Happy "Unlimited Data" Day (U.S.)

[HiFiGuy528]

I upgraded because you don't know what the future brings. I figure that I can always downgrade if I REALLY don't need it. If you don't upgrade now, you are stuck.

I turned off wifi on the iPad so I am using all of what I am paying for.

 

[WardC]

I don't think I will. I haven't even used the 3G service since buying the iPad on launch day.

I am just like you. I have had my iPad exactly 30 days now and I still haven't activated the 3G service (yes it's Sunday 6/6). So...I am really on the wire about whether to spend $30 a month for a service that I will probably not really get to use very much...I have WiFi at home and at work, and I am not really on the go that much. But if I take a trip and want to download an HD movie from the iTunes store or something like that, it's like 5.5GB. Well, I guess I will just have to download it before the trip then. Only use the 3G for light web surfing and stuff. I might just get the 250MB plan and see how that goes. I can always upgrade to 2GB later if I need to, and I seriously doubt I will. I use WiFi for practically everything on the iPad, well everything right now....(since I haven't signed up for 3G service yet). We will see...

 

[Zazoh]

I am just like you. I have had my iPad exactly 30 days now and I still haven't activated the 3G service (yes it's Sunday 6/6). So...I am really on the wire about whether to spend $30 a month for a service that I will probably not really get to use very much...

And AT&T is banking on many less prudent who are rushing to lock. I see a boardroom of execs high-fiving right now.

 

[Chimera-se]

Yeah, those are my thoughts exactly WardC. I bought the 3G version (and what a long month to wait for it!) for the "just incase" scenario. I'm leaning toward signing up tonight, just to cover all my bases. And really, if I don't like it, after a couple months, I'll drop it. No big sacrifice, you know? And, DjAmTraX, that's a great idea! I never would of thought about turning off the wifi on it while I'm at home. It might just be worth the expense for that reason alone, and of course to get a good laugh! Haha!

 

[HiFiGuy528]

I like streaming music in the car.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I turned off wifi on the iPad so I am using all of what I am paying for.

Don't forget 3G kills the battery faster than WiFi & also usually slower.

And AT&T is banking on many less prudent who are rushing to lock. I see a boardroom of execs high-fiving right now.

Not sure I follow your logic. ATT changed the plan so abruptly b/c iPad owners were using more data than anticipated. Now they have even more iPad owners using even more data. I doubt they are happy about that. If they were making money on the $30 plan they would not have dumped it.

 

[Chimera-se]

Well call me "less prudent" then (!?!?). I just signed up and am on 3G right now...you're right chupa it is slower for sure, but as to the batt I'm not worried about that. Some days I'll run the batt all the way down, other days barely 10 or 20%. I signed up for one reason: options. If I don't like it, then fine, I'll cancel in 2 or 3 months, no biggie...certainly not a big investment. But to not sign up and never have the option again would really annoy me to no end! Cheers, guys!

 

[Mike Oxsaw]

Don't forget 3G kills the battery faster than WiFi & also usually slower.



Not sure I follow your logic. ATT changed the plan so abruptly b/c iPad owners were using more data than anticipated. Now they have even more iPad owners using even more data. I doubt they are happy about that. If they were making money on the $30 plan they would not have dumped it.

Oh they're making money, lots of it, but the network can't cope. They are reaping the benefit of the tech they are selling without having invested sufficiently In the infrastructure to cope. It's a disgusting way to treat consumers.

They're counting on the iPad and phone being desirable enough to overcome theating their customers like crap. Unfortunately it probably is.

 

[gigaguy]

I'm on the 250mb plan and switched up to unlimited yesterday, but it doesn't kick in til June28. Do I trust ATT to do what they are saying, on Jun28? not totally. They created a lot of confusion with misinformation.

so....I called ATT tonight to make sure I'm set up, and well, they were closed. it was 830pm local. It would have been nice to hear that I had the Unlimited plan coming at my next 30 day cycle. but who do you believe? Their email verification said my cc was charged $30.30 but I don't see it yet.
ahh, the magical ipad.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Oh they're making money, lots of it, but the network can't cope. They are reaping the benefit of the tech they are selling without having invested sufficiently In the infrastructure to cope. It's a disgusting way to treat consumers.

