In more
AT&T news, Wired recently
reported that the cell phone provider is considering implementing data caps on 3G "bandwidth hogs"—basically, those customers that are using the iPhone's unlimited contract to its full potential.
And whether or not they deserve to be capped, bandwidth hogs are definitely a reality in the cell phone industry. According to
Reuters, about 40 percent of AT&T's 3G network is being used by only 3 percent of smartphoners. The network is especially sluggish in New York and San Francisco.
AT&T has yet to reveal whether we should expect definite caps or some sort of milder rewards program. We only know that the cell phone provider wants to "find ways to persuade heavy users to reduce their activity," as reported in Wired.
(The word "persuade" makes me imagine a group of mobsters showing up at every bandwidth hog's house—or, well, their mother's house, probably—and employing some soaring rhetoric... with their fists.)
Anyway, AT&T's whole 3G mess raises some interesting questions about where a company's priorities should be. On one hand, AT&T has been accepting money for an unlimited data plan, so initiating bandwidth caps would be like reneging on a promise. But without caps, the entire network will continue to be slow (until somebody comes up with a better solution), which is bad for
all customers, not just the data hogs.
Wired offered two suggestions. First, AT&T could stop offering iPhone contracts in New York and San Francisco, for now. Sometimes nothing is better than a really crappy something.
Second, AT&T could ban or more heavily restrict bandwidth-heavy apps like the Major League Baseball program, which allows users to watch games right on their iPhones. This would be similar to when
Apple requested a toned-down version of the Slingback app for its store; the original version had 3G capabilities, which would have majorly clogged the network, so the creators switched its player-to-player mechanics so that the program relied solely wi-fi.
Mostly, I think AT&T should be very concerned about pleasing its customers. With other model smartphones quickly catching up to the iPhone
and a Verizon iPhone in the works, AT&T's iPhone monopoly will soon be coming to an end.
Which it better: disappointing all of your customers or betraying a subset? What should AT&T do?
Comments (10)
They should change all new contracts and work on their network. I think if they changed the current contracts, people would be leaving - which would solve their issues in another way!
Reneging on their contracts should not be viewed as an option unless AT&T pays the 300 or so fee to each of their customers that they charge them to leave and unlock their iphones so they can have a contract with any company they want.
Every phone I've ever had with an "unlimited" plan states clearly in the terms of service that "unlimited" is only true when you use it within reason, at the discretion of the company. So I'd be surprised if AT&T hadn't done the same.
I wouldn't buy an iPhone if I didn't get unlimited internet. I'm already limited to 5GB/month with my verizon air card (the only other option here is dial-up), and I can't really watch movies or anything streaming (other than a LITTLE) without going overboard.
They will lose a LOT of customers if they restrict it.
It's not like they don't make enough money, anyway, jeez.
vote for me, please! (:
@interstellarmachine@xanga - not true. 02 in the UK has the iphone too
I think discontinuing contracts for this in New York and San Francisco is probably the better way to go. I can see some overzealous people getting pissed off enough to try to sue AT&T over something silly like this. Even if they don't win, it will still cost AT&T money to go to court and everything that entails.
People are so sue happy these days, and this just seems like one of the asinine things people would attempt to bring a lawsuit over. "I have an unlimited contract, and they're putting limitations on it!"
Is it something that could win? Eh, probably not. But, its still a lot of bad press, money for court costs and whatnot, and unnecessary hassle for AT&T.
AT&T lies...and their coverage sucks.
@davidissexy1995@xanga - That is good to hear, competition is always good for the consumer!
I live in China. I own an iPhone 3GS (not a knockoff). The mobile network is very fast and I browse the Internet through the Edge network all the time. The bad side is that China Mobile charges double because of that. With my old regular phone, I used to pay about $10 a month. Now I pay $20.
I guess China knows their way around technology.