Messaging plans going to be required features with AT&T?
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24 Comments
1. testman22 posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:44 0 0
I do think these mandatory data and texting fees are a little outrageous... but in the end, if all you need to do is make calls, why do you need a phone with touch screens/full browsers/keyboards?
2. n0gar2 posted on 28 Jan 2010, 19:18 0 0
Why should you be denied a touchscreen phone just because you don't want to use the internet? Imagine if your ordered a pizza and they said that you can't just get cheese, you must BUY at least two toppings? Imagine that? Imagine wanting to buy that new HDTV and they told you that you could not buy it unless you bought that Blu-Ray player and some cables? If some people were not so addicted to wireless phones, I would suggest everyone stay away to teach VZW and ATT (backroom negotiations) a lesson.
4. renegade626 posted on 28 Jan 2010, 19:34 0 0
Well with an HDTV you DO need to buy at least an HDMI or Component cable to get HD viewing in general (not just blu ray)... And for the pizza thing, thats actually not a bad business strategy, If the pizza and toppings were good enough or made and marketed in a creative manor there might be something there.... hmmm... and for you touch-screen, most all of these phones are designed with data/internet in mind are they not?...
12. SamTime posted on 29 Jan 2010, 04:27 0 0
Just curious testman, what kind of car do you drive and what do you use t for? If all you are doing is driving to work and getting groceries, then anything more than a corolla is just excessive right? Afterall, u don't need the enormous amounts of space of an suv or the power of a sports car. (Your logic applied to cars in case you couldn't figure it out for yourself).
15. renegade626 posted on 29 Jan 2010, 08:45 0 0
No I got the point... just discrediting the arguments... From a business standpoint I think this is a good move, the cell industry right now is focused on being profit hogs at the expense of their customers (and it will work)... Something like this can save the company money by reducing bill overages
22. bubbasixx posted on 29 Jan 2010, 11:21 0 0
SamTime To counter your point: What does it matter what kind of car someone drives does not matter. If he drives a Lexus then you know that if you want to buy a Lexus you are paying extra to get it. If you buy an SUV you are paying extra. To confirm your point: If someone buys an SUV just to drive back and forth to work I am quite sure the dealership is not going to charge you less just because you are going to use all of its functions.
23. nosense posted on 29 Jan 2010, 14:13 0 0
This change by both att and vzw isnt really about them needing the service on certain phones its about the 2 companies trying to find ways to make more money from customers since they have lowered unlimited talking to 70 (Just for talking). So they have to find a way to raise that so that customer do not take advantage and just gut the 70 plan by itself with no add ons. Hence that is why sprint still has the overall best value in wireless.
3. Hotzb22 posted on 28 Jan 2010, 19:24 0 0
yea it already does on quick messaging phones they require some combination of messaging and data feature or unlimited messaging
5. EvoAnubis posted on 28 Jan 2010, 20:01 0 0
Welcome to two weeks ago; we started doing this last Monday. And it only applies for messaging phones.
6. cellgeek82 posted on 28 Jan 2010, 20:10 0 0
See, everyone thinks that Verizon is the only one pushing plan regulations. Welcome to America, the land of greed!
7. Mateo8326 posted on 28 Jan 2010, 20:17 0 0
I know right but it makes sense you get a messaging phone get the package, that like getting a HD Tv but don't want the HD channels or wanna pay for them...lol
11. SamTime posted on 29 Jan 2010, 04:20 0 0
Uh, HD = 720p or greater. Every single LCD/plasma/dlp tv you buy now is HD capable. Doesnt mean you HAVE to buy the HD channels.
18. artz1986 posted on 29 Jan 2010, 09:45 0 0
Then why spend the cash on an HD tv if you're net getting HD channels? I know you can get a great picture regardless, but doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose of having an HD tv? You spend the cash to get a bangin experience, and banging experiences usually come from HD channels..you can tell the difference...
19. Mateo8326 posted on 29 Jan 2010, 09:56 0 0
Capable is right but not all channels are the majority of the channels aren't HD capable mostly sports and selective movie in On Demand or Direct TV
8. YouLostTheGame posted on 28 Jan 2010, 23:14 0 0
C'mon you idiots...you can't compare getting an HDTV to getting a higher end cell phone! If you go to buy a new TV in this day and age, now matter how big or small you want to go, it's going to be an HDTV! The last time I was in best buy, every single TV was at least 720p. With how cheap you can buy a new HDTV these days, HD "ready" TVs are the norm, whether you plan to go HD signal or not. Having an HDTV isn't really something that's a novelty anymore.
9. rwolf1984 posted on 29 Jan 2010, 00:23 0 0
Voice, data, and texting is overpriced as it is...i think imposing any mandatory charges, like verizon has done on its multi-media devices , on the customer is ridiculous. If they wanted to be competitive they would drop the rates and then this wouldnt be an issue...more people would voluntarily subscribe to these features and possibly adding some extra features. Once people get these features they are getting a better experience the customer depends on and loves their phone more...Freedom is beautiful!
