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AT&T Microcell 3G Use Will Count Against Your Cap
Consumer value of service reduced even further...

As we've discussed, AT&T's "Microcell" service essentially acts as a miniature cell tower in a user's home -- routing cell calls over the user's broadband. While the service is somewhat useful for users with horrible indoor AT&T cell reception, the device is of dubious worth to most users. It requires users pay AT&T for the privilege of reducing strain on AT&T's towers by routing calls over the user's (often non-AT&T) home broadband connection. Now comes the interesting tidbit that should you be using your own bandwidth to fuel in-home 3G connectivity, it will count against AT&T's new low wireless caps:

quote:
First spotted by Current Analysis research director Peter Jarich, the news that 3G data traffic running over the AT&T Microcell will count towards a user's monthly data limits, just as making voice calls over the Microcell counts towards a user's monthly bucket of minutes, was confirmed by an AT&T spokeswoman.
So not only does routing calls over your own bandwidth eat your minutes, using 3G service that consumes your own bandwidth eats away at your caps. Sure, you can just switch to Wi-Fi, but that doesn't make AT&T's pricing any less ridiculous.

Update: We've talked further about this with AT&T here, though we still haven't gotten a good explanation why using 3G at home eats away at your user cap -- despite using no tower or backhaul bandwidth.
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NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN

1 recommendation

NeoandGeo

Member

.

Wow

powerspec88
Premium Member
join:2007-03-11
Lees Summit, MO

1 edit

powerspec88

Premium Member

Good thing its not fast.

At lease it's good at making phone calls.
MyDogHsFleas
Premium Member
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX

MyDogHsFleas

Premium Member

Re: Good thing its not fast.

yep -- the microcell upload for 3G data is limited to about 50 kb/sec.

for all the tech details see here:

AT&T 3G Microcell: a Comprehensive Exploration
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

2 edits

Mr Matt

Member

Oink Oink Piggie Piggie

Greed begets greed. I guess the availability of the microcell lets the wireless carrier off the hook, when a customer asks for release from their contract because they move and have no service. The wireless carrier should pay the customer for using a microcell to offset the cost of the customers broadband service.

Revised: I do think that the wireless wizards are just lazy or are not smart enough to separate microcell traffic from over the air traffic.
nutcr0cker
join:2003-04-02
Chandler, AZ

nutcr0cker

Member

Re: Oink Oink Piggie Piggie

On Behalf of Joe Barton and the GOP I apologize to AT&Tea for the hostile comments by users on this forum. It is shameful that people no longer care for such honest corporative policies
talz13
join:2006-03-15
Avon, OH

talz13

Member

Wow.

I can't believe people pay for this "service". Is the next step charging you for not using the phone?
NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN

NeoandGeo

Member

Re: Wow.

They already do that by not offering a long list of minute tiers. I have 2 phones on a 700 minute plan, but could get by on 100 minutes a month.

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

SLD

Premium Member

Re: Wow.

Go prepaid! I pay bout $110/yr (includes tax) for prepaid, because I use +- 1000 minutes/year.
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Mr Matt to talz13

Member

to talz13
They already do. Unless Post Pay customers use all of their allocation of peak minutes they pay for minutes they don't use. Divide the total minutes you use into your bottom line monthly price of your service and you will learn your true price per minute. Sorry.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72 to talz13

Premium Member

to talz13
As long as you keep paying them, they'll keep pushing the barrier.

dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO

dib22 to talz13

Member

to talz13
i keep waiting for at&t to start the new: "Just give us your money and shut up" plan... wait... i think im already on that one.

viperpa33s
Why Me?
Premium Member
join:2002-12-20
Bradenton, FL

1 edit

viperpa33s to talz13

Premium Member

to talz13
said by talz13:

I can't believe people pay for this "service". Is the next step charging you for not using the phone?
I have no choice where I live. The signal in my house is non existent and the signal jumps around from no service at all to 3 bars when outside. The AT&T cell tower is about a half mile down the road but I only get "good" service according to AT&T. According to AT&T's website, good service means I can't get any service in my house, spotty in a car, but can get service outside. I really don't feel like sitting outside in 100 degree weather talking on the phone.