They're counting on the iPad and phone being desirable enough to overcome theating their customers like crap. Unfortunately it probably is.

What I'm referring to is CEO Stephenson's initial comments on the 3G back in March that ATT did not expect a lot of 3G subscribers b/c it was primarily a WiFi device:

"My expectation is that there's not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription," he said during a webcast of an investor conference, adding that the device would be a mainly "Wi-Fi driven product."

Obviously that "estimate" was off the mark and the heavy use they are seeing is paying a toll on their network. That, in fact, does cost ATT money.

As for ATT treating customers like crap... they are a cellco. That is what cellcos do. Verizon & Sprint are no better...been there (still have Verizon for home DSL). T-Mob is a little friendlier but there network makes ATT's look beefy.

 

[Blorzoga]

I signed up for the unlimited tonight. I'm not even sure if I had to. Shouldn't I have been grandfathered since I bought it before 6/7 which would mean I can sign up anytime and it should be available? Since there is not hard information about the grandfathering, I figured I better sign up in case that falls apart too. This is all very calculated by AT&T. I'm sure they are going to see a HUGE jump in 3G subscriptions today. The thing is, 3G on the iPad SUCKS. it is so unbelievably slow it's not even worth using. I feel like I'm using a dialup modem. I doubt I will autorenew at this point.

I assume the unlimited privilege is not transferrable. I'd sell me 64 gb 3 g in a second and just buy another that's not grandfathered.

 

[Chimera-se]

I'm on the 250mb plan and switched up to unlimited yesterday, but it doesn't kick in til June28. Do I trust ATT to do what they are saying, on Jun28? not totally. They created a lot of confusion with misinformation.

so....I called ATT tonight to make sure I'm set up, and well, they were closed. it was 830pm local. It would have been nice to hear that I had the Unlimited plan coming at my next 30 day cycle. but who do you believe? Their email verification said my cc was charged $30.30 but I don't see it yet.
ahh, the magical ipad.

I think you'll be fine. Having that email confirmation will allow you to say and, more importantly, prove when you signed up for the service. Of course if AT&T doesn't honor that, it would be supremely messed up, IMO. But, at least you did what you could...

 

[Dewey911]

I am rather new to the forum but I'll give this a go. I did go with the unlimited and AT&T is just now getting up and running here in northern ND. In fact it appears that as of right now the best I can get is what I believe to be "edge" if I read the forums correctly. But I guess my question is how hard or easy is it to use over 2GB? What does one have to be doing to use large amounts of data? Does just having cellular data turned use any? And it seems that when I switched to unlimited and then tried to check my usage it now just says unlimited. I mean the 30 a month is ok with me and I hope once AT&T is in full swing that I will be able to enjoy the 3G benefits that others seem to enjoy. So that's my story......

 

[boltjames]

It's more of a wake I suppose than a celebration. Coming is that day you have to yell at your kids to turn off the Internet b/c you don't own the ISP, and you will remember this day, the day when how we pay for data changed forever.

Anyway, I begrudgingly turned on the 3G spigot today.

It's an awesome day! I changed my sig in celebration! It's the day that those of us who can afford $1 a day for unlimited internet access anytime, anywhere, stood up to be counted!

And, best of all, this unique club isn't taking any more members. Nope. Time to get "UDP FTW" engraved on the back of my 3G/64GB/$829. The rich get richer. As it should be.

BJ

Posted from my iPad 3G UDP

 

[Zepaw]

I did, but if the first month I had it for and then let it lapse is indicative I will probably go down to 2GB. I used 1.8gb the month I had it and I would be surprised if my usage does not decrease. Nice to have the choice though.

