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AT&T Removes HBO From an Unlimited Data Plan After Buying Time Warner (arstechnica.com)
AT&T revamped its two unlimited mobile plans this week, and in the process it raised the price for the entry-level plan by $5 a month while removing the free HBO perk. The entry-level unlimited plan now starts at $70 instead of $65. ArsTechnica adds: Existing customers can keep their old plan and the free HBO, but new customers or those who switch plans will have to buy the more expensive unlimited plan to get HBO at no added cost. AT&T did add some video options to both plans, however. Both unlimited plans get AT&T's new "WatchTV" streaming service that comes with more than 30 channels, and buyers of the more expensive unlimited plan can choose to get HBO or another premium add-on. While "HBO is no longer included on the lower-priced plan," "customers who remain on their existing plan won't see any change and will keep the HBO benefit for as long as they remain on their current plan," AT&T told Ars. Further reading: AT&T Is Screwing Customers By Almost Tripling a Bogus Fee.
So basically all the things people were worried about came true? Reduce competition for one of the most evil an unethical corporations out there and they raise prices and remove perks. Who could have seen this coming?
It's still "unlimited"
You can pay an unlimited amount of money, the amount of money you can pay is unlimited.
You can purchase an unlimited number of services, the number of services you can purchase is unlimited.
You can watch and pay for an unlimited number of movies and films, the compensation you can give them is unlimited.
We understand, people do not like limits, so we removed them all!
What does it actually cost once you get your bill? We all know it ain't going to be $65!
i.e. it's free if you pay more!
#DeleteFacebook
I always wonder why people use AT&T as their mobile operator in the first place. It is consistently more expensive, and doesn't have the best coverage either. There must be something I am missing.
So basically all the things people were worried about came true?
I came here specifically to find a post like yours and laugh at it. Happily I was not disappointed!
This is just a slight alteration of what they were ALREADY DOING under the existing FCC regulations.
You are a greta illustration of the fundamental problem, Network Neutrality advocates by and large knew fuck-all about (A) what the regulations actually did, and even (B) what the hell "network neutrality" even is. This charging extra for access to a premium service is not even on the RADAR of real Network Neutrality.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I have the old "grandfathered" unlimited plan and was looking to switch to the new one as, I was told (from various articles/reviews on the internet) that it's better with unlimited calling and text too.
Not quite...
The cheaper plan throttles earlier. To get the numbers from my old plan I'd have to get the more expensive plan for $5 more a month than I'm currently playing. Not a bad trade-off but there's ONE more gotcha
The NEW unlimited plans will NOT allow the use of any corporate discounts. These are given out to companies that work closely with the phone company or provide a lot of customers. I get 12% off my grandfathered unlimited calling plan with it. But NOT the new one. So that $5 more becomes ~$15 more!
Pass.
I have the old "grandfathered" unlimited plan
I have to say, I admire the people who have managed to resist various temptations and keep the ember of earlier unlimited plans alive...
I myself have hopped around carriers like a cricket in a prairie fire.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Wow. Ignoring the so-called HBO perk (I "cut the cord" precisely to stop paying for bundled media), this is a heavily limited plan. From the details of the $45/month "unlimited" level:
Data Restrictions: For all data usage, AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds during times of network congestion. Plan is not eligible for Stream Saver. For content we can identify as video, wireless streaming speed will be slowed to a max of 1.5Mbps, Standard Definition quality (about 480p). Video speed is capped at this amount, regardless of network device is on (for example 4G LTE). Ability to stream, video resolution, and other data usage (including speed) are not guaranteed, may vary, and be aected by a variety of other factors. Other restrictions apply. Tethering/mobile hotspot use prohibited (except Connected Cars).
So, basically, at any point in time they may lower speeds when some undefined level of "network congestion" has been met. What do you reckon the chances are that that won't be an almost always condition? But video from any known provider will be limited to 1.5Mbps and 480p at ALL times. And tethering is completely disabled.
Given that video and tethering are likely the two biggest reasons to get unlimited data on a phone, this seems like a pretty useless "unlimited" service. If you don't ever watch video or tether, you'll very likely stay within a 2GB or so limit on a cheaper plan with no problem, especially if you use WiFi for data where available.
Most people buy the phone and then the plan/provider.
Then there are those teaser offers - the ones the people don't read the very fine print in legalese that basically say you're in a 2 year contract and after the first year you get it up the ass.
When the iPhone fist came out, only AT&T offered the phone. And guess what, all the iDiots bought the phone and then got it up the ass from AT&T.
As far as this issue is concerned, as an AT&T shareholder, I welcome this because CAPITALISM or at least our version of it in the USA - CRONY CAPITALISM.
My thanks go out to George W. Bush and the Republicans for getting the judge in who Okayed the deal.
