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Wireless Expense Management Blog

Verizon is Throttling Data Users

Can you hear me now
So what Verizon was calling “unlimited lightning fast 4G” is not exactly so unlimited anymore. The wireless carrier is now throttling the top 5% of their data subscribers based on usage.

That is, any Verizon smart-phone user who uses an “extraordinary amount of data” will see a slowdown in their data-transfer speeds for the remainder of the month and the next billing cycle”. Yikes. And we thought Verizon was going to compete with “those other carriers” who offer limited data plans.

To add fuel to the fire, Verizon did not announce this to their millions of subscribers via press release, email or text message. Instead, the news ended up being leaked by a blogger who stumbled across a well-hidden PDF disclaimer on Verizon’s website. [Read more…] about Verizon is Throttling Data Users

Loophole Means Unlimited Data for AT&T iPhones

Hey ATT Business users: a loophole means unlimited data for AT&T iPhone due to billing issue class action lawsuit.

It has been recently reported that AT&T is overcharging for data and a pending federal class action lawsuit claims that “AT&T’s bills systematically overstate the amount of data used on each data transaction involving an iPhone or iPad account,”. The plantiff actually ran their own study by purchasing a phone, disabling all data functions and still were billed data charges by ATT. The suit charges AT&T with five counts including unjust enrichment, unfair business practices and violating the federal law that prohibits “unjust and unreasonable” telecommunication charges.

The suit claims that AT&T overcharged users data anywhere from 7-300% more than actual usage. And while on a 50KB download speed, this data usage could be as small as 53.5 KB (7% over), it could also be billed as much as 600KB (300% over). The claim also states that AT&T is billing not only higher than accurate overage charges, but that they are also billing for phantom usage (e.g. billed for usage that never occurred) This is especially concerning to business users when one looks at the aggregate usage of data over many users. Here are all the details on the lawsuit.

In a related article in the Huffington Post, a spokesman for AT&T defended the company. “We have only recently learned of the complaint, but I can tell you that we intend to defend ourselves vigorously. Transparent and accurate billing is a top priority for AT&T,” he said. The link to those details are here: Huffington post reports .

One important loophole to this issue is that AT&T is now offering unlimited data plans to existing users. A yahoo news article explains:

“AT&T has allowed subscribers who have had an unlimited data plan in the past to switch back. That includes anyone who had an iPhone before June, when the limited plans took effect”.

AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel wouldn’t confirm the option to return to an unlimited plan. “We handle customers and their situations individually, and we’re not going to discuss specifics,” he said.

AT&T has always allowed iPhone and smart-phone users with unlimited-data plans to keep them when upgrading directly to a new device, but it is the ability to return to an unlimited plan after going limited that is the carrier trade secret they want to keep under cover.

Protect your wireless rights; make sure, like the carrier, you get your unfair share.

Sprint’s Newly REQUIRED $10 Monthly Premium Data Add-on

Sprint had recently announced that it will be including at $10 monthly premium add-on to 4G phones. Not a great feature, but perhaps understandable for the carriers to recoup some of their increased network costs for 4G (I know, I know..like 49.3 million subscribers at $56 per subscriber per month totaling well over $2.7 BILLION PER MONTH isn’t enough to help cover costs?!).

However, effective January 30th, Sprint has squeaked in that it is going to add this premium data add-on to every smartphone that is newly activated or swapped – 4G or not. This “premium” add-on is now required for all smartphone devices (Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, Instinct family of devices, etc.). This, of course, was not announced with a press release, but announced quietly from their business support group:

Sprint's Data Add-on

Now I can see how adding a plan to recoup some costs is reasonable BUT, this is ridiculous. First, to add this fee in its very clandestine manner is not only unethical, but also inconsistent with existing business contracts. We have customers who are already seeing this on their JANUARY bills without any previous notice.

Second, this is not an incidental charge, it is $10 per line! This is over 25% of many of our business users’ total net cost per phone per month…certainly not chump change by any means. Unless you are managing your bills and continuing to optimize would you even see this charge much less would you even think it was a new and (in our opinion) erroneous, inaccurate, overzealous one. This premium add on data plan would increase Sprint revenues by $493 MILLION per MONTH, just by an “oh by the way, we are increasing your rates” plan.

But look what Sprint says you get in return for your hard earned $10 per month: “What does this feature do? Delivers a rich wireless experience by bringing the full function of mobile “applications” and “programs” to life:”. Wow…we don’t want to miss a (mandatory) rich wireless experience!

PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS! Here’s what to do:

  1. Consult your contract. If it isn’t listed as a contracted charge, take action.
  2. Contact your carrier representative and get a credit back (PER PHONE, don’t forget)
  3. Tell the carrier you KNOW there is a $0 Premium Data Add-on and have that added to the account instead of the feature for the $10 charge.
  4. If properly done, you should get a message like this:, “This is not applicable to XXXX customer at this time. Currently, their contractual rates apply as is.”

Good luck and protect your wireless rights: right plan, right price, right result!

From Gartner’s Blog: Managing Mobility Conundrum

Here’s a great article by Phillip Redman posted on Gartner Inc’s blog, in which he explains that it’s a good idea for enterprises to support multiple devices and operating systems, since as he puts, “…in reality, there is no alternative.” Here’s the entire article (or click the link in the previous sentence to view the original). Great insight Phillip!

Managing Mobility Conundrum

by Phillip Redman – June 14, 2010

Last week I spent a lot of time with user clients going over some of their main business issues relating to mobile networks and the enterprise. At each meeting, the most burning question was not related specifically to technology, but how to manage the ever expanding number of mobile and wireless platforms and services. In the past year, in North America, U.S. businesses have seen an influx of devices, especially the iPhone. iPhone, though not a corporate standard is a mile wide, but an inch deep at U.S. companies. But adoption is growing and iOS4, and the ability to manage it better will only increase the pressure CIOs feel to support this platform. BlackBerry, the ultimate managed device, is under attack from at least two fronts–iPhone and later this year Android platforms. And decreasing BlackBerry marketshare in smartphones only proves the point (see: Market Share: Mobile Devices and Smartphones by Region and Country, 1Q10). Though the vast majority of companies want to support multiple platforms and service adoption strategies, they are struggling with policy and best practices.

I believe it makes sense for most companies to support a diversity of devices, since in reality, there is no alternative. No standard OS means no standard device. But it is key to create a framework of support and define the IT and user requirements for devices and platforms. Companies should review our managed diversity framework for guidance on this (see: Use Managed Diversity to Support Endpoint Devices, May 2010). Most companies should continue to support corporate liability in order to retain control over security, costs and the future direction of mobility in the enterprise (see: Companies Should Keep Control of Cellular Users Through Corporate Liability, January 2010) and develop policy that helps guide users and the company in supporting mobility.

The good news, there is an ever expanding set of enterprise tools and services to help companies manage mobility. As service price continues to decline, as device and network capability continues to increase–it is inevitable that for many business users, the mobile device will become the primary communications tool, if it hasn’t already. Now is the time to acknowledge and manage it.

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