Archive for the ‘data’ category

AT&T users can keep unlimited data plans even when upgrading to iPhone HD/iPhone 4G… unless they want tethering. And how to check your data usage.

June 2nd, 2010

The good news is, existing iPhone users with the $30 unlimited data plan can keep that plan even if upgrading to the next generation iPhone HD/iPhone 4G this summer — unless you want to tether, at which point you’ll need to switch to one of the new AT&T tiered pricing data plans for smartphones.

If you’re trying to decide whether or not you should make the switch, the first question that comes to mind is “how much data am I using now?” You can find out very easily from AT&T’s website and TiPb is here to show you how.

  1. Login to to www.wireless.att.com
  2. Select “Bill & Payments” from the “My Account” tab
  3. Click “Billing Reports” from the column on the left
  4. Choose “Data Usage Trend” as the report type and the bill periods of interest.
  5. Click “Submit”

You will then be shown a nice bar graph of your data usage by the MB. Unfortunately, data isn’t available before November 2009, but this is still very helpful information when deciding on a data plan.

You can also check your usage with AT&T’s myWireless iPhone application [free - iTunes link], but it will only show data usage in your current cycle. This will be especially helpful after you’ve chosen a plan and you want to keep track of how much of your data you’ve used.

It looks like I’m generally under 200 MB and I’m highly considering the $15 plan. How much data do you use? Do you want to tether? Will you switch?

AT&T users can keep unlimited data plans even when upgrading to iPhone HD/iPhone 4G… unless they want tethering. And how to check your data usage. is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


AT&T international data plans for iPad come at a hefty price

May 4th, 2010

att-settings-6

Yesterday AT&T released roaming data plans for the iPad 3G and they do not come cheap. Pricing starts at $25 per month for 20 megabytes and goes as high as $200 for 200 megabytes. Unlike the normal data plans, these international plans do not auto-renew on a month to month basis. Here’s the full breakdown:

  • $24.99/month: 20 MB data
  • $59.99/month: 50 MB data
  • $119.99/month: 100 MB data
  • $199.99/month: 200 MB data

These plans work in over 90 countries and can be accessed directly from your iPad 3G’s cellular data settings. You do have the option to select a start date and AT&T encourages travelers to set this up prior to leaving the country.

What are your thoughts on the above prices? Too much to be paying for data in this day and age? And with the iPad 3G being unlocked and GSM, could pay-as-you-go MicroSIM plans picked up when you visit be a far cheaper alternative (if they become available). Sound off in the comments!

[AT&T, thanks everyone who sent this in!]

AT&T international data plans for iPad come at a hefty price is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


AT&T network still hindering iPhone tethering?

April 30th, 2010

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AT&T still remains reluctant to introduce US iPhone customers to tethering and judging from their latest response to Engadget’s inquiry, we wouldn’t expect it anytime too soon.

“iPhone tethering has the potential to exponentially increase traffic, and we need to ensure that we’re able to deliver excellent performance for the feature – over and above the increases in data traffic we’re already seeing – before we will offer the feature.”

Admitting their network is not up the challenge of providing tethering to iPhone users just yet gets them some points for at least being honest. However, with Verizon now offering MiFi-like free mobile hotspot service to all Palm Pre Plus owners, however, and Sprint intending to paid hotspot service for the EVO 4G when it arrives, the competitive ball is racing towards AT&T’s court.

Here’s an idea — how about this June/July when the iPhone HD/iPhone4G AT&T gives us a mobile hotspot app for that?

[Engadget]

AT&T network still hindering iPhone tethering? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


iPad Wi-Fi + 3G start to ship, data plan details posted on AT&T site

April 29th, 2010

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We’ve heard from a couple readers that they’ve received shipping notifications with tracking numbers for their iPad Wi-Fi + 3G so it looks like that Friday, April 30 release date is firming up.

For their part, AT&T posted a online PDF document that detailing their data plans for the new 3G equipped iPad.

Some of the highlights that you may not be aware of are as follows:

  • Your service will automatically renew every 30 days to provide a more seamless data experience.
  • If you choose to select the 250 MB plan and go over that amount of data in your selected plan before the 30 day period is over, you have the option to choose to purchase another 250MB of data, or simply select the unlimited plan and either choice will be good for 30 days from the date you activated the new plan.
  • All data plans for iPad include access to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide at no additional cost.