I agree that AT&T are making people pay for there incompetence. AT&T has proven they can't provide the needs to there customers. Getting other cell phone service probably wouldn't make a difference either.

mustang03282
join:2003-01-10
Bridgeton, NJ

mustang03282

Member

sheep

yet the att sheep keep takeing it up the a$$ just so they can get a iphone
nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD

nasadude

Member

Re: sheep

yep. until they start losing customers, it's only going to get worse.

prepaid bitches!
anderboy
join:2007-07-23
Leander, TX

anderboy

Member

Re: sheep

I think you mean, "prepaid, bitches!"

The comma is important so people understand your intention.

spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
Premium Member
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
·Consolidated Com..

spewak to mustang03282

Premium Member

to mustang03282
said by mustang03282:

yet the att sheep keep BEGGING TO TAKE it up the a$$ just so they can get a iphone
There mustang, fixed it for you.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski to mustang03282

Premium Member

to mustang03282
Yes they do. 600,00 preorders prove that it is a dominant phone in the market. Call people sheep, etc but it's a damn good phone.
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Re: sheep

It's not a damn good phone because Android is far more capable than the iPhone. Reason the iphone sells so much its cause of the media coverage, simplicity of the OS that makes people of any age capable of learning to use it quick and the fact that deleting apps and not having to use a app killer/task manager to close opened apps is good.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: sheep

said by glinc:

It's not a damn good phone because Android is far more capable than the iPhone. Reason the iphone sells so much its cause of the media coverage, simplicity of the OS that makes people of any age capable of learning to use it quick and the fact that deleting apps and not having to use a app killer/task manager to close opened apps is good.
So what you just wrote helps make it a damn good phone. Thanks.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: sheep

Lol. I was like "wait...so you're agreeing with ptrowski?" as I was reading his comment.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72 to ptrowski

Premium Member

to ptrowski
At one point, the dominant thought on our universe was that we were at the center, and the sun and stars orbited us.

Just because it is dominant doesn't mean that it's the best.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: sheep

said by tiger72:

At one point, the dominant thought on our universe was that we were at the center, and the sun and stars orbited us.

Just because it is dominant doesn't mean that it's the best.
Not at all, I never said the best. But how many iPhone "killers" have come along and succeeded? None that I know of so far, but it really did set the stage for quite a few advancements across the board when it comes to touch screens, apps, etc.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: sheep

said by ptrowski:

said by tiger72:

At one point, the dominant thought on our universe was that we were at the center, and the sun and stars orbited us.

Just because it is dominant doesn't mean that it's the best.
Not at all, I never said the best. But how many iPhone "killers" have come along and succeeded? None that I know of so far, but it really did set the stage for quite a few advancements across the board when it comes to touch screens, apps, etc.
marketing is a beautiful thing. Case in point: Nexus 1 vs Droid vs iphone. success of devie corresponds pretty directly with amount spent on advertising.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: sheep

said by tiger72:
said by ptrowski:
said by tiger72:

At one point, the dominant thought on our universe was that we were at the center, and the sun and stars orbited us.

Just because it is dominant doesn't mean that it's the best.
Not at all, I never said the best. But how many iPhone "killers" have come along and succeeded? None that I know of so far, but it really did set the stage for quite a few advancements across the board when it comes to touch screens, apps, etc.
marketing is a beautiful thing. Case in point: Nexus 1 vs Droid vs iphone. success of devie corresponds pretty directly with amount spent on advertising.
Mostly. I think with the Nexus1 the US population isn't ready yet to pay the phone price upfront. For me the iPhone is good as I have yet to find another phone that acts as an MP3 player as good as the iPhone does.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: sheep

said by ptrowski:

Mostly. I think with the Nexus1 the US population isn't ready yet to pay the phone price upfront. For me the iPhone is good as I have yet to find another phone that acts as an MP3 player as good as the iPhone does.
Of course they're ready. The problem has been stated many times before. Even if you bring your own phone you have to pay the "subsidized phone" price. In the rest of the developed world if you BYOP or buy outright you get a huge discount (much more than the measley $10/month on one plan that T-Mobile provides).

