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Aug 18 2017

Need help with your Personal Wireless? Bill Police is piloting a program…

Bill Police has specialized in Fully Managed Services for Business to Business Wireless Programs for over 15 years.

We are now piloting a Personal Wireless Management Program and are offering a free Personal Wireless Audit for anyone who provides us their bill.

If you are interested in having a free Audit, please forward a copy of your wireless electronic PDF invoice downloaded from your carrier website. At this time, we are only Auditing personal bills for Verizon and AT&T; however if you have another carrier you want to be next, feel free to let us know so we can plan for additional carriers.

Directions on how to secure an electronic copy of your wireless bill are below if you need assistance. If you need additional help, please contact Support@billpolice.com

Here is the link to Access Verizon Electronic Billing. Once downloaded, please send to Billing@billpolice.com

Here is the link to access AT&T Electronic Billing:Once downloaded, please send to Billing@billpolice.com

Still Protecting Your Wireless Rights………………………..

Mar 10 2017

Throttle vs Prioritize: What’s the Difference?

Because of the recent unveiling of Unlimited Plans, we have fielded lots of questions about the the difference between Throttling and Prioritizing (the recent Verizon Unlimited plans do both depending on the device type).

This blog will review the differences and what it means to you.

As you know, no wireless carrier plans are truly unlimited. See our earlier blog about “Unlimited” being not so much here. (Should we establish new vernacular of “fake unlimited”? ) That said, the carriers deal with “Unlimited” plans in 2 ways: Prioritize or Throttle.

Throttling

If a wireless device reaches a pre-determined amount of data usage within a billing cycle, the data speed is then reduced to a pre-determined amount of data speed for the remainder of the billing cycle.

An Example

The new Verizon “Unlimited” plan, data only devices have “Unlimited” data usage up to 10GB of usage. At this point, the data speed is reduced to 3G speed or about 600kbps. So, Verizon will guarantee you full 4G LTE speed for the first 10GB of data usage for Data Only Devices then put on the brakes for the rest of the billing period.

Prioritization

If a wireless device reaches a pre-determined amount of data usage within a billing cycle, and there is congestion on the network, then data usage is Prioritized behind other users to an undetermined speed for the remainder of the congested time. This speed may range from not able to work due to lack of speed (we have heard feedback that this has occurred to some users) or data speeds may just be very slow for an unspecified period of time. This should not be for the remainder of billing cycle –like Throttling is — but for a shorter period of time.

Basically, users will get full-speed data up to the de-prioritization threshold, and then full-speed if the network is not congested. The risk is with your usage vs the network’s usage. Note that for some MVNOs (resellers) even on the non-prioritized portion, the speed is capped because they will come second to a major carrier’s network making room for the carrier to deliver faster speeds for their direct users.

An Example

For Smartphones, Verizon will guarantee full-speed 4G LTE for first 22GB of data per billing period then speed will be slowed by an unspecified amount if the network is congested. What is “congestion” and what is the slower speed? This has not been specifically defined by the carriers. This undetermined status leaves the carrier with freedom to let lower data users to get full-speed over higher data users.

TMobile talks about their prioritization on their site: “About T-Mobile” page under heading “Network and Management for Extremely High Data Usage and Tethering” that the top 3% will have their data usage prioritized below the data usage of other customers at times and at locations where there are competing customer demands for network resources which may result in slower speeds. Note that TMobile updates the prioritization schedule quarterly. This may result in slower speeds for up to 3 months (!)

Prioritization vs Throttling Comparison

Throttle affects the user for the remainder of the billing cycle
Prioritize affects the user for the remainder of the congested period but may be adjusted as short as hourly or as much as quarterly (see user comments below)
Throttling relates only a user to a users own usage requirement: if you reach your own capacity of data allowance, throttling occurs.
Prioritization depends on how your usage relates to others. If you are using a high amount of data (typically defined as in the top (typically 3-5%, — usually over about 22-28 GB within a billing cycle), you will be prioritized if congested
Neither option allows a user to have truly unlimited data (either speed or amount of data are not provided at an unlimited amount)

Here are some direct user comments about Prioritizing and Throttling:

“I’m being deprioritizated. The HE’LL it isn’t throttling. It’s actually worse than throttling. Already when you’re throttled you know your going to get at least 3g speeds. When you’re deprioritized your connconnection gets cut and “deprioritized” then as you reconnect your data speed has to build back up from zero. I’ve done numerous tests on and I regularly get less than 1Mbps. ..I see the speeds fluctuate from a compete stop of data flow, then I watch the speed rise slowly sometimes up to 5Mbps or 7Mbps (NEVER MORE THAN 7Mbps) then, I get depriortized and my speeds drop down to .026Mbps or less then, it reconnects and they process starts over again. When your constantly being kicked off the network and reconnecting you get ridiculously slow transfers, SLOWER than if I was just being throttled.”

