Fuck AT&T

So I got a wonderful email from AT&T this month about my iPhone data usage for my unlimited plan.

We're writing because you are in the top 5 percent of heaviest data users for this billing cycle. Smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle.

Beginning with your next billing cycle, we'll send you a text message if you are approaching the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. We'll also send you a second text message if you cross into the top 5 percent of heaviest users, at which point you may see reduced speeds for the rest of the month.

What the fuck.

I've used about 1 gig of data this month and that to me is nothing. Between loading all the articles on flipboard this month, a few purchases on iTunes, and a few youtube videos, that's pretty much 1 gig right there. A gig is literally NOTHING. Apple sells a 64 gig iPhone and I can't use 1 gig of data a month? Half of my usage is spent at the iTunes store downloading music anyways (which I pay for by the way). So let's say I start with a completely empty iPhone. I download 1 gigs of music a month for 24 months (length of my contract). 24 gigs is still less than what my iPhone can hold and what I paid for.

What also angers me is that they don't give you a hard limit on what the 5% is. Is it exactly 2 gigs? Is it 1 gig? How can I stay out of it? What's going to end up happening is that the usage for the top 5% will keep decreasing. This month it's going to be 1 gig. Next month, more people will try to stay out of the top bucket and the cut off will be 0.9 gigs. Each month it will go down, feeding off by this vicious cycle.

How does it make sense that the threshold for when they slow down your internet is a bit over 1 gig under a $30 unlimited data plan, when there is a $25 data plan for 2 gigs? I asked this to the representative at AT&T when I called in. He obviously did not have an answer for me. I also told him that the thought of potentially losing my 3g access on my phone is causing me anxiety, since they cannot give me a direct answer on what the threshold in terms of usage for the 5% is. I literally just need to pray everyday that I don't hit the top 5%.

I've done some googling and apparently, when they slow down you data plan, it's pretty much close to unsable. Emails load after a really long time. Facebook pretty much does not work. Streaming is totally out of the question. Basically, nothing works. If you're interested in reading more, I came across this well written compliant by LKL198025 on an AT&T support forum.

This grievance, coupled with the previous entry about the iPhone's shit battery life, just shows that technology is lagging behind innovation. The problem?

Monopolies / Oligopolies are established due to the U.S.' favoring of BIG COMPANIES making it difficult for other small companies to enter the space and compete (i.e. patent laws, tax shields on debt, lobbyist, etc.)

AT&T can only pull this shit (excuse the excess cussing but obvie this is a very important matter to me) in curbing my data usage because the cell phone providers in the U.S. have an oligopoly. Case in point, part of my love letter from AT&T reads:

Like other wireless companies, AT&T is taking steps to manage exploding demand for mobile data..

Thanks for the reminder that I have no choice but to go with your shitty ass company or another shitty ass company which will also restrict my usage. I'm glad the AT&T and T-Mobile merger didn't go through. Are you fucking kidding me? Having only 4 data providers is enough of an oligopoly, and some geniuses had the nerve to think that AT&T and T-Mobile will not violate anti-trust laws?

Additionally, Apple can get away with putting out a product that essentially doesn't work (i.e. death grip & battery drain issues; absurdly FRAGILE screen), because there really is no comparable device to the iPhone out there. And who ever wants to put out a comparable device, they will line up their patent lawyers and sue the shit out of them.

It's just frustrating that there are so many limitations on what I can do with my technology. I can't use my phone for more than 4 hours without recharging it. I can't pay for songs (thanks SOPA) on my phone when I'm traveling and do not have access to my laptop. Isn't technology supposed to improve and facilitate our lives? Instead, thanks to the infrastructure of our country, innovation is being hindered and progress is not facilitated because these monopolies make a SHIT TON OF MONEY nevertheless. Corporate profits are THROUGH THE ROOF while main street and our broad economy has never recovered.