AT&T extends olive branch, will let all iPad orders before June 7 get $30 unlimited data plan
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 4th 2010 2:36PM
posted June 4th 2010 2:36PM
posted June 4th 2010 2:36PM
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Could have worded the title a little better...
@Snarf101
Good, you fixed it.+1 Engadget.
@Fragmented
why? maybe some people want to use it on the go.
@Snarf101 Too late. I'll never buy AT&T or use their service again. Any company that insists on coming back to the same failed business models over and over again deserves nothing.
I would be fine with the data limits if they were roll-over data.
For those who aren't powerusers :)
@Snarf101 Think about it... Why else would AT&T be making people sign up for their services like this on the say of the WWDC? They are clearly about to lose their exclusivity so dont be baited into switching to AT&T because of this. It makes no sense that the number one data sucking phone other than the Palm Pre would be only allowed to get 2GB per month. I use that all the time and I know I would hate to have to worry about limiting my internet experience because of overages.
Most people think its going to Verizon but I am thinking that Sprint may get it. You never hear anything about Sprint metering people for data usage do you? Also with the new 4G you can now have voice and data at the same time, something that AT&T used to boast about for a long time as an advantage over CDMA. Verizon doesnt have these features as of yet. Also, they can put a CDMA radio for US signal and still have a worldwide SIM like they did for the Blackberry World edition.
Also, they(Sprint) reference the iPhone in a lot of their advertising for them not to be getting it. I have examples below.
http://images.fastcompany.com/upload/Screen%20shot%202010-03-22%20at%2012.36.27%20AM.png
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2010/05/25/apple-will-sprint-get-the-iphone/
and lastly here...
http://now.sprint.com/nownetwork/4G/?INTCID=TSC:HP:041110:Overdrive:L:About4G
and click on the make your iPhone 4G!
Think about it, why would sprint be advertising for an item they were not planning on getting? That benefits them in no way because people would always have AT&T for voice. They are getting the iPhone. Dont get kicked in the NUTS by AT&T and these outrageous data rates... Just wait til June 7th and see the CDMA iPhone announcement.
Although I'd prefer a cheaper plan – $30 unlimited should be standard for all mobile devices. I would only imagine that the new $25/2GB monthly base price plus $10 per each additional GB would discourage Apple iPad sales since the device is meant to download a lot of heavy content.
Great for AT&T, not so much for Apple. Maybe that's why we're seeing Verizon pick up the iPhone?
@hated one
2% of AT&T iPhone users – not iPad's – which were just released and purposely built for downloading content (movies, videos, photos, books, magazines, etc).
If only 2% of AT&T's users in the future will be using less than 2GB – then it would have been smart for AT&T to keep the $30/month unlimited data plan versus making less at the new cost of $25/month. Obviously AT&T is not running a charity so I would imagine that they're adopting this new data pricing model in an effort to take advantage of the ever increasing need for internet on the go.
I would bet that in the next year, when AT&T calculates the usage from additional iPad's and new smartphone features (such as video internet calling), we'll see that 2% number spike to something much, much higher and we'll watch AT&T reward greater as a result. Why charge $30/month for unlimited data when they could charge $100+ for the users who consume more like 10GB+ a month.
Now, that's how you make your investors and shareholders happy.
it's too late AT&T... the world hates you for too many reasons.
@skyblaze
it's true. dropped at&t today - my evo is laughing at you in 4g.
@rutter9
Well, until your battery dies in about 2 hours. :-)
@WilliamG at least he can replace his with a fresh one
@Air Force One
I can pop. $7 monoproce battery on my iPhone and run it all day, and it's stall smaller than a EVO....just saying
I still want an evo though, sprint just does not cover my area very well though :)
@WilliamG
@WilliamG
from ziegler's review:
***We know what you're thinking, though: what about battery life? Amazingly, we got some three hours and 13 minutes of run time while using the EVO continuously as a 4G hotspot -- and when we say "continuously," we mean we were streaming high-quality audio the entire time. What's more, the phone wasn't even fresh off the charger when we started; it had been on and in heavy use for two hours and four minutes prior. Bottom line, this thing seems to be a champion on a 1500mAh battery; we can't even begin to fathom what a massive aftermarket pack would do to it.***
Battery life isn't nearly as big an issue as some people are claiming... and it certainly won't be dying at 2 hours
@skyblaze
sad enough to say my sprint palm pixi has some horrible battery life I'm truly starting to want an evo...
@skyblaze
That is right...take the best review on battery life and ignore all the terrible reviews. Yet even the best review is not that fantastic.
@WilliamG
Sorry buddy - you blew it. Battery power? My 3GS in going on ebay after using the evo all day... how is that for a battery test?
How nice of you AT&T. Everything's good now!
@impulse462, I don't think anyone could read that without adding a sarcastic tone. :P
@impulse462 Yes!!! Good thing as I just ordered mine yesterday.
@vqro Apple was actually pretty cool for once. I bought an IPAD 16 gb first day it came out. Well i decided yesterday that i want an Ipad 32 gb 3g.
I called apple and told them i want to upgrade but know that i am way past the return day. She got on the phone with a manager and said curtesy of apple u can still return it for 10 % restocking fee. I also had to pay shipping to send it to apple place.
