NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] re AT&T forcing data plan changes
----- Forwarded message from Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> ----- Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:38:46 -0500 From: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> Subject: [IP] re AT&T forcing data plan changes Reply-To: dave@farber.net To: ip <ip@v2.listbox.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren@vortex.com> > Date: February 8, 2010 2:10:39 PM EST > To: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> > Subject: Re: [IP] AT&T forcing data plan changes > > > The basic mobile phone authentication sequence provides all the > information necessary for the carrier to determine the phone type, > without inspection of the user data stream per se. > > And the term "unlimited" in reference to data plans has become > decimated in usefulness -- thanks to ISPs (mobile especially, but > increasingly landline as well) who really use the term now to mean > "unlimited until you exceed our arbitrary data usage ceiling" (in the > mobile space, as assigned to that particular type of phone or class of > device). > > This is a fundamental part of the carrier profit center "shell game." > By mixing and matching different "base" fees, data plan requirements, > and early termination fees, carriers assure themselves of specific > income streams over various periods of time. If the consumer is > confused into paying for more than what they need or will ever use -- > well, them's the breaks, right? > > As for the argument that "unlimited" in a mobile data or landline ISP > tier definition has anything to do with "unlimited connect time" > rather than the amount of user data actually flowing -- that's just > utter nonsense. By that line of reasoning, your local power company > could promote "unlimited service!" simply because your home is > always connected to the grid. Even the most non-techie of broadband > users aren't going to fall for that sort of word game. > > --Lauren-- > Lauren Weinstein > lauren@vortex.com > Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 > http://www.pfir.org/lauren > Co-Founder, PFIR > - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org > Co-Founder, NNSquad > - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org > Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition > for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org > Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com > Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy > Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com > Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein > > - - - > > On 02/08 13:40, Dave Farber wrote: >> >> >> >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >>> From: Chris Kantarjiev <cak@dimebank.com> >>> Date: February 8, 2010 1:01:26 PM EST >>> To: dave@farber.net >>> Subject: AT&T forcing data plan changes >>> >> >>> Dave, for IP if you wish: >>> >>> Last Saturday morning, I was awakened early by an SMS to my phone. >>> It >>> was from AT&T Wireless, saying "Did you know a data plan is required >>> for your Smartphone? Call 611 for details." >>> >>> This was shortly followed by another: "Your Smartphone requires a >>> data >>> plan. For convenience, we have added a minimum plan to your phone. >>> Call >>> 611 4 info." >>> >>> I found this quite puzzling, since I already had an unlimited data >>> plan on my account, and have for quite some time, since I first got >>> a >>> Cingular 5125 "smartphone" - I've been using wireless data for >>> about 5 >>> years, and had slowly moved up from a 5MB/month plan to unlimited. >>> >>> I didn't call 611, but instead went my account page at the AT&T >>> Wireless website. When I looked at my feature list, I saw that they >>> had moved me from my pre-existing $15/month unlimited data plan to >>> the >>> $30/month "Smartphone personal" unlimited data plan ... and that the >>> $15/month plan is still highlighted as "recommended". (I tried >>> switching back to the $15/month plan, but received the same set of >>> text messages again in under an hour.) >>> >>> The light began to dawn. For the past month or so, I've been >>> borrowing >>> a Nexus One to see what it's like. I simply inserted my AT&T SIM >>> into >>> the phone and started using it. I am probably using more data than I >>> used to, but 'unlimited' seems like it should have covered this? >>> >>> Apparently AT&T is doing some sort of inspection of the data stream. >>> Their latest terms of service say >>> >>> If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other >>> designated >>> smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right >>> to >>> add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the >>> appropriate >>> monthly fee. >>> >>> Hmm. And just how are they determining this, I have to wonder? >>> >>> Chris Kantarjiev >>> Palo Alto, CA >>> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------- >> Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now >> RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ >> Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com > ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ----- End forwarded message -----