Last week, we confirmed plans to make FaceTime available over our mobile broadband network for our AT&T Mobile Share data plan customers.
FaceTime is a video chat application that has been pre-loaded onto every AT&T iPhone since the introduction of iPhone 4. Customers have been using this popular app for several years over Wi-Fi. AT&T does not have a similar preloaded video chat app that competes with FaceTime or any other preloaded video chat application. Nonetheless, in another knee jerk reaction, some groups have rushed to judgment and claimed that AT&T’s plans will violate the FCC’s net neutrality rules. Those arguments are wrong.
Providers of mobile broadband Internet access service are subject to two net neutrality requirements: (1) a transparency requirement pursuant to which they must disclose accurate information regarding the network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of their broadband Internet access services; and (2) a no-blocking requirement under which they are prohibited, subject to reasonable network management, from blocking applications that compete with the provider’s voice or video telephony services.
AT&T’s plans for FaceTime will not violate either requirement. Our policies regarding FaceTime will be fully transparent to all consumers, and no one has argued to the contrary. There is no transparency issue here.
Nor is there a blocking issue. The FCC’s net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones. Indeed, the rules do not require that providers make available any preloaded apps. Rather, they address whether customers are able to download apps that compete with our voice or video telephony services. AT&T does not restrict customers from downloading any such lawful applications, and there are several video chat apps available in the various app stores serving particular operating systems. (I won’t name any of them for fear that I will be accused by these same groups of discriminating in favor of those apps. But just go to your app store on your device and type “video chat.”) Therefore, there is no net neutrality violation.
Although the rules don’t require it, some preloaded apps are available without charge on phones sold by AT&T, including FaceTime, but subject to some reasonable restrictions. To date, all of the preloaded video chat applications on the phones we sell, including FaceTime, have been limited to Wi-Fi. With the introduction of iOS6, we will extend the availability of the preloaded FaceTime to our mobile broadband network for our Mobile Share data plans which were designed to make more data available to consumers. To be clear, customers will continue to be able to use FaceTime over Wi-Fi irrespective of the data plan they choose. We are broadening our customers’ ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience.
We will be monitoring the impact the upgrade to this popular preloaded app has on our mobile broadband network, and customers, too, will be in a learning mode as to exactly how much data FaceTime consumes on those usage-based plans. We always strive to provide our customers with the services they desire and will incorporate our learnings from the roll-out of FaceTime on our mobile broadband network into our future service offerings.
Have you no shame?
Your customers pay you for data. They don’t pay you for “data but only in applications AT&T deems appropriate”. If you disagree, then perhaps you should turn your business over to someone who actually has respect for their customers and gives them what they pay for.
It’s time AT&T learns their place. Their place is providing the data for a fee. Which apps use that data should be left up to the customer.
I think this policy sucks. I’m really disappointed that you haven’t embraced network neutrality or built up your network so it can handle the additional bandwidth. The fact is, I’m paying per GB, so why wouldn’t you allow me to use services that increase the amount I use every month.
In addition, I can still barely make calls from my house.
So basically..your network is not strong enough to handle it, yet you charge an arm and a leg for service. Ha.
Bob, You may be right that AT&T’s FaceTime policy is in technical compliance with net neutrality rules. However, that far from justifies the policy in the first place. I have been a loyal AT&T Wireless (ne Cingular) customer since the first iPhone was released, and am generally satisfied with the service. However, introduction of this policy, and the specious justifications that accompany it, go a long way toward making me re-evaluate my contract when it next comes up for renewal.
Sincerely,
Cecil North
While that is true, AT&T has proven that it cares more about getting more dollars than its customers. At&T, you suck, and I’m leaving you when my contract is up in 2 months. I’m also rallying my friends with AT&T to do the same.
So basically you’ve oversold your network and can’t allow more people to approach their contractually agreed to data cap and are using a loophole for preloaded apps as a means of blocking a bandwidth intensive application. And on top of that, you’re pretending that AT&T, not Apple provides these applications “free of charge”.
I’m not with AT&T, but I don’t like the precedent you’re setting for my carriers here in Canada.
Been using AT&T wireless for over 12 years, but I will be leaving next month and taking my three iPhone plans with me. I am sick and tired of being over-charged for data, being capped and throttled EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE UNLIMITED DATA PLAN, and the $$$ I pay you jokers every month. Have one watching your customers leave, one by one.
Goodbye, AT&T. After breathlessly signing up with the 2007 launch of the iphone and upgrading every year since, we are done with you. Come 9/21 I will gladly pay your f-ing ETF and subscribe to your competitor that acknowledges that DATA is DATA and I ALREADY PAY FOR IT.
I’ve been with AT&T for 4 years, will leave.. Today’s announcement from AT&T does not convince me they have us in their best interest.
So if FaceTime was downloaded through the App Store you would have to allow it over 3G per the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules? If this was true, why is Verizon Wireless allowing it to satisfy its neutrality clause in its spectrum? Oh wait. It’s because you want to move customers to a more expensive plan and use FaceTime via 3G as an incentive to do so.
data is data AT&T, 1s and 0s.. there is NO distinction..
you’re one of the largest carriers in the world, with probably the deepest pockets, yet carriers up north, Rogers, Bell, TELUS who have less capital are able to build a network and not nickel and dime the consumers for this…
I can’t decide if you PR department is stupid, and thinks it can fool consumers in a digital age, or if you’re all that greedy..
personally I hope Apple bars the sale of iphones on your network..
Agree with the above comments. Your justification holds no water when your customers are paying out the nose for service. Grandfathered unlimited users should receive the unlimited data they signed up for at the beginning; if your company wishes to throttle at a certain amount, i.e. 3 or 5GB, then do it, but allow us to use those 3 or 5GB as we see fit. RIght now, the way your mobile share plans are priced, I would be paying an extra $30 a month relative to what I pay now; I do not fear running out of data alotment despite having unlimited right now as I still use 3-4GB a month max, but the increase in price is ridiculous, particularly when it is forced on customers who have been clients for >7 years.
I do NOT need unlimited talking. If you as a company can come up with a mix and match where I get a data share while retaining my current minutes plan, then we can talk. Until then, I am signing the FCC petition because AT&T is clearly screwing its customers over by forcing them into more lucrative packages that they do not need.
This makes no sense. I can stream Netflix all day, or Skype, or even Youtube using the built in browser – all over 3G, but I cant use FaceTime over 3G?
Attaching this to the new data plans only makes it worse. How is someone with a legacy 2GB data plan, any different from someone with a new tiered plan with 2GB?
Blocking the umlimited users is bad enough, but blocking the other tiered users is just plain nonsense.
I know SOMEONE at AT&T must know this, and brought up these concerns. You guys just need to start listening to them.
Once again, AT&T, you prove that you care about money first, customers last. Every time you open your mouth out comes nothing but empty promises and blatant lies.
You seriously are the worst at customer service.
“Constantly strive to give customers what they want…”
Haha. Is that what you people tell yourselves to fall asleep at night?
Data is data. Your Shared Data Plan is just a book keeping protocol. I, like a large number of your customers, only have one device on your network. Why should we get a Shared Data plan? You do no limit Skype over cellular to Shared Plans. Mr Quinn you offer a bogative answer to a question that was not asked. This reminds me of the tethering issue that faced AT&T. Ultimately you allowed it for an extra fee.
Again data is data. Be it streaming MLB.TV or FaceTime over cellular. We pay for data, let the customer decide how to use the data they are already paying for without any additional loops to jump through.
When I install iOS 6 update that includes Facetime and WASN’T pre-installed on my iPhone, will you allow it to function?
Shame on you At&t. Shame on you. I hope this goes to court and you lose.
One angry customer!
This policy shows contempt for your customers. If I pay for 4 gigs of data I should be able to use it as I like. I don’t know how you can justify this. Showing that you are not violating FCC policy is insufficient. That is your standard of customer service? I will be looking at Verizon when my contract is up. Perhaps then I will be able to make a call from my office.
This is why we jailbreak our phones.
Consider this angle: what about all the hearing-impaired (and interpreting services) that were excited to find that they can call their friends and family over FaceTime? Of course, there are video chat applications that work much like FaceTime but it’s still a choice.
Go with Skype over 3G, AT&T doesn’t blink. But FaceTime, AT&T wants a pound of flesh up front.
Get real.
Bob, you, and AT&T can do what you please. I just called our business rep and canceled 200 lines of service. We’re moving to Verizon. Your service in our city, Chicago, is terrible, and this decision clearly defines to me that AT&T will not be cost effective for us in the long run. Your continued decisions to seek profit at every turn undermine my thin bottom line. Since your business rep doesn’t comprehend or appreciate my company as a customer, it doesn’t hurt to say see you later, AT&T.
How does it feel, Mr. AT&T executive, to be hated by your customers. Fulfilling?
You’re worried about data plans “designed to make more satay available to consumers” being an issue?? Why did you take away unlimited plans then? Better still, what about those customers who are still paying for unlimited plans? Bottom line- this is not about offering better service to your customers this is simply a ploy to push them into more costly data plans.
Having been with you all since 2002 (in the days of AT&T Wireless), I think it’s finally time to move on to a carrier who *will* let me enjoy the features of my phone. Features such as being able to send and receive calls/texts from my home — an issue I have been complaining about since 2007 — as well as using FaceTime over a cellular network that perhaps isn’t so “fragile” and isn’t nearly as costly to use for my entire family.
I’m paying the ETF so I can purchase iPhone 5 on Verizon and enjoy reliable service and LTE coverage.
I don’t think I’ll miss you at all, AT&T. I also think you’re crooks for doubling your ETF fees because your service isn’t compelling enough to keep your customers.
Shame on you AT&T!
This is a disservice to your customers.
In before class-action suit.
Another brick on the wall. I’m headed to Verizon Sept. 21.
Dear Mr. Quinn,
I will leave it to the FCC and various legal experts to determine if this controversial decision violates the letter of the law. What is clear, however, is that this new policy violates the spirit of net neutrality. Surely even you can understand that.
As a long time AT&T customer (including wireless, broadband, TV, and land line), I find the tone of your response to the concerns of your customers and net-neutrality advocates to be unprofessional, inappropriate, disrespectful, condescending and short-sited.
Furthermore, the logic of your response is also flawed. Tiered data plans inherently limit the impact of data-intensive applications on your apparently fragile network by making customer costs prohibitive.
While you may feel that the public response to this new policy is a “knee-jerk reaction”, your reply has cemented in my mind the perception that AT&T views its concerned customers with hostility and contempt.
As such, you can add me and my family to the growing list of dissatisfied and former customers.
For three years I’ve been paying for my unlimited Data plan with AT & T. In that time I have gone over your “soft” ceiling and had my data throttled once. Once in 36 months…and that was only due to being away for on temporary duty for three weeks and I was nowhere near an internet connection. My wife has the 2 GB plan and has never once gone over a GB in here year with a smart phone. I pay for a service and you don’t honor your agreements with us by forcing me to switch my plan. When have you ever not made plenty of money off of my contract? I don’t push the limits of my plan at all, but now I have go to a shared plan that costs more money just so I can use my phone’s full features. Stop playing games in the media pretending your doing something for our benefit. You want to end the unlimited plan, then grow the balls and outright do it and deal with the legal, financial and media backlash. I left your company once and only came back for the iPhone. You’re not the only one with the iphone now. I will only stay as long as it’s cost effective for me.
Let’s sum up… halfway through my billing cycle my wife and I have used a 80mb of her 2 GB and I have used 450mb of an unlimited plan. If your shared plans were cheaper, then I could see myself switching because of my limited usage but it’s cheaper for me to stay this way. I ask once thing though is my unlimited plan really hurting you that much?
I’ve already filed my comments with the FCC for Open Internet rules violation. This new statement from AT&T just shows the current state of the monopoly AT&T has on wireless service. Stating that a phone I paid for, can’t use pre-loaded apps on my internet connection that is metered anyway, is the same as AT&T stating you can’t use an answering machine on a telephone copper circuit without paying AT&T for voicemail service. It’s all about squeezing more money out of consumers who have already had their billing increase from removing all but one text messaging plan, and forcing customers to expensive tiered data plans for tethering in the past year. The reality is that Skype, Fring, Tango, Google+, and other video services are not blocked on AT&T’s network, yet the one reason to own an iPhone, FaceTime, is discriminated against because apple pre-loads the app, is downright shameful. It also prohibits Apple form competing with AT&T because AT&T forces customers to pay for unlimited voice in order to get access to FaceTime over cellular. Let the lawsuits begin, just like in 2009 when AT&T caved in to Skype over 3G.
I for one can’t wait to switch to sprint or t-mobile. I will gladly sign up for their unlimited data that will allow face time. Again At&t shows why they were broken up for being a monoopoly. YOU NEVER PUT THE CONSUMER FIRST!
Sure, but there are two things you neglected.
First, Facetime does compete with your “voice telephony services.” Just because it has more features than your offering does not mean that it does not compete. So your legalistic argument wouldn’t even hold up in court (not that it would ever be challenged in that venue).
But more to the point, any complaints that your policies violate the FCC’s definition of net neutrality are unduly narrow. The problem isn’t that you violate FCC rules, but rather that you are being downright unfriendly to your customers. In this very article, you note requirement #1: transparency about terms. Isn’t AT&T the company that sold “unlimited” cellphone internet plans for several years while limiting the service quite severely?
AT&T. It’s ok. We have found ways to FaceTime over your horrible 3G network currently and I am sure moving forward we will be continuing to do it right under your noses.
Call it what you want but any reasonable person using common sense see’s the truth.
In addition to state that the network can’t handle the capacity, how about laying out plans to expand the capacity? Instead of only restricting the usage – there are 2 options:
1. Charge less for users currently paying the existing rate with the assumption the applications used is unrestricted when they signed up
2. Take the profit earned by AT&T and expand the network capacity
AT&T, your abject greed is disgusting. I’m very glad to have left as soon as my contract ended.
The fact that you are explaining the legality of your decision by a technicality, is disgraceful. What you are doing is not in the SPIRIT of Net Neutrality. It has become clear…you really don’t care about your customers, just making more money. I have been with AT&T since the iPhone 3G, but I’m thinking it’s time to change. Your draconian policies are not in your customers’ best interest, despite what you try to tell us…we know better.
Sprint won’t charge for Facetime over 3G/4G.
So please AT&T, tell us why we should bother staying with you.
It certainly isn’t price. It certainly isn’t customer service. It certainly isn’t your robust network.
I’m honestly struggling to come up with ANY reason to continue doing business with you.
Hahahahaha! AT&T is a joke!
AT&T is nothing but a bit pipe. Reasonable network management of these bits if fine but this FaceTime policy is a joke.
The carriers have failed. They’ve talked about providing fancy data services for YEARS but it took an outside company (Apple) to show them how to create a compelling platform.
But what else would we expect from an industry that has monopolistic roots in Ma Bell?
The industry is rife with bureaucracy, waste and poor management and it leverages its exclusive broadcast licenses (granted by the FCC) to prop up a business model long overdue for some serious house cleaning.
And let’s not forget that this company rerouted all domestic network traffic to the NSA! 611 Folsom Street, Room 641A will not be forgotten. According to reports this program is still in operation.
Let me simplify this for you Bob: AT&T charges a monthly fee for data transmission. How the customer chooses to use that data transmission allowance — whether for downloading apps, streaming video, tethering, or using Facetime — should be entirely up to the customer, not AT&T. It is really that simple.
Every AT&T customer I know is disgusted by AT&T’s policies on data, including tethering charges and now this Facetime policy. We will all leave AT&T at the earliest possible moment.
This response is simply drawn from one fact about many U.S. businesses: fear. They are so afraid that profits will drop or customers will *gasp!* use the services they pay for, that they basically hedge their bets instead of providing what the customers want. I don’t see FaceTime as a particularly unorthodox application. And it sounds like they are using a loophole in the FCC Net Neutrality rules to disallow it. “Oh, it only works on apps you download, not preinstalled apps.” What’s the difference? Oh, right, you can’t control that aspect of the phone, therefore you block it. If you provide a good service and your customers are happy, guess what! You’ll get MORE customers and if you do things right, you’ll steal from Big Red and others. The trends lately have several of the underdogs and pay-as-you-go services booming compared to the big contract-based companies. Come on AT&T, let’s start listening to the customers.
This will make people do one of three things
#1: Make people leave AT&T for a better network.
#2: Make people have a worse experience at AT&T, by downloading a 3rd party app that doesn’t work as well.