If you’ve gotten your shipping notification, let us know in comments!

iPad Wi-Fi + 3G start to ship, data plan details posted on AT&T site is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


AT&T Working Hard to Deliver iPhone Tethering Soon?

March 11th, 2010

iphone_3g_tethering

According to emails sent from AT&T employees to MacDailyNews readers, the network is working hard to enable iPhone tethering as soon as possible. Many of our readers are still waiting patiently to see when AT&T will flip the switch on iPhone tethering and if you contact AT&T the following are the contents of the cookie cutter reply you will receive in your inbox.

“Thank you for your recent email to AT&T. Tethering the iPhone is a priority for us and we are working hard to make it available as soon as possible. As you might imagine, we want to make sure that we deliver a quality customer experience from the start. We don’t have details yet but will be sure to make a news announcement when tethering becomes available. Thanks again for your feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to write.”

We know what you may be thinking but lets give AT&T the benefit of the doubt here and lets pretend we see tethering enabled in the near future, would you prefer to have it implemented right the first time or are you simply sick of waiting and want it enabled now? Or could you care less?

Sound off in the comments below!

[Via MacDailyNews]

AT&T Working Hard to Deliver iPhone Tethering Soon? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


AT&T Not Banking on Selling 3G Data Plans for iPad?

March 4th, 2010

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AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, has been quoted in saying that the Apple iPad will be a “Wi-Fi driven product” so no customers should be concerned with poor 3G data. But it did not end there, he also went on to say the following.

“My expectation is that there’s not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription.”

All of the above really makes those of us here at TiPb scratch our heads. Are those the type of statements you expect to hear from a company ready to successfully sell iPads in their corporate stores across the country? Or would you think AT&T’s CEO would really want to hype up the product with positive comments to try and spark more 3G data subscriptions?

Your thoughts?

[Via TUAW via Reuters]

AT&T Not Banking on Selling 3G Data Plans for iPad? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


AT&T Admits LTE Rollout Will Begin in 2011

February 10th, 2010

att_warp_speed

AT&T has openly admitted that they have selected Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson as their LTE equipment suppliers and even better is the fact they are on track for a 2011 LTE rollout. 2011 is dead on with the information we gave you almost one year ago stating that LTE would in fact be here on AT&T in 2011 with the slight chance it would be delayed until 2012.

Now don’t fret when it comes to the existing 3G network that many of you have issues with. AT&T promises to keep working to improve that for you as well. They are not abandoning you… yet.

It is important to remember that sometimes plans do change, so don’t shoot the messenger if things don’t pan out next year.

[Via Engadget]

AT&T Admits LTE Rollout Will Begin in 2011 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog


iPhone Skype App Going 3G: “Real Soon”

February 4th, 2010

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For those of you holding your breath for Skype to work over AT&T’s 3G network, you will soon be able to relax as Skype has told TiPb it’s only a matter of time. From their blog:

You may have seen other apps offering calls over 3G, but we’re holding ours back for a little bit longer. Why? So that we can give you the very best audio quality we can. When our 3G-capable Skype for iPhone app is released, it’ll let you make calls in wideband audio, giving you greater clarity and fidelity – because that’s what you expect from Skype.

We’ve been waiting since way back in November, when AT&T decided to allow VoIP over their 3G network, and Apple’s iPhone 3.2 SDK for iPad has now removed the last hurdle.

It’s no surprise we heard earlier that AT&T has been working with Apple to improve their network before the release of the highly anticipated Apple iPad. Perfect timing don’t you think?

More from Skype via video, after the break!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone Skype App Going 3G: “Real Soon”


US Government Fears iPad, iPhone and Other Data Devices May Cripple Networks

February 4th, 2010

ipad_boom

The US Government seems to be a bit concerned about Apple’s iPad, fearing its release in combination with the iPhone and other data-heavy devices, will wreak havoc on wireless networks.

Phil Bellaria of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau recently published in his blog his concerns about the future of our data networks.

“With the iPad pointing to even greater demand for mobile broadband on the horizon, we must ensure that network congestion doesn’t choke off a service that consumers clearly find so appealing or frustrate mobile broadband’s ability to keep us competitive in the global broadband economy.”