So Now im waiting for my 3g :)
Oh yeah? Allow tethering of the data that's already paid for at no extra cost and then maybe you can drop from evil emperor to vader status.
This comes off as the equivalent of someone stabbing you in the face and then offering you a band-aid.
@Colours
First they're sour, then they're sweet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB9yGZKoTjg
Oh go to hell you selfish money grubbing jerks!
@CJisohsocool
the money-grubbing jerks that are saving 98% of their customers at least $5 a month? THOSE money grubbing jerks?
@TomSawyer yes, those.
@evldead123
ok, just so i wasn't confusing them with some other money grubbing jerks.
@TomSawyer Apparently you do not understand business or marketing very well.
@Octotron
I think Tom has a point though
Excluding engadget readers and other nerds, people do not use more than 2GB per month, so the majority of AT&T customers are actually saving money with this new plan
Unless someone has evidence against my theory
@Octotron
Please explain business / marketing to me. I guess my degree in Accounting and my 7 years in commercial lending at one of the country's largest banks, and my daily reading of the Wall Street Journal and my subscription to the Economist lend me no credence in such fields.
Kindly explain in "business / marketing" terms, how LOWERING the price for 98% of one's customers makes you a "money grubbing" company. Please.
@TomSawyer
Damn son.
LOL
@TomSawyer
AT&T is not in the business of saving people money... AT&T sees a tidal wave of new big data drivers (video on the iPad, video calling, Skype over 3G, streaming TV) coming and wants to get as many folks off of the big plans before they (gasp) actually start using the data that AT&T gleefully sold them back when they figured that most people would never actually use that amount.
Do you really think that if AT&T was convinced that the data usage patterns would stay the same they would voluntarily drop the free money, by their own claims, they are currently making?
@bjtheone
"AT&T is not in the business of saving people money... AT&T sees a tidal wave of new big data drivers (video on the iPad, video calling, Skype over 3G, streaming TV) coming and wants to get as many folks off of the big plans before they (gasp) actually start using the data that AT&T gleefully sold them back when they figured that most people would never actually use that amount."
WIN!
@TomSawyer
"I guess my degree in Accounting and my 7 years in commercial lending at one of the country's largest banks, and my daily reading of the Wall Street Journal and my subscription to the Economist lend me no credence in such fields."
FAIL.
@TomSawyer
I trust that 2% figure about as far as I can throw AT&T.
@bjtheone
lose money initially by reducing charges for current customers and hope to increase volume of smart phone users (particularly those "feature phone" users who will upgrade to a smartphone) now that the entry cost to a smart phone plan is $55 rather than $70. Seems like good economics to me! :-P
@Carld
Sanford Bernstein estimates the average iPhone customer uses 300mb per month. Google it. I'd say the 2% is pretty accurate.
or better yet, I save all 30$ and not buy an iPad. Frankly, the 'need' for this device is overstated IMHO.
@arnavdesai there's no need for a lot of technology but our society makes us feel like we need it. Do you "need" a smartphone? 360? TV?
@supraped69 That being said, I agree that the ipad isn't very useful for me now. It will probably be a good year or so before I buy one when other companies start busting out models that are as good as the ipad with more features for less money.
@supraped69 Many devices and services in todays technological world provide an improvement to our lives. Smartphones allow us to stay more connected with family, friends, co-workers and clients.
I think you nailed the analogy with the 360. The iPad is as useful and productivity improving as a 360. That's to say that it isn't. It's a toy, a very expensive toy.
@arnavdesai How many times does that need to be said?
@chripuck
In much the same way that the Kindle is a toy?
@arnavdesai
Or just get free tethering on the Palm Pre Plus on Verizon and have 5Gb per month of data to use wherever on a wifi ipad. Thats my plan! that is, once my ipad arrives!!
Screw AT&T for reals.
Fuk U att. I am never going with you ever again.
@pinktacoyummm
Hello AT&T, I'd like to extend my olive branch you can su[---DELETED BEFORE BAN---]
@Plazmic Flame
--rf the web on my iPad when I get mine in August, but only 2 gigs worth.
On a related note, AT&T blows -- and in a bad way. Years ago, I used to recommend everyone to get their service now I'm waiting for my contract to end -- or even cancelling it if they keep this money-grubbing-but-the-network-and-customer-service-suck-so-what-the-hell-am-I-paying-for-?? service.
AT&T, if you really want to turn PR around, how about actually try, idk, helping your customers? It always seems like you and VZW are racing to the top of the cost mountain but the only problem is they're the only that can get a signal at the top of said ladder. Also, it's annoying when you use customer load as the reason the network isn't reliable when VZW is now the telecom with the most customers.
Isnt the real issue that ATT has changed one of the biggest "features" of the 3G Ipad = NO CONTRACT
Effectively ATT has now created a synthetic contract with Ipad 3Gers - for all legacy $30mo people the contract is - cancel and when you resign you get capped; and for all other people the synthetic contract is...suspend/cancel at your own risk, because we may change our plan in the future and if so you'll lose your current deal.
@falltime So does that mean my local grocery store and I have a contract to buy milk, because if I stop buying milk I might not get it at the same price it is today?
Logic fail.