NOCTech75
Premium Member
join:2009-06-29
Marietta, GA

NOCTech75 to ptrowski

Premium Member

to ptrowski
said by ptrowski:

Yes they do. 600,00 preorders prove that it is a dominant phone in the market. Call people sheep, etc but it's a damn good phone.
Doesn't have to be good, the iSheeple will buy anything from Apple. They have done a very good job making people stupid.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

1 recommendation

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: sheep

said by NOCTech75:
said by ptrowski:

Yes they do. 600,00 preorders prove that it is a dominant phone in the market. Call people sheep, etc but it's a damn good phone.
Doesn't have to be good, the iSheeple will buy anything from Apple. They have done a very good job making people stupid.
Yes and no. There are fanboys for anything out there and you will always get that crowd, but if the iPhone wasn't appealing to the masses then it would not have the success it does. I can think of at least 4 people that are switching from their Blackberry to the iPhone 4. Whether you like Apple or not it's hard to deny it is a good phone. Being a sheep can only get you so far.

winsyrstrife
River City Bounce
Premium Member
join:2002-04-30
Brooklyn, NY

winsyrstrife to mustang03282

Premium Member

to mustang03282
Who wouldn't jump at the chance to resemble a black silhouetted desirable hipster, jamming to the latest trendy tunes?!

*Ride with me* *Ride with me* *Ride with me*

*Oooohhh*

Jeff
Connoisseur of leisurely things
Premium Member
join:2002-12-24
GMT -5

Jeff

Premium Member

Defies all logic

Imagine the executives in the board room discussing the price plan for this device. The utmost contempt for the consumer. I'm going to do the best to go out of my way and explain to family and friends to never, ever, to get this device.

An appropriate price point would be a one-time fee of $99. No monthly fees and does not count against your caps.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: Defies all logic

said by Jeff:

An appropriate price point would be a one-time fee of $99. No monthly fees and does not count against your caps.
No.

You are already paying AT&T for cell phone service. How many times should one have to keep paying and paying for the same cell phone service?

AT&T should offer this device for $0 to any paying customer who is having reception issues, as it is that customer who is doing AT&T's job.

Jeff
Connoisseur of leisurely things
Premium Member
join:2002-12-24
GMT -5

Jeff

Premium Member

Re: Defies all logic

said by pnh102:
said by Jeff:

An appropriate price point would be a one-time fee of $99. No monthly fees and does not count against your caps.
No.

You are already paying AT&T for cell phone service. How many times should one have to keep paying and paying for the same cell phone service?
I wouldn't go as a far as calling it $0. That's a bit, well, enthusiastic. You have to pay for the cost of the device, and I'd consider paying $99 for the device, one time, if it made a difference and if it didn't go toward any caps.

With that said, if my coverage was that poor in my home, I'd be more likely to switch companies, as I'm not a phone-guy, and while stuff like the Incredible, the iPhone, etc. are all nice pieces of technology, I don't get that crazy over it.

$0 would be nice, but that would never happen, so I can't take that suggestion seriously.

•••••••••
antidelldude
join:2003-12-22
Beverly Hills, CA

antidelldude to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
I agree. I have been a Sprint customer for 5+ years. Back when I got them, I couldn't get a signal in my house, but neither could t-mobile, verizon, or ATT (I live in a valley). After excepting that I was just in a wireless black-hole, I had expensive cell repeating equipment that was flaky at best. Then Sprint released the Airave femtocell. I was first in line for one of these and now I can make a crystal clear call anywhere in my house. The turn off? I have to pay to use it. WTF?! A device that kept me from canceling my Sprint service and I'm paying extra for it... At leased they have an unlimited option so the kiddies can talk all day when they are at home. Verizon charges a one time fee of $250 and no monthly.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

1 recommendation

cdru to Jeff

MVM

to Jeff
said by Jeff:

Imagine the executives in the board room discussing the price plan for this device. The utmost contempt for the consumer. I'm going to do the best to go out of my way and explain to family and friends to never, ever, to get this device.
Just tell them that the DirecTV commericals that show the CableCo board room really was shot at AT&T.

