AT&T tweaks wireless terms of service to forbid video streaming, filesharing, data tethering
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 3rd 2009 12:24PM
posted Apr 3rd 2009 12:24PM
Looks like AT&T's taking some aggressive steps to manage network traffic now that it's offering subsidized netbooks -- the carrier updated its data plan terms of service last night to specifically single out and prohibit "downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and... any applications that tether the device... to Personal Computers or other equipment." That's an impressively strict set of rules that seemingly bans a number of apps AT&T customers are already using without complaint -- everything from SlingPlayer to Qik to Skype to Jaikuspot -- so we'll see if the company is really so tone-deaf as to try and retroactively prohibit their use, or if it'll just ignore what it can't possibly enforce. We've pinged AT&T for comment, we'll let you know what they say.P.S.- It's not just AT&T struggling to keep up with how people actually use its network -- Deutsche Telekom today threatened to cut off German T-Mobile customers who dare to use Skype. Nice. Can someone give all these guys some new ideas, please?
[Via GigaOm]
MLB.TV + N85 FTW
AT&T is da devil!
New idea:
What does it take to support a more powerful network? Infrastructure... is that why we're paying these guys in the first place? I certainly don't seem to be paying for customer service...
We are paying for their marketing blitz and their "exclusive" partnership contracts. If you take a look around you, how many billboards are a cell phone company's ad, or on tv, each show has some kind of cell phone company ad, even at your local sport center (stadium, ball park, even the pool) there is an ad.
On top of the ads, AT&T pays rediculus amounts to "rent" a small space for their cell towers, or pays a thrid party to "rent" their tower for their use.
I would say only 10-20% of our bill actually pays for the operation of the cell tower and the cell phone service, the rest is pure profit, not for AT&T but for those Ad agencies or those land owners with a cell site on their property.
If this is a change to the ToS, does that mean we can get out of our contracts?
And didnt MLB just release an Iphone app that streams video clips and possibly whole games... pretty sure the iPhone is "only on AT&T" (officially anyway) sooo how's that gonna work?
@air12ick - er, with regard to the 'outrageous' fees that land owners collect from at&t...I don't think so. I rent a lot to AT&T for a massive tower...massive. It takes up about the same space as a small house and I make about $8500.00 a YEAR on it. Not the huge income generator you implied.
-KevinC
Doesn't this mean you can't use the YouTube application on the iPhone, etc?
I have a better idea for AT&T...how about they just improve their network...with...wait for it...FRIGGIN LASERS!.
I use my iPhone 3G to tether using PDA Net. I've heard tons of rumors and warnings that ATT will charge you for your data usage if you "get caught" or use "too much" data, or will cut you off entirely. No matter how hard I searched, I couldn't event find a single anecdote that described this actually happening to someone. As a matter of fact, the guy at the ATT store where I got my iPhone specifically told me I could use my SIM in an HSDPA card. So what's the real deal? Now that there's more apps than ever that are data-intensive (Skype, YouTube, Pandora), how is ATT monitoring the traffic? Is there a soft cap? What happens when you go over?
I dunno about you guys, but I get (upto) 2.2Mbps out near philadelphia on my tilt....
@KevinC I guess it has to do with location, company, or time frame. I remember having a conversation with someone who would get $900-$1000 per month to rent the portion of property (which I don't think it was AT&T, it was someone else). Also, this property was considered to be buisness property not personal property. But I also have heard people just like you would get as low as $5000 a year. This was usually out of a dense population, like a farm. Keep in mind, it is just vauge details I get through casual conversation, so I don't know the terms I just go wow, thats a lot. I did not mean to offend any of the land owners with cell sites on their property, I was trying to imply that there should be a better way to handle cell site rental.
Plus, considering the amount of cell sites that exist, adding them all up would be a lot of money.
P.S. I'm in the San Diego region also, where a lot of "cell phone testing" goes on. Which probably would explain that outrages rental figure. Though having Qualcomm nearby is pretty cool, because sometimes you get to see the next big thing with cell phones with someone holding it around town (you have to have a good eye to catch these, I've only caught 4, which one was the MediaFlo tech before it launched).
may you die a slow and painful death, AT&T... (actually, don't... but still, wth guys?!?)
@ electron I second that...
Yeah seriously.
