Dear AT&T: Soon We'll All Be Data Hogs

[johnastovall]

Why AT&T doesn't see the future...

[Kalrog]

Honestly - I think AT&T does get it and they want to be able to cash in on it. What I don't think they get is that it really is a big deal for many people and they will go elsewhere. My bet is that it is a net loss for AT&T - but I am a geek who uses lots of data. Their bet is that it is a net gain. Time will tell.

[janikphoto]

Two things...

First, I thought we already had a thread here discussing the at&t plan changes? Not to this specific blog link, but to the plan in general. If so, this should've just been a post in that thread and not a new one.

Second, I think at&t understands that all its users will eventually need a ton more bandwidth. Their system isn't currently built to handle most of its users streaming and downloading all day long. I think the ipad scared them. They see the ipad and other netbooks, and they realize what is coming. They just want it coming later rather than sooner. This new cap is designed to make its users put the breaks on our usage.

I don't think they are looking at it as a new revenue stream as much as they are looking at it as a way to keep us all from getting to bandwidth hungry. It is a way to slow us down, so we don't overtax the current system. They know that 99% of us won't exceed our plan's cap, or at least not on a regular basis.

[Carl Stone]

What is the typical bandwidth use for the typical iPad user? Since the iPad is a new device, I'm not sure how we get reliable info about it's use in such a short time frame. For example, I don't have an iPad, and I find web use on my iPhone too much of a PITA to get much use, but if I had an iPad that would be a different matter.

[rab3rd]

Originally Posted by verizon

Excellent...

[rschramm]

Jason, This is so totally NOT A DIG on you, just wanted to voice my opinion on your comments... you kinda touched a nerve..

Originally Posted by janikphoto

Their system isn't currently built to handle most of its users streaming and downloading all day long. I think the ipad scared them.

The Ipad totally scared them.. but....They (AT&T) knew exactly what they were getting into.. Their system should be able to handle ANYTHING Apple puts in front of them.. the have the monopoly on the wireless services of the Apple brand (at least in the US), and they should run their business accordingly.. They should have had the infrastructure in place MONTHS before the roll out of the Ipad, don't think for a minute that the Ipad and it's "strain" on the system was a surprise.. they've known for a LONG TIME what to expect... which brings me to my next point... they are absolutely looking at the tiered data charges as a new revenue stream.. If they didn't, they sure wouldn't instill much confidence as a business.. It is an additional profit center.. $10 per Gig? It is however a bit of a slap in the face of the current users of the iphones.. we have become used to unlimited use for a flat fee ... and for those of us that want to utilize the new technology in the Ipad, they certainly are not making it easy for us to ADD additional services.

I for one was very excited when I saw the first new Ipad, I have a friend who ordered three by accident, I offered to take one off of his hands. I see the potential of having a very lightweight, mobile portfolio, fulfillment point, Scheduler, in my hands when meeting with clients off site, but I know me.... I will access my netflix account, I will forward and upload images to my millers account.. I will use it in the manner in which it is meant to be used.. which will cost me more than I am willing to pay.. It sucks, I like the product, Just not the fact that the service is such a moving target.


Sorry, Rant over..
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest Jason!...

[Carl Stone]

I don't think we will see Apple sit idly by and watch their iPad sales tank because of a bottleneck created by AT&T's new data rules. I doubt that Apple will tolerate anything that gets in the way of an iPad being used to it's full potential, thus creating a backlash from it's customers. We'll see how this new AT&T move actually implements.

[epoh]

Honestly, I think this is the first of many steps geared towards KEEPING iphone users after their exclusivity agreement ends. Very, very few people use more than 2Gb of data in a single month. I have a WinMo 6.5 phone that I often tether to my laptop, I pull down email every 2 hrs, constantly text and surf the web, and still rarely manage to top 1GB of usage.

At&t's real problem is the age of their infrastructure. They seriously need to start shelling out the $$ for UGs. I know I'm mostly likely going to switch to Sprint next gear for the 4G network.

[jeffkohn]

I personally don't see the appeal of streaming crap-quality video onto a small device, but that's just me. I also can't imagine actually using anywhere near 2GB of data in a month given the lousy performance of AT&T's 3G in the Houston area.

[miffed67]

AT&T has been selling netbooks and wireless data cards for laptops for years now, not to mention the iPhone. They should be able to predict the market and the impact the iPad will have on it and adjust the needs of the network and customers accordingly. That they didn't, or aren't willing to accommodate iPad and iPhone users by beefing up the infrastructure, is a HUGE fail in my eyes. I doubt I'll use 2GB data in any given month, so I'm not talking about my usage personally. There are a lot of users (the minority, I'm sure, but a lot) for whom this is a slap in the face, and I'm with them on that 100%.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by rschramm

Jason, This is so totally NOT A DIG on you, just wanted to voice my opinion on your comments... you kinda touched a nerve...

Sorry, Rant over..
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest Jason!...

That didn't really seem like it was directed at me. More like it was directed at AT&T. Whether or not they SHOULD be keeping up with apple's newest technology, the fact is that they aren't. Like many companies, they will offer just enough product to keep customers from complaining. If they can have all the new products "work enough" to keep people from leaving, that's what they'll continue to provide. It costs them a LOT of maintain and upgrade their system, and that is seen as lost $$$, not potential sales to them.

My guess is that they are making it more costly for people to leave and less costly for people to stay, because they are about to lose their apple exclusivity.

Originally Posted by epoh

Honestly, I think this is the first of many steps geared towards KEEPING iphone users after their exclusivity agreement ends. Very, very few people use more than 2Gb of data in a single month. I have a WinMo 6.5 phone that I often tether to my laptop, I pull down email every 2 hrs, constantly text and surf the web, and still rarely manage to top 1GB of usage.

At&t's real problem is the age of their infrastructure. They seriously need to start shelling out the $$ for UGs. I know I'm mostly likely going to switch to Sprint next gear for the 4G network.

This is exactly what I've heard from news stories and industry insiders. They are concerned about losing that apple exclusivity and are worried about the few people who are taxing/slowing down their current system. It costs too much to upgrade, so they are trying their best to make the current system as efficient as possible.

[janikphoto]

Yup, with the new apple announcement today, it all makes sense! Apple said that netflix downloading will be available for the new iphone. AT&T had to change their plans before this announcement was made public.