Hasta La Gadget!

We can’t vouch with any certainty that individual subscribers have embraced AT&T’s Mobile Share plans with open arms. Corporate customers (and simply the very well-heeled) are another matter: they could use big buckets of data to get their many devices online, which is why AT&T is adding considerably more headroom today. It’s launching new 30GB, 40GB and 50GB Mobile Share plans that respectively cost $300, $400 and $500 per month when there’s unlimited voice and messaging attached. While those rates will be eye-watering for most of us, they make more sense knowing that the carrier ups the maximum number of devices on these plans to a more office-friendly 15 to 25, instead of the usual 10. Data-only users can get away with paying ‘just’ $185, $260 or $335 for similar Mobile Share plans. Companies with a larger staff count can also spring for new Business Pooled Nation plans that offer per-device data between $20 per month for 300MB and $80 per month for 10GB. Hit the source for more details, whether you’re outfitting your business with phones or just have a streaming movie marathon that really, really can’t wait for WiFi.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, AT&T

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Source: AT&T (PDF)

Well, at least no one can blame AT&T for dodging the core issue any longer. After watching Verizon Wireless snag satisfaction crown after satisfaction crown from AT&T over the years, it seems that the latter is finally using a highly defensive blog post on the issue of FaceTime over cellular in order to cop to what we’ve all known: AT&T’s network is in no shape to handle the glut of devices currently running on it. After being taken by storm in 2007 with the iPhone, AT&T has been racing to right the supply / demand curve, and it came to a head once more last week when the operator announced that only Mobile Share users would be able to use FaceTime over its 3G / 4G airwaves once iOS 6 hit. Naturally, pundits were quick to slam the company for implementing a policy that nudges existing users with grandfathered unlimited data plans to slide up to a plan that’s potentially less awesome, but a lengthy letter on AT&T’s Public Policy Blog lays out the real reason.

The company makes clear that the decision to limit FaceTime over cellular to Mobile Share customers does not violate the FCC’s net neutrality rules — after all, it’s being decidedly transparent about the frowned-upon choice — nor does it cross the line on any “blocking” issues. Its argument is simple: it’s not blocking you from using any video chat application you want, but it is exercising its right to manage the doors through which all chat applications can and can’t be used. The money quote is here: “We are broadening our customers’ ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience.” Despite our scorn, we’re halfway glad the policy is in place — after all, how would you feel if you couldn’t load a vital email because everyone else on the block was chatting with their mum about chimera cats on FaceTime? Rock, meet hard place.

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T confesses: its network couldn’t handle unchecked FaceTime over cellular originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T is offering a bit of clarification on the rumors involving a standalone feature offering FaceTime over Cellular for an additional charge: the iOS6 feature (due out this fall) will actually be included at no extra cost, but only for those customers who opt for the Mobile Share plans. Anyone on the grandfathered unlimited data plans or traditional tiered offerings will only be able to rely on the good ‘ol WiFi whenever they feel the urge to use Apple’s video chat service. From the looks of it, it seems that AT&T is hoping to conserve the amount of network bandwidth that would be chewed up by unlimited customers, while also having it function as a value-added feature for its newest shared data plans. In terms of usage, this FaceTime capability will use up part of your data allotment (instead of minutes). So, the good news is that the feature is free — the bad news is that it won’t make unlimited users any happier. Find AT&T’s official statement below.

Continue reading AT&T: FaceTime over cellular feature to be included in Mobile Share plans at no extra charge, not available for other data plans

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, Wireless

AT&T: FaceTime over cellular feature to be included in Mobile Share plans at no extra charge, not available for other data plans originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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