Jeff
Connoisseur of leisurely things
Premium Member
join:2002-12-24
GMT -5

Jeff

Premium Member

Re: Defies all logic

said by cdru:
said by Jeff:

Imagine the executives in the board room discussing the price plan for this device. The utmost contempt for the consumer. I'm going to do the best to go out of my way and explain to family and friends to never, ever, to get this device.
Just tell them that the DirecTV commericals that show the CableCo board room really was shot at AT&T.
Not a bad idea. Those commercials are great.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

Vote With Your Feet

Go to another carrier. Why all the complaining against AT&T? Yes, it would be a cold day in hell before I signed up with them. Why do people continue to put up with it? If you can get over "iPhone Fever", there are other carriers and phones out there. AT&T will continue to do what it does BECAUSE IT CAN. If enough people pay their ridiculous charges and put up with their B$ restrictions, they win or at least can justify continue to do what they do.

I am sure Verizon is watching intently to see if it is worth pulling the trigger and doing the same.

•••

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

How?

How is this something that AT&T can keep track of if it goes through your own broadband connection?

Napsterbater
Meh
MVM
join:2002-12-28
Milledgeville, GA
(Software) OPNsense
Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-PRO

Napsterbater

MVM

Re: How?

said by IPPlanMan:

How is this something that AT&T can keep track of if it goes through your own broadband connection?
simple the little femtocell reports the useage to them.

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Re: How?

said by Napsterbater:
said by IPPlanMan:

How is this something that AT&T can keep track of if it goes through your own broadband connection?
simple the little femtocell reports the useage to them.
Traffic routes through ATT

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

and then

if they institute caps on AT&T dsl you would get hit twice. a byte would count towards both caps. load of bs this is.
nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

nonymous (banned)

Member

Re: and then

said by ArrayList:

if they institute caps on AT&T dsl you would get hit twice. a byte would count towards both caps. load of bs this is.
Good idea.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

unlimited data plan?

What if you have an unlimited data plan? Is the microcell use unlimited?

What if you don't have a Microcell yet and you get one? Does your data plan suddenly become capped?

powerspec88
Premium Member
join:2007-03-11
Lees Summit, MO

powerspec88

Premium Member

Re: unlimited data plan?

It's still unlimited data.

bit_junkie
join:2004-05-04
Maricopa, AZ

1 recommendation

bit_junkie

Member

Really ?

So let me get this straight.

1.Your paying for unreliable/limited 3G and phone service, and so you buy a device to help improve your signal that routes everything over your ISP's connection, which more than likely also has a cap.
2.Not only do you have to pay for the device, but theres also a monthly fee to use it, on top of paying for the original unreliable/limited service.

So how is this a "value added service" for the customer ? The only value I see being added is to AT&T's bank statement.

•••
BullyRED
join:2004-04-08
Grayslake, IL

BullyRED

Member

Idiots

You'd think with they'd be giving these things away if they're going to leave all the usage charges in place. Leave the consumer thinking "This is awesome! Full 3g in my house!" and then wham-o the end of the month comes with a bloated cellular bill.

This thing has class action lawsuit written all over it.

Kwikster
@cingular.com

1 recommendation

Kwikster

Anon

ummm?

Wow... I really can't believe everyone is getting so bent out of shape about this. If you're at home and in range of your microcell, you're probably well within range of your faster wifi connection.

Why anyone would use the microcell for data at home when they clearly have a network at home is beyond me. I think people are just looking for a reason to complain about something.

•••••••

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

since when....

Since when has AT&T ever done anything to save customers money?

