Comments on: Bait and switch: What’s behind AT&T’s stance on FaceTime

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:57:21 +0000

1) AT&T is setting themselves up for an Apple lawsuit. Especially, if AT&T allows Windows 8 Smart phones and Google Android phones the ability to video chat over the cellular network without switching plans.

2) The federal government should step in because AT&T should not users on their network. User should be able to use the capacity provide by the carrier as they choose. If we exceed then pay more. If we have an unlimited plan and exceed 3G monthly then slow down.

3) Customers will simply switch carriers. Every year, I have switch carriers because they make bad business decision that create customer churn. After being a cellular customer for 15+ years and a smart phone customer for 6 years. Last year was the first year that I remained with the same carrier- AT&T. Lately, their business decisions such as the Face Time decision is forcing me to consider alternatives.

4) Summary, I’m an AT&T Unlimited data user that averages 700MB to 1GB per month. Last year, I converted my family to members to iPhones each with $30/month 2 or 3 GBs per month; however their average use is 50MB to 500MB monthly. AT&T is already getting lots of money and we are not straining the network. Allowing Face Time would allow me to use the existing capacity that I pay for but not use monthly. Maybe AT&T should consider rollover data similar to the voice plan.

By: Kevin Packard

Kevin Packard — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 17:20:48 +0000

Don’t discount the fact that FaceTime is effectively a private communications network run by Apple. Combined with iMessage, Apple has all the pieces in place to end run the carriers’ voice and text services, should they desire. This is not in AT&T’s best interest, and they are pushing back with FaceTime restrictions.

By: RF9

RF9 — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:40:56 +0000

How AT&T is not violating net neutrality is that AT&T isn’t blocking or favoring anything…. at the network layer. The Application itself (facetime) is what’s blocking access. It’s actually Apple’s fault if you wan to point fingers. Of course Apple is collaborating with AT&T to make it behave this way and AT&T is dictating the terms.
If Facetime was totally open and AT&T’s network was identifying it as Facetime traffic, then the network blocking you, then it would be net neutrality issue. But AT&T isn’t actually doing anything with their network to enforce this.

It’s obviously a matter of semantics and basically, if you will, a loophole. But we should call it what it is.

By: Dan G

Dan G — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:28:55 +0000

Steve Jobs: “The customer pays a little more, but that’s what you want anyway.”

By: ricdesan

ricdesan — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:40:05 +0000

Nice insight Stacey! Even with the high douchebaggery quotient, this represents an incredible opportunity to consumers. If ATT customers churn this issue into a mass exodus to another provider, perhaps this corporate greed move can cost them more than it makes them.

As crazy as it sounds, when providers allow their greed to compromise their customers satisfaction, then their bottom line losses should be hugely impacted.

By: davis

davis — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:16:47 +0000

No need to look any further than your own voice in the mater – vote with your wallet! Verizon will welcome new customers with open arms. Why feel burdened by AT&T when you have personal choice??

By: Park Silkenson

Park Silkenson — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 04:24:57 +0000

Stacey, why do you continually refer to “the AT&T Wi-Fi network”? Bob Quinn’s blog post talked about wi-fi in general, not AT&T’s wi-fi network. I hardly ever use AT&T’s slow wi-fi, and usually use my fast connection at home – so they can’t restrict apps on wi-fi at all, since most of the time I’m on my own network that they have no control over.

By: peter

peter — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 03:20:24 +0000

I am *so* glad I left AT&T when my contract was up

By: Stacey Higginbotham

Stacey Higginbotham — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:25:05 +0000

Yep, AT&T wants people on the shared plans, because if all you need is data then it needs to offer that without watching its ARPU (currently bolstered by voice minutes and texting plans) fall.

By: chinch987

chinch987 — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:55:51 +0000

it’s more about at&t not wanting to be a dumb pipe and pulling back control from Apple (whose iPhone and it’s minions are wrecking profitability of carriers in the starting point of an LTE build up).

ATT can gain sizable “data fees” enabling FT over 4G/LTE. Just ramp up bandwidth and charge overages to customers. But that is counterproductive to enable Apple to have such control over a mobile account that transcends PHONE NUMBER.

Plus also, until Apple learns to support other devices…. THANK YOU ATT for standing up to a tech bully.