#3: Make people pay more money for a service they’re already paying for.
Either way, nobody benefits. You’ll get a higher percentage of users on your shared plans, because people will be either leaving AT&T all together, or spending their money on something they don’t even need.
*Applause* Bravo AT&T! When it comes to finding a loophole, you’re an Expert!
Isn’t the restriction of services one of the many reasons the American Public decided to bust you folks up back in the 80s?!!
Talk about getting back to your roots!
If I pay for 5GB of data, what adverse network impact does it have if I decide to use all 5GB on viewing web sites, Youtube videos, cat GIFs, or Facetime? It’s the same 5GB going over your lines. I paid for it. Just give it to me. If you won’t, somebody else will (unless you buy them all out, nice try with TMobile by the way).
at&t, slowly but surely, you will go out of business. Insha Allah.
Figures, I never thought for one min that ATT would be able to handle facetime over 3g. Just another fail for ATT. Congrats.
Kudos, Bob! At least you are being honest with your customers and openly admit that you are screwing us. Oh, wait…
AT&T probably the only company hated more than WalMart or the IRS. The prices keep going up and the service keeps going down the tubes.
Wow. Talk about bastardizing the rules of net neutrality. The fact that you actually have the balls to come out and try and justify this action is amazing. I thought throttling the “unlimited” plans at 3GB was bad, but this is just awful.
Dear AT&T
I’ve been an AT&T Wireless customer since 2005. I picked up the first iPhone the day it came out and year after year instead of at least smiling at me and saying thanks for being a customer you come up with new and improved ways to penalize me for being your customer.
You started with a simple $20 a month plan for data, then you jumped to the $30, then you dropped that plan for any new phones and stopped me from using it as a hotspot unless i switched to your new, improved, rip you off plan of not only a per GB price that makes HP’s ink makers jealous of your squeeze.
THen, you upped the minimum plan so the one month I went over my 200MB there was no way for me to go back to 200MB when I switched off to 2GB, and now another $5.
Oh, and then there’s the ‘subscriptions’ i keep getting signed up for $10 here, $10 there, that i have to call and argue with you to stop/get off my account.
Yet, you’re given the spectrum as a monopoly, and then call me al liar for questioning yet another block on using the data I’m paying for without paying you more for it with no guarantee it’ll work.
Note that my unlocked Iphone came directly from Apple so facetime and the phone are Apple products not ATT.
ATT needs to remember that it’s only entrusted with use of the mobile airwaves.
The airwaves are a public trust and their use can be revoked.
ATT is also in danger for losing its status
as a common carrier making it liable for all content on its network.
We buy bits in the air. How we use them is our business not ATT’s.
“To be clear, customers will continue to be able to use FaceTime over Wi-Fi irrespective of the data plan they choose”
Does anyone else have issue with that statement? AT&T could not block Facetime over WIFI even if they wanted to. Oh I am sure they would if they could, in the interest of cheating customers of even more money.
Bob Quinn must be a soul-less lawyer. How else would you explain such tortuous logic to justify this unjustifiable policy?
Perhaps the critics should start to clamor for the FCC and the DOJ to investigate Apple and AT&T for collusion. AT&T claims that FaceTime is a pre-loaded app that is not subject to net-neutrality rules – indeed they do not block competitor video and voice apps, as the rules require.
But wait, Apple DOES block those apps by not allowing them onto the AppStore – and by those apps I am not referring to Skype, but to other voice and video apps that want to use the FaceTime protocols to interoperate with the “preloaded” app.
So Apple is in bed with AT&T here to effectively allow the network provider to skirt net-neutrality rules by doing the dirty business of blocking off the competition from the AppStore.
To hell with the two of you. My next phone will be an Android on any network but AT&T.
I had considered moving to AT&T when the next iPhone comes out. I can promise you with 100% certainty that that isn’t going to happen now. I don’t even really care about FaceTime. What I care about is doing business with a company that is as petty as AT&T. AT&T should worry about doing the right thing, not proving they might be technically right due to some loophole in FCC regulations. Sucks for you, as I would’ve been throwing quite a bit of $ your way.
I don’t doubt you already ran this through your legal department and got the go ahead, but this is still a disgrace for your company. There are better solutions to network and data management than to start limiting which apps are allowed per plan. With this you’ve clearly chosen a limited short term fix with no regard for the customers. I understand your upset you lost the bid to purchase a competitor, but throwing a fit to prove just how fragile your company is hardly the best solution.
AT&T had two choices, focus on the future by revamping and improving existing services gradually, or cut your loses and milk what you have left for all its worth until a complete restructuring is required of the company and then reap the benefits of “too big to fail”. It’s a real shame you went with the short term payout.
Thinly veiled attempt to get people off their unlimited plans. So waiting on my contract to end!
As a long-time AT&T customer with multiple phones and data plans, I’m appalled at this explanation.
Data is data and it’s quite clear that you are using a loophole in the law to distinguish between installed and pre-installed apps. I’m sure the intent of the law was for both types.
I am currently out of contract but a few of my family members are not. If this type of policy goes forward, I assure you that I will take our $200/month and move to a carrier that has more respect for its customers.
I dropped AT&T years ago because of it’s crap of limitations on phones and services. This is all the more reason to get my iPhone with Verizon.
You are supposed to be a dumb bit-pipe. You carry data for your customers. What that data contains is none of your business.
Mr Quinn, thank you for cleverly, albeit somewhat churlishly, laying out AT&T’s position: You’ve identified a loophole that allows you to further exploit customers and you’re doing so. I would expect nothing less of AT&T. Naively, I once respected the brand name AT&T. I was excited to become a customer, after years with Sprint, when I bought my first iPhone. Six years of being a customer of AT&T has inspired a hatred of your company like none I have ever felt before. Your brand stands for contempt for the customer, poor service, poor planning, and lack of quality. I’m counting the days until I can say goodbye to AT&T forever. This post serves as the sprinkles on the icing on the cake further validating my decision – so for that, again, thank you. And goodbye.
” We are broadening our customers’ ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience.”
I am confused… can your network not handle the 4GB dataplan it sold me? What does it matter if I am pulling data from Facetime or Skype? You sold me 4GB of data, and our contract says you will provide 4GB of data.
You shouldn’t have sold me a plan, if you were “concerned” I may actually use it.
So your network can’t hold up facetime? You’re just driving customers away for no apparent reason…
While AT&T might not be breaking any neutrality rules with this decision, I getting tired of having to pay additional fees for the bandwidth I have already purchased. As a subscriber for 6+ years, I’ll be looking into alternatives on 9/21.
PR 101 Lesson: If your customers feel that you’ve made a bad policy decision, don’t get on your high horse and tell them how you are legally entitled to do so. Arrogant prickery isn’t the “customer-friendly” face of Verizon that you want people to see.
AT&T, do you ever read these comments? I think not. This isn’t the first time subscribers voiced their concern, and I haven’t seen AT&T take any steps. Still, I would add my comment here just because your actions are much too illogical for me to remain quiet.
iPhone came to the market with unlimited data plan, which was eventually replaced by tiered plans. Tethering was counted as seperate service. Grandfathered unlimited data plan has then seen throttling after 3gigs, which makes the connection useless once throttling starts, irrespective of network congestion. And now this – isolating an app on the phone and stopping it to be used on 3G/4G unless a specific data plan is purchased, irrespective of the bandwidth a customer has left in his data plan. You are systematically making your customers pay more for each and every added service while also making some of the existing services worse.
The obvious retort is that you are unable to meet the demand for data. But this demand did not grow in a week, a month or even a year. iPhone came to market in 2007. It’s 2012 now. Indications of increased data usage have been there all along, still a hugely profitable telecom company like you are caught off guard year after year.
After being with AT&T for more than 7 years, I think it’s now time for me to move. I have been thinking about changing service for some time now. Thanks for making it easier for me to take a decision. Wish you all the best screwing your customers.
at&t, do what you must, and i shall i do i must.
Hey AT&T we get it. You hate the iPhone, a device which has given you incredible market share in the past. You aren’t allowed to pre-load any of your crappy software or restrict the phone the way you do with other phones you sell. So instead you restrict the access to your cellular data network. Your brilliant new shared data plans are provide no value at all to the consumer. You are simply using the shared data plans as a proverbial carrot to entice those still on the grandfathered unlimited data plan to give up the plan. Once I am forced off your unlimited data plans, you will lose 6 personal phones and some 30 that my company has. I’m as loyal to you, as you are to your customers.
Sweet, you just made the decision about my switching to Verizon or Sprint for me. Thanks!
I think James above said it best:
“AT&T charges a monthly fee for data transmission. How the customer chooses to use that data transmission allowance — whether for downloading apps, streaming video, tethering, or using Facetime — should be entirely up to the customer, not AT&T. It is really that simple.”
The idea of paying more for a specific usage of data is simply ludicrous. I have been an AT&T customer for a decade (yes, even before the iPhone) but I think this will be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Your networks Bad
And you should feel bad
I can’t wait until customer’s finally have enough of your ridiculous tactics and drop off your network. My plan for the day is to find a new provider and switch ASAP. I’ll even pay more on principle. Because you guys are among the lowest of the bottom feeders that exist with your policies. These tactics are as ridiculous as trying to charge people separate rates for email, Facebook or Twitter access. I’d give up my cellphone altogether before I support a company with a mindset like this.
That is one of the most laughably dishonest and pathetically lame justifications for blatantly breaking the law that I have read. AT&T, why don’t you try making money by providing desirable value to your customers, instead of by cheating and screwing them over?
You will be losing me as a customer soon now hat Virgin has provided a more palatable alternative.
Shame on you!
Yet another reason to drop AT&T (or any contract carrier for that matter). I just gave AT&T the boot, paying two early termination fees, so I could switch to a prepaid MVNO with unlimited voice/text/data for $45/month… AT&T isn’t going to change while everyone is feeding them money.
cough… Verizon… cough…cough… Massive LTE …cough…
I left Alltel for AT&T because of the iPhone. I’m a single user with one device. When the 4/4S came to Verizon, I didn’t see a reason to switch because the service and price, to me, was pretty comparable. You have now given me a reason. I really enjoy Facetime. How dare you try and dictate how I can and can’t use my data! I don’t care if you do a 180 on this new policy. This is downright disrespectful. I’m not under contract and gone once the next iPhone comes out.
I’ve been with AT&T for years, 3 mobile lines, home DSL line, home phone line all on a FAN account.
But AT&T’s general unwillingness to put their customers first is leading me to leave AT&T for other, better, services.
Come September, I’m dropping my mobile lines for Verizon due to AT&T stupid policies on data usage and what can be used as data. I’ll also be dropping my home phone and DSL line for Comcast due to the fact AT&T is unwilling to provide Uverse to my home (although the houses right down the street have no problem getting in).
Goodbye AT&T, your poor customer service and silly policies are going to drive all your customers away.
I can’t decide if I’m disgusted or amused.
Your company posted the highest net income and profits of _ANY_ telecom company last year. Instead of doing the smart thing (considering this is certainly not the first time you’ve complained that your infrastructure is out of date and overloaded) and investing in your network, you lined your pockets with the spare cash and decided to nickle and dime your paying customers to death, insult their collective intelligence, and worst of all, repress their freedom.
Truly disgusting.
But as I said, amusing. I will greatly enjoy watching your customers revolt, and you getting the backhand from the judiciary branch of our government you deserve.
I hope your executives all negotiated cushy severance packages.
To paraphrase my favorite saying, “Give me my unlimited data plan back…”
AT&T now charges based on data usage. If a customer pays for 2 GB per month, it should be none of AT&T’s business HOW that 2 GB is used.
Streaming video, video chat, email, file services like dropbox, tethering, etc – none of that should matter because it all uses that 2 GB ALREADY PURCHASED!
I just wanted to thank you for confirming the decision I made to use one of your Competitors for both of our iPhones. AT&T has done nothing but view their customers with contempt and dollar signs in their eyes.
Way to find loopholes and avoid doing the right thing, providing customer server and investing in the network that made your company a player in the market. Your infrastructure is crumbling and your customers are realizing how poorly you treat them as well as your product.
No one recalls when AT&T sat in front of Congress and explained how Text Messages were expensive to carry over their network? The 5K of data that a message used was somehow harder to handle than a voice call?
Nothing new here. AT&T will continue to screw the consumer as long as they can get away with it. Go Elsewhere, as fast as you can.
Thank you for calling us stupid and then saying that we should be glad for it. As an AT&T customer who has watched other carriers surpass AT&T’s quality in every regard and yet stuck with them (because of a hefty corporate discount), I think I am finally done. Verizon, here I come.
Already made my mind up a few months ago. This solidified it. I will not be renewing my contract with AT&T because of a myriad of problems, including wasted federal funds (not using fund to bolster network), restrictive data plans, and awful customer service / sales. It’s like they want people to leave in droves.
AT&T, why do I need to pay more for a mobile share plan in order to use data that I already pay for however I like? I have one iPhone, yeah that’s it one iphone on my plan. My ipads are wifi only so why would I need to pay more for a shared data plan when I have only one cellular device?? Why on earth do you think you should charge people more for a different plan just to use a new feature over your service when they already pay for a data plan and know what happens if they go over their cap? Do you have no ethics or social responsibility? You do know that most of your customers have options for iPhone service in their areas now, right? I can switch to verizon or sprint and I’m sure get the same or similar coverage in my area. Please try to stop being so damn greedy. You make tons of money off every iphone or ipad plan already, just let people use their data however they need. Oh and btw, I’m not up for an upgrade but am seriously thinking of paying my early termination fee and giving you the big FU over this. And one more thing. I dont really even use FaceTime, but this is a prime example of AT&T thinking like ma bell years ago and assuming their customers have no choice but tpo bend over and take whatever you give them. Well, welcome to the 21st century. I for one won’t continue to take your greedy abuse. I have a choice of carrier when I get a new iphone.
As an ATTWS customer since 1997, I’ve tired of the selective blocking/enabling tactics by your company. Last week, your company made that announcement, and I followed up by terminating my iPhone 4 devices and selling them, moving 6 of my 8 lines to Verizon, and replacing my remaining two smartphone lines with voice-only, non-data/text Motorola dumb phones (resurrected from their boxes) to the remaining legacy family plan. So, for now, I’ll be spending about $40 on your network now (we’re out of contract so we can leave anytime) instead of $250 each month.
I voted that your strategy doesn’t work for me and my family (read: dissatisfied customer) – voting with my wallet.
FaceTime on the iPhone is not a “pre-installed app” in and of itself. Rather it is PART of an app called “Phone” that is required on the iPhone for it to function AS A PHONE. The functionality is built into the operating system, not an app that can be deleted on a whim.
I believe this does violate net neutrality because AT&T is trying to control HOW I use the data that I PAID for, and limiting which applications I can use to do that in favor of AT&T’s quest to squeeze more money out of their customers.
Also it should be noted that AT&T did not provide functionality for FaceTime to be used over WiFi. FaceTime can be used on ANY WiFi network, not just AT&T. This is something Apple created.
The only thing that has been keeping me as a customer with AT&T has been my “unlimited” data plan. When my contract is up I will be going to another carrier. I’m tired of the draconian tactics this company perpetrates upon their customers.
Step 1. Jailbreak iPhone
Step 2. Do whatever you want regardless of what AT&T and Apple say you should be doing. I’ve been using Facetime over 3G for over a year now.
Empower yourselves.
BooHoo! ATT, you are a deplorable company and have always worked the law to your own benefit, stepping on your customers and milking them for every cent. I was lucky to be released from your grasp and would never re-consider your company for my business. Your greed will get the best of you. then you will hopefully realize that your customers are your business and it isn’t a privilege to be your customer,
This is not complicated. AT&T simply does not have the network capacity for unrestricted FaceTime usage. If you don’t like it, don’t renew your contract. Personally I use Google video chat on Verizon 4G and it works great.
AT&T’s deep reach into my wallet didn’t work for me, so I cancelled my $100+ a month plan and left AT&T. You can do the same.
I joined AT&T from T-mobile when I switched to the iPhone 4S. I did this mostly because AT&T’s data network is faster that Verizon’s. When I bought the new iPad I choose Verizon over AT&T specifically because Verizon allows users to tether their iPad without additional charges beyond the price of the data package.
In 1 year I will be upgrading my iPhone and mobile provider to Verizon.
