Wow AT&T, Just Wow

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/06/17/att.claims.2gb.cap.still.applies.to.microcells/' target='_blank'>http://www.electronista.com/article....to.microcells/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"AT&amp;T has warned that its recent data caps will still apply when using the 3G MicroCell. Despite its creating a 3G cell site of its own, it's still considered part of the network and counts towards the 200MB or 2GB ceilings, even though the Internet connection handles much more of the traffic. AT&amp;T has justified the lack of free data by noting that the data still goes over its network at other stages."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1276820282.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>I thought I was seeing things when I read this the first time, and had to reread closer to see if I was missing something. Nope. AT&amp;T announced that they are going to put any data that is obtained via the MicroCell (data that you already pay for via your Internet provider) towards your monthly cap. I've read responses to this from outrage to no big deal. From my perspective, I use Wi-Fi at home, so if I were to get one I'd fit under the reasoning AT&amp;T is using, which is that it was intended to improve voice calls not provide a primary data stream. But on the surface it's just, well, wow. Amazing. What are your thoughts?</p>

[doogald]

I love how you post these things about AT&T under "The Competition".

This is just asinine.

[Jason Dunn]

AT&T does so many stupid things, this somehow doesn't shock me...they seem to really, really hate their customers.

[Sven Johannsen]

So let me get this right. I get a microcell and hook it up to my ISP, say it's COMCAST. I then use my cell to access data and the radio connects to the microcell over line of site, i.e. no towers involved. The data then goes to google or whatever via my land based internet connection, and back to my phone agian LOS via the radio from the microcell to the phone. This is using any of AT&Ts facilities how, exactly??

I suppose if I have an AT&T WiFi account, if I use my phone's WiFi to connect to my WiFi access point at home connected to Comcast, they are going to say that is theirs too?

[ssschmidt]

So, I have to pay to get the Microcell, so AT&T can charge me to use my own internet connection to boost their inadequate signal?. Wow. Maybe upgrading to Iphone 4 isn't the best bet...

[The Yaz]

Then I should be able to bill AT&T if I have a Microcell in my house. There's the rent for the space it occupies on my shelf, the electricity spent to run it, and a portion of my internet bill for data throughput.

Oh, and a little bit of profit for grief and aggravation ;):rolleyes::cool:

Steve

[doogald]

So let me get this right. I get a microcell and hook it up to my ISP, say it's COMCAST. I then use my cell to access data and the radio connects to the microcell over line of site, i.e. no towers involved. The data then goes to google or whatever via my land based internet connection, and back to my phone agian LOS via the radio from the microcell to the phone. This is using any of AT&Ts facilities how, exactly??

I actually do not think that this is how the service works. I think that the data is carried over the internet to AT&T, who then routes it over their network all over. The same happens for voice calls and texts - carried over the internet to AT&T, and routed from there.

A pretty well thought out reaction: http://hothardware.com/News/ATT-Wrongly-Thrown-Under-the-Bus-for-MicroCell-Data-Use/ (unlike mine, above.)

If you use WiFi instead while you are at home, then they had better not be counting your data. And, if you are at home, I'm not sure why you wouldn't be using WiFi instead.

[Sven Johannsen]

Well, I could imagine how AT&T could 'tunnel' data, whether voice or internet, though your isp connection straight to their network to be treated as if it came over a cellular connection. So, yea, they could intentionally create a system which justifies 3G data being routed to them and their having to handle it. They could also create a system where voice data is routed to them and switched and cell data is just routed to your ISPs router like any other client on your network.

The comment to that reaction was that since this is a bandaid to AT&Ts failure to provide the service one is paying for in the first place, it should be free.

As for the 'why would you have a home network without WiFi?' Maybe you don't want to expose yourself to the vulnerability of a wireless network.

[igreen]

I have one of these. It works great. I got it not because AT&T's service sucks but because my house because of its location and construction is a cellular dead zone......for ALL carriers. I have WiFi so for data, my phone uses that instead of 3G. I paid the $150 and now I can make calls inside, send and receive SMS and MMS messages. I love the thing.