He then brings us back to 1996 to remind us of the time AOL first introduced unlimited data and how that particular instance brought about major connection trouble for all of it’s users. AOL, after the fact, then took the appropriate actions in beefing up it’s network to allow for all of that traffic. In regards to the iPad it seems like Apple has been closely working with AT&T to make sure network improvements are made being the products release.

Does Phil have a valid point? Should we be worried about our data networks? Sound off in the comments below (especially if you life in SF or NYC…)!

[Via TUAW]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

US Government Fears iPad, iPhone and Other Data Devices May Cripple Networks


Some AT&T iPhone Users Seeing Increased 3G Data Speeds?

January 12th, 2010

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The past few days our inbox has been flooded with emails from you, our readers, letting us know that you’ve experienced significant increases in AT&T 3G data speeds. And this makes perfect sense if you consider that all of the reported claims have come from the 6 cities that AT&T recently flipped the HSPA 7.2 switch on.

Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami, with capabilities being turned up on a site-by-site basis beginning last month. Further backhaul deployment will continue in these markets and begin in additional markets across the nation.

Located in Chicago I’ve personally witnessed a slight increase in data speed but I am still nowhere close to the 7.2 that AT&T has promised. Drop us a line in the comments and let us know — what speeds are you pulling from AT&T now?

[Thank to everyone who sent in their speeds!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Some AT&T iPhone Users Seeing Increased 3G Data Speeds?


AT&T’s 3G Covers Over 230 Million Americans According to Latest TV Spot

January 3rd, 2010

According to AT&T’s latest commercial, their 3G network covers over 230 million people in the U.S. Finally they have addressed what they failed to address in any of the other countless commercials.

The last few AT&T TV spots seem to be getting a bit better than the previous ones but still in limbo is the commercial where they boast how they are improving their network similar to O2’s network. While I personally have no complaints here in Chicago regarding the quality of AT&T’s 3G, I have to ask, how is your AT&T 3G network?

Fire away in the comments below!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

AT&T’s 3G Covers Over 230 Million Americans According to Latest TV Spot


Quick App: ZumoDrive Cloud Storage for iPhone

December 28th, 2009

Zumo HeaderFor those of us looking for an iDisk alternative, Zester has come out with the ZumoDrive. The ZumoDrive is a free service (up to 2GB, you can purchase more) that allows you to store and sync files to the cloud just like Apple’s iDisk. The app has three main sections: Files, Music and Photos.

This is how it works: You install the Zumo client on your PC or Mac. Once installed it can automatically look for your music and photo libraries. You can also add your own files and folders to sync too.

Once your data has synced to the cloud, it is accessible on your iPhone over EDGE, 3G or Wi-Fi. One nice feature I particularly like is when playing music, it displays the album art of your song; this is really a nice touch. Your data is also accessible via a web browser too when the iPhone isn’t enough. To learn more about ZumoDrive, click here. [Free- iTunes link]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: ZumoDrive Cloud Storage for iPhone


AT&T Wins Gizmodo’s 12 City 3G Data Test

December 22nd, 2009

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Look what we have here — some great news for AT&T as it snags first place in Gizmodo’s 12 city 3G data test. (Just like their latest commercial claims.) The 12 cities are as follows: Maui, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Tampa.

When it comes to being number 1, AT&T hasn’t always been this lucky (remember a little something called customer satisfaction?) Perhaps this is a sign of good things to come and maybe, just maybe, some of that anger and hatred AT&T has gotten in the past will turn into a positive vibe.

“It was measurably faster, however, download-wise, in 6 of the 12 markets where we tested, and held a significantly higher national average than the other carriers. Only Verizon came close, winning 4 of the 12 markets. For downloads, AT&T and Verizon came in first or second in nine markets, and in whatever location we tested, both AT&T and Verizon 3G were consistently present. If you’re wondering about upload speeds, AT&T swept the contest, winning 12 for 12.”

Personally, I’ve tested speeds with my AT&T and Verizon lines respectively and get the same results here in Chicago. AT&T’s 3G data speeds always come out on top in both uploading and downloading.

Love AT&T or hate them, these results are somewhat impressive.

[Via Gizmodo]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

AT&T Wins Gizmodo’s 12 City 3G Data Test