What I find most amazing is the apparent ambivalence or ignorance of how this will be perceived by the existing customer base. If you anticipate an unsustainable amount of new data traffic on your network that will impact “user experience” then make that your primary communication. Customers would understand and accept a restriction for all while AT&T ensurers that network capacity is sufficient. Instead AT&T has chosen to position FaceTime as a premium service available only to users willing to pay more for it by switching to new plans that are not in their best interests. Customers smell BS and the pre-loaded app argument is just that.
Verizon can expect my business in September when I likely fire AT&T.
AT&T, I’ve seen enough. I’ll be leaving for Verizon when the next iPhone is out.
Thank you for your time.
This FaceTime restriction is just another example of AT&T’s bald-faced anti-customer policies. They see their number one priority as extracting money from customers rather than providing a service for their customers. This may work in the short term, but these ongoing policy decisions will continue to lose AT&T customers in the long run. After about 10 years on AT&T, I’m planning to take my business elsewhere this fall.
AT&T, decisions shouldn’t be about what you’re legally able to get away with, they should be about providing a service people want to use and want to pay for. I’m tired of your excuses.
Nice try – however, the net neutrality rules say “[…] compete with the provider’s voice or video *service* […]” (i.e., the actual voice or video call), nothing about competing with provider’s *applications* which provide such service.
The fact that AT&T is trying to limit making calls is a clear violation of net neutraliity rules and – unless AT&T reverses its stance on the issue – they whould brace themselves for one or more of the possible outcomes of this:
– mass exodus of paying customers
– FCC fine(s)
– class action lawsuit(s)
– even lower public opinion about AT&T
Remember, what counts is the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law…
Once again, AT&T is looking to make us thank them for not being screwed as much as we could have been.
Thanks AT&T. When Google fiber arrives, you will fade away into history.
AT&T seems to forget a vital bit of info here, they are no longer the only ones with Iphone on their network. I’ve been a loyal AT&T customer since the first Iphone. When a company decides not to be loyal to their customers they shall surely suffer the consequences. Talk about laying it up for Verizon to slam home. Verizon can expect a few more lines come iphone5.
Regardless of whether AT&T’s policy is technically not in violation of Net neutrality is besides the point. I’ve been an AT&T user since 2009 on a family plan, and to me it’s just another example of AT&T trying to wean those with grandfathered unlimited plans. For me, they can pry my unlimited plan from my cold dead hands…or when I sent my 270ish dollars a month to another company. I know I won’t have unlimited data any more, but if I switch data plans it sure as hell won’t be on AT&T. Maybe some big red company with more LTE coverage.
I wish Apple still have leverage on AT&T… The iPhone accounts for some 3/4 of all of AT&T’s smartphone sales. They shouldn’t upset there biggest revenue base. Something about biting the hand that feeds you…
Well. If they are only offering to people with “larger” data plans that can accompany is.. what about those of us with our grandfathered unlimited data plans? Hmmm?
LOL. This is why I left AT+T years ago. I’m on a Verizon Unlimited plan, which I can keep forever, and I can tether through.
Here’s hoping the FCC regulates you out of existence.
This is the most unprofessional public statement I have ever read. In effect, you are telling the world, don’t use FaceTime, use someone else’s video chat software. AT&T, there is no difference between what you are and what Ma-Bell was. And for the millions of people who joined your network to obtain the best smart phone ever made, you prevent us from using the software designed by the people who made the phone. It’s pitiful, simply pitiful.
This defensive post completely misses the point. At its core, what is making customers angry about this is not net neutrality. Do you really think the average customer cares about net neutrality? So you came up with a clever way to technically – and just barely – stay in compliance with an industry regulation. Congratulations! All customers see is a clumsy organization trying to funnel us from older, cheaper, better rate plans into more expensive, restrictive rate plans. The fact that older rate plans could not use Facetime via the dataplan was always ridiculous. We saw it as a broken feature that we assumed any decent company would eventually fix. Instead, the “fix” here is AT&T essentially throwing up their hands and admitting defeat. Admitting that they are too incompetent to improve their level of service at a rate their competitors have or their customers demand.
AT&T,
This is a very ingenious idea, if you have a 2 part strategy.
1 Lose enough customer base to allow your next acquisition deal to actually be approved
2 Get you grandfathered unlimited data plans to convert to make up the capital difference
Give us all a shout out and be honest about your intentions and let us know if we have missed any steps.
I feel this new facetime over cellular policy is ridiculous. Myself and my wife have had ATT since the first iphone. I have ATT for my home phone at an investment property, ATT for my home phone at my main residence, ATT Uverse for high speed internet and television as well as Directv which you have a partnership with. Additionaly, I spend over $1,000 per month for ATT at my business which I own. I have had the unlimited data plan since day one and now you want to make me pay MORE money for a simple factime over cellular or MAKE me switch plans when I alredy have unlimited data. I am sorry, but this is bordering on me switching to another carrier for all of my services.
The solution seems quite clear – Apple should turn FaceTime into an App that is downloaded AFTER the user activates the iPhone on AT&T’s network. Effectively giving the App the same “free” access to data (irrespective of data plan) as Skype, Tango, etc. It wouldn’t even need to be a separate App. In the same way that existing Apps can have “in-app” additional downloads, the Phone app could be “enhanced” with a FaceTime addition AFTER the phone was activated.
Thanks for the clarification Bob. It sounds like we need to redo the net neutrality requirements to make them truly neutral.
Very funny! You don’t have a single supporting comment on here. You’ll be apologizing soon enough for even posting such a dumb response. Let the flood gates open!!! Even if you “Reverse” your horrible stance, you’ve shown, once again, your true colors, and many will leave you regardless. This is awesome!!! Can’t wait till this becomes an even more horrid PR nightmare for you. I love telling people great reasons to leave America’s longest running monopoly.
If you restrict FaceTime over cellular in ANY WAY I will cancel my family plan and take my business to Verizon!!
I can use and have been using SKYPE over cellular for years now you want me to change my plan so I can use FaceTime over cellular… i’ts not going to happen.
I pay you for internet access and it should not be up to you how I use it. Frankly, I am sick and tired of you placing restrictions and limitations on a services that I pay you for!
Again, AT&T showing just how little it cares about its customers. Not only does it have the worst coverage in the country, but it also charges you to buy a $300 micro-cell tower to make up for its poor service. Now, it is trying to claim that it is not blocking FaceTime? Tell me AT&T, if I am paying for 3G minutes on my plan, how do you all of a sudden redefine what minutes qualify for this? And how do 3G minutes have anything to do with certain data plans? First you redefine what “unlimited data” means, and now this. The only reason I have stayed with AT&T is because of my unlimited data, but that fact is becoming less and less relevant. And, since AT&T continues to redefine the terms of its contracts with consumers, it only makes it that much easier to legally break your contract with them, with no penalty. To anyone who’d interested, all you have to do is look it up on the internet. It’s all within our rights. Don’t think you have to hold on to that two-year agreement.
PERHAPS it is or isn’t a violation of net neutrality. But it’s certainly not endearing you to your customers, some of whom no longer have contracts, and many of whom now have options (Verizon, Sprint) with the iPhone.
blah blah blah, all this says is you chumps are more interested in gougeing customer than providing a good service. You are a utility. Stop trying to pretend like your are not. This is no different than if ComEd started charging me more for electricity for use in a TV and less in a lamp. It’s underhanded and scummy.
Wanna show AT&T who’s the boss here? If you still have the iPhone 4 and bought it when it came out, your contact is up. Do like many of us plan to and switch to Sprint or Verizon. You can even unlock your phone and go to TMobile. Unlocking is no longer something AT&T can stop you from as long as you’ve completed your required 2 years. I’ve been an AT&T customer since the late 90s and this is what they’ve come to, technicalities on whether or not they can screw customers. Enough AT&T… you’re not the only provider here.
If the throttling of unlimited data plans over 3G wasn’t enough to make me leave AT&T this certainly is. I’ll be migrating to mobile share (assuming it doesn’t extend my contracts and trigger new early-termination fee timelines) and migrating to Sprint as soon as my contracts end (or I may even eat those termination fees). This is just ridiculous. AT&T’s data limitations have pissed me off for too long. I’m out!
I just wish more people could afford to follow suit. Unfortunately for the majority of people there’s probably some fine print preventing this limitation from being considered a change to their services (since FaceTime has never been offered via 3G before) and as such termination fees would still apply. Until enough people decided to **leave** AT&T they’ll keep doing this crap. Be patient and wait out getting your next iPhone until you’re able to afford jumping to another carrier. Anyone is better than AT&T at this point.
I agree with CL’s post. The line that gets me is “…but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience.” I rarely use over 1.2GB/mo. How would I “impact” AT&T’s network by having this feature? They allow me at least 3GB before they begin throttling back my speed. Shouldn’t it be my choice how I want to use my 3GB? I paid for it. This is just another attempt by AT&T to bully customers to newer, more expensive plans. They started this crap by switching the “3G” symbol to “4G” on the last iOS update. Here’s a solution, build a network which has the capability to match what customers are CURRENTLY paying for (i.e. the data amount I’ve paid for) and not limit customers by stating it’s a “new” feature and won’t be allowed on our current plan.
This decision is right up there with Netflix’s brilliant move. P*** off current customers in hope that future accounts will generate more $.
Voice is data, text is data, FaceTime is data. Everything that is transmitted over a cellular connection is data. The only reason some data is more expensive than other data is because AT&T (and all of the other carriers for that matter) are greedy and will use any excuse to pad the bill. This FaceTime policy is the clearest example (as if texting wasn’t) of their avarice yet.
All I’ve got to say is this is total BS. Data is data. When I pay for 3G of data, who cares how I use it? Facetime, Skype, Tango, Netflix, Youtube??? If I go over, that’s my problem, but to tell me that I have to switch to a more expensive plan just to use it it WRONG !!! You are going to lose a lot of customers over this. There are options for us iPhone users – you no longer are exclusive iPhone carrier… Think about what you’re doing…
Thanks again AT&T for doing wrong to your customers. Fix this now – I pay for $30 a month for unlimited data. You shouldn’t be able to tell me how I use my data! Your greed is going to cause me to jump ship with 6 lines/devices.
Basically, you response says that we want to force you to go to a more expensive plan and also adhere to the weak rules of the FCC for Net neutrality. Is there wasn’t such a monopoly over Cell Phone Companies and choice and true competition existed you sir would be out of business. I think AT&T deserves a Chimp Chimp cookie.
#AT&T FACETIME FAIL
There’s sure to be a way to circumvent that just like you were able to circumvent that lame tethering rule. Those control days are over.
In a way, I feel sorry for AT&T and other telcos. Wall Street requires them to show increased revenue and profits every year, but cellphone penetration in the country is close to 100% and smartphone penetration will be getting there soon. That means they have to find a way to extract more and more money from their existing customers. It’s nearly impossible to do without pissing people off…
My sympathies have bounds though. This is just part of a desperate money-grab from a company out of real ideas. Actually innovating and creating value is too much hard work for these people these days…
AT&T is certainly not winning customers over with this half-baked PR-laden corpospeak. They can hardly handle current traffic, so I understand their fear that FaceTime usage will add another blow to a rudimentary network. However, if they can’t handle 2012 technology, I would suggest they hand back the spectrum to the People of the United States of America, so that we can find a competent carrier to whom to lease.
Enough is enough! You just lost another customer.
I have been an ATT mobile subscriber for almost 10 years. Furhter, I have ATT home services and DSL. Recently, ATT policy has really turned away from customer service. I pay for unlimited data that I am grandfathered in to every month, however, I may use no more than 2gb in that 30 day period. In order for me to share that data I would have to pay a separate charge for the SAME data. Now, if on the off chance I am at Disney or on vacation and would want to share the experience I would have to pay another charge to use the same data….oh wait, first I would have to give up my unlimited data plan and join a shared data plan and pay even more for less data. Which is really a mute point since ATT’s idea of “unlimited” data is around a 3gb data cap to where you speed then drops to 4800 baud days. I guess the final insult is that in the past year with the “upgrade” to 3g in my area the amount of dropped calls have increased and the surrounding non-3g areas even edge data in unusable. With the new iphone coming out soon…time to start shopping around. I know in my area sprint has really stepped up and several friends have reported being happy with their service. Why oh why must ATT charge us 2-3 times for the same data and continue to offer poor service?
I have been a customer for years. Your network in Silver Spring, Maryland is horrendous. I cannot every rely on it as anything other than a supplement to my Verizon FiOS connection at home, or my wifi at work.
Every time you open your mouths, out comes another reason to switch to Verizon for wireless.
Wow. I was considering sticking with AT&T because I was planning on moving the to new “Shared Plans” anyway. This one post in its entirely sealed the deal for me. There is absolutely no way I would stay with a company that instead of listening to its customers, posts to their blog saying that our concerns are “knee jerk” reactions.
Simple Fact – Apple comes out with a great feature. AT&T sees this as a way to cash in. No other way to look at it.
Just remember that many of us joined AT&T so international travel would be easy. But now that all carriers have real global options and phones with SIM cards…. we no longer need AT&T to travel around the world. This is just one more reason to look elsewhere. And when phone subsidies go away, that will be it. I will buy my device from the carrier that has the best rates – everything else will be equal.
Sean said: “now you want to make me pay MORE money for a simple factime over cellular or MAKE me switch plans when I alredy have unlimited data. ”
No, it’s worse than that. They don’t want to make you pay more money for Facetime over your unlimited plan. They aren’t making the feature available, period. If you want it, you must give up the unlimited plan.
This just demonstrates that once again AT&T is f***’d up. As the author says, they don’t even have their own alternative to Facetime, how lame is that in 2012?
An appeal to apple: please do not bundle FaceTime with these phones so that I can use it as I can any other app.
As for this statement, I have been a customer with this company for over 10 years. For the first time, because of statements such as this, I will be looking at other cellular companies and most likely will be switching companies once the contract ends. This may mean no launch iPhone for me for the first time. I am sick of this company.
This is so dumb man. Can’t you get it? Giving a legal response to a customer outcry is never a solution. This is like saying because it is legal, we can do it. What about users not accepting this decision and paying you back by moving to another carrier. What will you do then? iPhone is no longer AT&T’s baby. People are looking for these kind of triggers to go away from AT&T and you are giving them exactly that.
I understand your concerned with your networks being able to absorb the traffic, BUT all you are really doing here is charging more money here for a free application that isn’t exclusive to at&t. Besides this PR move being unprofessional, it made it clear that your still going to pad the profit margins line in respect to the customer experience. If your network can’t handle these levels of data consumption than don’t attempt to charge people more for an incomplete network!!
Regardless of the net neutrality act, this decision and defense is a disservice to customers, like myself. Hiding behind a narrow interpretation of the act does not make the restriction more palatable or acceptable when customers on an existing plan must move to a new one for an inherent capability of the device.
Based on your comment:
The FCC’s net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones. Indeed, the rules do not require that providers make available any preloaded apps. Rather, they address whether customers are able to download apps that compete with our voice or video telephony services.
This means that I can remove the preloaded FaceTime and download a non-preloaded version and FaceTime should work over cellular data plan.
This is a slippery slope. I’ll assume that
a) FaceTime as a non-preloaded appliction will work over cellular data (laptop plan) w/o shared data
b) FaceTime over tethered data plan will work (again not-preloaded, and technically, tethered over WiFi to cellular).
What’s next.. charging for iMessage ?
This may not be a violation of FCC net neutrality rules, but it’s certainly a greedy move on AT&T’s part to penalize their most loyal customers, who happen to be grandfathered in to unlimited data plans. Unless a change to this policy is announced, I will be considering a move to your biggest competitor. I moved our family plans to AT&T four years ago, simply because you were the only company in the U.S. to carry the iPhone, and I spend over $2,100 a year to AT&T for the privilege of doing so. One of the few reasons I haven’t strayed until now is because of the ability to use voice and data at the same time. With the upcoming introduction of 4G LTE on the iPhone, that advantage goes away. The move to charge customers for FaceTime who are not on the Mobile Share data plan is just one more straw added to an already over-burdened camel’s back.
Clearly, and without any doubt, FaceTime competes directly with AT&Ts voice services. If I want to talk to someone, I can either call them, or use FaceTime. By blocking FaceTime, I am forced to use AT&Ts voice services as an alternative.
Seriously, you guys are lame. I have been a AT&T/Cingular customer since 2004. Guess what my iPhone 4 contract just ended and I am goooonnnneeeeee.