16. renegade626 posted on 29 Jan 2010, 08:47 0 0
They stay competitive by struggling keeping profits high (which is the name of the game at this point)
13. rshackindian posted on 29 Jan 2010, 07:28 0 0
all the major carriers have some kinda stipulation on what you have to have on your account to activate feature/smartphones. i think the cellphone companies should take a look at there mins packages. since more and more people are using features; why dont they make plans that are geared towards those people. like less talk mins for folks that want to text more than they talk. with the explosion of texting; to the point that its causing more harm than good, cellphone companies can lower there talk mins to compansate for these added features.
14. dandirk (unregistered) posted on 29 Jan 2010, 08:40 0 0
bah... They honestly should just put "talk" only phones in their own category, like pay as you go. Then give all accounts a min of 250 txt message by default. All this confussing you have to get this and this plan with this phone, and this other plan with this other phone is just nutz. They ALL are just trying to get money by confusing people. Texting is also so cheap for the companies its all profit. In almost any other industry texting would be a heavily advertised "WITH FREE TEXTING" like you are actually getting something. They should just roll some limited but basic services into their plans and be done with it. But each carrier doesn't want to look more expensive when they are being honest about their service prices, instead of nickel and diming their confused customers to death.
17. artz1986 posted on 29 Jan 2010, 09:40 0 0
If you don't text, why by a phone w/ a QWERTY keyboard, or a phone that's all about messaging. If you don't use the internet, why buy a feature phone? If all you want to do is make calls, get a nice looking flip. Simple. It's like, if all you want to do is have a car to get you from point A to point B, why buy a Merc and then complain that you have to put Premium in the tank? I know there's a sensitive area being touched when you have to get a feature added onto your plan, but I kinda like these moves because it'll help prevent kids from being a straight up walking image. I have to have the hottest most stylish phone, and yet, I don't care for all the aspects of that phone that makes it so hot and stylish. I want a BlackBerry because it's a BlackBerry. Those types of kids. I know others don't share my opinion on this, but when someone buys an expensive phone just to stunt w/ it, that's more annoying than my carrier telling me I have to get a data plan because I bought an iPhone.
20. jundibasam posted on 29 Jan 2010, 10:26 0 0
I think its OK to require data plans on the more advanced devices like BlackBerry Android, Iphone, WinMo phones, etc. but to require a data plan on mid-tier phones is just greed and ludicrous. You cannot sit here and tell me that you can get the same (or even close to) web browsing experience on an LG EnV Touch as you can on a Motorola Droid, but yet both require $30 if you want unlimited data with verizon. I know they did it from a business standpoint because customers were complaining about "erroneous" data charges when they know their kid was downloading apps or browsing the web, but the price points are pure greed. You basically double the price of unlimited data on verizon within 3 months, then make it mandatory on mid-level phones at the same price points as advanced devices. That is greed and that is just plain wrong.
21. Jyakotu posted on 29 Jan 2010, 11:03 0 0
I agree with you artz, for the most part. Most consumers buy cell phones that don't meet their requirements of what they need a cell phone for. I find it hard to believe that if you buy a Blackberry, you're not going to be tempted to use the Internet on it. There's no way. There's a reason why there's a tier level for cell phones. If you don't use your phone all the time or you just want to use your phone for emergenicies, then use that AT&T GoPhone Pick Your Plan option. Either go prepaid or suck it up and pay the requirements. And jundibasam, mid-tier phones should require a data plan, especially since you'll have to access AT&T MediaNET to access certain features like downloading MP3 songs, games, etc. However, it's very hard to distinguish what a mid-tier phone is. In essence, I think mid-tier phones are phones that have more features than a low-tier phone, but still look attractive and has some more higher end features like better/faster web browsing, MP3 player, 1.3-2.0 megapixel camera, etc. It's hilarious actually. "I want to just use my phone to talk on," but you own a touch screen? "I don't text on my phone at all," but you own a full QWERTY keyboard phone? "I don't use internet on my phone at all," but you bought a smartphone? *sigh* Consumers need to learn the different types of phones and figure out which phone is right for them. AT&T actually has technical support that can actually suggest phones to people who don't know which phone/plan would be right for them. Despite what people say, I've had nothing buy wonderful customer support from AT&T.
24. corporateJP posted on 29 Jan 2010, 21:07 0 0
There's good points to both sides of the arguement. But, when it is all said and done, if you don't use data on an Env3 or a Neon, but you do text, you should have the option to be able to own this phone AND HAVE DATA BLOCKED if you don't plan on or want to use it. That should be an option. Carry on.
