AT&T CEO Warns That Metered Pricing On the Way
Mar 2, 2010, 8:49 PM by Eric M. Zeman
Comments made by AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson during a recent investor conference indicate that metered data pricing is likely in the firm's future. Stephenson didn't say exactly how data pricing would be altered, nor when any change would take place, but he did say that the company will charge heavy users of its mobile data network more than those who use it infrequently. Stephenson also said that Apple's iPhone will be a key product for AT&T for "quite some time," which calls to question just how long the exclusive distribution agreement will last between Apple and AT&T. Stephenson reiterated that the company is taking measures to shore up its existing 3G network and believes HSPA will serve for several more years. "We're not in a tremendous hurry on LTE," Stephenson said. Competitor Verizon Wireless plans to trial two LTE markets late this year, with preliminary launches taking place in 2011.
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Comments
at&t = fail
instead of opening your network up to people and raking in millions more from making your plans available without contract/credit check and i.e t-mobile flex-pay. maybe lower data since you're a big company. no no, lets come up with more asinine ways to stick it to consumer. lets meter data like it's freakin natural gas! great job bill, here's a new lexus...we'll just pay for it by raising up text messaging rates for 4 years! 🤣
The tables have turned
I don't think people should complain about Verizon's data plan as much anymore. AT&T is just as guilty with screwing with their plans.
Shocking that just several weeks ago they allowed voip and slingbox/orb to work on 3g. Didn't Stevie say that the iPad would have unlimited 3g data for $29.99? Will that change before it's released?
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cellgeek82 said:
I don't think people should complain about Verizon's data plan as much anymore. AT&T is just as guilty with screwing with their plans.
Yup. Monkey see, monkey do. Uusally the carriers wait too see ...
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This is not the end of the world people (hopefully)
Yes, it could be bad news for consumers depending on how it is handled.. but let's look at this.
There was a study recently that said the Average iphone user consumed roughly 200-300mb of data in a month. Now, I'm willing to bet that most of you reading this use more than that (I easily do on my droid) but we're also in the minority of users here.
But even I.. using 1.2gb+ a month am most likely a "lite" user by some standards.. and that's where the metering idea comes in.
When Roadrunner, Comcast, etc started talking about data caps, they did so because less than 10% of their users were consuming 60% or more of their bandwidth.
That's the issue. For the vast majority of customers, the networks could easily cover the cost ...
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There was a study recently that said the Average iphone user consumed roughly 200-300mb of data in a month. Now, I'm willing to bet that most of you reading this use more than that (I easily do on my droid) but we're also in the minority of users here.
But even I.. using 1.2gb+ a month am most likely a "lite" user by some standards.. and that's where the metering idea comes in.
When Roadrunner, Comcast, etc started talking about data caps, they did so because less than 10% of their users were consuming 60% or more of their bandwidth.
That's the issue. For the vast majority of customers, the networks could easily cover the cost ...
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Or they should reward people that do not use so much by giving everyone 100mb free data. if you were to exceed that up to 500mb it costs you $15 or or something, if you exceed that up to 2GB it costs you the regular $30 for smart phone data, if you e...
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More like lets squeeze every last dime out everyone. $39.95 for 5gb is nuts, its more then what people are paying for unlimited. If AT&T or whomever, can't handle their product after extensive marketing of them, then they shouldn't sell them.
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The problem I have is faster speeds enable a better multimedia experience and obviously if I'm wastching more multimedia I will be using more data. I had to minimize my budget recently, but when I had Clear I used approximetly 35gb's, because I watche...
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Be Careful What You Wish For
As someone who has worked in the wireless industry for over 10 years, with three of the four major US carriers, and who remembers the days before text messaging was possible, this is interesting.
All of the companies for the past several years have pushed Data sales and usage, since minute plans had reached a point of break-even and were no longer profitable. Data was suppose to be where new profits would come from.
Now this.
AT&T carries twice the data usage as the other carriers, mostly due to the iPhone, as well as WM and RIM devices and their reputation and service has suffered in areas.
What remains to be seen with AT&T, and very likely at least Verizon if they decide to follow suit as they have suggested in the past, is ho...
(continues)
All of the companies for the past several years have pushed Data sales and usage, since minute plans had reached a point of break-even and were no longer profitable. Data was suppose to be where new profits would come from.
Now this.
AT&T carries twice the data usage as the other carriers, mostly due to the iPhone, as well as WM and RIM devices and their reputation and service has suffered in areas.
What remains to be seen with AT&T, and very likely at least Verizon if they decide to follow suit as they have suggested in the past, is ho...
(continues)
Keep in Mind...
The internet is constantly evolving. Websites are so much more multi-media rich than in the past. Advertisements used to be text, then they added pictures, then slideshows, now we have adds with full motion video. Remember we used to have popup ads? Who sees them anymore? Now websites have gotten smarter and the ads are just embedded into the site instead of popping up. As we as consumers crave more for free, the solution for content providers is ad-supported services. Look at phone scoop for example. If I check phonescoop once a day now, versus checking phone scoop once a day five years ago, what would the difference in data usage be? My habits haven't changed, but my "usage" has, due to the nature of the internet.
My point is, Unlimited...
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My point is, Unlimited...
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good ideas....but unfortunately it doesn't work that way historically.
When I first got dialup, it was around $24 per month...crazy high.
Then DSL became available later on and I was paying $49.99 per month (this was a deal back then).
I get ...
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When I first got dialup, it was around $24 per month...crazy high.
Then DSL became available later on and I was paying $49.99 per month (this was a deal back then).
I get ...
(continues)
Infrequent?
There is NO infrequent data usage on an iPhone, and similarly for an Android device and I'm also sure for the upcoming WM7 phones. This is all coming down to we want more, we ain't making enough, we don't care what you think, we will squeeze every dime we can.
How many of these "data overloaders are there" and what is considered being a data pig?
What I can't understand is how everyone here jumps up and down like some 9 year old who forgot to take their Ritalin on how AT&T can shaft their customers.
How many of these "data overloaders are there" and what is considered being a data pig?
What I can't understand is how everyone here jumps up and down like some 9 year old who forgot to take their Ritalin on how AT&T can shaft their customers.
How many consumers use more then 5gb a month with their phones (non tether)?
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