 

[stephg]

Just did it

It's almost midnight and I've been debating all day whether to activate my 3G. I finally decided to go ahead and do it. Then I was worried I was too late, since I didn't know if the cutoff was midnight my time or what. Well, I did successfully activate the unlimited 29.99 plan, so I'll see how much I use it for the next month and decide whether or not to continue it. I am definitely dropping my iPhone plan to the low level, so that would help pay for it if I decide to keep it. I figured it was worth the $30 to have the opportunity to stay on this plan.

 

[Chimera-se]

Good job stephg! A good decision made in the final hour. Better to at least have the option now and keep it if you want, then to never have it at all!

 

[Zazoh]

Not sure I follow your logic. ATT changed the plan so abruptly b/c iPad owners were using more data than anticipated. Now they have even more iPad owners using even more data. I doubt they are happy about that. If they were making money on the $30 plan they would not have dumped it.

Not necessarily, AT&T admitted only 2% of users were classified as heavy users. They offer a lower plan for light users but know most will be fearful of going over that and stay where they are. Playing on that same fear they say if you are grandfathered you are okay. Oh, and we'll give you time to grandfather.

There has been a rush of activations and folks saying they will now lock in monthly. The fad of turning off WiFi will subside, only 2% of users will be heavy and AT&T wins all around. If wecdon't think they thought this out, we are underestimating big business. While data modles are new, they've been doing this with phone minutes all along.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Not necessarily, AT&T admitted only 2% of users were classified as heavy users. They offer a lower plan for light users but know most will be fearful of going over that and stay where they are. Playing on that same fear they say if you are grandfathered you are okay. Oh, and we'll give you time to grandfather.

There has been a rush of activations and folks saying they will now lock in monthly. The fad of turning off WiFi will subside, only 2% of users will be heavy and AT&T wins all around. If wecdon't think they thought this out, we are underestimating big business. While data modles are new, they've been doing this with phone minutes all along.

Say you have a pie with 100 pieces and 100 guests, but 2 people are fast eaters and manage to gobble down 25 pieces each. 2% are using 50% of the available pie leaving the other 98% to fight over the remaining 50%.

2% in the abstract is a small number. In reality it depends on the circumstances.

 

[Mitchrapp]

It's only a 5 dollar difference, right? 30, unlimited, 25, 2G? I have a wifi only but later this summer I was going to get a 3G for some serious travel for work. I guess I'll go Mifi, but those are a bit more expensive aren't they?

Now I want some pie.

 

[barkomatic]

Say you have a pie with 100 pieces and 100 guests, but 2 people are fast eaters and manage to gobble down 25 pieces each. 2% are using 50% of the available pie leaving the other 98% to fight over the remaining 50%.

2% in the abstract is a small number. In reality it depends on the circumstances.

This sounds like one our staff lunches at work. We definitely have a few people here who eat a lot of pie.

 

[Dapper]

The latest info from AT&T indicates that as long as you purchased it before 6/7, you can get the unlimited data plan. However, unless you are among the 2% data hog figure, you will save money going with a lesser plan.

I just checked my account and it lists 3 separate plans, 250MB, 2gig and unlimited. Is there any indication how long the grandfathered rates will be available. I currently have the 250MB. Yes it is June 7th.

 

[Chimera-se]

Let's not forget that the new plan doesn't even offer an unlimited option. I get the people saying they're not heavy users, but for AT&T not even to offer an unlimited option, even at a higher price for instance, is messed up. There are a lot of people who would pay for the service, even at a high premium, to have it. Don't tell me how to use the Internet AT&T. Oh well, it's most frustrating for people who haven't even bought the device, ya know?

 

[boltjames]

Today I checked my Cellular Data Account page ten times on my iPad, just to see those beautiful words "Unlimited Domestic Data" and then I pinch myself just to make sure it's real.

BJ

Posted from my iPad 3G/64GB/$829/UDP/$365