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

No big deal

I don't need a micro cell in my house as coverage is good enough while I think this is ridiculous to charge customers for their own residential internet bandwidth, and I suspect that AT&T doesn't want to bother with figuring out how to not count that data and save the customer money, but for most people this should be a non-issue you need a router to use a microcell so 99.99% of users will just continue using wifi for data
fuzzholio
join:2002-04-30
Shingle Springs, CA

fuzzholio

Member

What happened to magic-jack

any one know what happened to the magic-jack that was supposed to come out with femtocell built in... excluding the data part, I thought that the magic-jack was supposed to do the same thing as the microcell but not cost anything (except for purchasing the device for about $50).... did the big carriers squash them like a bug?
MyDogHsFleas
Premium Member
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX

MyDogHsFleas

Premium Member

Re: What happened to magic-jack

It was bullshit from the get-go, as well documented on this board.

dummy
@jeppesen.com

dummy

Anon

Why would you route your data over 3g.

Why would you route your data over 3g at home when you have an internet connection? Anyone heard of WIFI? The reason for they probably charge is to force stupid people to use Wifi data instead of 3g.
ajiva
join:2003-12-10
Austin, TX

ajiva

Member

Tmobile UMA

That's why TMobile's UMA is so awesome. My BB connects via Wifi to any hotspot (home, etc) and I can make FREE calls over Wifi.

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

OSUGoose

Member

Hey

This actually makes sense when you stop and think about it, most, keyword most areas this will be getting used will be in areas where home broadband is dialup, so they wouldn't be using this anyways. In the other areas, more that likely they have DSL or similar home broadband available and thus would have their own wifi to switch to vs using this to get internet service.

Thats all not to say this is a really shitty move by at&t, but its the worse they could of done. Its really just trying to encourage people that if they have wifi to use it over using the 3G connection thought this. As the more important thing is the ability to make calls with this device.
MyDogHsFleas
Premium Member
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX

1 recommendation

MyDogHsFleas

Premium Member

The non-hysterical version of this news

Voice calling over 3G:

Your voice plan remains the same whether you have MicroCell or not. You can choose to pay an extra $20/month for unlimited voice calling over the MicroCell. Or, you can keep your plan as is, and all voice minutes count against the plan.

If you sign up for the $20/month unlimited minutes plan, you get a $100 rebate on the $150 store price of the MicroCell.

Data over 3G:

If you have an unlimited data plan on your phone, you're good to go, use as much as you like. All non-tethering data plans before June 7 were unlimited, and you are automatically "grandfathered in" -- your plan will only change if you take action.

Despite rumors to the contrary, there is no 5GB cap on unlimited data phone plans, only on tethered or PC datacard plans.

If you are on one of the new tiered-pricing plans, DataPro or DataPlus, 3G data usage over the MicroCell is still counted as data used against your plan, even if you've signed up for the $20/month unlimited voice-over-Microcell plan.

(speculation: I suspect that this is more of an AT&T billing issue than a conscious business decision on AT&T's part. I suspect that when they decided to put the new tiered-price DataPlus/DataPro plans in place, they simply didn't have a mechanism to exempt the MicroCell 3G data usage from being counted against the plan. I wouldn't be surprised to see this change at some point.)

The obvious way to avoid being hit with overage charges is to use WiFi for data access from your phone, rather than use 3G over the MicroCell. After all, the MicroCell requires an Internet connection, so there's one nearby, which can easily be enabled for WiFi if it isn't already.

Using WiFi has the additional advantage of being much faster than using data over 3G, especially for uploads where the MicroCell limits 3G data speeds to about 50 kbits/sec.

The only situations I can imagine where using WiFi wouldn't work are :

(a) your smartphone doesn't have WiFi capability. Solution: upgrade to a new smartphone, all the new ones have WiFi.

(b) you don't control the Internet access point where the MicroCell is located, and you can't get access to WiFi. Solution: I can't imagine this happens much -- maybe in a small business where they refuse to install WiFi for some reason? If so, just make the people who run the Internet access at your location aware of your issue.

•••••••••
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