15 ~= 24gbs.

    Hey AT&T, can you explain why suddenly, when use my phone less. My new data usage is reporting 2-4x my prior data usage. It's almost like, my data usage was right at the cap before. And now there is a new cap....and well, I am right at the cap again. But I haven't changed?????

    ***

    Reminiscent of Comcast not being able to stream HD or 3D Netflix. Despite a 50mb connection. Yet, once the deal was done with Netflix. I was able to stream 3D the following day on my 3mb connection.

    I CALL BS ON THE TELCOS.....LYING BASTARDS ARE THEY ALL!