There is one thing I simply cannot understand: how cellular companies can get away with the way data plans are handled. I’m going to focus on AT&T for this post for two reasons. First, I have their service since I have an iPhone, and second, I’m quite familiar with their plans.

Unlimited Data

I have the unlimited data plan that was introduced with the original iPhone, which I subsequently upgraded to the unlimited 3G plan when I purchased the iPhone 3Gs. I refuse to change to the new tiered plans (200 MB for $15 or 2 GB for $25), not because I routinely use more than 2 GB of data but because I want the unlimited, no-worries approach to data usage. If the new plans allowed the same functionality as minutes, where unused data could be “rolled over” from month to month, then I might consider it. However, I doubt we’ll ever see such a consumer-friendly option implemented.

It’s pretty obvious the new data plans are not truly aimed at making data more affordable/accessible to the general public, regardless of what AT&T wants us to believe. It is absolutely aimed at maximizing profit while trying to curtail data usage on the 3G network in order to try to help lessen the strain on AT&T’s infrastructure. If the prices were different ($10 and $20 respectively), then I might be persuaded that there was at least a sincere effort at trying to be more consumer-friendly with the new data plans.

However, there is one other kicker that disproves any possible good intentions that AT&T might have with regards to data traffic: tethering.

Tethering

There is an option, built into practically all smart phones these days, to enable tethering. It is something that is a feature of the phone. The data traffic is still covered by the chosen plan, so why is there a monthly fee associated with using my allotted data “time” through tethering instead of on the device itself? With AT&T the cost is astronomical. The fee to tether is not a one-time “activation” fee, which I could possibly be persuaded to accept, nor is it a reasonable monthly fee that is added as a “feature” (after all, there is no difference between having tethering activated or not activated on the phone other than the “flip of a switch” on AT&T’s end). It is, quite simply, nothing more than the exploitation of the consumer in order to allow the consumer to use a feature that is already a feature of their chosen device.

I’ll clarify this once more: If I have, say, a 2 GB Data Plan, then I have already paid for the use of 2 GB of data in one month. Why is there an additional fee or restriction on how I use my allotted 2 GB of data if I choose to use the phone as a modem while out and about in an area where I don’t have wifi but I have my laptop? Instead, if I want to use my 2 GB of data, I have to use my iPhone’s built-in capabilities. Wait a moment, tethering IS a built-in capability, and I still have to pay an extra $20 per month to use the feature!

Rant

Quite frankly, this is all bullshit. If you want tethering you have to use the 2GB data plan, you can’t keep your unlimited plan. Fuck that. There is a reason I have the unlimited data plan, and it is because my data usage varies a lot month to month (I’ve broken the 2 GB limit a few times, which would mean I’d end up paying an additional $10 per 1 GB overage each month, which equates to the exact same price I pay for unlimited… tell me, why the hell would I shoot myself in the foot if my average for data usage is $30 a month anyway?).

All of this is old news, certainly. However, I’m annoyed due to being in an area with pretty crappy internet service (and guess what, that’s AT&T too, but that’s another rant) and tethering would be a welcome solution. However, I’m not paying $45+ a month for the ability to tether my laptop to my iPhone and lose my unlimited data plan.

At this point, I HIGHLY encourage the activities of the jailbreak community, and applaud them for their efforts. After all, for the price of one month of tethering with AT&T I could get an application that allows me to create a WiFi hot spot, or directly tether, on my iPhone. It’s looking more and more tempting every day…