All these Telcos are fighting so hard to avoid becoming a dump pipe for Internet access. Do they really think they can accomplish that? I don't. What they should be focusing on is the opposite. Instead of trying to be more than a dumb pipe, they should try to be the best damn pipe possible. Improve speed, service, reliability, and price, and you will get my business and many others'.
@Kamokazi: Couldn't have said it better myself.
Don't be surprised to see Verizon follow suit, if they don't already have strict terms like that.
Nah, I doubt it, Verizon along with Sprint have far superior networks (JDPower can attest to that). The EVDO network was built for that very reason, to allow what At&t is blocking it's customers from doing. This also shows that EVDO it superior to HSDPA. This brings up an interesting question as to why Verizon chose LTE, especially since LTE is a build-off of 3G GSM. Whereas, Wimax is outside the box new from the ground up. The reason GSM in America is struggling, is due to GSM being a build-off of an old cellular network. CDMA and EVDO are not build-offs, they were new networks built from the ground up. I remember when in the beginning Sprint was knocked for choosing CDMA, at the last minute other carriers decided to go CDMA. I would not be surprised if something similar happens.
@ p3t3b2
I'm not sure but i think you may have it the other way around. GSM bas built for digital transmission, CDMA had analog roots.
The reason, I think, that GSM is less common in the USA as opposed to Europe and Asia is that when cellphone technology (analog) started here, the CDMA carriers had the most invested. When GSM came along, they were hesitant to make the switch because of the investment they made in the infrastructure. Late adopters (AT&T i.e. Cingular) and T-Mobile ( a German company) had less of an investment so they could go with GSM. After that, it's just market forces that came into play. Consumers chose the older CDMA versus the newer GSM (just like they chose the inferior VHS over Betamax). With this momentum, CDMA carriers were able to advance to 2G and 3G technologies faster than GSM.
While I agree that EVDO is faster than HSDPA, a lot can be attributed to coverage area. Verizon and Sprint have more 3G towers than AT&T than the almost non-existent 3G of T-Mobile.
Which still pisses me off because I have to have 2 phones to get good reception. A CDMA one for when I am in the US and a GSM one for when I go overseas.
@R. Corrino
Sprint was the 1st US carrier to go all digital, PacBell, Sprint, and GTE (now Verizon) provide PCS 1900 which was the original 2G digital. Sprint and GTE used the Q-CDMA system, analog GSM was a combination of FDMA and TDMA:
–Frequency spectrum divided into two
frequency bands
–One band for uplink, other for downlink
• A frequency carrier is a pair of
uplink/downlink frequencies
–Each is 200 Khz
GSM maximum "cell" radius was 20 miles, keep in mind, Cell = Analog, PCS = Digital. Sprints 'wired-line' service started out analog.
@ p3t3b2:
Your reference to "analog GSM" shows that you do have it wrong, there was never any such thing as "analog GSM." From the wikipedia article on GSM: "GSM differs from its predecessors in that both signaling and speech channels are digital, and thus is considered a second generation (2G) mobile phone system." GSM has been a 2G digital system from its inception. Also, there's the little fact that (again from wiki) "80% of the global mobile market uses the standard. GSM is used by over 3 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories." You're correct about the earlier deployment of CDMA here, which led to the "legacy" systems such as Verizon's and Sprint's advancing in that direction, rather than implementing GSM as most of the world has done. So currently there is some edge in speed, but there is so much R&D money, as well as market momentum behind GSM that it will be very difficult for the non-GSM world minority of carriers to keep pace with technological advances over the next few years. Also, I do love using my GSM 3G phone here in the US, because *I* don't have to carry two phones for my international travels, as you admit and complain that you do. :-)
@p3t3b2 your assumptions are actually wrong. HSPA is faster, starting with 3.6mbps and beyond. If AT&T's network is performing less than verizon, it is related to network congestion (which AT&T gets slammed datawise), lack of backhaul (a problem in my area), and or lack of spectrum.
You have to realize, most of these sites are ran off of primarily T1s. In my area, I've observed that there are only a single T1 per 3g site, mainly because there isn't quite the demand for it yet. That is 1.5mbit for 3 3.6mbit HSPA sectors, not nearly enough. Keep in mind i live in a small city of approx. 220k pop, with a low population density. The single T1 is justified as speeds are fine.
