AT&T has just issued a press release in the last few minutes announcing that it will allow VOIP applications such as Skype to be used over its 3G network, confirming its decision to Apple and the FCC.
This follows FCC inquiries into AT&T’s practices regarding its policies on allowing or restricting certain applications on its data network in the wake of Google Voice being rejected for the iPhone while other VOIP applications were restricted to Wi-Fi.
so what does this mean? you can have unlimited cellular on the data side and it won’t cost against your minutes?
If you use Skype/SIP/VoIP, yes… until AT&T puts a hard cap on data like Verizon has.
Something tells me that will happen the same month Apple approves the first 3G-enabled VoIP applications.
so att doesnt have a 5gig cap on data?
AT&T has a 5 GB cap on tethered and mobile broadband card usage. For handset usage, AT&T has maintained that there is a cap, but they won’t detail how much beyond “abusive usage.”
This allows them to continue marketing cheap data add-ons as unlimited, without having to add additional boiler plate. One can assume it is likely around the 5 GB level, but may require multiple months of usage to trigger action from AT&T.
Where did you see “abusive usage” as a stipulation. I can’t find it on my documentation from ATT
Eric, it’s in the Acceptable Usage legalese. AT&T has also made similar statements to the FCC. Obviously, if you are abusing your network in their view, they will shut you off. Ask the people who roamed frequently how that went.
I would agree, but roaming is different and as such bad evidence. I was only wondering if you had ever seen it writing? Only curious.
Eric, AT&T’s interpretation of abuse is not bad evidence. If you overuse any service (in their view), they will shut you off. Plain and simple. It’s happened and will continue to happen.