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AT&T Adds DataConnect Overage Charges, Pulls Plug on Unlimited Pre-Paid Data Plans
Posted by Sean Fallon at 1:45 AM on October 7, 2008
Shockingly, AT&T has discovered that *gasp* people are abusing their unlimited pre-paid data service by tapping into it with their laptops. As a result, the plug is being pulled on the $US19.99/month option starting on November 12th. AT&T will also place a cap on the legitimate laptop DataConnect plan that works out to 5GB a month for $US60. Overages will be billed at $US0.00048 per kilobyte, which translates into a bank account-busting $US480 per gigabyte. However, rumours claim that AT&T will terminate service once a $US100 overage threshold has been reached. [PhoneNews via Engadget Mobile via MobileBurn]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
ashamaniq
Posted 3:12 AM 7/10/08
5GB... eh... I'm ok with that.
If I want to start downloading stuff like crazy I just use my laptop.
Sorry, but if you are downloading over 5GB a month on your iPhone you need to get a life!!! that's about 170MB a day... come on gimme a break, what's the big drama all about?
ashamaniq
lilaliendog
Posted 3:06 AM 7/10/08
laugh my fucking ass off is at&t 'trying' to get rid of customers?
lilaliendog
discounteggroll
Posted 3:02 AM 7/10/08
AT&T: More bars in more places to stop you from where you want to go
discounteggroll
mdawg4624
Posted 2:59 AM 7/10/08
does that mean that pre pain unlimited data plans for iphones are being pulled? I have a iphone 2g that's prepaid, am I not going to be able to get unlimited web on it now?
mdawg4624
Jrsy is the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude
Posted 2:56 AM 7/10/08
Translation: 'We're going to punish all of you for the few a-holes in the bunch. Oh and while we're at it we're busting a cap on you azz. Enjoy!'
Jrsy is the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude
Ellomdian
Posted 2:51 AM 7/10/08
/sigh
Really tired of old-world economics driving business practices. Guess ATT's tubes were all filled up - time to buy more trucks!
Ellomdian
Brenex
Posted 3:32 AM 7/10/08
Wait, so if that plan with the 200 texts and unlimited data is being stopped, will they let those that have it continue? What the hell. Sigh*
Brenex
The_Gas_Man
Posted 3:27 AM 7/10/08
"Update: Several tipsters have written in to let us know that AT&T shuts you down after you've racked up $100 in overage"
The_Gas_Man
oh_nos
Posted 3:25 AM 7/10/08
All carriers that provide internet, yes ...even our home services, are p[lacing caps on data now this isnt new they are just some of the last to do so..... Sprint and Verizon already have this in place
oh_nos
Rand
Posted 3:22 AM 7/10/08
Well if AT&T is going to Cap at 5GB they should give me rollover on the data. Some months when I don't travel, I don't use ANY of their bandwidth on my DataConnect Plan! That would be a decent and equitable thing to do. Oh....sorry....forgot it was AT&T I was talking about.
Rand
Norcross
Posted 3:18 AM 7/10/08
@ashamaniq: these caps aren't about downloading, they're about total bandwidth use. So every time you go to a website, you're effectivly "downloading" every single bit of data, image, music, video, etc. whether you like it or not.
Norcross
ashamaniq
Posted 3:13 AM 7/10/08
Oh whoops! not iPhone LOL.... DaaaaataConnect hahaha
ashamaniq
shawn_dude
Posted 3:45 AM 7/10/08
Where's that deathstar image? I think they just blew up Alderan.
shawn_dude
Ayanami
Posted 3:41 AM 7/10/08
I find this quite amusing. Companies sell services that are advertised as unlimited, and then get all pissy when people use them unlimitedly. Wankers, all of them! Do they understand the definition of the word unlimited? Apparently they don't here it is for them:
1. not limited; unrestricted; unconfined:
2. boundless; infinite; vast:
3. without any qualification or exception; unconditional.
Ayanami
ripfire
Posted 3:38 AM 7/10/08
@Norcross: I'm sure he is aware of that, but the point doesn't change. If browsing on an iPhone consists of more than 170MB for 30 days straight, it's time for an intervention.
ripfire
JohnDeere
Posted 3:36 AM 7/10/08
when will they get it through their thick skulls. i want one low bill for internet on all my devices with no limits. until then screw em all. i mean why should i pay more for for less functionality. it dont make sense.
JohnDeere
jamesgbennett
Posted 4:03 AM 7/10/08
Until you ALL start raising a hullabaloo with your local and federal politicians, welcome to the wonderful world of free-market.
Except, there really is not much truth to free-marklet since most media (phone included) have interlocking board members.
Point is, it is a relative monopoly.
-JGB
jamesgbennett
EGBTMagus
Posted 4:22 AM 7/10/08
@Ayanami:
at&t has stopped advertising their laptop connect as unlimited. The PDA/iPhone plans are still unlimited, this does not affect plans for phones, only laptop connect.
EGBTMagus
MosDeaf
Posted 5:14 AM 7/10/08
@discounteggroll: Acutally, Las Vegas has more bars in more places.
MosDeaf
ghmlco
Posted 6:08 AM 7/10/08
"i want one low bill for internet on all my devices with no limits."
And I want one low bill for my monthly Ferrari payment. Doesn't seem to be happening.
ghmlco
Invisobel
Posted 6:01 AM 7/10/08
@Ellomdian: Geez man, don't you know anything, the interwebz ISN'T like a dump truck you can just dump stuff into. lern 2 reed!
Invisobel
SapnaPriam
Posted 5:07 AM 7/10/08
This has nothing to do with the 200 Texts and Unlimited data or any of the other cell phone data access plans. If you read, you will see it says DataConnect. This only affects those with DataConnect (i.e. laptop cards).
SapnaPriam
geowrian
Posted 8:31 AM 7/10/08
@jamesgbennett: That, plus the fact that they want to charge you the equivalent of $480 per GB after the first 5 GB. I guess the first 5 GB for $60/month is actually worth $2400...a $2340 in savings! That's a record 97.5% off their price. Thank you AT&T!
geowrian
AirliaOileus
Posted 4:37 PM 7/10/08
First off the 5 GB limit has always been in place and is in place with all carriers. The carrier themselves aren't forward with it but has been there as I have had known many people that work in these organizations. As far as the overage charges if going over 5gb last I had heard if you go over that 5 gb cap you get a warning of over usage and then your service gets terminated. Talking to those that I know that are inside these companies have told me that there has never been an unlimited plan but now due to the fact that 3g is now more wide spread usage goes up to the point to where you can achieve over 5gb with ease if a power user where otherwise you where getting dial up or double the speed of dial up.
AirliaOileus
dink23
Posted 5:51 AM 8/10/08
Contrary to your "tipsters," they won't cut you off at $100, they cap your data charges at $100 so that you won't receive a "surprise $300+ in overage charges. In essence unlimited data once you exceed the 5GB cap is no more than $100 (which includes your $60 monthly fee). Is $40 more really that much for being a data whore? Yes they are trying to prevent abuse, but they also are not trying to rape their customers if they go over the cap. This is the same policy they have for GoPhone customers.
dink23
Norcross
Posted 7:17 AM 8/10/08
@ripfire: that could be 10-15 YouTube videos, depending on what size they are.
Norcross