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AT&T to Officially Mandate Data Plans for All Smartphones

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stop comparing this to cars and xbox'es

bp3dots1

Aug 26, 2009, 8:08 AM
The difference is that if joe customer buys a car or an xbox, no matter if they use it, light it on fire, or stare at it at home...

It will not cost the company that sold it to them one dime.

Once it's sold, its the buyers property and is not using a service from the retailer. This is a HUGE difference. ATT (and the other carriers that have this requirement) Frequently has to eat large amounts of residual cost from these smartphones without data plans. The requirement of the plans helps to reduce that cost to the company. (And yea, puts some extra in their pocket)

Id bet you would see some changes if Porsche had to field hundreds of customer service calls a month, and credit hundreds of dollars to people just because they weren't ...
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Phoner

Aug 26, 2009, 9:12 AM
If a company needs to raise prices, or change their product line, they will - as is their right.

The rest is marketing talk, justifications, and trying to sweeten the pill, to make it seem like the change is somehow in the interests of the consumer.
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bp3dots1

Aug 26, 2009, 9:25 AM
I see your point. But there are honestly people this is a good change for. Sometimes we have to be protected from ourselves.

Some people may try things they never would've because of the data useage.

Many people won't have the frustration of having to call in to customer service to try and get their huge bill fixed.

Some people may leave and find a carrier that is more in tune with their beliefs.

Overall I think most people wont even notice and life will continue on as usual.
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asLeepLessman

Aug 26, 2009, 7:11 PM
Yeah. I agree. Just like we moved on after the world towers. Just like we moved on after a presidential scandal which lead to a questionable recount. Same way we moved on after catching a President in a publicly spoken lie. Same way we moved on when the Banks were saved by the Gov. Same way we moved on after the Economy collapsed. Same way we moved on after posting the Biggest Home Foreclose percent in American history.

Lets just keep moving on shall we. Lets just keep moving on and let Life continue.

I guess the overall look is, if it doesnt concern you directly, it doesnt concern you?
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bp3dots1

Aug 27, 2009, 7:24 AM
Because this is the same as thoe incidents?

Frankly its abhorrable that you would compare something like 911 to this. This has a simple resolution: If you dont mind the change, great. If you dont like it, move on to another carrier.

Comparing it to what is pretty much the worst thing to happen on American soil in the last 100 years is ridiculous.
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asLeepLessman

Aug 27, 2009, 1:05 PM
Show me where I made the comparison. Then once your done searching, show me where I explained that "Moving On" is something we in America have transformed into the norm.

My point had nothing to do with comparison and/or 911 (where did I say 911?)

My point was about MOVING ON! I was ON on the st when the Towers fell. I saw it 1st hand.

We united together as AMERICAINS to seek redemption. Then, we MOVED ON!

I cant talk about how America MOVES ON after things happen as if they didnt care?

Hell, MORE then HALF the people that wanted to kill Bin Laden are not ANTI-War and want our troops back. America JUST WANTS TO MOVE ON!

Screw that. YOU MOVE ON! I will forever remember.
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bp3dots1

Aug 27, 2009, 2:26 PM
Your reference to "the world towers" I expected was a 911 reference. If I mistook that then I apologize.

As for the rest of your post, TBH I dont even know how it relates to my original statement. I guess it could be directed at when I said that most people won't be bothered by this as time goes on. If so, then I stick to my point. The people who don't like this will move on to a better service for them, and the ones who dont care will be happy where they are.

And if this policy is going to be a burr in your side that you carry forever, I just plain feel sorry for you. It seems like you have a lot of passion that could be directed at more important issues.
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asLeepLessman

Aug 26, 2009, 7:21 PM
If Xbox released a new Policy, ALL NEW Xbox 360s and all customers upgrading from a Xbox to a XBox 360 (as well as customers upgrading from a 360 to a xbox Elite) are REQUIRED to have 2 Years of Xbox Live.... Would I be able to compare it then?

If Porshe released a new Policy that Required all New sales of Porshes and all Exchanges from a Older Porshe to a New Porshe are Required to keep a 2 year subscription to Satellite Radio.. Would I be able to compare it then?

You know whats being compared here? Not Cars, Xbox's and Phones. Its the "Requirement" of a feature NOT needed to operate the product.

All of those are things that I would LOVE to have as a option when purchasing. None of which I would want as a Requirement.

Now, accor...
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doomtroll

Aug 26, 2009, 7:29 PM
"Now, according to you and everyone else who believes theres nothing wrong here."

No one is disputing why its wrong for "some" customers. In the long term it will benefit customers who have had this create billing or service problems.

The arguments have been to defend "WHY" its happening. We have to realize that any change done that effects customers by a service provider will negatively effect a certain percentage, which AT&T has likely taken into consideration. If that percentage of customers it will effect is at a number that AT&T can deal with. they will make the change. Which is the situation we have now.
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asLeepLessman

Aug 26, 2009, 8:01 PM
I understand. And because you responded in a more respectful thought-out manner then many others I wont say anything smart-arse. Insead I will ask you a question which was spawned by your response.

WHY make a Requirement for Data phones instead of Charging people for the service they used?

I ask because one of your points seems to be the "problem" of people using the Data and NOT wanting to pay for it. So then, Why create a New Policy instead of enforcing a current? The current Policy states that you will be charged for any Data you use off a Data plan. So, Enforce that and I bet youll see a lot of less people using Data on phones without Data plans.
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bp3dots1

Aug 27, 2009, 7:30 AM
They have previously had a "pay what you used for policy." People abuse it. They run up huge bills (Knowingly or unknowingly) and then call in to customer care to get credited. The outcry would be just as bad if they stopped giving those credits and people had to pay the $300+ bills they have. This way, there is no excuse for people to have this problem.

Does it screw some people? Yes. Just like theft raises the price of things in stores, and malpractice suits raise insurance rates, and terrorists raise security costs. Not everyone is doing all of those things, but the end result is that the few bad people spoil it for everyone.
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asLeepLessman

Aug 27, 2009, 1:18 PM
That doesnt make it ok. Nor does that mean I can not voice my dislike about it.

1 more thing. I thought everyone agreed (and some added to this point) that AT&T (or any company for that matter) is all about making money? So, why are you not collecting on those bills? why are you giving people "credit"? You spend time and money creating new policies that effect new customers based on what current customers are doing but you do not charge the current customers which are causing the problem?

So, let me just break down what you said (others are saying) and what I said:

Current customers run up a bill. They dont want to pay. You give them credit. Due to this issue, you create a new policy that effects all new customers.

Now, this do...
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bp3dots1

Aug 27, 2009, 2:20 PM
asLeepLessman said:

Joe has been with AT&T for 3 years. He has a smartphone with no Data. He runs up his bill, then tells AT&T he does not want to pay it. They give him credit and allow him to continue using the service.

Steve is new to AT&T. He wants to get a iPhone just like his friend Joe and pay the same amount monthly Joe is paying. Unfortunately he can not do that. Steve needs to get Data. If Steve does not get Data they will not Activate him on a new contract with his Iphone.



If Joe has had an iPhone for 3 years, he already had data. Steve should'nt be suprised by having to get it himself. 😉
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asLeepLessman

Aug 27, 2009, 3:00 PM
LOL! Okay, but lets just say he didnt....
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bp3dots1

Aug 27, 2009, 3:16 PM
I agree that they shouldn't be crediting them in the first place. Which is why I said in my other thread that if you want data-free service with your smartphone you should have to have data blocked or in the PPU agreement it should state that charges incurred are undisputable.

Pretty much either way you look at it, someone's getting the shaft. And as usual, no one solution is going to please everyone.
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