“Hell, at least you got to run a speedtest. My OOKLA speedtest app would not even run when I got throttled (IDGAF how you want to change the definition of “unlimited”, it’s throttling). My Google apps would not even work. No email. Couldn’t even add a Google account. Ridiculous”.

So there you have it: if you want to know if any of the latest plans are fit for you, be sure to contact because we are still…….

……protecting your wireless rights!

Feb 04 2017

I am from ATT and I’m Here to Help…cough (with Stream Saver)

ATT Stream Saver — a network feature that allows Corporately billed subscribers to watch videos but use less data — was launched on January 11th.

Sounds fantastic but how is this possible? Marketed as a data/cost saving feature, the short answer is: throttling. Throttling by any other name is still…..throttling.

Using ATT’s own words, “With Stream Saver turned on, data speeds for content that is recognized as video is reduced to a max of 1.5 Mbps, which generally allows standard definition quality, similar to DVD (about 480p).* This is the case for all applicable plans including those with unlimited data.

Here is a link to ATT’s direct information on the feature:

And, because ATT is so customer service focused, they are doing this for you — you don’t even need to lift a finger. ATT states, “We will begin rolling out Stream Saver to new and existing Mobile Share Advantage℠ and Mobile Share Advantage℠ for Business plans beginning January 11, 2017. We plan to add the feature to other select postpaid rate plans that include data by the end of the first half of 2017. Stream Saver will be automatically added and turned on for free for your CRU lines on applicable plans as the feature is rolled out. No additional action is required.”

But beware, this data will still count toward monthly usage. So while this qualifies as throttling, it isn’t “zero-rating,” — like from Sprint and TMobile — which eliminates that streaming data from counting as data usage at all.

If you need to turn off this throttling, however, you yourself (or BP if you are fortunate to be a BP Client) will need to turn this feature off for users at your discretion.

And for our Government account friends, please note that AT&T will not automatically add Stream Saver to government accounts. Stream Saver can be added to Government accounts through Premier.

So, if your data seems to be degrading in quality, take a look at your plan to manage your Stream Saver Feature OR

Have BP do it for you and all your Corporate Devices. Because, we are ….

…..still protecting your wireless rights!

Feb 02 2017

Does Verizon’s Unlimited Data Plan Work for Your Company?

Yep, most of you have heard Verizon has unleashed an Unlimited Data Plan. Many of you are asking us about it, so here is BP’s take:

Why now?

Because Verizon was losing subscribers to TMobile and Sprint who added 3.3 million and almost 1 million subscribers respectively last year. This is compared to Verizon’s then CFO predictions of “revenue fairly consistent with that of 2016” (aka = no growth) for 2017 without the unlimited plan. Verizon revenue dropped 3% in the first half of 2016 and, interestingly, Verizon stock has fallen almost 2% since the Unlimited Plan announcement.

Also, according to USA Today, Verizon has increased their network making it better able to handle more capacity; Verizon has stated that the cost of delivering a GB of data has dropped 40%-50% as it has made network improvements.

Is it a Good Fit for Your Organization?

This plan does have some merits for the right users. Here’s the skinny:

Why it probably isn’t the best fit for large groups of users:

