iPhone Users: "Suck It!", says AT&T

[Sofaspud]

http://www.pcworld.com/ar...nlimited_data_plans.html
I'm not an iPhone user (not for lack of desire, but lack of funds), so this doesn't affect me directly.  But I can't help but see this as a money-grab by AT&T.  I have a long history in the wireless market working for providers; I *know* how expensive it is to deploy new and upgrade old infrastructure.  It's a right pain in the ass, it really is.  But you have to look at long-term goals, and I don't think AT&T remembered that here.  They're panicking about network congestion and bleeding coffers and trying to solve it in the time-honored Corporate fashion, which is to say, stick it to the users, they're sheep and don't mind being sheared.
Bad AT&T.  Yeah, your legalese covers you in court, and you can change the terms at any time, like you're doing... but legalese doesn't help with consumer opinion.  And I hope this bites you in the ass.

--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs

[OpMegs]

Heh....well. I can see the other smartphone/blackberry providers lining up to gobble up the userbase bits that this'll dislodge from AT&T. Dunno if I'll be one of them. Depends on if that statement about "you don't *have* to switch plans." stays that way.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

[Sweno]

well from all the rumor mongering I've been hearing AT&T exclusivity is over within a week (whenever the apple yerba buena center thing is happening).

And everyone who is currently a member is grandfathered in, so I don't have to worry about anything. I'll probably be jumping ship to somone else when my contract expires through.

sucks for the people who bought those 3g ipads though.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[Rod.H]

Isn't the Death Star trying to get their smartphone/iPhone/iPad customers to use their wifi hotspots in preference to 3G in an attempt to reduce the congestion in the major cities.

[OpMegs]

well from all the rumor mongering I've been hearing AT&T exclusivity is over within a week (whenever the apple yerba buena center thing is happening).

And everyone who is currently a member is grandfathered in, so I don't have to worry about anything. I'll probably be jumping ship to somone else when my contract expires through.

sucks for the people who bought those 3g ipads though.

I'm curious about this. What companies are looking at picking up the iPhone contracts? AT&T isn't...bad, by any means, but this new plan is enough to have me considering alternatives. I'd just be annoyed if I had to buy a new phone to avoid it.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

[Black Aeronaut]

Sounds like other phones like the Android are gonna start going gang-busters here. There's a reason why my Dad hasn't bought a smart-phone yet.

Funny thing: iPhones aren't exclusive to one carrier here in Japan. One more thing you gotta love about this country.

[Kurisu]

This is causing an interesting ripple effect through the other companies... The only one who stated they won't consider it is Sprint.
_____
DEATH is Certain. The hour, Uncertain...

[Herr Bad Moon]

I now feel even less like I was settling when I bought my Droid Eris last saturday because I didn't want to switch to AT&T.
---
Jon
"And that must have caused my dad's brain to break in half, replaced by a purely mechanical engine of revenge!"