PSA: Mobile phone data rates are ridiculous.

[daniel1113]

I've been paying for unlimited data with AT&T for the past 18 months, and finally decided that it wasn't worth the cost (~$420/year) to maintain. So, one week ago I dropped my data plan. I figured that for the few times a month I really need to check my email through my phone I could just pay the metered rate. Big mistake.

Tuesday morning I decided to check that my data connection was still operable and that I could enable/disable it at will on my phone. After enabling the data connection, I pulled up the headers on my inbox and pulled up one website: the Google mobile page. Satisfied that everything was in order, I disabled my data connection.

This morning I decided to check my bill, and discovered that the aforementioned tasks resulted in 729kb of data transfer. No big deal, right? Wrong. At the current rate of $0.01/kb, that comes to a grand total of $7.29, and I didn't even accomplish anything. If I did that five times in a month, I'd be paying the same amount that I was paying for unlimited data transfers.

Even though I'm sure this won't come as a surprise to anyone here, let this be a friendly reminder that mobile phone data rates are ridiculous. If you have any intention of doing any data transfers, just get an unlimited plan. Fortunately, I caught myself before racking up any serious charges, but you may not be so lucky.

Cliffs:

1) Dropped unlimited data plan.
2) Racked up $7.29 in data charges after loading inbox and one mobile webpage.
3) Thinking about returning to the unlimited plan.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

It seemed ok to me. My laptop said 340k connection speed most of time. And heck if Im going to pay 4x to 5x as much for what I do. To each his own.

 

[shortylickens]

PSA:
On average I talk for 10 minutes a month and check the weather once a week.

I dont need unlimited anything.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

If 3g was a requirement for me, I would do the same...but my iphone 3g on TMobile's edge is actually very snappy using epc.tmobile.com....and paying 70$ per month, for two phones with unlimited tests/unlimited data on BOTH plans is a HUGE savings, when AT&T would want 130+ for two phones.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

You're going to regret it, I've never talked to a happy AT&T customer. They drop calls, sometimes 5-6 in an hour. Terrible customer support.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

You're going to regret it, I've never talked to a happy AT&T customer. They drop calls, sometimes 5-6 in an hour. Terrible customer support.

when I had my last tmobile phone (about 7 years ago), I couldn't get reception in the tunnels underneath downtown dallas, but as soon as I switched to ATT, I never had problems making/receiving calls down there. Not sure how much is different now, but I have stuck with ATT ever since...

 

[ViviTheMage]

I think location is the big thing..each city is different. I have had T-Mobile for 9 years, never had a dropped call. Living in the suburbs of Minnesota, to downtown/uptown with no reception issues anywhere I went.

I have heard mediocre things about AT&T, they do have a much larger 3G network here though, then TMobile.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

Right now I'm on AT&T, but I've been considering switching to other carriers that monthly plans that fit better with my call/data usage. With AT&T, I was paying $85 a month for unlimited data at 450 minutes. I loved the data plan and used it all the time, and rarely make phone calls (I probably use 150 minutes a month and have like 4,000 carry over minutes). I'd gladly pay $50-$60 a month for an unlimited data connection and ~200 minutes of talk time, but AT&T doesn't offer anything like that.

 

[Queasy]

Which is why I don't do data for my personal cell.

 

[sonoma1993]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Which is why I don't do data for my personal cell.

same, i dont do use the internet on my cell phone either. texting on cell phones is expensive as well if your not using 1 of thier texting plans. I think tmobile charges 15 or 20 cents for each text message sent and received.

 

[joutlaw]

I have a regional provider.

500 minutes
unlimited mobile to mobile
unlimited data
unlimited text
call waiting, forwarding, 3 way calling
voice mail

I pay 50$ a month. Only downside is there data isn't unlimited out of the service area... you have 25MB of use before overage charges. This rarely affects me though.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
You're going to regret it, I've never talked to a happy AT&T customer. They drop calls, sometimes 5-6 in an hour. Terrible customer support.

You can talk to me and I'll tell you that I'm a relatively happy AT&T customer .

I have an unlimited data plan on my AT&T account though.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Quasmo
You're going to regret it, I've never talked to a happy AT&T customer. They drop calls, sometimes 5-6 in an hour. Terrible customer support.

You can talk to me and I'll tell you that I'm a relatively happy AT&T customer .
I have an unlimited data plan on my AT&T account though.

I was a happy AT&T customer, but that was California in 2003. I have no idea what its like now. I'll admit I dont hear as much ranting and raving as the Verizon crowd.

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

You're going to regret it, I've never talked to a happy AT&T customer. They drop calls, sometimes 5-6 in an hour. Terrible customer support.

<---- Happy AT&T customer. I have been with them (or companies that they acquired - Cingular, PacBell, etc) for over 9 years.

I never have a dropped call, coverage is great and call quality is just as good as other carriers.

Cell prices in general I have a problem with but other than that I love em'.

 

[GeekDrew]

I'm a happy AT&T Mobility customer. I had Nextel, then Sprint, then Verizon, and now AT&T. I don't regret it at all, and you couldn't pay me to switch back to any of the others while I'm living in this area. In another area, however...

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Ive been using TMobile since 2000 and their internet service since 2004. Always unlimited downloads (even when tethered to a laptop) for just $19.99 per month extra.

And all the speed of GRPS in most of the country, EDGE in most cities, and 3G in 15 cities. Meanwhile AT&T already has HSDPA in almost every major city in the country, and 3g reaching across the country. I'm done with T-mobile. Just switched to AT&T today.

If 3g was a requirement for me, I would do the same...but my iphone 3g on TMobile's edge is actually very snappy using epc.tmobile.com....and paying 70$ per month, for two phones with unlimited tests/unlimited data on BOTH plans is a HUGE savings, when AT&T would want 130+ for two phones.

Is that a grandfathered plan?

 

[zerocool84]

I get my unlimited plan with Tmobile for $50 so I'm happy with them

 

[boomhower]

At least they do not try and hide the charges. All of them do a pretty good job making sure you know your going to get charged. The one thing they could do better is explain you are going to get charged data in addition to the cost of a song. I have been on unlimited data with sprint for close to a year now and could never go back. Mobile surfing, streaming video, it all just seems second nature to have it with me 24/7.

 

[pontifex]

haha, found this out a couple weeks ago too. i didn't have internet access whhile in training so i figured I'd just use my phone to check email. it's 1.99 per MB and I figured checking email can't take up that much data. most of the time i didn't even open an email, just looked at what was in my inbox. ended up racking up $24 worth in just a few days checking once or twice a day.

they called me and said i could switch to the unlimited data plan for $15 a month and they would waive the fee i incurred. i figured I might as well since it was cheaper for that month. I've kept it and only use it once in awhile now. I should probably cancel since I don't really need it.

 

[randay]

PSA: Fire, HOT!

 

[Mungla]

The company I work for pays roughly $120/month for my AT&T 3G Iphone. I have the $30 unlimited data and use OMA for e-mail a lot. Between the data, texts, and a ton of minutes, the bill adds up quick. I'm glad they foot the bill and not me!

 

[Svnla]

SERO unlimit interent/data for $30 per month FTW.

 

[0roo0roo]

nothing beats the rape of SMS data cost. ~$1310...per megabyte.