Another of your long-term loyal customers here. I have been with AT&T since I first got a cell phone nearly 10 years ago. Shout out to Cingular! The longer I have been with this company, the more I want to drop you. This is only recently of course. My decision to tell this company to jump off a cliff came when you failed to continue honoring my unlimited data contract in an attempt to extort more money out of a customer of nearly a decade, let alone my parents whom I still share a plan with. This is yet another layer of icing on the cake.
I’m completely OK with this. Probably because I’m not on AT&T.
Here’s a question for you to think over Bob, since clearly you are directly targeting Apple customers…are you going to block Google Talk (A comparable video chat site and staple for video chat on Android phones)? It only seems fair that if you are going to target a specific type of service on a phone, you should target the equivalent service for each platform that you sell service for.
I have been an at&t customer for many years. I am currently granfathered in for the unlimited plan, but this is riddiculous. 1. My data is throttled after 3 gb. I signed a contract and that wasnt what I agreed to. Now the facetime restriction is too much. Now I will find a way to jailbreak my iphone and trick it into thinking it is using wifi even though it is using 3g, (works very well as I have used it when the iphone 4 came out)and once my contract is up hello verizon! Come on at&t. the customer comes first. This is really poor to treat your loyal customers
AT&T: what is the status of Google Wallet on Android phones on your network? Can you please publish a statement about that? That would be brilliant!
AT&T, this is despicable. I can’t believe your PR department allowed that sorry excuse for a response to go out. The problem here isn’t Net Neutrality. The problem is you are an out of touch, greedy, selfish company. I don’t begrudge any company from making a profit, but this is ridiculous. If AT&T wants to keep its customer base you need to find ways to delight your customers. This can be done by decreasing monthly costs, providing quality service, and/or offering more features. Many people on here are upset because they are still on an unlimited data plan. I’m not one of those people. But lately my monthly AT&T bill has been going up, my service seems worse than ever (dropped calls, data dead spots) and now you’re using FaceTime as a stick to bully customers into paying even more money? You are despicable. I’ve been a loyal AT&T customer for over 10 years, but I will be changing that within the next couple months. The fact that I am upset enough to write a response on here says a lot. I never respond to these types of things, but your incredibly out of touch response has pushed me over the edge. I know many more people feel the same way. So long AT&T.
I was with Verizon [formerly AirTouch] since 1996 and switched to Cingular/AT&T for the iPhone. I’m currently using the 4s and will probably give it to a family member as I upgrade to the new iPhone; and will be looking for another carrier. For years “txt” plans have unfairly [its the equivalent of paying $2,000 per MB of data] labeled txt as somehow different that data. Nothing but a money grab—”good luck” [read as: I hope you fall on face], you won’t have my money any more.
I have been a long time (>15 years) AT&T customer through its various incarnations (LA Cellular, Cingular, etc.) and this post has put me over the edge. The confrontational and unprofessional nature of the post as well as the bait-and-switch policies (unlimited plan = data throttling over 3 GB) have driven me over the edge. Oh, so if I am not on a more expensive plan, I cannot use the data _that I pay for_ to use a service that is pre-installed on my phone?! By the tone of the post, I should be happy that AT&T even allows me to install third-party apps on my phone!!
I will be happily taking my four lines over to another carrier ASAP.
I’ve been with AT&T since 1994. You have officially lost touch with your number one stakeholder: customers.
Bob, how did you anticipate this post going over? Did you think I would say, “Thank goodness! I thought AT&T was violating Net Neutrality. NOW I am not upset that my data, data I pay for, is being artificially restricted.”
Be honest. We’re not stupid. Your statement should have said, “We do not feel this violates net neutrality. Furthermore, we have put this restriction in place to encourage customers to move towards our newer plans, which we [wrongly] think is better for our customers.” Then you can at least PRETEND you have your customers’ interests in mind.
This post, rather, makes you look incompetent, out of touch, and cued into the wrong group of stakeholders. You don’t want to become a dumb pipe, a power utility. We all get that. Restrictions aren’t the answer though, Bob.
Like Mike Ball, this really won’t affect me much directly. But the principle is despicable and greedy. My data use is low and I’ve already given up my unlimited plan so I could use tethering. I had to hold my nose for that. This really is a bridge too far and I will be changing carriers. Do your research folks: some carriers offer to subsidize your fee for breaking a contract as an incentive to join. Oh, and I suggest firing the PR wizard who suggested you post a blog full of confrontational/defensive lawyerspeak in response to customer complaints about service. Stay classy and all.
Your argument about provision (2) not applying to AT&T because it’s a “preloaded” application is incorrect. The FaceTime app is Apple’s app, not AT&T’s, and cannot be blocked by AT&T. It competes with video telephony from AT&T, and, therefore, *is* subject to provision (2) requirements.
I pay you enough for the data, and now you decide how I use that data! It is like buying gas from a company and they dictating which roads i can’t drive at.
Ridiculous……
I, like many other long-time AT&T customers, am outraged by your decision to require a Mobile Share data plan for FaceTime. And this reaction to people’s complaints is shockingly arrogant and unprofessional.
It’s obvious that this is just another tactic to try to force customers off the grandfathered unlimited data plan. But rather than offering loyal customers an incentive to switch plans, you choose to make my experience as miserable as possible until I switch.
The problem with your foolish and shortsighted strategy is that by treating your customers this way, is when they do ultimately choose a new plan – it will likely be with a different carrier.
AT&T plans may not violate any FCC’s net neutrality rules but they definitively violate basic common sense rules!
AT&T is definitively striving not to provide their customers with the services they desire and show’s how non-customer focused AT&T is a company.
Thank you AT&T for finding a loophole that justifies me leaving your network.This anti-consumer action has been the final straw after years of drop calls, dubious billings, inability to connect to the network, etc. Once my contract with you ends on November 30, 2012, we will sign with Sprint even though they do not have LTE in our city (yet). I will also be encouraging the rest of my family and friends to do so once their contractual obligations to you are over as well! Sayonara!
Dear AT&T,
This statement of policy is awesome, fair and welcome. I don’t see what anyone’s complaining about.
Sincerely,
A Verizon Customer
The restriction seems like a means to move customers onto the new Mobile Share data plan, which in my family’s case, will become more expensive than the current plan. Schumpeter’s creative destruction will take place unless AT&T adapts to provide the services we want at reasonable prices. The new Mobile Share plan is not reasonably priced. iMessage’s disruption is only the beginning. Gouging customers with the new Mobile Share plan will drive customers – at least it’s driving this customer and family – away.
1st tethering costs more!
Carrier = Win
2nd throttling unlimited users!
Carrier = Win
3rd iMessage for iPhone users!
Users = Win
4th limiting built-in apps data usage
Carrier = Win
Looks like we’re losing.
Customer of 10+ years = bye bye AT&T 🙂
Terrible response. I feel as though your company complains about customers actually USING the network that they’re already paying for. There’s a long history of this.
I look forward to paying my ETFs (both of them) next month and jumping ship to one of your competitors who actually believes in providing services that customers have paid for.
Good riddance.
Perhaps you are not in technical violation of Net Neutrality regulations (perhaps), but you are *certainly* violating the spirit of those regulations.
Net Neutrality, at it’s core is very simple: Bits is bits. To discriminate against the free flow of bits through your network on the basis of source, destination, or on any legitimate purpose, violates the spirit of Net Neutrality.
If FaceTime is a legitimate use of the network (i.e., it is not illegal), then it *must* be treated the same as any other legitimate use of your network.
This principle is one that is very easy for customers to understand, and it is easy for customers to understand when you violate this principle. Dance around it all you want, but I’ll be voting with my dollars and leaving AT&T.
I’ve been an AT&T iPhone Customer (this go ’round) for almost a year, and before then (not counting an unfortunate switch to Sprint) two years, all because of the iPhone.
Listen, it’s high time AT&T devote some of its substantial resources to building out a modern, current 4G network. From the ground up. Not by buying competitors, but organically. It’s time. You’ve taken in enough of our $$$ without improving the network that we rely on for voice and data.
The fact that your PR department and Senior management team feel that obfuscation and diversion are substitutes for improving the utility of your network for customers is unacceptable. There’s a reason Verizon is wiping the floor with AT&T right now – their network is superior. Period.
And for many of us, the only redeeming feature for AT&T was the GSM/UTMS network that allowed our phones to be use worldwide with the change of a SIM. But with a new iPhone 5 with LTE (and still a world-phone) being introduced in a few weeks, the floodgates WILL open.
And I may be one of the many willing to pay a termination fee to jump ship.
Get it together AT&T. NOW. You are running out of chances.
So in summary, you just said: “We did not have blocking relations with that company.”
By purchasing internet access (4g/3g) for my smart phone through at&t. Have I not already paid for the use of the TCP/IP suite over the internet? Now we are being told that if we use Facetime we will be charged for using these same protocols? Protocols that run over the TCP/IP suite. There seems to be another legal matter here rather than Net Neutrality. We will be double charged if we use specific protocols with a specific app and not if we use a different app???? This isn’t being inventive but an attempt to obfuscate other LAWS. Maybe someone more knowedgable will enlighten us.
Burn in hell AT&T. Leaving your crap network as soon as my contract’s up!
Bob,
You’re in the business of selling the pipe. We’re interested in a better pipe, and are willing to pay more for it, from you or another carrier. It’s counterproductive for you to tell us what to put in the pipe. Just sell it, and let us decide how to use it.
The problem with this blog post is that you’re telling your customers that we are all wrong. This is business 101, and the rules still apply to you. What did you expect the response to be?
That’s it!
I’m done. Enough is enough.
I want a carrier who provide a service not restrict it in every possible way.
The new iPhone will be a very good opportunity to switch to a new carrier.
Cannot do anything about the iPads yet but eventually….
And while I’m there I will also cancel my home phone service.
That’s probably a good $200 a month that will make some other provider very happy.
Oh yes I forgot anywhere else it won’t cost me $200.
Goodbye ATT, it was NOT a nice experience.
remeber one thing, you are a carrier, you provide pipes and we are here to sue those pipes.
You don’t want us to do that, fine, somebody else will rpvode the service that you are pityfully unable to give us.
Really unbelievable…as reported by people not spinning the truth, the Net Neutrality rules make no distinction between pre-loaded, and post-loaded applications, and “getting to use apps over WiFi” is not a privilege it is our right to do as we please with devices that we buy over WiFi.
Oh yeah and there is this: EVERY OTHER US CARRIER IS ENABLING IT WITHOUT ARBITRARY RESTRICTIONS.
Wow AT&T….
So what happens when T-Mobile welcomes all the iPhone users when they finish their network refarm AND now truly unlimited data?
Do you guys THINK before you extort your customers?
This is pure extortion in it’s simplist form. AT&T you should be ashamed you treat your customers this way. This is without a doubt, the last straw. The list goes on and on, but throttling “unlimited” data customers is still your worst crime, this is a second. Pathetic, really pathetic. Goodbye.
Dear AT&T,
I love my iPhone, I love iMessage and FaceTime so I’ll be moving to Verizon, plus they’ll unlock easily allowing international travel.
And this is the reason people jailbreak their phones… I pay $300 a month for my iOS devices. I was grandfathered in with the ‘real’ unlimited internet. But I can’t use my iPhone as a hotspot and now I have to use WiFi for Facetime?! Jailbreaking is my only option now. So in the end I get what I want and AT&T doesnt get any more of my cash.
AT&T, you just did a major FacePlant.
So glad new iPhones are coming out soon. This just helps justify my plans to move to an LTE iPhone from Verizon. Having an AT&T 4S and a new iPad on Verizon has made it easy to see what I have been missing. I find I use the iPad soooo much more then the iPhone anymore due to the faster network. Plus Verizon not locking me down so I can tether for free? So nice.
ATA&T is like an electric company that wants to pick which electrical devices we use, vs. charge by the kwh. Too funny 🙂
Looking forward to switching toVerizon when the iPhone 5 is released. Luckily I skipped the iPhone 4S so my contract has run out.
Well I for one think AT&T deserves kudos for the comment moderation policy. The fact that a human has to approve all these comments yet this post is still sp full of AT&T bashing shows that while AT&T can’t get the network right, they can at least do comment moderation fairly.
NEWS FLASH MORONS! Enabling FaceTime over Cell is a feature of iOS6 and requires the updated FaceTime App. The existing FaceTime App does not provision for data access via cell. MEANING – that to use FaceTime over Cell you will have to install iOS 6. ALSO MEANING – it’s not preloaded. There are NO preloaded iPhones with iOS 6 on them yet! THEREFORE – if you block it on any iPhone that upgrades to iOS 6 you are in violation of provision 2. I can see a class action suit in your future! =)
The tldr version;
There is no law preventing us from restricting app availability to get more money out of you.
If AT&T goes through with this I will purchase iphone5 on Verizon and end my 12 years of AT&T loyalty.
The bottom line is this type of policy is WRONG as you are telling me how I can and cannot use my data. If I’m paying for 5GB of data I expect to be able to use that data ANY way I want just like android users are accustomed to doing. By doing this AT&T is discriminating against iPhone users and I will not support a company with these types of policies.
Wise up or loose customers!
What if someone purchase a full unlocked iPhone. It already comes with installed app. Not purchase from AT&T but from Apple.
Same rules apply ??
So if Apple shipped FaceTime via the store instead of preloaded, you wouldn’t block or charge more for it? How does that make sense?
What you are saying to me, based on my plan is “Pay more for this feature”. Once my contract is up, you’re gone. Thanks for making it so easy to decide.
Prepare to be a wireless Internet service provider, AT&T. There’s no future in voice and text. No looking back. If you would do that, you would not come up with a policy like this. I would like to leave you right away. But I give you another chance, only because my work place in middle of nowhere has a repeater only for yor service.
You guys already price gouge us with $20/month unlimited texts (I know damn well a thousand texts doesn’t even cost you guys a penny to deliver) and now you want to nickle and dime us another way. You people are unbelievable.
Safari, Mail, iMessage, Stocks, Weather, App Store are preloaded as well. What special data do those app use vs. Facetime? Oh! They use the same data? Amazing AT&T!
Corporate rationale like this is one of the principle reasons I left my career with AT&T. How anyone can honestly believe these words as they type them is beyond me. Clearly, whomever is responsible for this company message doesn’t understand what they’re saying.
Do me a kindness and explain how this makes sense in any way, shape, or form: if I am billed for X GB of data … I get X GB of data, correct? But AT&T gets to tell how I can then use this data that I’ve purchased?
So if I purchase a water bottle from CVS and I want to drink the entire bottle, that’s fine. However, if I chose to water a plant with part of this, does CVS reserve the right to tell me I can’t do that? I need to buy a bigger bottle to be able to drink and water my plant?
Data is data. You can’t tell me that these 0’s and 1’s are different than those 0’s and 1’s.
Boy, sure glad Big Red has the iphone and I was able to get away from this crappy company. Anyone that stays with this company the way they treat their customers is just dumb. Good move ATT, you lost a whole other sht load of customers. Mmm.. Maybe that’s what you want cause your network sucks so much. Less customers = Less network strain. Nice going!
wow, good statement, but we’ll see what the FCC says
I’ve been an AT&T customer since 2007 and there have been many bumps in the road. From downright crappy service that I’m paying more than ever for, to the outrageous price of texting plans. But this is the last straw. The blatant show of greed by AT&T will see me not renew my contract once expired.
I understand that its not in the stockholders best interest for AT&T to spend money upgrading their network for 100% customer usage. Obviously, there won’t ever be a time when every customer is using data at the same time in a set area, but they should have upgraded enough to allow them to use the network however they choose and whenever they want without issues. If AT&T is just going to limit what apps can use data on their network to prevent these issues, what stops them from limiting any other preloaded apps from using data on the unlimited plan? How long before AT&T no longer allows customers to use Maps, Mail, Safari, the App Store, etc?
Don’t forget, AT&T, that it is Apple who forbids YOU from putting anything BUT their apps on a new iPhone. You really can’t do anything but put “AT&T” in that little corner.
Cannot wait to leave your network!
You’re discriminating against a type of data, that’s a violation period. You’ve lost money from text messaging and are trying to milk it from customers instead of just providing the best damn service over your competitors. The microcell, shared data plans, this facetime crap, it’s just too much.
September 21st can’t come fast enough!
its like AT&T doesn’t have a marketing department…. I left AT&T due to crap customer service and dropped calls/crap data connectivity when traveling to Manhattan or SF. Then I got so fed up, I paid the early termination fee and switched to Verizon. I had some issues joining an existing family plan, but Verizon’s customer service is orders of magnitude better – I don’t have to fight them, they want to help me!
