Must read: Windows Phone outselling iOS, ultrabooks on the rise: Estonia does hardware differently

Topic: Hardware

With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

Summary: Apple's upcoming phone may have just throttled data transfer speeds for AT&T's top data users.

Ricardo Bilton

By for The ToyBox |

As anyone who is anyone knows, the iPhone 5 is almost certainly on its way. Want to know how AT&T is preparing for it? By throttling its customers data speeds.

Confirming previous rumors, AT&T says that it plans to throttle data speeds for its users starting October 1st. The move, AT&T says, will only affect the very top level of data hogs:

Starting October 1, smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users.  These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle.  Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a grace period.

Sort of rains on the whole "unlimited data" plan thing, doesn't it? With the move AT&T offers unlimited users an ultimatum: You can either have unlimited data at reduced speeds or reduced data at unimpeded speeds. Neither, to be honest, sounds all that great.

[AT&T]

Topics: Hardware, iPhone, Mobility, Smartphones, AT&T

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

40 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

    Even worse, AT&T will not confirm what the limit is that triggers throttling. You pays your money, and you takes your chances.
    JamesKendrick
    Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @JamesKendrick <br>Yes, and I think that is set to 3GB, because they have 2GB plan for $25. So you pay $30 and get 3GB with full speed and they will take you to EDGE/GPRS speeds once you hit 3GB and call it unlimited.
      Ram U
      Reply Vote

      • Not to defend AT&T ... but Verizon is the worst

        @Rama.NET Verizon is the one that started throttling and they do it at the 2GB limit. Once you hit that limit, it makes EDGE look like light-speed.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

      • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

        Really, Is this true James. Good information. I have to follow and get more speed. Thank you so much.<br><br>iPhone5
        dhatri
        Reply Vote

  • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

    That is the problem with AT&T...scumbags
    RandyMichael
    Reply Vote

  • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

    If they do this are they breaking the terms of my contract so I can move without penalty? Data throttle is a limit thereby breaking my "unlimited" contact?
    computerchipt
    Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @computerchipt

      That is a question that the courts would have to answer. Personally, I would think that unlimited means "at the highest speed of the network guaranteed to all users".... that means no throttling even if you use an exceedingly large amount of bandwidth.
      Lerianis10
      Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @computerchipt
      no.. the contract is about unlimited data, with no guarantee of speed.
      doh123
      Reply Vote

      • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

        @doh123<br>When your speed is throttled, it per se limits the amount of data you can use. It is mathematically identical to a data limit.
        .DeusExMachina.
        Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @computerchipt <br><br>I don't buy the "its still unlimited" defense to a non-EFT termination for a TOS violation by AT&T. "Unlimited" under any legal definition means "unrestricted" and placing the throttle on, especially wihtout disclosing the capping threshold, is a restriction. However, the gottcha is "where are you going to go" because even the most optomistic writers see Sprint going to tiered service sooner than later. Unfortunately, shareholders demand ever higher returns (witness Verizon wireless declaring a $10 BILLION dollar dividend to its parent companies this week) so don't for one minute think this has anything to do with bandwidth - it is all about profits and cash flow.
      dksmidtx
      Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @computerchipt

      Excellent point.
      balictous-zdnet@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

    Well at least this means that the next iPhone will have 4g LTE connectivity!
    Hasam1991
    Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @Hasam1991 Well first off LTE is Verizon only. Second off not necessarily. They can put a cap on 3G and just lower you down to edge which is what you have when your iPhone has little circle instead of the 3G symbol.
      DannyBoy123000
      Reply Vote

      • WRONG!

        @DannyBoy123000 LTE is not limited to Verizon.

        LTE is also available in AT&T and T-Mobile. Sprint is the only one using WiMAX.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

      • Also wrong.

        @Wackoae - Verizon has the only operational LTE network in the states right now. AT&T and T-Mobile's 4G is HSPA+, which is really just an enhanced 3G technology and not a true 4G technology. AT&T wants to buy T-Mobile for it's current 3G radio spectrum so it has a wider band to place its LTE radio spectrum.
        Champ_Kind
        Reply Vote

  • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

    This 5% policy doesn't make sense. There will always be 5% top users even when everyone keep their usage minimum.
    Exception Handler
    Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @Exception Handler Exactly, and how are you going to know you truly are in the 5% category? They could actually do this to the top 20% and will anybody know?
      non-biased
      Reply Vote

  • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

    With iCloud and FaceTime 3G coming, it's now more important to closely watch your 3G data usage. Users need an app like DataMan Pro that can track 3G and WiFi usage in real time and give automated usage alerts in the background. So while you are watching YouTube, listening to Spotify, calling FaceTime, or whatever, you can get alerted the moment you exceed your usage thresholds.
    jixe
    Reply Vote

    • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

      @jixe Has FaceTime 3G been confirmed? If so where did you read that?
      DannyBoy123000
      Reply Vote

      • RE: With the iPhone 5 on its way, AT&T moves throttle unlimited data

        @DannyBoy123000
        I thought that FaceTime was wifi only. I could be wrong.
        hoaxoner
        Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close