NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: AT&T defender switches sides
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Lauren, I remember you noting that those of us living on the
PDA plan would one day be caught “cheating” by ATT. Turns out that
they won’t be because it’s a real loop hole that they are trying to
close. I ran into this when I returned from traveling. I managed to
lose my ATT SIM card for my Tilt on the flight from IST to AMS. When I tried to
replace the SIM card t the store clerk said I would need to add a data plan. I
balked and went home to read the requirements. It said that any plan change
after Nov 1st 2009 would require I add a data plan. I had flown back
on Oct 31st and had gone to the ATT store the next day. But I wasn’t
changing my plan and the next day I got a replacement without qualm. Just replacing the phone should not affect the use of the
SIM unless, as in this case, you are taking advantage of a “plan”. I ran into this when I tried to use my G1. Previously it had
worked on ATT’s network, albeit with Edge, not 3G. Now it didn’t. Apparently
ATT now requires that the phone be listed as a PDA in their database. And the
G1 wasn’t. I don’t know whether my old SIM card would continue to
support data on the G1. I do take this as evidence that had I switched to
another PDA recognized by ATT they would’ve been required to honor their
original agreement. So what’s the deal? Well, the PDA plan was a mistake
on ATT’s part because they didn’t seem to understand that bits are
bits are bits. But remember that this is the same industry that used to think
all you need was one or two megabytes a month because that’s all you need
to read email. So if it’s their network then they can charge whatever
the traffic will bear and if that’s $30/month for a data plan so be it.
This is why the focus should be on ATT’s confession
that they can’t run a data network and not accept their attempt to blame
the users. -----Original Message----- AT&T defender switches sides http://bit.ly/6zlBzY (Consumerist) --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator |