Mandatory Data Plans on AT&T smartphones

R

Roll Tide

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If you're with AT&T and are due for an upgrade or plan to activate to a Smartphone, You may want to know that beginning September 6, AT&T has may the decision to make some changes regarding its smartphone division. AT&T will now begin to force you to get a data plan with each smartphone. If you are purchasing an unlocked phone, then these changes do not affect you.

And AT&T has said they want customers to get a predicable bill every month and that's why the policy is going into force. Below is an internal AT&T email talking about the change:

Beginning September 6, 2009, customers who activate or upgrade to a Smartphone will need to sign up for an appropriate data plan. Existing Smartphone customers active prior to September 6, 2009 will be grandfathered and exempt from the new policy.

Why we are making this change?
We want our customers to have the best possible experience with their Smartphones. A predictable bill is a key factor in customer satisfaction, so effective September 6, 2009 Smartphone customers will need to subscribe to a data plan, as the vast majority of customers already do. Data plans let customers fully utilize their device, without the worry of bill shock.

How we will ensure an extraordinary customer experience?
The sales representative is the customer
 
Hmm...I wonder who warned Cell Phone Forums of this policy over 6-7 months ago?...hmm...nicknrm maybe? No one believed me.

Like I said before and will say now, this will become an industry standard.

The only benefit of having AT&T and a smartphone is that you can get an unlocked one...where as Verizon, that's not possible.

Verizon Wireless made this change for the same reason as AT&T...so customers receive a predictable bill.

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It makes sense why they would do this. I think a smart phone without the data plan is not a smart idea.
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What's even funnier is when Iphone users call in saying they don't want the data service..Reason being because "it wasn't on their contract"..however it was in the T&C they accepted :p
 
This has been a Verizon Wireless requirement for at least three years.



No it isn't. Actually, it's been effect longer than the date noted. I know for a fact that iPhone purchases have had this as a requirement. I tried to configure a Samsung Jack and had the requirement back in June and again in July to do a comparison with configuring a Blackberry. Had to add data to get to checkout.

Didn't purchase because I couldn't get a discount due to length of contract. Suffice it to say, it turns out for the best. I'll be switching to Sprint as it's gives more for less and the international phones are not locked, so I can use a pre-paid sim when I travel. Verizon was a consideration but the sims are locked and I don't want to pay the rates that Verizon will charge.
 
I had to do a bit of digging to actually find your post...I'll go through and try and fix the quote for you.

Anyway, this has NOT been a requirement for three years...nor even close. Verizon Wireless, like most carriers, have always required it to go with the Blackberrys. If you chose a PDA that wasn't a blackberry, this went into effect for all new PDA devices sometime in November of 2008.
 
No, a predictable bill is a side-effect of it. The point is to make money by requiring data plans. If you want to get unlimited data, you have to pay for it. If you want a smartphone/pda, you must have a data plan (even if you only wanted it for it's other features).

Actually, it isn't a truly predictable bill as this would presuppose having an unlimited talk plan as well. If you go over, then the bill is NO LONGER the same every month.
 
Yes, money does have SOME to do with it...but ultimately does have to do with reducing call volumes to customer service.

Also, if you don't want to use data on your phone...you SHOULD NOT HAVE A DATA INTENSIVE DEVICE.
 
If you are at least 6 months into your current contract, you can get an early upgrade for $75. Your total would be similiar to this.
2yr discounted pricing of phone + $75 early upgrade fee + $18 standard upgrade fee.
The early upgrade fee can be waived based on the scenario.

You can request the unlock code for AT&T. Just don't say you are getting it for international traveling purposes, otherwise you will be told to get the AT&T World Connect feature.
 
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