"It's not perfect for the consumer, and of course AT&T is doing its best to extract as much money as possible."
I agree completely with what you said specifically the above statement. As long as their notification system works as promised these plans are marginally better for those in the 200MB to 2GB range; way better for those less than 200MB. Also, as long as these caps rise with the times too, which we'll have to wait and see on that one.
My overall point is that while the plans may be better, they're still actuarial based, meant to maximize profit and minimize consumer backlash. And I think att is being a bit disingenuous in their motivations for these plans.
But the dynamic still doesn't work both ways though. If I use 500MB, why do I still get charged $25? And how is it non-punitive if I use 2GB + 1MB and I get charge $10 for the 1MB?
att just wants it both ways, they want a continuous revenue stream from the fixed $15/$25 charge but they also want usage charges. Again, if it truly is about unclogging the network and customer value, then charge me true usage, like electricity...2GB at $25 = ~1.2 cents per MB. But they'll never do that because the average iPhone user pulling down 500MB/month suddenly goes from paying $25/$30 to $6, and att can't have that.
From att's press release: "Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average."
I don't doubt that, but averaged over what time though? Contract life?
If I use 3GB one month, then .5GB the next, my 2 month average is less than 2GB but att will be more than happy to hit me with an overage charge that first month; of that 98%, what percentage would be hit with overage in at least one month of their contract? I'd bet a large percentage of that 98%.
I have no problem paying for what I use, but it needs to work both ways; if I use significantly less than 2GB in a month, why do I still have to pay $25? Why can't they do rollover data? Why can't my data plan be dynamic? e.g. if I use less than 200MB I pay $15 otherwise I pay $25 for data greater than 200MB but less than 2GB? Or some other method? There's gotta be a better way to do usage billing, and there is but why won't carriers implement them?
From att's press release: "Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average."
I don't doubt that, but averaged over what time though? Contract life?
If I use 3GB one month, then .5GB the next, my 2 month average is less than 2GB but att will be more than happy to hit me with an overage charge that first month; of that 98%, what percentage would be hit with overage in at least one month of their contract? I'd bet a large percentage of that 98%.
I have no problem paying for what I use, but it needs to work both ways; if I use significantly less than 2GB in a month, why do I still have to pay $25? Why can't they do rollover data? Why can't my data plan be dynamic? e.g. if I use
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I Agree
I agree completely with what you said specifically the above statement. As long as their notification system works as promised these plans are marginally better for those in the 200MB to 2GB range; way better for those less than 200MB. Also, as long as these caps rise with the times too, which we'll have to wait and see on that one.
My overall point is that while the plans may be better, they're still actuarial based, meant to maximize profit and minimize consumer backlash. And I think att is being a bit disingenuous in their motivations for these plans.
Re: Re: Re: Using statistics to say what you want...
att just wants it both ways, they want a continuous revenue stream from the fixed $15/$25 charge but they also want usage charges. Again, if it truly is about unclogging the network and customer value, then charge me true usage, like electricity...2GB at $25 = ~1.2 cents per MB. But they'll never do that because the average iPhone user pulling down 500MB/month suddenly goes from paying $25/$30 to $6, and att can't have that.
(untitled comment)
From att's press release: "Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average."
I don't doubt that, but averaged over what time though? Contract life?
If I use 3GB one month, then .5GB the next, my 2 month average is less than 2GB but att will be more than happy to hit me with an overage charge that first month; of that 98%, what percentage would be hit with overage in at least one month of their contract? I'd bet a large percentage of that 98%.
I have no problem paying for what I use, but it needs to work both ways; if I use significantly less than 2GB in a month, why do I still have to pay $25? Why can't they do rollover data? Why can't my data plan be dynamic? e.g. if I use less than 200MB I pay $15 otherwise I pay $25 for data greater than 200MB but less than 2GB? Or some other method? There's gotta be a better way to do usage billing, and there is but why won't carriers implement them?
The answer: they won't make as much money.
Re: Using statistics to say what you want...
Why can't my data plan be dynamic? e.g. if I use
Using statistics to say what you want...
I don't doubt that, but averaged over what time though? Contract life?
If I use 3GB one month, then .5GB the next, my 2 month average is less than 2GB but att will be more than happy to hit me with an overage charge that first month; of that 98%, what percentage would be hit with overage in at least one month of their contract? I'd bet a large percentage of that 98%.
I have no problem paying for what I use, but it needs to work both ways; if I use significantly less than 2GB in a month, why do I still have to pay $25? Why can't they do rollover data? Why can't my data plan be dynamic? e.g. if I use
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