Mr. Quinn totally misses the point. Many customers feel like AT&T is waging a war on them. As an AT&T customer, I kept getting decreasing value for a higher and higher monthly bill. First, the data service sucked and calls dropped. Then, they got rid of the unlimited data plan without reducing the price. Did I mention calling customer service was a constant fight?
WOW AT&T sticking to customers again. I have the unlimited data plan on my iphone and wanted to add tethering,I would need to give that up to add tethering.Now they want us ALL to INCREASE our BILLS by trying to force there shared data plan on us.WHAT A JOKE!!!! My bill would go from 219.00 total to 260.00 plus tax!!!!
Way to look out for customers AT&T!!!!
With 5 phones, 2 iPads and a family plan, I’ve been reluctant to leave AT&T. But each year brings some new limitation covered by threadbare excuses. I wouldn’t tolerate such reasoning from a 6th grader.
My wife and I have a family plan with unlimited data. We have kept unlimited data, not because we use vast amounts of data each month, but so we can FaceTime with our grandchildren when FaceTime is available on our iPhones. So for several years we have paid ATT more than necessary so that we don’t lose the option. Restricting customers who continue to pay extra for unlimited data plans may not be illegal but it sure is unethical. Way to go, ATT.
As soon as the iPhone 5 comes out, I’m off to Verizon. Not only is the call quality better, but the actual data connection – at least where I work, where I live, and where I spend my weekends – is faster. And bits is bits, so why should I not be able to use the data I paid for already for what I want? It sounds as if AT & T is worried people might actually use the service they’ve paid for, instead of just paying for it like good little sheep.
While FaceTime is primarily used for video calls, it also works great for audio only calls. Just press the home or lock button after you initiate a call and it will become audio only. The call quality is MUCH better than any cell phone call.
Does blocking the audio only feature of FaceTime break the FCCs net neutrality rules as it is a competing voice service?
Dear AT&T,
It is very sad to see these kind of tactics to cover the simple fact that you are greedy.
This is a way of forcing people to sign up for costlier shared data plans where the data is very less compared to the non-shared data plans.
Sorry AT&T, I have to take my business somewhere else when iphone 5 hits the market.
Bob,
Bits is bits. You are making the attempt to come up with a legalistic argument to a premise that would not pass in a kindergarten debate.
Similarly, there is no difference between this asinine policy than the other one that requires one to have a data plan for an old smartphone that is already past the contract.
Not smart. Way to tick off your customers and drive them to another carrier.
Bob,
Did you go to any business school beyond high school? If you did, maybe you have forgotten the part about the customer. Your product and brand will become less and less relevant with time. If you continue to alienate the people who pay your salary, your competitors will become stronger as your firm withers. Especially so if your company is issuing policies based on your inability to Fully deliver your product
It’s sad to see such illogical reasoning and contempt for AT&T customers. Shame on Bob Quinn and AT&T. Even sadder will be if they get away with this because not enough people complain or leave AT&T.
Making a distinction between “preloaded” and “downloaded” apps with respect to how they use data is ridiculous – and AT&T know this. They simply want to use any means they can to force their own customers into paying more money for the same data they’re already paying for. And I’d like to hear how AT&T justifies this to the customer who’s on an individual plan … is he supposed to switch to a “shared” plan on his own?
Feeling the love, AT&T? What a thinly-veiled extortion! Your greedy, money-grubbing policies have repeatedly abused your loyal customers who have all the while endured your typically mediocre service and often nearly incompetent customer support.
A “knee jerk reaction?” Hardly! AT&T obviously has no soul, so it’s incapable of grasping the spirit of such concepts as net neutrality.
Good riddance.
If the assumption to move the customer to a new “Plan” is based on the fact that the app in question may cause too much network utilization, then why the different treatment for non-preloaded apps that do the same, consume bandwidth in the same manner?
I am tired of waiting for AT&T to “…be in a learning mode…” with Facetime over 3G/4G, however to characterize your speed. AT&T had more time than Verizon did to support this and tethering and look how long tethering took compared to Verizon. This is poor planning and execution and I will be looking to move to Sprint because they also continue to support a unlimited data plan. T-Mobile as also just announced a return to unlimited data, which I will look into and Verizon would be another choice with remaining at AT&T the last choice.
AT&T, you are making it increasingly difficult to justify your service. Once my contract is up I’m through. Throttling people with unlimited data, removing all choices for text except the most expensive one (iMessage really scared you, huh?), limiting hotspot functionality to certain phone plans, not allowing the iPad LTE to function as a hotspot at all, and now this?
What a terrible way to treat your loyal customers.
I’m very disappointed in you AT&T. I have tolerated your questionable service and call quality long enough and I have had just about enough of your tactics. I’m on your grandfathered unlimited plan and it’s obvious who you are targeting with this decision. Verizon is starting to look a lot more appealing. My work provides me with a Verizon phone and guess what? Better call quality, faster data speeds and they even let me have a discount on the total bill, not just the voice plan like your company does. I really tried to support you but this move is a let down. iPhone 5 is right around the corner and maybe it’s time to move on from you.
There is no way to spin this and not look like you are unable to continue to provide a mobile platform to support growth. People will continue to demand higher data rates on more devices and your constant attempt to limit user data use while charging the same or higher prices for that data is neither a good choice for your customer nor a good decision for the long term of your company.
Thank you for yet again finding a way to not provide the service you contractually agreed to and attempting to force those with your earlier products into new and more expensive ones.
I got pretty steamed when you started throttling my “unlimited” plan (obviously that word has two different meanings – one for you, and another for everyone else), even though I don’t think I’ve ever used enough data to get throttled – it’s the principle of the thing. I also don’t use FaceTime, but you know what? I don’t like your attitude, and when my contract is up (who knows? Maybe before – the penalty isn’t very big now) I’m gone. Not sure with who, but I’m gone.
The iPhone SAVED your company, which was teetering on the brink of obscurity and takeover by Verizon. Countless millions came to you because you saw Apple’s vision of the future and stood behind the innovation. Now you are seriously going to decide who gets it and who doesn’t? This is extortion to pull people off their unlimited plans and nothing else. I refuse to let any company limit my access to such technological innovation when it is readily available somewhere else. It becomes a principle issue for me. You guys will be sitting around your boardroom table about a year from now saying, “we screwed up,” as your stock tanks and your company bleeds billions. And this time, there will be no one to save you. Goodbye, AT&T.
First of all, WIFI has nothing to do with AT&T. Second: Tethering has nothing to do with AT&T.
Third: Facetime has nothing to do with AT&T.
Why does AT&T think they somehow have the right to charge for ANY of these things?
The new FaceTime restrictions will usher in the end of my 12+ year relationship with AT&T. I’m tired of the consistent manipulation of plans and features to extract more and more money for services I don’t need. For example: there used to be several text-message options (200, 1000, 1500, unlimited) so I could choose and pay for the one that fit my usage best. Then there was the option to move from unlimited data to 2GB/month to save $5. That was great for me and fit my usage. Then I was forced to move back to $30/month if I wanted to add tethering where I’ll get an extra GB that I’ll never use. Finally, after 12 years as a customer with an account in good standing, I was not allowed to unlock my phone for my 10-day trip to Europe so I could get a local SIM. I couldn’t be happier to give you one final $200 payment as an early-termination fee so I can move to Verizon.
I pay $50 a month for 5GB of data. To have that same amount of data on your upcoming shared data plans would cost me, AN INDIVIDUAL, $125 for 6GB. What difference does it make to you HOW I use the data I pay for?! More importantly: how bad do you think your network is that it can’t support FaceTime? I’ve used FaceTime like twice. I’m more amazed that you treat your loyal customers like children. Pathetic.
Thank you AT&T for providing a clear indication as to why we need far stronger regulation of your greedy industry which is so strongly anti-innovation. By the time we’re done with you, you’ll be begging for the loophole-filled toothless scribble that are the current net neutrality rules.
AT&T….Done. Hello Verizon whom actually has LTE (you know…the truest form of “4G” that you guys tried to pull a fast one with your cute little change 3G to 4G trick on the iOS 5 update….except its..still…the same damn thing) Oh, and your latest in the long list of *crap* that you’ve pulled, this “we don’t have to follow FCC and net neutrality…we can stick it to our customers if we want to”…yep. Done. Done done done done done. Done with a company who can’t seem to figure out that their bread and butter is all about providing actual services instead of extortional use and abuse of their customers. I would rather break contract than deal with you and your cute little tricks and gimmicks. Ma Bell does it again. And, AT&T…on behalf of Verizon, Thank you. Thank you for helping make Verizon stronger than it ever was before, and they didn’t even have to lift a finger. All they had to do was sit back and watch you self destruct. -Adios
AT&T are barking up the wrong tree, this isn’t about blocking an app, its about forcing people into a lesser, more expensive plan in order to use built in functionality. If the terms of the customers original contract specified this clause AT&T may have a valid position, however, forcing contract customers into a new rate plan (and i’ll guarantee they defend their contracts) in order to use built in functionality seems a little over the top. The FCC won’t be thrilled by this.
Yet again AT&T is proving how little their customers matter yet you all stay with them hoping things will get better. They won’t, so just switch.
I think it’s funny, all these people “promising” to switch to Verizon thinking it’ll somehow be different. I’ll guarantee these two companies meet weekly to plan their price fixing/gouging, it won’t be any different on Verizon. Shortly, t-mobile will complete the refarm of their 1900mhz spectrum and the iPhone will run at full speed on their “4g” network WITH unlimited data with NO restrictions. T-Mobile are the only real viable option. T-Mobile also have UMA wifi calling so even coverage isn’t an issue. Forget the professional rapists, switch to a company that values the customer, a lot of smaller players now offer the iPhone.
You’re just a pipe.
You’re just a pipe.
Get used to hearing it.
Hi Bob,
A pretty clear example of having the legal justification for something, that people simply don’t want to hear. As a customer of AT&T since the first IPhone, I personally can’t find any legal argument to make here against what you are saying. On Wired this morning, I read what appeared to be a very convincing argument that this would violate NN, but since blocking FaceTime neither lacks transparency nor is an attempt to prevent competition, the points made are largely invalid.
I will say this. Arguably, the iPhone user has built up the AT&T subscriber base considerably, and, at least at first, due to the relative exclusive AT&T enjoyed with the device initially. Now that consumers have a choice in where to subscribe their iPhones & iPads, I can’t help but wonder if this move is a bit risky both from a perception standpoint and also that it exposes to your competitors yet another way to lure your customer base away.
It is unlikely AT&T will get another opportunity to capture as many subscribers as it did with the iPhone. Food for thought, but I for one find the move completely fair from a net neutrality standpoint, even if risky and a bit shady from a marketing and PR one.
@Matt Mitchell The irony is that on the Mobile data share plans, voice calls are unlimited so voice-only facetime calls wouldn’t be competing with the unlimited minutes
on the standard plans where they are competing for voice minutes, that’s where they are blocking.
AT&T are extremely sly. Implying that apps preloaded by apple are somehow not competing because you can download different apps that they don’t block. And additionally the implication that allowing you to use facetime on wireless makes everything OK
There was an immediate noticeable degeneration in call quality when AT&T took over Cingular, not to mention the terrible customer service. I have the “unlimited” data plan and have been throttled for using too much. In what universe is that unlimited? What is it with these companies (Netflix is another good example) that think they can just keep taking advantage of the customer? They act like they’re doing us a favor by taking our money. Been with AT&T since they took over for Cingular, but that will change once my contract expires. Quinn should consider that AT&T isn’t the only option, with the iPhone being available on other networks and even without contracts.
I am so glad my contract has lapsed, k thx bye!
I am now reviewing moving the firm that I work for to another provider. I can not sit by and just take this AT&T. We pay for a specific amount of data each month, yet AT&T throttles it or plans to disallow FaceTime on it.
If Verizon gives our firm a better deal, I will be moving all 19 of our out of contract phones to Verizon. Nothing personal, they are just offering a better deal and aren’t restricting app usage.
I’m suspecting that this strategy is the one way you can keep the load off your network, but unfortunately, this is your problem, it is unfortunate that you have to make it your customers.
Yeah…. the family share plan or what ever it is called would be way more expensive for a lot less data for me and my family.
Here is a question for you… my wife’s iphone did NOT come with FaceTime… so according to the technicality you are trying to hide behind, you HAVE to let her use over cellular.
Please let your bosses know that they are blinded by their own sales goals. I can’t imagine any of them care about us though.
So…I’m thinking that AT&T is more than just a wee bit out of touch with their customer’s perceptions of the AT&T brand and what consumers want from a carrier. Worse, is the tactic of “drawing a line in the sand,” via this blog, in some failed effort to assert a broader corporate mentality that is supposed to trump that consumer desire.
If Bob Quinn represents the thinking of the brain trust at AT&T, then the company has cemented its relationship with customers, whose numbers will dwindle. The company can only continue to leverage its network coverage and relationships with Apple, Microsoft, and Android providers for a limited period. Sad really, after I’ve been paying the company a monthly stipend for 15 years.
If I be forced to switch to more expensive all share data familly plan, I’d rather switch to VZW which has far more stronger LTE coverage. I don’t want to say that att is bad, but it is number 2 on the market after VZW and should be less expensive. The only reason I stay with them is my bill. The only moment they transfer my service to data-share I leave the company for another one.
Thanks God, I’m off the contract. Going to visit VZW, never been there. I think it is time now. Att rather pays 4B dollars to T-Mo then allows to use data I payed for.
I have an iphone 4s but I don’t have any other devices to ‘share’ data with. why would I want a Mobile Share data plan? AT&T has just effectively kicked me out of their network and I don’t know why.
Oh Bob, tell me how you really feel. And while you’re doing that, let me go terminate anything AT&T related in my business and home. And I’ll even persuade my friends to stay away from AT&T. In fact, I may even pay their termination fees for them to get away from the likes of you.
Sincerely,
Your competitor’s soon to be customer.
Can you say StraightTalk?
Bob and the rest of the folks at ATT,
When my contract is up in 2 months, I’m through with you. Your call quality is so far behind even 3rd world country providers and you charge at least 10 times more. Most providers around the world have free or almost free unlimited texting because it costs almost nothing in today’s networks to send a text yet you make people pay a ridiculous $20/month.
I really hope Apple or Google come up with their own networks because right now the biggest obstacle in mobile technology is a provider like you
Bob, if you are going to sell metered data plans, you should have no say in how that data is used. That includes tethering, cellular facetime, and other totally legal uses of said data.
Your network can’t even carry voice calls anyway.
Not many people are going to use facetime using 4g, even so it is a known fact that at&t network is gonna S**k with facetime/video chat. Another fact is at&t is going to retract the statements and going to allow people to use without new plan before the release.
reason1. FCC investigates and then att is screwed
2. people leave(already many left and more on the way to sprint of verizon or tmobile(get unlocked phone) and lets see who is gonna answer in their next quarterly earnings report for the att losses(i am betting 100% on this if the att stands same).
I’ve had service from ATT from when is was Cingular/Ameritech (about 15 years). I don’t use FaceTime on my phone, but limiting anu of the capabilities of a phone that I purchased from your store for a good amount of money to fatten your bottom line is bull. My contract is ending this month & I’m looking for a new provider. I hope you lose enough customers that your new extortion plan can’t cover the loss. I’m seeing a “restructuring” in your company’s future.
For awhile there I had a tough decision about which carrier to switch to after being your loyal customer for years. Thankfully, you made it very easy – anyone but you!
Signed, the 21st century.
This does not surprise me at all. I see it as an advance attack on data use before the new iPhone 5 comes out with 4g capability.
Very soon tens of millions of people will be able to experience 4g speed on their iPhones, and shortly thereafter millions of people will be getting screwed on their phone bills from going over their data plans. It’s like giving your 16 year old a new BMW for their birthday, and then grounding them because they actually go out and drive it.
ATT is attempting to hide the fact that many of the wonderful features of today’s phones require substantial amounts of data – like FaceTime. Data – the one thing ATT has leverage on to bilk customers for more money. We are weeks away from reaching this paradox, where our phones have the technology to do all this awesome stuff, but the phone companies are making it virtually unattainable for 90% of paying customers.
I mean, havent we been sold the idea of video chatting on our phones for like the last 10 years? Now, though, it seems the false images ATT and other phone companies have been creating are not quite as true as they made them out to be.
