Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, Wireless, iPhone
Damage control: AT&T denies $55 tethering charge rumor
While it was rumored that AT&T would charge an additional $55 to enable U.S. customers to use internet tethering on the iPhone, the company has scrambled to deny that claim by posting an update on its Facebook page:"There are a lot of reports out there, but wanted you guys to know that rumors of $55 tethering plan on top of an unlimited data plan are false. We'll have more news to share when the iPhone tethering option is closer to launch."
I'm guessing one of two things has happened.
1. The $55 tethering option price that leaked was real, and AT&T is now in damage control mode. Perhaps realizing that they're overdosing on bad press already, they might be considering following in the footsteps of other telcos and let people tether the iPhone for free, or at least at a far more reasonable price.
or,
2. AT&T is doing the typical corporate PR thing, and by telling us that tethering won't cost $55, they'll expect their customers to be grateful when it actually costs "only" $35 instead.
I'm not a betting man -- when I visit Vegas, I go to visit family and for the cheap drinks -- but if I was, I wouldn't lay down any money on option 1.
[Via Macworld]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin said 5:05PM on 6-19-2009
Wait a tic! AT&T official press releases are on Facebook now?!?!? I'm sorry but that's not useful and trendy use of technology and social networking, it's just downright unprofessional and inconsiderate to customers who are not "Fans of AT&T" on Facebook. I use Facebook for keeping up with my friends, I shouldn't be using it to keep up with my wireless carrier.
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Johnny said 5:43PM on 6-19-2009
That's exactly what I was thinking.
clark said 6:24PM on 6-19-2009
Yeah. I just paid my bill online and that's where I'd expect to see AT&T announcements.
nospamtuaw said 1:11PM on 6-20-2009
I felt exactly the opposite. I think a response on facebook is a way more appropriate manner to respond to rumors than issuing an official PR, where every single word is carefully crafted by a marketing agency. I wish more companies engaged in an open conversation with their customers (not that this was a conversation at all, but you got the point).
Having said that, I agree this should be just damage control. I'm sure the tethering plans are already defined, but probably they are waiting to see how the network will handle the traffic of new subscribers before opening the gates for tethering.
Justin said 12:46PM on 6-22-2009
@nospamtuaw
I do enjoy companies opening up conversation and lines of communication, but one specific problem I have here is that not all AT&T customers are on Facebook, and even fewer actually keep track of AT&T in this manner. Simply put, they're alienating a large chunk of their customer base and leaving people out of the loop. If the rumors only existed on Facebook, then I would think that a perfect place to dispel them, but that's just not the case.
jcg said 5:06PM on 6-19-2009
the original story was probably true - there will be a $55 tethering plan, but it includes the data plan instead of being on top of the data plan (essentially a $25 add-on).
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Nathan said 5:06PM on 6-19-2009
Or... option 3:
No, tethering won't cost $55.00.
........... It will cost $65.00 !
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Ryan said 5:44PM on 6-19-2009
Or $55.99
Erick said 5:07PM on 6-19-2009
Orrrr just hack your carrier file for the low low price of $0
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Joyntkid said 5:17PM on 6-19-2009
Except once they have a separate APN for tethering, it will be very easy for them to see who is hacking.
liuping said 5:15PM on 6-19-2009
Hack your carrier file and they will add $55 to you're bill. If you're really lucky, the might fine you in addition to that....
DT said 3:49AM on 6-20-2009
And how will they find out?
Brian said 5:14PM on 6-19-2009
I was wondering if the $55 was for Unlimited Data + Tethering; right now Unlimited Data for the iPhone is $30 + $25 for Tethering = $55. To me that seems logical; but then again, why would AT&T use logic? If they did, I'd have MMS right now!
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iMatt said 5:15PM on 6-19-2009
All of these numbers seem a quite high. I mean, what's the difference to AT&T if you're accessing the internet on your iPhone's browser or on a computer's browser using the iPhone's connection.
I can understand if they decide that tethering will lead to more use of bandwidth. If that's the case (and it's not clear to me that it must be), AT&T can set a tethering cap (or an overall monthly cap that takes into account the degree to which tethering adds to the average bandwidth use).
I'm hoping--perhaps against hope--that AT&T doesn't get greedy on this one.
If they do, I certainly do not need to tether frequently enough to justify a large monthly charge, and I hope they at least offer an affordable "a la carte" option so that I can use it on the three days a year I really need it wile traveling.
I'm having a great day with my new 3Gs!
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eric said 5:18PM on 6-19-2009
+1
J said 6:12PM on 6-19-2009
+1
jbrown510 said 6:53PM on 6-19-2009
+1!
Mike Eliss said 8:35PM on 6-21-2009
Not clear that more bandwidth will be used? It's easy to measure ... I have tethering (not iPhone) and it uses a hell of a lot more bandwidth. And let me tell you - you'll pray for 4g speeds.
Jon said 7:31AM on 6-20-2009
Hey... if they set a cap then the "unlimited plan" would be an irony...
Ekauq said 5:19PM on 6-19-2009
Well if you compair SMS to MMS, MMS will be more data to send than SMS. AT&T is going to allow MMS for no extra charge, and not everyone will use MMS. So I'd like to take that thinking with tethering, it would take more data, but it won't be used by everyone and they still have the 5GB cap in place that of those that will use it, even less will hit or pass that cap. So I think tethering should be inlcuded at no charge.
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