In places like NYC, most areas are still running off of a single 1900mhz channel, that is only 5mhz of spectrum to all 3g capable users. Verizon has probably 30mhz total to devote to one technology. That is where you see the speed difference. AT&T is currently working on 850mhz overlays which add a second 3.6mbit channel which will double capacity....at least air interface wise, the backhaul still won't match what HSPA can do.
cdma came first and is old technology and gprs/gsm is new, and better and AT&T and T-mobile used it first
Sorry, not most sites have a single T1, but anywhere with low pop. density will generally have single T1s...which is a lot of places. Other places may have 2-3 and sometimes even more.
@DallasFlier
You're not understanding the different types of GSM and how it has evolved over the years. The original GSM was born out of analog radio frequency way back in the day, the late 70's. It has since had several generations in upgrades. The original GSM was created to counter the USA's AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) network.
@zephxiii
It is apparent you do not realize the HSDPA speed test At&t were boasting, are laboratory location specific test (no real world world test were done). At&t knew it's devices could not achieve those speeds, if At&t attempted to allow devices on it's network to run at higher speeds, their network would slow to a crawl. At&t put a cap on HSDPA at 1.4Mbps down. Apple and European carriers selling the iphone are being sued due to the misleading commercials which boast the iphone as having the fastest 3G speeds.
@santaninja
You have it wrong, the 'concept' of CDMA technology was developed back in 1988, CDMA went live in 1992, Sprint launched it's CDMA network in 1994. As I mentioned above, GSM technology has been around since the late 70's. Conference of European Posts and Telegraphs (CEPT) created the GSM mobile network in 1989. A GSM group outlined standards, researched technology and designed a way to implement a pan-European mobile phone network. In 1989 work done by the GSM group was transferred to the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). The name GSM was transposed to name the type of service invented. The acronym GSM had been changed from Group Spécial Mobile to Global Systems Mobile Telecommunications. Commercial service for GSM began in 1991.
@ p3t3b2: Wrong again, there is no cap at 1.4mbit.
http://www.howardforums.com/showpost.php?p=11942741&postcount=12
http://www.howardforums.com/showpost.php?p=12121920&postcount=5
1.4mbit may look like a cap if the site only has 1 T1. Also, apple wasn't comparing speeds to other carriers, they were comparing to their non-3g Iphone.
Also your logic doesn't make any sense, the site will balance speeds between users. It's best to let them download as fast as the site can push so they can get out of other people's way.
Let's see, do I reference a Blog, or do I go straight to the horses mouth?... LINK HERE: http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=25791 Under, "AT&T's 3G Wireless Network."
Yea p3t3b2, and obviously that isn't the reality of things either as shown in my post above. Ya can pull more than 1.4 if the site has enough backhaul to it as demonstrated. Note that 1.4 is just under the speed of a T1, which a large amount of sites only have. They are saying you are limited to 1.4, they are just giving the top end range of average.
Also might want to check:
http://gizmodo.com/5111991/austin-3g-test-att-sprint-and-verizon
Another example that 1.4 isn't a cap, it's just conservative claim that all carriers make. They hit or nearly hit 2mbit in austin.
*Correction* I mean to say: "They are NOT saying you are limited to 1.4, they are just giving the top end range of average. "
You putting your own spin on it does not change the fact the article says this... "The iPhone 3G harnesses the power of AT&T's broad and powerful 3G mobile broadband network, which offers 3G mobile phones download speeds of up to 1.4 Mbps." It does not get more clear than that.
No, it doesn't get more clear than the fact that speeds can and do get above 1.4mbit as demonstrated in the links i posted. YOU are just ignoring the REALITY of it for the sake backing your own argument. You are putting your spin on it as a cap, when in REALITY it isn't as demonstrated. All of those links are dated after June 08 too btw in case you didn't notice.
You are similarly trying to argue that glass isn't transparent, when in reality it is as observed.
OH p3t3b2, you fill my heart with warmth, here is another one just for you:
http://www.howardforums.com/showpost.php?p=11456114&postcount=33
And another:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?s=4bcaa195092fcecd285695745b2dd945&p=5787164&postcount=16
Are you really that thick? Seriously?? How am I putting a spin on an article provided by At&t? I did not write it. According to JDPower Sprint has not only toppled Verizon, they are greatly out pacing At&t in network speed. You're cherry picking old info, why do you think there are many law suits brewing which challenge At&t's and Apple claims of "the fastest 3G network"? For the record, Sprints and Verizon's EVDO Rev-A is actually 3.5G.