Yes, this is ATT being absolutely evil, and yes, Verizon is the same way and will reach the same conflict when the new iPhone comes out. ATT you are just a pipe, so the idea of shoving something up it shouldn’t be new to you.
I will still be filing a FCC complaint the day ios6 is released. Have fun tring to defend this pathetic excuse to them.
Message to Apple: Don’t preload FaceTime in the new iOS. Have users download it like they do with the iBookstore and the Podcast App. According to AT&T, they won’t restrict FaceTime as long as it’s downloadable. Let’s see if their dumb logic holds up when push comes to shove.
You corporate mooches must thing we are really stupid. Two words for you .. One of them is “you” guess the other and it isn’t thank. Youve lost yet another customer permanently.. And I hope you die and rot in hell.
I’m glad I’m not with AT&T… I pay around $90 for unlimited broadband (20Mbps, 100Mbps soon), TV, unlimited phone calls to europe and North America, unlimited cell phone (text, calls, internet) and no disabled functionalities (tethering…) on my iPhone…
My secret?
I don’t live in the US.
This is complete BS and I’m frankly tired of it. When the next iPhone launchid, it’ll be time to move onto Sprint or T-Mobile. My coverage from AT&T has gotten worse over the years, more dropped calls, more network issues… All this for a plan that costs a ridiculous amount.
These actions from AT&T is enough to go with another carrier. AT&T is technically passing the rules but not really. AT&T does have a video chat service and it is called cellular voice service.
This isn’t about apps but about services and what you can do on them. Even the FCC rules for wireless carriers say nothing about apps and everything about services. AT&T should go read the FCC home page about this “Open Internet”. Guess you cannot find “Open Internet” on AT&T’s network.
This is insane. If I pay for data I should be able to use it however I want. My family of four have been loyal ATT subscribers for 5 years, but now we’re looking to switch.
Why does AT&T feel the need to pursue a policy that clearly stifles innovation. It started with throttling unlimited plans and goes on to preventing me from using a service even though I pay for the data.
This is ridiculous. I’m not an AT&T customer, but I was just invited for a job interview with AT&T. I think I’ll skip it and work somewhere that isn’t hurting innovation.
What were you thinking? Money! Money is on your mind… not your customers. And normally I wouldn’t be so upset except that in America we have only a few telecommunications companies to pick from. But you’ve shown yourself to be one of the worst.
Well AT&T, I’m with almost everyone else here on this issue. I can’t even use my phone at my home in the middle of a 600k size city because I can’t get a cell signal. My roommate has a 2 fold better signal than I do on Verizon. That’s just the tip of the iceberg; I have so many issues with your “service”. Goodbye.
I defy AT&T to justify this nominal fee.
It does not cost AT&T to provide the facetime service; data used by it is already paid for by the user.
This is swindling, pure and simple – and you will lose customers over it.
Don’t think that your collusive practices, near-monopoly or friends in the Administration will save you. I think it’s high time we split up your rotten little company – just like Ma Bell.
AT&T plans to violate the Americans with Disablities Act by limiting the communication rights of deaf and hard of hearing persons as well as blind persons by throttling the bandwith usage needed to grant equal access to said persons.
Go for it ATT. I will happily switch providers. I have been with you since 2007 when I got the original iphone. This is anti consumer, likely illegal and the last straw for me. I guess you will be losing the 175 bucks I pay you every month for my two iphone lines. Adios!
Does anyone really expect FaceTime over AT&T cellular to work? AT&T’s network can’t even handle voice calls. What a joke!
I have oft been accused of being a fan of AT&T, sometimes mocked when my calls in NYC were dropped in front of my Verizon-flaunting co-worker, and have been an AT&T customer since it was AT&T Wireless. I suffered through Cingular, and yet, when I thought I was about to plunk down for a new iPhone 5 (or whatever they are going to call it), you guys go and announce this garbage about restrictions on my soon-to-be-new device. Hint: YOUR CUSTOMERS DON’T LIKE RESTRICTIONS! We want unlimited everything: minutes, text, bandwidth, use of my apps, LTE, everything! I spend about $360/month on mobile services with iPhones, iPads and wireless data for my laptop. Don’t restrict your high-end users – we could go away…
I’ve been an AT&T customer for a long time. I was sad when AT&T Wireless was purchased by Cingular but glad when AT&T was brought back through the merger. Maybe it was my penchant for supporting a solid American company with a history of innovation. Sadly that has all dispeared as AT&T lost its’ innovative ways along with any sense of fairness, loyalty, ethics and morality. Instead of looking for new streams of revenue through innovation which benefit everyone and customers willingly pay for, AT&T has succumbed to biting the hand that feeds it. I don’t know how anyone at AT&T with authority can even sleep at night knowing that they’ve taken an American institution and reduce it down to an unscrupulous company which would gladly charge their own mother twice for something.
Bye.
So let me get this straight, AT&T: I purchase a set amount of data from you, and now you are going to tell me how I can use it? So, OK, I can’t use facetime. But I can use Skype! How exactly is that not a violation of net neutrality? This is just a blatant attempt to force people into your new plans. If you just told the truth, instead of weaving a web of lies, I could handle that. But after this post, I don’t know that I can continue supporting a company that lies to its customers.
Unless you change your awful policy, I will take my money elsewhere.
AT&T is the no. 1 enemy of innovation.
This is the reason why I broke the contract and paid AT&T to get rid of them in my life and moved to T-Mobile.
Can’t really say T-Mobile is best. But, I only pay $59 for everything. At least they are honest about their data plans.
Now I am looking for serious alternative data plans for AT&T iPad.
Bye bye AT&T! My contract is up and with the new iPhone comes a new carrier. Between the crappy service and this latest “screw you customer” statement, I’ve reached my limit.
Amazing. How stupid do you really think people are, AT&T? I think people may have at least understood that you couldn’t support widespread use of FaceTime on your network. It’s a bit embarrassing, but honest.
Instead you virtually spit on your customers and insult their intelligence with your big brother, big business tirade of anti-customer nonsense in this post. You have some nerve. I guarantee I’ll be moving away from your company when my contracts are over. This kind of corporate malfeasance is deeply insulting to the people who line your pockets. Grow up.
This would only be fair if you also allowed tiered data plan customers to use FaceTime over the cellular network, as well. I can see blocking the feature for unlimited data users, but tiered data plan users should get the same consideration as Mobile Share users do.
Mobile Share doesn’t appeal to single device owners. It looks like AT&T is discriminating against those who only have one device.
Yet another insult to ATT customers.
Unlimited Data isn’t unlimited. How can ATT dictate what app can be used if we are consuming data that we pay for.
Att should focus on improving their crapy service instead of trying to milk the most out of customer who entered into contract with ATT out of good faith.
Please follow an example of Matthew Spaccarelli and take them to a small case court over their unethical business practices.
First pressuring Apple to block Personal Hotspot, now this? I hope this is a joke. Whoever came up with this is going to look like a hero on paper for the next few years, but is seriously holding AT&T behind in the long run.
This “Pre-Loaded Application” answer is a total cop out.
What you are doing is poor customer service and punishing your most loyal customers. I suppose you figure you’ve got us cornered and we won’t jump ship if we have been grandfathered in in unlimited data.
Consumers are getting the raw end of the deal on this.
While I’m disappointed at what this means for the future of innovation and net neutrality, it’s completely AT&T’s right to do this. I’m sure they didn’t want to do this at first, and will suffer in customers and profits as a result, but something probably went wrong in the number-crunching that made Facetime over Cellular an unfeasible business model for the company. Still, competition will pick up: Verizon and Sprint will spam the airways with advertising for unrestricted Facetime.
AT&T is thrilled to sell its service by offering devices with desirable features; it’s not so thrilled actually having to provide access for those features. Their plan is to lock people in with contract extensions and then force those customers to pay much more than they originally agreed to in order to use the features AT&T was proud to advertise. This is is addition to their well-known terrible cellular coverage and reliability in general, topped off by the worst customer service I’ve ever encountered at a major corporation. As a customer, I am telling anyone who asks to avoid AT&T completely.
I am so tired of AT&T being greedy and screwing over the customer. I’ve had enough. Like others have said, I’m taking my family plan and moving elsewhere.
What a load of double talking crap. ‘Does not violate net neutrality because FaceTime is preloaded’! You, Mr. Quinn are no doubt perfectly aware that you are lying when you write this. Thank god my contract is up this month, I am definitely bailing for either Verizon or Sprint, now that they have Iphones.
Well, I am certainly glad AT&T doesn’t get to “enable” apps! Whether they like it or not, the spectrum of software advances, and their outdated notions of independent channels of voice, text, video, data, etc. are clearly failing. This thinly-veiled attempt to push a captive audience into a higher price bracket marks a sad retrogression for the open Internet. And I say captive because, although there is competition in the wireless market, changing allegiance carries a heavy penalty in most cases. I don’t doubt that this fumble will be short-lived; open data is the future, and AT&T will not stop it. Until then, I will find a new carrier. So long.
I’ve been an AT&T customer for about nine years. This includes U-Verse and wireless services. For the first time in years I’m considering switching all my services to a different company.
I’ll probably not be affected by this decision as I have the top tier data plan offered by AT&T. Even then I can clearly see how this company, through its actions and intentions, is not pursuing the betterment of their services and is becoming a danger to the internet as a whole.
In the days to come I’ll revise both my personal options and those of my company when it comes to internet and wireless service providers.
I’ve been on AT&T for the past 5 years…known i’ve been paying more than if i was on sprint/t-mobile…but this is the end.
Scamming customers using tiered text message plans was one thing, requiring them to move to tierd phone plans from unlimited just to facetime is ridiculous.
As soon as the Iphone5 comes out I’ll be moving to cheaper plans on T-Mobile or Sprint where I can use Facetime on unlimited data.
Thanks for letting Facetime work on Wi-Fi, how benevolent of AT&T.
AT&T sees the writing on the wall: It is now in danger of becoming a commodity Internet service provider whose sole responsibility is routing packets from one endpoint to another–a far cry from their yearned-for days of absolute monopoly control over landline phone systems.
iMessage and other apps that use Internet connections are what customers demand. These apps are fulfilling the basic laws of supply and demand. AT&T has long enjoyed its role of gatekeeper and sees that role beginning to slip away. However, no matter how much they kick and scream, market forces will win out over time.
The end is near for AT&T.
Bob, while you may or may not be correct about the net neutrality law (only a court of law can determine this in the end) you are missing the point. Customers just want the ability to use the apps they purchase with the data plan they purchase. Why should I have to buy a share plan when I am the only one in my family who has a smart phone?
Besides the large majority of your customers are going to use face time outside of wifi only a few times in a month or even a few times a year. I have used it about 5 times in 6 months. 3 times to play with it to figure it out and 2 real times.
In the end it appears to us customers as a big excuse for you to force us onto plans we do not need, and really do not want.
Cell phone companies are starting to act like Ma Bell all over again, and may suffer the same fate eventually if they keep this up. This is not really a bad deal.
Just another way to suck even more money out of your customers. You’d off your mother if you thought it would get you another 2 cents per month from all your subscribers.
“the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience.”
Really? Well you don’t have to worry then. The “overall customer experience” is already in the crapper, so whatever you might do couldn’t possibly make it worse.
I’m glad I dumped this piece of crap company the last time they did something stupid.
Here’s the thing: I already pay FIFTY dollars a month for my 5GB a month data plan! FIFTY. Five Zero. On top of that I pay for my voice plan -AND- I pay for my tethering. I’m already shelling out over 100 dollars a MONTH for your service and you’re telling me my plan isn’t enough for me to stream a few facetime calls? Give me a break. Even if I *COULD* use facetime on 3G your network is so slow in NYC that it wouldn’t work ANYWAY. Why don’t you take some of the billions upon billions you make a year and step your network up. I pay over 100 bucks a month and I can’t use facetime over 3G? It’s a pathetic money grab and you know it.
It’s for reasons like this that I’m really glad I chose not to live in America – don’t get me wrong there are many, many good things about the USA, but the pathetic regulation of MegaCorps are a big issue for anyone looking at moving there – especially when there are other places to go and setup a business, and not be crippled by Big Business getting its own way all the time.
AT&T seems to be trying to delay the inevitable; that they are simply a ‘pipe’ which we pay for our data to go over – nothing more, and perhaps even less!
This… this is obscene. What you are doing here just might be skirting the rules, but in all essence you are doing nothing more than alienating your customers in order to make an extra buck. Is charging extra for a service other carriers plan on automatically including really worth losing that many customers over? Because unless you change your stance on this issue, I assure you that I will gladly pay the ETF and go straight to Verizon or T-Mobile once the new iPhone comes out. Also, just in case your decision might not be fully valid, I have sent in a complaint to the FCC.
This is hilarious! I’ve been reading page after page of comments and not a single positive comment. How daft do you have to be as a business man to believe that this kind of response to a change means anything other than at least 200 lost customers (who commented, estimated x10 who just read the post)?
Maybe its just me but I kind of feel like AT&T is being run by the League of Shadows…
When we all want to internet access, it kind of sucks that the companies which control our public spectrum only want to sell us voice calls and text messages. Somehow we need to take our public spectrum back and give it to new companies who actually want to sell us data. Just give us connections to the regular internet, please. Quit forcing us to buy your over priced voice and text plans.
This is my final straw. Even though I will have to pay to get out of a contract I am jumping ship. I have been with this company when it was just Bellsouth Mobility in the late 90’s. I am a SINGLE user, so having a SHARED data plan for MYSELF in order to use a feature on a phone that it COMES WITH BY DEFAULT is absurd.
I know that the advent of VOIP and Video calling has you (and every other Telco with a shoddy network) running scared, but this price-gouging nonsense is NOT the answer.
Your response to the criticism is ridiculous. Anyone who is paying attention — luckily for you, that’s just a small minority… for now — knows that you’re spending all of your energy trying to find new and creative ways to squeeze more money out of your most loyal customers, rather than being consumer-friendly and dumping 100% of your profits into upgrading your network.
As soon as Sprint gets LTE up and running in my area, I’m done with AT&T. Until then, I’m going to make it my mission to spread word of your unethical behavior to anyone and everyone I know.
One of these days, you’re going to need to wake up and realize that you are, and SHOULD be, nothing more than a big dumb pipe for data service. The problem is that by the time that realization hits you, your horrendous treatment of your customers will have left you with nothing left to pay for those pipes.
I sincerely hope you either drastically change your ways, or you go out of business. Either of those eventualities is fine by me, though, I’m out of here!
Still time to do the right thing AT&T. If not it’s off to Sprint!
I understand that there is a real technical limitations to the network, and only so much data it can handle, video calling can exponentially be a very big issue for AT&T. I would suggest to AT&T that you come on out and say that, rather than a two-faced legalese response. Reading the above statement, just really burns me, but I couldn’t use facetime anyway because I have a poor signal where I live. Instead of dragging your feat and alienating customers, whilst having a smoldering PR disaster; I would suggest developing a “new and innovative” way to meter the FaceTime Data. Or better yet enable video calling but for a little tiny premium like $5.00 extra per month. While you’re at it work, with Apple and their people to develop your own video calling app, use the Facetime API, hold Apple to their “open source” commitment, something AT&T deserves at the very least. Be the first network to innovate the first Android / iOS facetime app. Only on AT&T! that way you can have an edge over VZW and do it on your terms, as your network allows, while creating a profit model. FZO Business Advisors, My firm and I would be happy to help.
Thank you for giving me yet another reason to stop being a customer. For the rest of those still locked into plans, this is why jailbreaking is still legal (install 3g enabler and xcon). AT&T has alot of nerve to treat us like we are stupid. The best thing I ever did was buy an LTE ipad side by side with my iphone 4, it is no comparison in fact my iphone works worse than a 28.8 modem does – at least the latter is consistent. My next move is to ditch AT&T altogether and never look back. Google, Apple, please build your own network! The AT&T management team are attempting to kill innovation while producing absolutely non of their own.
It makes me feel good when I read about your terrible decisions AT&T because I feel like a burden has been taken off my shoulders when I leave your network in 6 months. It would be different if your network didn’t suck.
YOU ARE EXPLOITING IPHONE CUSTOMERS!!!
Android Devices with GOOGLE TALK and a Front Facing Camera, have been able to do VIDEO CHATS all this time, yet when IPHONE releases a VIDEO CHAT Feature, AT&T is all about getting EXTRA MONEY from it!
