AT&T forcing data plan changes

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Chris Kantarjiev <cak () dimebank com>
> Date: February 8, 2010 1:01:26 PM EST
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: AT&T forcing data plan changes

> Dave, for IP if you wish:
>
> Last Saturday morning, I was awakened early by an SMS to my phone.  
> It was from AT&T Wireless, saying "Did you know a data plan is  
> required for your Smartphone? Call 611 for details."
>
> This was shortly followed by another: "Your Smartphone requires a  
> data plan. For convenience, we have added a minimum plan to your  
> phone. Call 611 4 info."
>
> I found this quite puzzling, since I already had an unlimited data  
> plan on my account, and have for quite some time, since I first got  
> a Cingular 5125 "smartphone" - I've been using wireless data for  
> about 5 years, and had slowly moved up from a 5MB/month plan to  
> unlimited.
>
> I didn't call 611, but instead went my account page at the AT&T  
> Wireless website. When I looked at my feature list, I saw that they  
> had moved me from my pre-existing $15/month unlimited data plan to  
> the $30/month "Smartphone personal" unlimited data plan ... and that  
> the $15/month plan is still highlighted as "recommended". (I tried  
> switching back to the $15/month plan, but received the same set of  
> text messages again in under an hour.)
>
> The light began to dawn. For the past month or so, I've been  
> borrowing a Nexus One to see what it's like. I simply inserted my  
> AT&T SIM into the phone and started using it. I am probably using  
> more data than I used to, but 'unlimited' seems like it should have  
> covered this?
>
> Apparently AT&T is doing some sort of inspection of the data stream.  
> Their latest terms of service say
>
>    If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other  
> designated
>    smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right  
> to
>    add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the  
> appropriate
>    monthly fee.
>
> Hmm. And just how are they determining this, I have to wonder?
>
> Chris Kantarjiev
> Palo Alto, CA



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