Thick? You're the one being thick. You are ignoring linked references like an idiot, then getting all pissed off while trying to stray the argument somewhere else. The point was about the caps, which obviously there aren't any as shown in the links provided. Quit being such a noob. You act like your pride is hurt so bad that deep painful wounds ripped open in your chest.
Oh and just for reference:
"Mobile Broadband is Verizon Wireless' premier data service, offering your company one of the fastest, fully mobile wireless Internet data solutions available today. This ultra-high-speed wireless service available in various cities throughout the U.S. only from Verizon Wireless, provides users with typical download speeds of 600 Kbps – 1.4 Mbps and typical upload speeds of 500 – 800 Kbps*."
http://support.vzw.com/faqs/VZAccess/faq_natlbrdbandaccess.html
WOW, 0.600-1.4mbps!!!!!! Going by your logic, there must be a cap at 1.4!!!!!!!! funny how that top number is the same as Verizon's isn't it? We all know damn well neither are actually speed capped at 1.4 though. Have a nice day!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the heck is happening with all these ISPs/carriers becoming more and more restrictive?!?!? Are they purposely trying to regress? The sad thing is, most people don't even know their rights, or what their devices can do, and they give up that freedom without even realizing it existed...and then those practices become more and more commonplace with each carrier.
they don't want to become dumb pipes, just providers of internet service with low margins. they're a corporation, and like every corporation, they have to make money.
last time i checked a bigger customer base meant more money...
bigger customer base = more money
bigger customer base, but with low margins = not so much more money
Viakeny you are wrong. If you keep prices affordable, you will have loyal customers that will stay for years. Your customer base will grow because of THAT and it's guaranteed cash flow for them. Instead, AT&T is being greedy and is quickly trying to capitalize off of the iphone because they know people do not like them because of overcharging and high price plans and will soon leave, which is what I recently did. Now I use my iphone for everything but calls. I browse over wifi, get email over wifi, listen to my tunes, do all that my apps allow, play games, get serious work done, etc . . There are cheaper alternatives out there as far as business devices that at least get the job done until Apple decides to leave corny greedy AT&T alone.
what are they smoking? so if I got this right, for $60 and 2 yr contract I can check my email and do "light" browsing (5gb cap.)?
This just in: E-mail accessed prohibited.
I thought it was a 250mb cap for the netbook data plan...which still is a bunch of bull$hit
I call on the FTC to put a stop to using the term unlimited when it clearly is not.
I second this MOTION!!!
I
Agreed.
Clearly misleading and false.
-and TRICKSEY! I CALL TRICKSEY YOUR HONOR!!
Show me where it says unlimited...
@NKT
Straight from the iPhone data plan details when you take the time to visit AT&T to shop..
"Data Plan for iPhone 3G includes unlimited data in the U.S."
Under "Feature," then "Data Plan for iPhone"
"Data Plan for iPhone 3G includes unlimited data in the U.S. "
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_sku=sku2640250&q_package=sku3190234
Wow, AT&T is out Verizon-ing Verizon.
LOL nice!
Best comment iv heard in a week!
keep going after the oil companies government. meanwhile the tell co's are killing us more and more everyday.
AT&T to Customers;
Dear sir or Madam,
Please pay us every month for your service, but please refrain for actually using your device. We prefer that you keep your device safe in its box under your bed to avoid taking up band width.
THX LOV-U
i never agreed to these terms! so does that mean that theyve broken contract which in turn allows us to cancel without fees?
Exactly. They are violating the terms of the agreement I had agreed to.
They can modify those terms. In your original terms it stated that these terms can be change at any time with out notification.
I would have to say this rules out a crap load of apps on the iPhone.
You know that the agreement you agreed to more than likely gives them the right to change it whenever they want, without warning, right?
IANAL, but most of these wireless contracts have a clause that states that they can modify or change the terms of the agreement at any time.
Whether that's legal or not, they are banking on the fact that it costs more than the ETF to hire a lawyer.
Im sure in the contract it states they can change the T & C's at any time, and continued use of their product means you accept these terms.
so just as tim commented, how will the apps be affected?
I would encourage as many people as possible to call up AT&T today and cancel your service. Voting with your dollars is the only way to keep the internet 'free'.
"But the law says if they change your contract, you can either accept or cancel within 30 days. Cancel! This is perfectly fair as they are changing the rules on you! Note that they may cancel you that very second, so be prepared."
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2006/10/how-to-get-out-of-a-cellphone-contract-early.html
IANAL but there is usually a clause that says they can change the contract at any time, without warning.
However, you can almost cancel your contract withing x number of days if you do not agree with the new contract!
So yeah, go ahead and cancel.
Listen up guys, This is just ridiculous wrong and unrespectful, If you sign a contract that can be changed at anytime, what is the point of the contract in the first place? They can change but if you do, you get punished. Someone please sue them!
You are correct, I am a frequent user of streaming media and I just called them and even though I had a little trouble with the first representative the end result is the same I canceled my contract and going to Sprint.
"But the law says if they change your contract, you can either accept or cancel within 30 days. Cancel! This is perfectly fair as they are changing the rules on you! Note that they may cancel you that very second, so be prepared."
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2006/10/how-to-get-out-of-a-cellphone-contract-early.html
Sprints TOS
http://www.sprintpcs.com/common/popups/popLegalTermsPrivacy.html
I am not sure how this works, so someone that knows the rules better than me should pipe in. But if they advertise unlimited and have these restrictions, that HAS to be false advertising.
I agree, there should be class-action lawsuits challenging all ISPs that advertise Unlimited* anything. Call it like it is, and let consumers compare what they are *really* getting.
They all charge SO MUCH FUCKING MONEY for what amounts to nothing more than casual usage.
uggh. Makes me want to punch babies. :-|
Wow. Just wow. How could you say a thing like that? It makes me sick to my stomach to see people write things like this. Come one man, you know "ugh" only has one g!
Thanks, A little mt dew just came out my nose :/
I also do this casual usage.
I don't even go over 100 minutes a month... and I am charge for 400 or something like that...
IT DRIVE ME CRAZY... All I want is 200 Minutes and UNLIMITED TEXTING... I am glad to pay up to 50 dollar for that... not 70...
Damn, two days ago I almost signed a contract, but didn't. Thank God!
AT&T is part of the reason I want to get rid of my iphone as soon as possible. Sprint has always been a lot more reasonable.
I love the iPhone and had both versions, but ultimately ported to Verizon because the AT&T network sucks. The 3G data vs EVDO-Rev. A was slower too. I'm hoping one day we'll get the iPhone on Big Red.....I think I'll get misty eyed.
Travis
Hhhahaa, I finally wisened up. I thought about it for a minute. I looove my iphone, but honestly I hate AT&T. They TRULY rob us time and time again. Every month my bill was over by about $40. I know for a fact I didn't over text or go over my minutes. This was constantly occuring and they gave me a million excuses and shuttled me from person to person in hopes I would hang up. I left them about 1 month ago, I broke my contract and while it's upsetting that I can't make calls, I still use everything I have on it plus the wifi. I have another device that I do everything from for a nice low REASONABLE price. I miss the luxury and convenience of the iphone, but I am a businessman. I need my info more than I need luxury. So if I can't have both, I'm taking the more important of the two and that would be the latter. More people should drop AT&T for a while. They will feel it and Apple will notice.
Wait... does this qualify as a change in service, allowing me to break my contract with AT&T and take my iPhone to a different carrier?
no...as shown above, ATT holds to the right to change their contract without notice at any time. Thats the contract you signed. And plus, the only carrier you can take your iphone to is T-mobile and the 3G wouldnt work anyway
Actually, the contract may say that you cannot cancel however that is an illegal clause.
You are legally entitled to cancel if the terms change, just call, elevate to a manager, and don't hang up until you are allowed to exit.
You can always join up again without contract.
umm ok WTH? so what are we paying extra for "unlimited data" for?
This is totally ridiculous. WTF. Hell with ATT and welcome to SPRINT.
So, basically, wants their users internet experience to be as crappy on their netbooks/tethered computers/anything with a 3G radio as it in their phones.
Verizon most likely won't initiate policies like this because their network can actually handle the traffic. See what you get when you decide to invest more money than anyone into your network, something your customers can actually work use!
I guess this completely rules out any sort of hope for flash on iPhone since it would violate these new terms.
Verizon will not only do the same thing but then they'll nickel and dime you for the privilege. Want to stream video up to a 1 Gig cap (it's virtually unlimited for most people says the sales rep) that's $15 a month extra. Want to download "unlimited" podcasts (with a 500 mb cap?) oh, that's $10 a month extra. Send those family photos to your friends "Unlimited" (750 mb Cap, most people will never use it, says the sales rep) $15 a month. All of these cell phone companies are ridiculous!
