Tag: AT$T

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AT&T vs. Unsanctioned Tethering.

On Thursday a Reddit user posted a screenshot of an email from AT&T regarding the use of tethering on the iPhone. Numbers of MyWi users have spoken out that they have received such notice from AT&T through SMS followed by email.

One of the SMS reads:

“AT&T Free Msg: Did you know tethering your Smartphone to a computer requires a tethering plan? Pls call 888-860-6789 for details or visit att.com/dataplans.”

Photo Illustration by Very G.

 

The email from AT&T clearly pin-point user for using unsanctioned tethering method on their network:

Dear [Customer],

We’ve noticed your service plan may need updating.

Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T’s mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.

Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.

If you would like to continue tethering, please log into
your account online at Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans – Wireless from AT&T, or call us
at 1-888-860-6789 Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. CST
or Saturday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011
to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering.

…….

The story was submitted to Hacker New and numerous other sites. There are many theories on how AT&T identifies users using the unsanctioned tethering method. It is still unclear if AT&T is targeting MyWi users only. Some speculate that AT&T is targeting users who clearly use incredible amount of data on their grandfathered unlimited data plan. Based on comments in modmyi.com forums, some users got the message even though they do not use tethering.

AT&T currently offers a specific tethering plan to smartphone users:

DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering

  • $45 per month (this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
  • $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
  • Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones

The story has since been picked up and re-reported by numerous sites:

One can only wonder if AT&T really analyzes the data use or primarily goes after those who use unbelievable amount of data on their smartphone plan.

Have Nexus One and Palme Pre 2 users been notified by AT&T? Those two phones do not require any jailbreaking or rooting to use the tethering feature without signing up for the tethering plan on AT&T.

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Should I switch to Verizon for the iPhone?

January 11th, 2011.

The Universe seems to agree that Verizon will be announcing the avilability of iPhone on their network at 11:00 AM Eastern Time today. I am an AT&T customer with an iPhone plan since June 29th, 2007. I was a Verizon Customer back in early 2000’s. Previously I was a Sprint customer. My view on wireless network is something like this:

Generally the quality of service greatly depends on where I’m at. There are places where one service provider had no coverage while the others do. Customer service are equally horrible.

Am I happy with AT&T service?
What I can say is that I am considering moving to other service providers like Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.

Am I happy with the iPhone?
In general I really like the iPhone. It was the first great phone I had. I still like the iPhone.

Does Verizon have better wireless service than AT&T?
My good friend seems to think so. I still think that it depends on where you are. Certainly in Metropolitan areas AT&T wireless does suffer. At the same time I have seen lack of coverage from Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile in different places. But it is about AT&T this time. In Southern California AT&T service is not as horrible as in The Bay Area. In general, AT&T service are available where I’m at most of the times but not all. Outside of California I have mixed results. There are a lot of parts in Nevada where AT&T has no coverage while Verizon and Sprint do. One thing I can say is that AT&T has excellent coverage around Boise, Idaho. I cannot say if Verizon’s service is as worse as AT&T’s.

Things I enjoy being on AT&T network is primarily influenced by the ability to switch my phones anytime I want. It is as easy as removing the SIM Card from one phone and installing it on the other. I am currently using iPhone 3GS and Nexus One. I am planning to get an unlock Palm Pre 2. If there’s an unlock Windows Phone 7 phone with an attractive price tag, I’d get one too.

If I were to switch to Verizon, I wouldn’t be able to use different phone on the same account. There is no way I would want to pay for different accounts so that I could use different phones. Despite of the negatives on AT&T, I still prefer having to use different phones. Switching to Verizon means I would not be able to do so.

If I were a Verizon customer today, I’d definitely get the iPhone.

Now, it’s T minus 97 minutes till Verizon announcement.

 

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Reasons not to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone.

Previously I wrote about reasons to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone. Now I’m talking about reasons not to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone in general.

  • Might have to pay that pesky and expensive early termination fee to AT&T.
  • AT&T believes that their data network is still faster than Verizon’s as illustrated by Boy Genius Report which was tweeted by AT&T.
  • You prefer GSM phones, especially if you travel outside United States often.
  • AT&T is giving you packaged deal with your wireless account.

Now, those were some generic reasons why you would not want to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone that I could think of at this moment. By the way, it is T minus 2 hours and 30 minutes till the Verizon Announcement.

I’ll be finishing up my thought whether I would switch to Verizon from AT&T or not.

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Reasons to move to Verizon from AT&T for the iPhone.

Here we go again, waiting for the one who stole CES’ thunder. Verizon is having a special event in New York this Tuesday January 11th, 2011. The event starts at 11:00 AM New York Time. The first thing came to mind is iPhone. The media heavyweights have been buzzing about iPhone coming to Verizon for the past few months. The rumors flying of the self. John Gruber, the unofficial Apple leak channel, mentioned the existence of CDMA iPhone codenamed N92. A lot of Mac Journalists were invited to the event. Gizmodo did not get the event. Ryan Block is silent about it. So, it would come as no surprise if all of this are true.

SPOILER
Apple hired a few former Verizon’s employees back in 2009 who are now working at their iPhone division. They have been keeping quiet about it for so long. They also said “No Comment” on the fabled White iPhone 4.
END OF SPOILER

As usual, there will be numbers of sites providing live coverage. You can always use search for them or find it here and let me do the work for you. More links will be added as they become available.

Alphabetically ordered:

Check back for more links.

January 11, 2011 – 11:00 AM New York Time is:

  • January 11, 2011 – 6:00 AM Hawaii-Aleutian
  • January 11, 2011 – 8:00 AM Pacific
  • January 11, 2011 – 9:00 AM Mountain
  • January 11, 2011 – 10:00 AM Central
  • January 11, 2011 – 11:00 AM Eastern
  • January 11, 2011 – 4:00 PM GMT (London,
  • January 11, 2011 – 5:00 PM Central European Time (Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid)
  • January 12, 2011 – 1:00 AM Tokyo Time Zone

Look up your time zone here.

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AT&T backpedals and axes iPad unlimited data plan.

It only took a little bit over a month after the release of iPad WiFi+3G, AT&T axes the unlimited data plan. For some reasons this feels like some kind of bait-and-switch scheme. One of the most attractive feature of iPad WiFi+3G is the $30 unlimited data plan (Apple iPad 3G page).

For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan can keep that plan or switch to the new $25 per month plan with 2 GB of data.

iPad 3G Data Plans as of June 1st, 2010.

Way to go, AT&T!

Is AT&T losing iPhone exclusivity in a really near future?

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Google Nexus One Phone is Now Compatible With AT&T and Rogers Wireless 3G.

Google has silently added Nexus One Phone that is compatible with AT&T and Rogers Wireless 3G network.

https://www.google.com/phone/choose?hl=en&gl=US&s7e=

Compatible with 3G on AT&T (U.S.) and Rogers Wireless (Canada)
Supports three 3G/UMTS bands (850/1900/2100 MHz) and four GSM radio frequencies (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

The AT&T and Rogers Wireless 3G compatible version of Google Nexus One Phone sells for $529 just like its unlocked T-Mobile counterpart.

Google still on track to release Verizon Wireless and Vodafone versions of Nexus One Phone this Spring 2010. For sure some AT&T customer would buy this phone right now.

Would you “ditch” your iPhone for an AT&T Compatible Nexus One Phone? I know this guy just did it.