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#1 2009-10-08 7:29 pm
- Czachorski
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- Registered: 2002-12-20
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AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
October 8, 2009 8:29 PM
ComputerWorld reports that AT&T Wireless CEO hints at iPhone network data management today:
AT&T Wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega bemoaned the disproportionate wireless bandwidth usage of iPhone users in a speech to wireless industry professionals here today, and hinted at an unpleasant way of dealing with the problem.
But all that data usage is not evenly spread across AT&T's wireless customer base, De la Vega says--far from it. He cited AT&T research showing that just 3% of AT&T's smartphone customers [read iPhone users] use 40% of all smartphone data, that they consume 13 times the data of "the average smartphone customer," yet represent less than 1% of AT&T's total postpaid customer base.
Big problem--but AT&T management should have seen this coming a year ago. Or maybe they did, but getting Wall Street to buy into the idea of aggressive and costly network upgrades is like pulling teeth without anesthetic--lots of screaming.
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#2 2009-10-08 7:48 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
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- From: Central Indiana
- Registered: 2001-06-24
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Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
Then why don't they schedule a meeting with Apple to cancel the exclusive contract? Off to Verizon we go!!!
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#3 2009-10-08 8:41 pm
- wellfleation
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- From: Metheun, Mass.
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Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
There's huge $ involved. Some people are making a lot of $ to stay AT&T.
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#4 2009-10-08 8:42 pm
- wellfleation
- High on Life

- From: Metheun, Mass.
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Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
Apple has all the power.
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#5 2009-10-09 2:18 pm
- D'Eyncourt
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- Registered: 2001-12-27
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Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
The more I hear about nonsense like this from AT&T, the more inclined I have become to wait until their exclusivity contract with Apple runs out before buying an iPhone.
BOYCOTT SONY
"I think the question now is not whether you went to Vietnam or whether you didn't, whether you fought in the war or fought against the war. I think the only question is whether we can find a president smart enough never to make a mistake like that again"--Molly Ivins, way back in 1992
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#6 2009-10-09 3:15 pm
- knobtwirler
- Anthropocentric Temporal Chauvinist

- From: NYC
- Registered: 2003-07-28
- Posts: 3245
Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
So, how many iphones are out there, meaning how many people have been railroaded into using AT&T thanks to Apple? And that's 3% of their smartphone users and 1% of their postpaid customer base? Sounds to me like if they did limit usage, they wouldn't care if they lost all of those customers.
If you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you.
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#7 2009-10-09 4:19 pm
Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
Can you say web neutrality? If I was with AT&T and this ended up happening, I know I'd be at the front of the pack supporting a law suit.
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#8 2009-10-09 5:15 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
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- From: Central Indiana
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Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
knobtwirler wrote:
So, how many iphones are out there, meaning how many people have been railroaded into using AT&T thanks to Apple? And that's 3% of their smartphone users and 1% of their postpaid customer base? Sounds to me like if they did limit usage, they wouldn't care if they lost all of those customers.
Which is what I was hinting at. If iPhone users are that troublesome in such small numbers they should be happy to get rid of us?! That being said I find their 'numbers' to be highly suspect.
15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, OS X 10.6, connected via 56K modem. iMac DV SE, 400MHz PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 13GB HD, OS 9.2. iPhone 16GB, 1st gen. iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#9 2009-10-09 7:48 pm
- wellfleation
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- From: Metheun, Mass.
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Re: AT&T Hints at Controlling iPhone Data Usage
Apple is the sole reason AT&T has done well over these economic times, despite these economic times.
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