Sprint, TMOBILE and US CELLULAR Let any user Video Chat when ever they want, as much as they want with SKYPE, GOOGLE TALK or what ever they want!
SO EXPLAIN WHY THEY CAN VIDEO CHAT WITH GOOGLE TALK OR SKYPE AND NOT FACETIME! WHY? BECAUSE YOUR EXPLOITING IPHONE USERS!
I wonder what the Other Wireless Companies are gonna do with FACETIME!
I JUST DITCHED AT&T 2 WEEKS AGO OVER ALL THIS IPHONE B.S. ALL THE EXPLOITING WHICH BRANDON TALKS ABOUT IS TRUE!
EVERY THING AN ANDROID CAN DO, IS CHEAPER THEN IPHONE! AND GUESS WHAT! BECAUSE OF AT&T’S ACTIONS, APPLE HAS LOST ME AS A CUSTOMER. I PAID FOR A GALAXY 4G PHONE, WHICH LETS ME VIDEO CHAT, JUST AS GOOD AS FACETIME, WITH ANYONE, ANYTIME, AS MUCH AS I WANT, ON 4G, 3G, 2G EDGE OR WIFI… YOU CHOSE!
SEE YA LATER AT&T, GOOD LUCK APPLE, AT&T IS RUNNING OFF YOUR IPHONE CUSTOMERS BECAUSE YOU ARE LETTING THEM CONTROL YOUR DEVICE!
Do we need anymore proof that AT&t thinks its customers are stupid? What an insulting argument you have made here. I pay for an allotment if data each month and it should be up to me to determine how to use it!! The electric company doesn’t tell me how I get to use electricity!
At&t will lose the PR battle over this, and ultimately get smacked down by the FCC.
I’ll just jailbreak my phone, install My3G, use my unlimited data plan, and AT&T can kiss it.
I will be switching to a different provider when my contract is up next month due to this. Maybe instead of paying lawyers & execs to think up excuses, you should pay network engineers to increase your capacity. Even better, you could actually use some of the vast amount of spectrum you have bought up but are currently sitting on.
You may or may not be right about the Net Neutrality issue, but I don’t think anyone in their right mind actually believes you were remotely motivated by anything to do with that when making this policy decision. This is 100% about coercing customers to move to newer plans. These plans are simply not suitable for every customer, including, for a higher price, things such as unlimited voice and messaging – which as you plainly and clearly know – less and less customers need or want. By telling loyal customers on your older plans, or customers who simply do not want your unlimited offerings, that they cannot use a landmark feature of iOS 6, you quite simply show a complete disdain for your customers, their wishes, and for competition. It’s appalling, and your blog post fools nobody.
I have been an AT&T subscriber since iPhone3 and I do not wish to remain as a result of this kind of crap. My iPad3 gets its LTE from Verizon. I am not in contract and I will likely switch to Verizon with the next iPhone especially if it is GSM/CDMA/LTE and they allow SIM unlocks for foreign travel as they do with the 4S.
Data is data. I’m paying for it. It’s a bucket of GBs that I should be able to use as desired. The fact that they’ll let you use other video chats on Iphone and the default option on Android shows this is a pathetic money grab. Do we all remember when you had to pay your mobile provider for ringtones on your locked down flip phones? This kind of garbage should be a distasteful memory instead of a new policy, AT&T.
The fact that you are making “reasonable restrictions” on preloaded applications is exactly what Net Neutrality is for! Just because you use the term “preloaded” doesn’t change the fact that it IS an application & not allowing users to use it (BLOCKING) with your reasonable restriction does in fact violate the law! I’m also very disappointed that AT&T considers blocking this app in the hopes to gain more revenue as a reasonable restriction! Thanks for looking out for your customers AT&T!! I hope the FCC takes you through the ringer!!
I have an unlimited family data plan with AT&T.
It’s great.
I use Facetime maybe once every two weeks (over wifi).
It’s a novelty, at best.
AT&T really needs to wake up here and rise above this.
I’d definitely jailbreak my iPhone and install the “my iPhone thinks it’s on wifi” app if I go out of town and wanna Facetime with the kids.
That’s the simple solution.
AT&T = Fail.
AT&T is like a lazy plumber that would rather try and convince you that you shouldn’t take a shower than fix the drain.
Verizon’s LTE network is going to scream on my iPhone 5 with FaceTime enabled.
I suppose the degree of contempt this displays for your customers should come as no surprise. I’ve worked in telecom so I’ve seen firsthand the toxic, high-handed treatment the wireless groups have given other companies. A few decades ago, Mobile was hot. It was the new thing. So the management carried a sense of entitlement that showed through clearly in it’s dealings with others. This entitlement has continued in an environment where the carriers continue to ‘streamline’ the market, crushing competition and stifling innovation in a fashion that the old AT&T would have admired. But connectivity, in the end, is a commodity. The carriers desperate attempts to keep barriers high and customers pinned under contracts and forced arbitration are doomed to fail. I’ve given AT&T a great deal of money over the years. No more. I’ll be switching to a prepaid plan with a different carrier.
It may be ‘legal’ but its a customer unfriendly move and one that honestly makes absolutely no sense to me. Individuals should have rights too and data is data; customers are using it so why does it matter which type of plan theyre on. If anything if FT uses a lot of data, you can make more money if individuals go over their allotment. I was seriously considering switching to ATT to buy the new iphone and now Im not going to. Ive always heard ATT customers complain about dropped calls, poor customer service – and even consumer reporter Clark Howard has repeatedly told his viewers/listeners to run as far away from ATT if you can. Its sad that th is company (along with VZ) have grown so large that they just disregard their customers. Again this move makes no logical sense at all. If users are paying for data, let them use it. If your network cant handle it, t hen it must not be very good so thats another reason to go with someone else. THe iphone carriers have gotten so greedy that now it seems TMobile is the only choice for a reasonable plan – and now theyre even going one step forward by adding unlimited data – and unlike Sprint, on a network that has some reasonable speeds even without LTE
I’m an Andriod consumer and will break away from AT&T when my contract is up.
These anti-consumer antics are rediculous and as far as I’m concerned… I’m next!!!
This is the last straw. Lying and Relabeling my slow 3g as 4g was bad. Watching rival verizon roll out LTE just about everywhere made me think about leaving and now this nonsense about FaceTime. I am definitely moving to verizon. I don’t know what the reason to stay is. See you later att. You really are going out of your way to help people leave
It’s not about rules, it’s about making your customers happy, or at the very least not giving them reasons to make them leave. Lately, that is all AT&T has been doing. Treating us like idiots does not help either, this post is an insult to our intelligence.
Here’s what I don’t understand. I know my data plan (for the iPhone, with AT&T) sends me warnings as I approach the limit of my data plan, then charges me more money if I go over that limit. So why is that not a sufficient mechanism to make sure you get paid for the increased usage that FaceTime may encourage people to use? So what I hear you saying is, “Our network is not sufficient to handle much more additional traffic, so we’re using financial means to throttle network usage.”
In the meantime, it would be nice if AT&T could get back to business basics, like respecting their customers and just providing good service at a good price. From the outside, AT&T looks like one of those companies that have grown so large you’ve become soulless, focusing on MBA tricks to see how many additional dollars you can squeeze out of each customer…
You have got to be kidding! The applications I use should not even be visible to you! And restricting some over others is plain wrong. We pay enough for the service as it is.
To file a complaint with the FCC, go to ” fcc (dot) gov (slash) complaints ”
and then “Open Internet (Net Neutrality)”, then “Blocking of Internet content, applications, or services”
Since AT&T is saving me money I thought I’d return the favor. I will save AT&T money by switching to a different network. That way I don’t cause any issues with their frail network.
It’s going to cost me somewhere around $1000 breaking contacts and paying fees at a new carrier, but in the long run I will save money. And that’s all AT&T is trying to do; save me, the consumer, money – right?
AT&T cannot get it together. 1st data is unlimited. Then data is extremely limited. Now data is unlimited, but somehow still limited and controlled.
Pricing of data is all over the place. What is the cost of 1MB? Shouldn’t the cost be the same across all plans? Why would 1MB cost more on one plan than it does in another?
Why can’t I have a shared data plan for my smartphones, tablets and computers AND still have a no-internet + messaging plan for my children’s dumbphones? The Mobile Share plans don’t offer a reasonable cost-efficient option for me.
Goodbye AT&T is been a horrible experience and I won’t be coming back.
Really ATT. You will suffer like Netflix and it will cost you billions of $ for being a company with a filthy bloodsucking culture!
So long … especially since there are so many other options for us!!!
AT&T this is a truly shameful move. Please know that as soon as my contract is up I will be leaving your deplorable organization.
This is such a money grab before your voice profits go up in smoke. Instead of screwing your customers why not spend your energy working on a new business plan for the changing times?
I’ve kept AT&T because of my unlimited data plan, but now you’ve given me the incentive to finally switch another carrier.
Why stay with AT&T when I can get the same phone and better service elsewhere?
I can’t believe you actually released this as a public statement. I’m mortified for your PR department. You just openly admitted that you are screwing your customers. Well, this seals it for me. My contract is up in the 2nd week of September. I’ll be a Verizon customer at that point. Good luck retaining a customer base that you take for granted and clearly have no respect for.
This has nothing to do with “preloaded.” It’s a simple attempt to use power to extract more money for NO value and a clear violation of Net Neutrality.
This is ridiculous.
I’ve been an ATT mobile customer for so long that the iPhone wasn’t even on the radar.
This has been a slow decent into madness for ATT, and I won’t stand for the utter lack of care for the people paying ATT salaries.
As of next month I will be moving to another wireless provider.
Congratulations on chasing a long time customer away with your ignorant and utterly ludicrous policies and procedures that are nothing more than spitting on the faces of those who use your service.
Goodbye, and good riddance.
You have got to be kidding with this “press release.” Disabling FaceTime is about screwing the customer, pure and simple, and no amount of corporate BS will make anything else.
Bye Bye ATT. Thanks for giving me (and the other phones on my plan) the final push to leave your after seven years as a high paying customer.
This is exactly the reason why I’ll be gone and switch as soon as the new iPhone is available… first they restricted tethering and now FaceTime! AT&T proves one more time that they are not capable to meet customer needs. Behavior like this is exactly why the US is behind all other countries in mobile & internet accessibility, why we loose jobs and innovation to other places! It is time, that we get more competition into this market so that companies like AT&T either are forced by market pressure or just simply go out of business for the good of all.
AT&T, whoever is responsible in your company for this kind of strategy you should strongly consider to fire them immediately and find people who think like the 21st century!
Oh, AT&T, I’m one of those users who doesn’t have a fancy (or any) text package. I can’t believe you’re into the terrible cusomer relations project of blocking an app the iPhone comes with, unless the customer ante’s up more. Greed, greed. I remember when “Ma Bell” got too big for her britches and was split up. And here you are again, pushing against the edges of the law, proving your reputation for greed has factual basis. You know, this was not a very smart move.Legal or not, this move is not customer-friendly, and reeks of greed. I’d think you’d want the Face Time app as a plus – not a disabled thing. The defensive gobbledegook on your blog page – well, I want to say “aww, c’mon, how much will you make? how much will you lose?” You think people will increase their already high-priced spread with you? Oh my. Well, as you note, there are other options. I can ignore the Face-Time app, I can download Skype, I can even leave AT&T.
I’ll be dropping my service with AT&T today.You should too! I’m looking forward to all of the exciting features and freedom that Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and others have to offer.
Goodbye AT&T. You as a company should really be ashamed at how you treat your customers. Nothing but lies (throttling unlimited data plans) to trying to force upgraded plans to use FaceTime. Terrible, simply terrible. You need to retact your FaceTime position and let customers use THEIR data they pay good money for however they want. Act now while you still have a shred of dignity left!
It appears AT&T is the only major provider that’s going to limit FaceTime over a cellular network:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/verizon-allow-facetime-connections-over-4g-lte-network-184647782.html
From the article, “Verizon’s competitor Sprint has likewise announced customers will be able to use FaceTime over mobile without additional charge. AT&T customers, meanwhile, will only be able to take advantage of FaceTime over cellular if they’ve signed up for one of the company’s new shared data plans.”
U suck ATT.
At first I was staying with AT&T for my unlimited data and use of voice and data together. LTE fixes the latter issue for the other carriers. AT&T’s Ham-handed move to force me off my data plan was be the push I need to move everything over to Verizon.
So why don’t you disable Google Talk on Android devices also. It comes preloaded with each new phones… This is unfair and shady business practice!
What this is, is a STUNT to make your “grandfathered” unlimited data customers switch to a higher priced data plan so that you can put a “cap” on their data usage. This is poor business practices and nothing more. HELLO VERIZON!
Wow. How utterly wrong. AT&T’s plans clearly violate both the letter and spirit of the FCC rules. Seriously, who are the lawyers working for AT&T? They should be sacked.
Now, there may be an argument that those FCC rules are invalid themselves, but that’s not the argument being made here. Instead, it’s ignoring the truth printed in black and white on the FCC’s rules pages.
Wow. How utterly amazing.
Let’s point out the big lie: “The FCC’s net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones.”
Wrong. The FCC’s net neutrality rules DO regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones, and it applies to those applications such as FaceTime.
The plain language of the FCC rule clearly implies this. Nothing in the comments, notes, or deliberations by the FCC would lead anyone to think otherwise. Nothing in the rules states that they do not apply to pre-loaded applications. More importantly, the spirit of the rules is such that it is clear these rules were intended to block the type of actions AT&T is taking.
I will say, however, that AT&T is being transparent about this. Transparently wrong.
Why are you singling out FaceTime? Why not Skype? Or ooVoo? Or Lync? Or Google Talk? Or dozens of other video chat apps? Skype will be pre-loaded on Windows Phone 8, so you’re going to subject it to the same policies, right?
You’re not fooling anyone, AT&T. If you keep up these shenanigans, you will continue to receive bad publicity and lose customers… including me.
Been an AT&T customer since Cingular was acquired. I’m leaving AT&T for Big Red because of this PR statement alone.
Even willing to pay the Early Termination Fee to get out.
bits are bits, ATT does the same BS with tethering. Imagine if your water company required you pay for an extra package just so you could use the water you already are paying for to wash your car, and if you plan on putting the water in any kind of storage container, you need an extra package.
stuff em.
bits are bits, ATT does the same BS with tethering. Imagine if your water company required you pay for an extra package just so you could use the water you already are paying for to wash your car, and if you plan on putting the water in any kind of storage container, you need an extra package.
Why are they doing this? Because iMessage and similar apps/services like Blackberry Messenger and Facebook Messenger have eaten into their SMS texting profits. Their worried FaceTime will do the same with voice and will erect barriers to universal accessibility to telecommunications technologies even if it harms their deaf & hard of hearing customers. They also want FCC permission to phase out legacy copper wire (wire-line) services like dial-up Internet, DSL broadband and wire-line phone service.
It was things of this ilk that prompted the “break-up” of the original AT&T Megalith in the first place-maybe it’s time for a redux, along with the rest of the big telecoms and cable monsters, as well.
Classy move AT&T. I’m glad that my two iPhones are off contract so that I can take my business and my phones to T-Mo. Nice knowing ya.
Captcha agrees: imbecility iasque
I’ve been an AT&T Mobile customer since 1996. Same number and everything. I never had the motivation to look for another carrier.
Now I will.
I was looking forward to using FaceTime over without a wi-fi connection with the iO6 update and now I find out I can’t use it with my legacy unlimited data plan. If I didn’t have over a year left on my contract I would be leaving today. This is the straw that broke the camels back. I will definitely be switching to another company with all three of my family’s iphones when my contract is up. Thanks again for rewarding the customers who have actually been with you long enough to have the unlimited data plan.
i just updated my iphone 4 to the ios 6 update. could not make a facetime call on 3g so i called att right away. i have aurgued with att rep for 2 hours. i am so pissed at att. kept asking what the difference in data was to the family plan to my unlimited plan… what exactally is different with the data ????? cmon fcc ruling !! if att dont allow me to use facetime on my individual plan i will never use att for anything for the rest of my life. never ever again att your done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a pile of nonsense. I have been an AT&T customer since 2006 (with Cingular) and am sadly seeing a trend in how the company treats its customers. I’ll be taking my organization’s business elsewhere as well soon…
If AT&T doesn’t change this policy, I will be switching carriers as soon as my contract expires!!!
