(Image source: TechSpot/Gizmodo)
BY TRACY PFEIFFER
ANCHOR AUSTIN KIM
You're watching multisource tech video news analysis from Newsy.
AT&T scrapped its unlimited data plans back in 2010 -- but now, users still grandfathered in are getting the squeeze.
ANCHOR, KIRO: “AT&T this morning says it’s going to start limited the speeds of some customers who have unlimited data plan for their smartphones. Starting October 1, the company will warn then throttle the accounts of the heaviest users of AT&T’s data network.”
AT&T says it expects only customers in the top five percent of bandwidth consumption will be affected.
A writer for PC World says -- the move is sure to catch some criticism, but...
“...it's refreshing that a big network is actually giving its users some sort of choice. T-Mobile switched to throttling earlier this year, Verizon dumped unlimited data for tiered plans with overage charges in July, and Sprint jacked its data plan rates up by $10 per month in January. In many ways, AT&T is moving in the right direction--especially if the changes will only affect the top 5 percent of data users.”
But a writer for Conceivably Tech calls the change -- scareware. He says -- AT&T’s announcement implied bandwidth shortages wouldn’t be an issue, if only a certain Department of Justice would allow a merger between the company and T-Mobile.
“AT&T simply wants more money for the bandwidth that is consumed by those who dare to consider an unlimited data plan as unlimited. AT&T argues that the reason for its bandwidth reduction is constrained bandwidth. However, that constrained bandwidth is not so constrained if more dollars find their way to Dallas.”
And while AT&T seems confident very few users will experience throttling, a writer for MobileBurn wonders if it has a game plan for the future.
“As AT&T deploys its forthcoming 4G LTE network, it is likely that many more users will hit its limits of usage... It would be nice to know what the amount is that AT&T considers ‘extraordinary’ enough to slow speeds down, but we may have to wait until October to find that out.”
And speaking of the future -- a writer for the LA Times suggests, AT&T is making a preemptive move against possible overload when the iPhone 5 hits the shelves.
“Previous iterations of the iPhone have brought AT&T's networks to their knees. This move might be one made in consideration of that product launch as well.”
Transcript by Newsy.
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