Dan Frommer reports for Business Insider that AT&T is making some interesting decisions in regards to customer data plans. This recent decision will probably stir the pot with customers already irate over recent iPhone data plan changes and affects customers that buy AT&T’s new 3G MicroCell product. We don’t think that the report might be fair after speaking to AT&T.
If you consider how poor AT&T’s 3G coverage has been reported in many parts of the U.S. you can understand the strong desire that customers would have for a 3G MicroCell in some areas. The device is used to extend the ranges of 3G devices, like the iPhone, by creating 3G hotspots inside of a customer’s home or business.
The device works by using the customer’s existing internet connection allowing phone calls to be made over the internet. People have complained about the fact that AT&T won’t provide these to people with poor coverage at their location for free and we can understand why they don’t give the equipment away. It’s the service you have to pay for that is hard for most customers to understand. Especially if you have to use your own internet connection you are already paying for along with it. This has already gotten a lot of AT&T customers upset, but now AT&T is counting MicroCell usage against the customer’s existing data caps.
Wow! Really? You must be thinking and asking yourself. Yes it’s true. AT&T is charging customers to make phone calls and use data over internet connections that they are already paying for from their ISP when used in conjunction with a MicroCell. Considering the recent changes in iPhone data plans removing the unlimited option for new customers and replacing it with two plans that have caps of 250MB and 2GB respectively before you see overage charges we don’t think this will be well received by customers. If your ISP has caps you might be facing double trouble to boot.
We contacted AT&T and received some information that makes sense. Regardless of what your using, either your plain old iPhone or your new MicroCell, the traffic does hit AT&T’s network. So it is fair that it goes against your voice and data caps if the voice and data traffic goes over 3G. However, an iPhone is supposed to run data over a Wi-Fi connection whenever there is one present so it is very possible that this problem being reported with data may be something you should not even have to worry about.
The bottom line is this if you have a MicroCell by itself then worry, but if you have the MicroCell and access to Wi-Fi you should not have to worry about your AT&T data cap at all. We’ve asked AT&T to provide a unit for testing so that we can make our own determination about all this. In the meantime this might be much ado about nothing.
David W. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry as a programmer, systems and business analyst, author, and consultant. David has written for CNET’s iPhoneatlas.com, MacLife.com, CultofMac.com, BYTE.com and recently for aNewDoman.net. He comes to Cult of Mac’s website with deep knowledge and passion for the all things Apple. Follow David on Twitter @david_w_martin or see what he’s up to now at davidwmartin.com.
16 responses to “AT&T 3G Microcell and Data Caps — Much Ado About Nothing?”
Not sure if I’ve got a problem with my Wifi, my iPhone or my Microcell, but I’m on ATT and just installed a Microcell the other day. In two days, I’ve gotten to 90% of my data cap use. After calling ATT, I was informed that the only way to prevent my Microcell from handling my data via cellular signal is to shut off cellular data on the iPhone. Well, I have Wifi bars on the phone, but it seems that the Microcell grabs the data first so I’m paying them for data they handle (fair) that shouldn’t be even going to the Microcell because I have Wifi (unfair).
Have you heard about this happening? Got any ideas on fixes other than manually shutting off cell data when I’m home?
*As an aside, the Microcell tech I talked to said if I shut off cellular data, then the Microcell won’t work. That was false as we were already talking on the iPhone with cellular data off and I had five M-Cell bars showing and a great signal.
Thanks!