Sounds like fraudulent and deceptive practices as well. Nowhere on the iphone5 ordering or AT&T agreement does it state that AT&T will be removing, blocking, disabling or otherwise making a broadly advertised feature unavailable to their customers. This is a significant impact to the value proposition and as it is clearly and intentionally deceptive, it is grounds for legal action. have a nice day.
This is the worst thing that att has done to me. I have been a faithful customer since 2004, I have invested a lot of cash in to this cow called att and she doesn’t even give me the milk that I am paying for. If it takes me leaving and even paying the ETF and going to Verizon, I gotta get out of this messy company. They will be seeing me and my three iPhones in the rear view mirror.
My wife and I been a ATT customers for 10 years and we’ve each had an iPhone from the first release. Not only that, but my wife and I have upgraded to each and every model each release, keeping our plans separate, as we have been grandfathered with our Unlimited Data Plans. We are direct withdrawal customers as well – so we are not dead beat bill skippers.
This move to cut us out of FaceTime is ludicrous. If it wasn’t for the iPhone, ATT would be out of business, that is the only reason I’ve stayed with them – as living in New England, Verizon is the clear choice for coverage.
Its a nickel and dime move, as I’ve been using Sykpe over 3G for years, so for them to limit FT is a cheap shot to us, their customers.
You would think in an economy like this and with Sprint and others offering such great deals – Customer retention would be a top priority.
I’m with the rest between uverse and cell phones I’m at 6K a year. I called the rep today and had my account noted. AT&T has ninety days to reverse this decision or you’ve lost another long time customer. You’re forgetting that this decision impacts your most loyal customers. The decision has no real technical merits, it’s unethical, and potentially illegal. I hope the FCC can save you from yourself.
I’m a huge fan of AT&T customer service however this continued behavior simply will not be tolerated. We retain our right to vote with our dollar.
not fair att !!! we pay for data regardless of which plan we are on. stop blocking facetime or lose many loyal customers forever.
Really, you’re going hobble my NEW IPhone and diminish my decision to reup my contract by disabling my access to FaceTime. Thanks, way to live up to your commitment to ‘Unlimited Data’. You clearly don’t appreciate customer loyalty given your decisions to violate our trust and not live up to your commitments.
Arrogant!!! It is arrogance and lack of being in touch with customers that takes companies down. Reading this irritates me and embarrasses me to be a customer. The decision is bad enough but this blog wreaks of “we don’t care”. It is a major money grab or else smoke and mirrors because it would topple their crappy network. I hope there is a stampede to Verizon.
This post by Bob Quinn is deserving of both the “Facepalm of the Year” and “Epic Fail of the Year” awards. Anyone with at least high-school-level reading comprehension who has read the Open Internet Rules can plainly understand that the rules do not prohibit the blocking of *downloading* applications. The rules prohibit the blocking of the applications themselves. That AT&T would allow an official (or at least semi-official) response like this, that gets the facts so incredibly wrong, is simply appalling and laughable. I have formally filed a complaint against AT&T with the FCC. This is a *clear* violation of the Open Internet Rules and an attempt to protect AT&T voice services which compete directly with FaceTime.
Even if Bob is 100% correct in what he is saying this is about the most stupid action that AT&T could take. I think it will be ultimately ruled illegal to do this but why would you screw over the one segment of customers that basically saved AT&T’s rear? Before the iPhone gave them thousands of new customers people were flocking to Verizon. I left Verizon to go to AT&T because of the iPhone. Being lazy I guess has kept me here. Well thanks for the incentive AT&T. Unless you change your position you will loose me and a whole bunch of customers. Can you hear me now! What a moron.
As a fellow regulatory compliance professional, I am shocked to read Mr. Quinn’s interpretation of the regulatory requirements pertaining to net neutrality. Unlike other regulatory documentation, the FCC’s published rule is VERY clear, and leaves little room for argument on alternative interpretation.
Mr. Quinn may have been able to argue under the limited exceptions for network management, but obviously chose not to as to deter from suggestion that AT&T’s network is in any way inferior. His stated argument of “download applications” holds not water, the rule is very transparent and covers applications, services and any other non-harmful transmission of data.
Not only am I shocked your PR team approved this message, I’m amazed your legal team would agree with your interpretation.
This is just another attempt by AT&T to try to milk more money out of it’s customers. The fact that they will allow it’s Shared Data plans use of Facetime over 3g, but not it’s grandfathered unlimited data plan users is clearly a sign of their greed.
Notice how all of the other cellular companies aren’t limiting Facetime over 3g? Wake up, AT&T.
I have been a customer for over 10 years. I have always prompted your services but I cant believe you guys block one of the coolest feature on the iphone. I will start looking for a new service provider.
This is nothing more than a money grab your new plans will cost me more every month as a multi line customer I’m giving you a very short time to treat your long time customers fair a change your position on this AT&T but if not just because your fleecing me this way I’m headed to verizon at least they aren’t surgar coating the BS I will not stay with you and pay you more simply because your forcing this issue I how ever will gladly pay verizon the extra money…
What absolute chickensh*t this is. There is NO WAY you can reasonable explain this. When my contract is up, I’m gone. This is the last straw from you greedy aholes.
I would have preferred if AT&T was honest and said,
“The reason why you can’t have FaceTime or or internet tethering (that the consumer pays for) is just because we just want more of your money!!!” Just admit it for once!
ATT is lame. I would have switched if I was not on my corp plan. Time to go chat with our buyer who makes these decisions. I have Sprint at home and their service is much better.
I’ve been a costumer since this carrier was “singular” and I was very happy with AT&T until they put a throttle in my “unlimited data”… And now this…. You guys are really messing up… And I am Probly won’t be a AT&T costumer when contract is over… Probly will look for another carrier … Thx all for all this bull
Sounds like a class action law suit is in order. I too have AT&T’s “unlimited” data plan, which does not exclude any type data nor application. If this isn’t a breach of contract, then I don”t understand the term! I would have switched carriers if I knew all this before I upgraded to the iPhone 5. Worse, the sales clerk assured me my unlimited data plan would support Face Time.
Correct me if I am wrong, but unlimited data means unlimited data right? So, why would ATT not allow customers with this plan to use FaceTime over cellular? Would you please provide me with the unlimited data fine print so I can do my due diligence?
I found out about this today while trying to facetime my daughter over cellular data. AT&T, as a long time costumer, I am so disappointed for you trying to “trap” your old loyal costumers to “let go” of their unlimited plans! What a cheap shot! Absolutely disappointing.
Dear Atat,
I understand that Facetime over 3G network is a new feature I didn’t have 3 days ago. I CAN live without it. I get it… But its a new toy all the cool kids are playing with and i want it. Its like a job with no raise and no promotion for 10 years. Who wants to stick it out with that company? I need my new features to keep my sanity from the dropped calls, data caps, poor signal, crappy service. And now your telling me that with my UNLIMITED DATA PLAN that i already pay for. I need to change my plan to a new Unlimited Pro Plus Sickadelic plan to allow me to use a feature on my phone? **** off. This will be the straw that broke the camels back for me with Atat.
Says the carrier reporting over $6.1 billion in profit during Q1 alone…
AT&T needs to consider the ramifications of constantly being challenged and smeared around the press. This flimsy argument is quite funny! I had to make sure I was reading an official AT&T website for a minute.
If I’m giving up unlimited data…I’m giving up AT&T.
I have stayed with At&T since 1997 more out of convenience then anything but I think that tradition is finally coming to an end. This a blatant violation of FCC net neutrality laws and the only person that does not think so is the lawyer you paid to get this idiotic ruling.
By the way, the FCC has already stated that they believe this is a violation and will act to correct this incorrect policy.
As for me, the lack of AT&T’s LTE in my area, the fact that Verizon does, & now this policy make it a real easy decision to finally leave AT&T when my contract is up.
I would encourage everyone to go to http://www.fcc.gov and file a personal complaint against these actions by AT&T. I’m still amazed at the arrogance of the statement above and the disregard for all customers especially their most loyal ones.
Wow he basically just told us how to fix this problem, he said “AT&T does not restrict customers from downloading any such lawful applications, and there are several video chat apps available in the various app stores serving particular operating systems.”
Easy fix..Just like we had to download a You Tube app someone just needs to create a Facetime application that we download from the App store.
So if I want to use FaceTime, I have to downgrade my unlimited data plan to a tiered one, why? I purchased the unlimited data because that was a service your company was providing and it was the best option for me, and now that there’s a phone that YOUR company sells that allows me to make video calls, I’m NOT allowed to use it over the service that I pay for? And your remedy for this is to drop my unlimited plan and pay more for a capped one? Really? I pay for this service! I pay just like the everyone else for the same service! And you’re telling me that its not the same thing because I was fortunate enough to be your customer before you decided to change your plan?! So you deny me the access?
Thanks, AT&T, for taking into consideration of my years as a loyal customer and paying for an “UNLIMITED” data plan. Now I am asked to simply pay more to go into a LIMITED data plan or else I will not enjoy the benefits of sharing Facetime with my family and friends overseas.
Good riddance and as soon as my contract expires, I AM OUT!!! Sayonara, Adios, Auf Wiedersehen!
I’ve already mentioned how this is a *clear* violation of the FCC’s Open Internet rules. It’s now only a matter of time before the FCC forces AT&T to comply and unblock FaceTime. After that happens, this whole episode will have motivated me enough to whip the Internet crowds into a new frenzy over your blocking of the Mobile Hotspot app (which competes directly with your DataConnect services for laptops and other “non-phone” devices). Thanks to your shenanigans with FaceTime, you will now also lose out on Mobile Hotspot. Let this be a lesson to not be so greedy in the future.
Enjoy!
I do agree with everybody that this AT&T decision is ridiculous and it will cost them some customers. But I do have to remind everybody of a couple things:
1. If you do go to Verizon you have no choice but to purchase one of those new mobile share plans that AT&T is requiring in order to use face time. Those are the only plans Verizon offers. It’s kind of dumb to complain and say your going to Verizon b/c you gain nothing out of it.
2. Verizon will screw you even worst then AT&T. At least AT&T allows existing customers to keep their existing plans when they upgrade their device. If you want to keep your existing plan w/ Verizon then you have to pay full retail price for the device. If you want the discount then you have to change your plan to one of the new mobile share plans.
3. Sprint offers it b/c they have no choice. They are trying anything they can just to stay in business and even then they can’t gain new customers.
While this might be ‘legal’, it’s unethical and sleazy as hell. Once my contract is up, AT&T is losing a customer.
I’ve ran a company for 40 years. I would never treat a customer of mine so poorly. To deny a feature to customers that have been with your companysince the beginning of the entire iPhone experience, you should be ashamed. My plan is to stream my iPhone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except when I am using it. I hope all other unlimited data plan holders will do the same or come up with a better idea.
YOU SUCK AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
It is also sad that one of your reps tried to tell me that is was because of Apple. Why would Apple care if I used the data that I pay for??
I wasn’t born yesterday! Why would your rep need to lie. Why can’t they tell the truth?
It is a veiled attempt to make those customers, like me, who have been with you so long and signed up for your “unlimited plan” which is no longer available, switch to a higher cost plan.
You will likely not only lose this fight, but in reprisal lose out on your fight against the “hot spot” issue, which according to your now listed argument, is no longer valid. “Indeed, the rules do not require that providers make available any preloaded apps. Rather, they address whether customers are able to download apps that compete with our voice or video telephony services.”
I do believe I can download an app for that!
I used to love AT&T they were the best, I left T-mobile to use this fabulous new gadget called the iPhone as me and many others realized it was a ground breaking little gadget. As time passed and restriction upon restriction came, AT&T slowly took advantage of its coustomers need for this new product, and they soon realized they could take advantage of there coustomers and started gauging, scheming, and manipulating, to there best effort to turn the evil greedy hands of profit. We all know company’s have to turn a profit they have to make money it’s the natural order of business, but ther is a line, a balance that must be met to satisfy the needs of both coustomer and company. AT&T wriight now, belive it or not does not care for the coustomer due to the fact every one is locked into there contracts. AT&T will soon see what we all feel “dissatisfied”. They will lose there coustomer base it will happen, just simpy due to the fact just like me, we all believed once in this company and now feel betrayed and have no other option then to leave and try somthing better. Just I alone me and my family have over 19 accounts with friends and family. One friend has already left to Verizon and is beyond happy I belive that we all will follow its sad but our unhappiness will spread like a virus and AT&T will see there greasy greedy little hands empty.
Anyone with half a brain can see through this. You’ve been trying to find ways to take our unlimited plans from us for years. This new lie is just sad. I only came here because I had to in order to have an iPhone when it first dropped (and lets not forget that I was FORCED to have an unlimited plan at an unheard of $30 addition to my bill). I stay because you haven’t rocked my boat. Well, boat rocked. I’m jumping off. I’ll be satisfied to see your stock taking a few dents when thousands of users drop your service to the tune of $100 a piece. Oh, ps – I don’t even use FaceTime.
I am seriously considering upgrading my 3 iPhones 3GSes to iPhone 5s or something better–it’s questionable whether this is the best handset on the market, but AT&T’s position on Facetime and tethering for customers with an unlimited data plan–a plan that was over-priced from the beginning– and the fact that their LTE service does not reach my area, is providing me with compelling reasons to evaluate the their competition.
Thank you for encouraging me to do what is best for me.
This is silly.
AT&T – just add a $15/month charge onto the cost of an unlimited data plan with Facttime and Mobile HotSpot, and be done with it. If you really put billions of dollars into network upgrades, then things as silly as this won’t make a big difference.
Remember what happened last time AT&T got uber arrogant and tried to “run the show” – you met Judge Green.
Just stop making it feel like you are ripping us off with the data plans.
Even if it technically is legal, it’s highly unethical to treat long-lasting customers with such disrespect. I suppose the restriction to mobile hotspot and throttling after 5gb are perfectly legal as well? Why don’t you add insult to injury and post a letter about that as well?
I wonder home many customers you can lose in one post…
This is such a joke. Yet another example of AT&T using it’s marketplace muscle to squander more money out of its customers.
Everyone should write the FCC or join the petition to let them know that this is a blatant contempt of the Net Neutrality rules.
Apple should just remove the app from iOS6 and add it as a downloadable app to give AT&T the metaphorical FU.
Bob Quinn: the face of shame.
They shot them selfs in the foot. 1. It says nothing about preloaded apps. This is not a loop home because it is fully covered by 2. May not disable or denie access over network any voice or video telephone app which directly competes.
Someone further up said that unlimited plans don’t have to be given access because this means a modification to the plan. I started with the original 2g with 350 min and unlimited data and a basic SMS service. Then I skipped the 3G and 3GS and got a 4 because AT&T no longer supported voice calling (constant call drops even during 911calls)..,, so I go the 4, had to updated unlimited $20 2g to the $30 unlimited. Now this plan had to be modified in another way. How you ask? Mms. That “proverbial switch” had to be turned on, there for modifying the data plan. Now I have an IPhone 5. I have all the same stuff but my data is not called unlimited LTE. AT&T just simply chooses to NOT flip that switch on to see how many more are willing to pay more. AT&T can’t with this argument. I spent 4 hours with customer support on this and got hung up on twic, told once “I’m trying to find someone that will take your call” and eventually was told I would receive a call back at a specific time. Guess what at the time I was told I would be call, I receives none. 12hrs later I got a call.
Thanks Bob, so let me get this straight. You make extra money off of me for an unlimited data plan since 2008. I haven’t used enough data each month to pay for the unlimited part since I’ve been a customer. So now a long awaited perk to the iPhone comes along (that will use more data) and the only way for me to use it is to drop my unlimited plan? So less data but more data usage? Are you sure it’s about protecting your network and not trying to get more money out of me? I think your sales rep should have explained this to me when they were looking at my account and selling me 700.00 worth of new iPhones!!! Way to show you care about long time customers Bob, I hope you lose a law suit and at least have to let me out of my contract. Your not the only player on the field, I believe one of your competitors bills them selfs as ” truly unlimited”.
I am, as of today an X-Customer of AT&T because of this very issue and many like it. After your “billions in network upgrades” and “fastest LTE network” you continue to restrict what I do with the data bandwidth that I pay for and should be free to do with as I choose, when I choose.
Goodbye. I really hope you lose in court.
I have filed a complaint with the FCC. This is corporate ridiculousness at its best.
Glad to hear T-Mobile will finally sell the iphone. I will be moving over to T-Mobile with my unlocked iPhone 4s.. Here I come FaceTime:)
Goodbye AT&T