No leopard is gonna eat MY face!
As always, FUCK AT&T. They bought another company, and then reduced what they offer their customers and are going to demand more money for it. It's almost as if their being allowed to buy Time Warner, predicted to be bad for customers, (but good for owners,) turned out, sure enough, to be bad for customers, and we can only assume good for owners.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM. One day, soon, when this all crashes and burns, the vast majority of the people are going to wake up and realize that they've been getting fucked in the ass all this time, sans lube, flowers, or chocolates, and being in the vast majority, that they don't actually HAVE to take it.
Word to the wise: all that money that those fuckers are hoarding isn't going to be worth the paper it's printed on the day the common sheep wake up and realize it is THEIR willingness to do anything for that money that gives it its value, and without that willingness, it becomes WORTHLESS. WE THE PEOPLE have the power to take it ALL away from the hoarders, simply by refusing to accept it in exchange for work. If they think robots can do everything for them, they're confusing reality with fucking fantasy. Robots and computers and AI will not be able to replace all human labor before it will need to, in order for the people who own nearly everything be safe going on, owning nearly everything. They will still need actual, real live people to do some things for them, and when those people band together and say, "we hereby declare the US Dollar worthless, and we will not accept it in exchange for our labor anymore," it will be so.
Naturally, the problem with this idea, is that as the rich, and their stupid, poor apologists who (mistakenly) think they will one day be rich too, will hasten to point out, sneeringly, is getting everyone to agree to ANYTHING, let alone the counter-intuitive idea of deciding dollars (for which they've worked, bled, sweated, and cried, and in some cases, killed and died) are worthless. But let me tell you something, friend. As time goes by, and as the rich continue to feed, parasitically off the blood of the... well, everyone else, frankly, the easier they will come to the realization that the value of the dollar always was and still is, very much, a trick. Slight of hand. A mass hallucination that has facilitated this. It's all done with smoke and mirrors and once the mirrors are broken and the smoke clears, it will turn out that there was nothing there at all.
Like the subject says
So basically all the things people were worried about came true? Reduce competition for one of the most evil an unethical corporations out there and they raise prices and remove perks. Who could have seen this coming?
By providing HBO at no additional cost, AT&T was favoring one premium channel over all the others, a clear violation of Network Neutrality principles. How is, say, STARZ supposed to complete with "free"? By replacing it with 30 channels no one wants, they've leveled the playing field.
Why aren't all Net Neutrality proponents cheering this development? You're winning!
was fun while it lasted.
AT&T buys Time Warner and raises prices to ncrease revenue? In other news water is wet. AT&T bought Time Warner to ensure all of its contents costs more to buy and stream. Otherwise the purchase makes no sense. Just wait to see what it will cost to have HBO included in other online streaming packages. This is why ISPs and content creators need to either be separated by law or heavily regulated if a company wants to engage in both businesses.
This is what happens when you vote for fascists.
American Telephone and !cough! !pigfucker! !cough! Telegraph
In what universe would you need free traffic to any site if you have an unlimited plan? Someone needs to institute an "unlimited unlimited plan" just to show how disingenuous ISP marketing has become.
In what universe would you need free traffic to any site if you have an unlimited plan?
Aren't you a comedian, you think the word "unlimited" actually means something.
I have fiber internet service, but not through a traditional cable or telephone provider. Thank god too. The service is a lot better despite a few hiccups early on. The reality is I'm forced to NOT contribute to the entertainment system explicitly because I don't want to be fucked over. I do contribute heavily to free software projects and more independent entertainment options that exist. I also don't have an issue to paying quite a bit for internet either. I pay about $150 / month for service and spent $3,000 to have fiber run. It's the fuckery of cable companies that promise one thing and deliver another that gets to me and then the lies and manipulation of these providers that bug the shit out of me. No, I don't want cable TV and I shouldn't have to pay more because I just want one of your companies stupid products. Nor do I want to be lied to about getting 60Mbps service when you can only provide me 4Mbps during the hours in which I am actually on (prime time) and for which ADSL is even faster! But don't think you phone companies are off the hook- fuck you too- for fucking with the DNS standard and shoveling advertising down my throat. It's not like your providing the service for free. I expect *REAL* unfiltered internet. I don't want your shitty anti-virus software or to be forced into buying a modem/renting a modem/etc from you. Fuck that. And when I don't buy or rent your modem I don't want to be fucked around with for months until you figure out that you only "half" activated my account all the while refusing to service me claiming its' my problem because I didn't rent a modem from you. *THE MODEM IS THE SAME MODEM I WAS USING TWO HOUSES DOWN* and its already setup to work properly and was working properly until I moved. There is no difference in the configuration. *FIX YOUR SHIT*. Many hours and a dozen Indians later I finally got an American on the phone who fixed the issue in about 60 seconds.