"While most common uses for Intranet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines, landlines or full-time or dedicated data connections; (iii) "auto-responders," "cancel-bots," or similar automated or manual routines which generate excessive amounts of net traffic, or which disrupt net user groups or email use by others; (iv) "spam" or unsolicited commercial or bulk email (or activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either AT&T's wireless services or other parties' Internet-based resources, including "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of AT&T's wireless network or another entity's network or systems; (vii) software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions, unless they adhere to AT&T's data retry requirements, which may be changed from time to time. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited. Furthermore, plans(unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose."
What if the tethering app comes on a device that AT&T sold you. In the case of tethering a PDA phone to a laptop with an application that comes with Windows Mobile? Doesn't that seem a bit underhanded if you use Internet Connection sharing that comes with WM over blue tooth or USB? Also they are prohibiting video uploads or using the data connection as your only connection. WTF, did they really think this is gonna fly? Also does this change of terms mean that I can cancel my contract with AT&T if I don't want to play by these new rules that they are going to try to make me be bound by which fundamentally limit what you can do to basically checking your email for $30-$60 a month as long as you don't upload a video along with it. According to these changes you can't even use an instant messaging client to show that you are online but idle because it keeps a data connection alive even when you are not using the computer actively.
I second a strongly worded letter to the FTC to remove any usage of the word "Unlimited" from all AT&T materials related to data plans as they are now PRETTY FUCKING LIMITED.
@Kal326 - thanks for posting that...let's take a quick look at how ATT is/will violating/violate it's own terms shall we?
"Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing"
you mean automated machine-to-machine connections like the ones that MS is suggesting in it's most recent efforts to lobby for cloud synchronization and CONTROL between TV/phone/PC? My understanding is that phone companies have lobbied FOR these apps, not against them in an effort to offer more useless bloatware to do things like turn off your lights from grandmas house or backup your phone to the cloud etc....hell it's a whole new world of rip off potential for them.
This one is the one that will land them in court...no questions:
"but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited."
Oh, so the XM trial you gave me in your shitware isn't an "audio signal" and/or "web broadcast" directed from a "fixed location to a mobile device" and the MobiTV trial I got isn't a "video signal" to a mobile device???? I smell hypocrisy with intent to make millions.
Oh and recently several reports suggested that increases in text messaging are pure (and I mean PURE) profit. Since texts are embedded in the control channel, there are next to no additional costs and those costs which are associated with texting are fixed not variable with text volume.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/28digi.html?_r=3
For you AT&T.....
1. Start your ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on your phone
2. Open Network Connections (Start>Control Panel>Network and Internet Connections>Network Connections)
3. Plug in your PC into a router OR your XBOX
4. Plug in your XBOX into the same router OR into your PC
5. In the Network Connections window select both Local Area Networks and right click, select bridge connections.
6. Wait for it to finish.
7. Open up network settings on your XBOX (System Settings>Network>Test Connection)
8. Test your XBOX live connection and sign in
9. Play games over LIVE!
the funny thing is, they have youtube on the f-in device.... is that video streaming? they are sooo stupid!
so does that mean i can now cancel the service without the fee??????
Is AT&T banning the iphone youtube app?
They smell the end of the traditional cell phone provider, but this isn't going to stop its coming.
This is a much broader Net Neutrality issue here that is being ignored. AT&T is treading on very very dangerous ground and asking for a congressional hearing on anti-competitive behavior.
Apple really needs to DROP them A.S.A.P.
All major cell phone companies are sneaky when it comes to 'Unlimited data' plans - If they drop AT&T, who would they go with that wouldn't have same/similar restrictions?
Wouldn't that also forbid a slingbox?
Look, I understand bandwith limitations (caps even thjough I hate it), but what I do with that bandwith is my buisness.
M
'customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device,'
That line is specifically targeted at Slingbox and similar services, though I'm not sureif it applies to youtube (disclaimer: IANAL).
VPN :-)
Ok now my turn AT&Greed
The service will cost $5.95 monthly.
Seriously, if we as consumers could counter those terms as ridiculously as they are set, it'd look a lot like that.
Hey AT&T, how about using some of your high monthly fees to upgrade your network so we can do something useful with it?
God forbid, people use their devices for what they're actually meant to be used for.
Dear customers,
Suck our balls for your 24 month contract.
Respectfully,
AT&T