AT&T Wireless has surprising new terms of service
This Slingbox app for iPhone isn't out yet, but you are already no longer allowed to fully enjoy it on the go.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)For a moment, I thought AT&T Wireless' new Netbook offerings were good deals. As it turns out, not so much.
According to Publicknowledge.org, the company silently revised its terms of service on Monday, just a few days before it announced the new program to offer discounted Netbooks to its 3G broadband service customers in Atlanta and Philadelphia.
In the "Prohibited and Permissible Uses" section, the new terms of service explicitly state:
This means you are potentially no longer allowed to stream content from third-party Web sites, such as You Tube, and may not even freely use video-streaming applications, such as Slingbox (both the existing Windows Mobile and upcoming iPhone versions) anymore. In terms of the bigger picture, AT&T is now treating its 3G wireless data network differently from its wired high-speed DSL network, which still allows you to do whatever you want. This is probably because the company does have to pay for the wireless spectrum, in addition to other investments.
While the above change affects only those who are big fans of mobile video-streaming, this next part of the revised terms of service affects all DataConnect customers:
Basically, AT&T Wireless wants to spell out that, unlike for voice-plan minutes, it won't carry your unused data to the next month.
Personally, I have the unlimited data plan on my iPhone 3G, but I've almost never streamed anything via the 3G connection, mainly because it is just not possible most of the time in San Francisco. Nonetheless, I don't think 200MB a month or even 5GB a month are enough for a heavy streamer, considering a full-length high-quality movie uses up to 1GB of data.
It's important to note, however, that the changes only apply to cellular data plans. It seems you can still stream as much as you want via a Wi-Fi connection, provided your phone has this feature. And if it doesn't, it's about time you got yourself a phone that does.
Dong Ngo is a CNET editor who covers networking and network storage, and writes about anything else he finds interesting. You can also listen to his podcast at insidecnetlabs.cnet.com. E-mail Dong. 
and does that grants me early exit from my contract ?
If you have an iPhone, you might have grounds to force them to continue your service under the current contract or refund you whatever you paid for the phone. As an exclusive provider of that phone and service for it, in canceling the contract they are not only canceling your service, but rendering the hardware you purchased effectively unusable (whereas, had they stuck to the contract it would work at least through the duration).
The problem is, where are you gonna go? Years of non-existent antitrust enforcement have left the country with very few wireless choices.
There are only really two viable options, and they are both imposing the same restrictions and similar pricing.
DataConnect is for tethering and data cards ONLY - I use both, and I have an iPhone. The terms for unreasonable use has always been clear, and ATTWS has just never enforced it to a "T" - and nothing here in this blog or its earlier terms of service. I read my contract, and even when data was unlimited via tethering or via a data card, streaming/file sharing & serving/full time data use were prohibited. The updated TOS gets more specific because too many abusers are circumventing the more-general rules.
Cell phone plans are not affected, however, subscribers need to stick to the intended use of the devices.
Yes, it's your phone. It's their network. Get over it. From their own technical support staff, 5% of the users consume 90% of their data - it's the same message that both Sprint and Verizon have, and I tether with Verizon too. If you tether, you're restricted by the data cap - if you don't tether, you get unlimited data using the apps available to you through authorized channels. They're trying to load balance a network with 40 million users who move around every day and night without warning - think about it from their perspective. And, I don't work for or prefer a carrier.
<read extreme SARCASM>
I use the MobileFiles app to access my iDisk from my iPhone. Would this be prohibited? C'mon...
AT&T may be changing their TOS, but their agreement with Apple for iPhone exclusivity is UNLIMITED DATACONNECT for a monthly flat rate.
If what you are saying is correct, the basic iPhone apps as delivered by AT&T with every iPhone are no longer allowed to be used with AT&T service!
AT&T.
Your world.
Delivered.
To the NSA, RIAA, MPAA, and whoever else we feel like.
Shut up and take it like a slave.
Also I love how wireless carriers are trying to cut off the issue that we have today with wired plans right as things become popular. Gotta kill/stifle all these new technologies before they ruin our current business models!
You-Tubers are safe. Sling-Boxers like my self are screwed.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62063056044
Seriously I saw the Sling logo on the iPhone and about wet myself thinking **** it's finally here! before noticing the Caption which reads more like a disclaimer in this case.
Arrrgh!
Ok rant off.
IMO, the "unlimited bandwidth" was never intended to serve as a license to turn their limited bandwidth wireless network into someone's own personal VPN for high-bandwidth use. Common sense dictates that it should never have been used that way to begin with.
Many consumers are just as greedy as the corporate suits they like to rail against, but few stop to consider that their actions can be just as harmful to the greater community as those who abuse their power from the corporate end.
Then they never should have advertised it as unlimited, if it was as you say in fact really limited.
You can't sell a car for $15,000 then come back a year later say " I am sorry, really didn't mean $15,000, but rather $20,000 and then demand payment. Why? Because it's just common sense and you should have known I didn't really mean $15,000..
But, I see they have no concern with loading their network with content they serve. This seems entirely unfair to competitors like Google.
AT&T is both a "pipe" and a content provider. The "pipe" has a certain cost, and it's reasonable to distribute that cost across all of us who share it. But, to impose restrictions or to charge insane fees for using this pipe does absolutely nothing to help progress the Internet and the various kinds of services that people aspire to bring to market. Communications facilities (the "pipe") are a vital public utility that probably needs more goverrnment oversight to ensure that is serves the public interest.
Now, what AT&T the "content provider" wants to offer the world is its business and good luck to them.
ed
- by btl-jooz April 6, 2009 8:48 AM PDT
- >"It's important to note, however, that the changes only apply to cellular data plans. It seems you can still stream as much as you want via a Wi-Fi connection, provided your phone has this feature. And if it doesn't, it's about time you got yourself a phone that does."<
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(30 Comments)Sounds like an edict being made to pay for new equipment even though new equipment may not be needed or wanted. Sounds like having to buy a new computer just because one falls for the Vista trap. Sounds like AT&T is taking lessons from Microsoft. EH?
Boy, can't wait until Verizon gets its new G4 infrastructure up and running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!