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I have a feeling Apple wasn't really expecting AT&T's change.

F

fs454

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Dec 7, 2007
1,987
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Los Angeles / Boston
Apple's website still boasts about the "groundbreaking new plan" from AT&T, $29.99 for unlimited.


Wouldn't they have put some kind of notification up, or is there one that I'm not seeing?
 
I'm shocked that Apple didn't force them to keep the original plan in place for at least a year.
One month after the release of the 3G model... Really AT&T, really???
 
I have a feeling this is AT&T's way of getting back at Apple for not agreeing to some kind of behind the scenes negotiating to extend the iphone exclusivity contract. This simply can't be good for future ipad 3G sales, here in the US at least.
 
if i was apple i would ship all 3g units unlocked and let the end user choose which carrier they want to work with.

f' at&t.
 
patp said:
if i was apple i would ship all 3g units unlocked and let the end user choose which carrier they want to work with.

f' at&t.
Click to expand...

They're already unlocked. They just happen to ship with an at&t sim card for "ease of use" to get started immediately if you wanted to.
 
Hammie said:
So does AT&T's. What's your point? The new plans do not start until the 7th. Why would they need to update them now?
Click to expand...

Because they have no stock and it's taking time to ship....so if I am looking to purchase today under the thought based on the information from the websites that I will be getting unlimited, and I receive it on the 8th after the change and look to activate the unlimited plan....common courtesy is to disclose the announcement so I can make my buying decision with all information up front instead of finding out after the fact.
 
AT&T probably underestimated the amount of iPads that would sell during 2010. Now that sales are insane, they're doing the legwork to see if their network will hold the traffic, and the answer was a resounding "no". Hence, they had to do something to limit traffic.

Just a guess.
 
3goldens said:
of course apple knew what they were doing.
Click to expand...

I personally think that Apple was in the dark, or at the very least knew about it but continue to stay quiet in order to be able to point the finger that this is all AT&T's doing.

This move is really not Apple's style at all. They have and continue to tout and advertise the "breakthrough deal" with AT&T to activate and suspend an "unlimited" data plan on the iPad on an as-needed basis. Any reasonable person would believe this plan was going to be available for the foreseeable future and I'm sure it was from Apple's end. Apple has never been one to peddle a "less is more" mentality.
 
jamesryanbell said:
AT&T probably underestimated the amount of iPads that would sell during 2010. Now that sales are insane, they're doing the legwork to see if their network will hold the traffic, and the answer was a resounding "no". Hence, they had to do something to limit traffic.

Just a guess.
Click to expand...

And upgrading your network to handle increased load isn't in AT&T's plans.
 
WilliamG said:
Absolutely. Given the shipping times and the fact that I bet a TON of prospective iPad buyers have NO idea about AT&T's change to their T&C, Apple really should update their site to reflect the June 7 changes.
Click to expand...

I bet there will be several complaints and a lot of returned ipads for those customers who had been expecting an unlimited plan, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of those people try to sue because they bought it under the impression that they would be getting the $30 unlimited plan.
 
DougFNJ said:
Because they have no stock and it's taking time to ship....so if I am looking to purchase today under the thought based on the information from the websites that I will be getting unlimited, and I receive it on the 8th after the change and look to activate the unlimited plan....common courtesy is to disclose the announcement so I can make my buying decision with all information up front instead of finding out after the fact.
Click to expand...

AT&T did a press releAse announcing the changes, and most major media outlets covered it. It was obviously sufficient enough to get the word out, as evidenced by your post.

There's your common courtesy.
 
ReallyBigFeet said:
AT&T did a press releAse announcing the changes, and most major media outlets covered it. It was obviously sufficient enough to get the word out, as evidenced by your post.

There's your common courtesy.
Click to expand...

I am an enthusiast who regularly frequents many technology based websites, so I would probably know a lot easier than one that does not frequent sites like these. Common courtesy is an asterisk after the advertisement:

*Unlimited offer good until June 7th
 
old-wiz said:
And upgrading your network to handle increased load isn't in AT&T's plans.
Click to expand...

Upgrading a network doesn't just happen overnight. He made a good point, they probably underestimated it and with the iphone 4G coming out they're scared of all the complaints and angry customers that will be complaining about poor 3G data speeds.
 
Hammie said:
So does AT&T's. What's your point? The new plans do not start until the 7th. Why would they need to update them now?
Click to expand...

Maybe...just maybe the point is no one who orders an iPad today (based on the shipping window) will get the plans being advertised.

But I am guessing that does not impact you...so who cares:rolleyes:

It may be legal but it is not right.
 
There are posts in these forums of some users dowloading as much as 20 and 30 GIGABYTES of data in a matter of weeks on the unlimited plan. That's "giga"bytes! If you want to throttle somebody for this change, blame these gluttons. I am lucky if I take 200mb a month on my $30 iPhone unlimited plan, as I'm sure lots of others are.

How on earth is downloading 34gb in 2 weeks from AT&T's battered network right and just for the rest of us? These data pigs should pay more than I do, in my opinion.

Is an all you can eat buffet at a restaurant truly that? You can't set up a cot and move in, now can you, gourging yourself until you explode, leaving nothing for anyone else, can you?

Homer Simpson: "But the sign said 'all you can eat!'" :)
 
fs454 said:
Apple's website still boasts about the "groundbreaking new plan" from AT&T, $29.99 for unlimited.


Wouldn't they have put some kind of notification up, or is there one that I'm not seeing?
Click to expand...

You may be absolutely right!!! And, along with that, AT&T may very well be expecting Apple to release a Verizon model.
 
I'm not sure how anyone thought the original plan would work.

AT&T's network was incapable of handling the current demand let alone what the iPad might bring. They grossly underestimated the volumes the iPhone would bring, and then did it again with the iPad.

Their only choice was to curb volumes or watch their network completely fail. Increasing cost is the most effective way to limit volumes. They'll loose some business as a result but it may actually increase revenue and performance long term.

I think they are vile for the way they went about it and think Apple was stupid if they believed AT&T in the first place. Maybe now Apple will spread the data demand across all carriers here in the US and everyone will be happier.
 
If the reason for the change is the abuse by some individuals, why don't put a cap on the unlimited and leave the rest as is?

Nah, there is much more than overuse. AT&T is reacting to something we haven't heard about yet.
 
gatearray said:
There are posts in these forums of some users dowloading as much as 20 and 30 GIGABYTES of data in a matter of weeks on the unlimited plan. That's "giga"bytes! If you want to throttle somebody for this change, blame these gluttons. I am lucky if I take 200mb a month on my $30 iPhone unlimited plan, as I'm sure lots of others are.

How on earth is downloading 34gb in 2 weeks from AT&T's battered network right and just for the rest of us? These data pigs should pay more than I do, in my opinion.

Is an all you can eat buffet at a restaurant truly that? You can't set up a cot and move in, now can you, gourging yourself until you explode, leaving nothing for anyone else, can you?

Homer Simpson: "But the sign said 'all you can eat!'" :)
Click to expand...

So far as iPhones go, I agree those numbers are excessive. The iPad is a different matter entirely. Its been built to consume, and it even has models whose primary reason for existence is to do this consumption over a cellular network. The iPad 3G is overpriced if the 3G is only meant for emergency, or otherwise rare use.

Failure to plan on their part isn't our fault. If their network can't handle the iPad they should have said this to Apple so they could bring it to a carrier that can. I feel lucky to have gotten mine before it was scheduled to ship. If I hadn't, I'd miss the grandfather window of opportunity.
 
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