If the account has significantly more than 10 users, the plan bills an Account level charge for each group of 10. This can become cost prohibitive depending on the device types and the data usage of the group (usually more data usage, the better the fit on this plan)
These plans are non-discount eligible so no corporate discount will be honored. You pay what Joe off the street pays.
Smartphone plans will be billed $20 higher if the subscriber is in contract. So, for each Smartphone that states a $20 per Add-on Rate per subscriber, add another $20 — for a total of $40 — for each Smartphone under contract. Check out your number of devices in contract because clearly this doubles each extra subscriber monthly cost. When comparing pricing, most prices stated use the “out of contract” amount for monthly cost.
Each account will only be credited $10 if the account is paid with a bank card or check. That means using the Corporate Credit Card will cost you extra. Again, when comparing prices, this credit is often automatically included in the rates.
Tablets are double the cost of what Corporate business rates are being billed today. So, if there are a lot of tablets on the account, not a good fit.
While Smartphones are “prioritized” after 22GB of use, Tablets are “throttled” after 10GB of usage and the speed will drop to 3G speeds after 10GB of usage. Conservatively assume that 22 GB per Smartphone and 10GB per tablet will be the best high speed data usage you will realize.
Do you need all that data? Often users will tell us (while thumping their chests): “I have unlimited data” and to this we say: do you need to pay a premium for the unlimited plan if you are not using it? A typical data user uses around 2GB of data per month. Why spend 30% more for data you may never use? Verizon still offers other, less expensive plans on its website, which range from $35 a month for 2GB of LTE data to $70 a month for 8GB of LTE data.

Why it probably is a better fit for a smaller groups of users:

This does provide a 22 GB plan before being prioritized or throttled and voice and texting are unlimited
The plan is less expensive than the old unlimited plan for 5 users by almost $200 if you are out of contract on all devices
Verizon is offering free devices to those who switch from another carriers
Smaller organizations may not be as impacted by Corporate Discounts
If there are 10 or fewer devices and depending on data usage, this may be a good fit (again, the more usage, the better the plan fit).
Is a better deal than the highest plan used to be available through Verizon before depending on the subscriber usage

A note: Most stated rates do not include device subsidies. Remember that if you are on a device payment plan that will increase the price of the monthly plan. Also, if the device is still in contract, that fee will be added to any of the plans as a $20 increase per device.

Ending Thoughts

Overall, Verizon is tagging this as “Not just Unlimited: VERIZON unlimited”. Verizon contends that because they have a better network, their unlimited is superior in quality to other carrier’s unlimited plans.

A recent study from OpenSignal says that in general, Verizon is the top for signal consistency, T-Mobile and AT&T are in second or third, and Sprint typically is last. So it appears Verizon has a point; however, Verizon will also demand higher pricing than the competition: For 5 devices, Verizon will charge $310 per month, TMobile charge $180, and Sprint will charge $90.

Hope this provided you some tips on whether or not the Verizon Unlimited Plan is a good fit, because we are ……

…….Still Protecting Your Wireless Rights……………………

Dec 16 2016

Apple Alert! Wifi Assist Is Auto Enabled; it Could Cost You If You Dont Turn it Off

Apple Users Beware:

With every software update iOS 9 and later, Wi-Fi Assist is automatically Enabled on Apple Devices.

Wi-Fi Assist allows users to stay connected to the Internet even with a sketchy Wi-Fi Connection (e.g. if you’re using Chrome at the office and have a with a poor Wi-Fi connection, Wi-Fi Assist will automatically switch to cellular data so the webpages continue to load seamlessly). This means that with each update, the device will automatically move users over to their wireless data plan and use the carrier data allotment to provide better loading times.

You can see the problem: in sketchy Wi-Fi, users will use more wireless plan data while thinking they are using free Wi-Fi. This could add up.

BP alerted our users to this when IOS 9 came out last October, and can help existing clients with alert notifications to end users. Let us know if you need assistance with your users.

What To Do

When Wi-Fi Assist is activated, you’ll see the cellular data icon in the status bar on your device.

Luckily, this could-be-expensive feature is easy to find and disable. Here’s a quick how-to:

Open the Settings.
Click on “Cellular”.
Scroll down to “Wi-Fi Assist”.
Toggle the button to turn it off.

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Other Settings to Check for Data Usage:

Some apps from the App Store use the Apple Push Notifications to alert you of new data. Apps that use push notifications (such as instant messaging or social media apps) will use cellular data. To turn off push notifications, go to Settings > Notifications.

To view the cellular data usage for your apps, tap Settings > Cellular. You can turn cellular data on or off for each app. Contact your carrier if you have questions about your cellular data usage.

These small adjustments can save your company hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars! If you have questions about saving your company money through the auditing, optimizing, or managing of your wireless services, please click here to contact The Bill Police.

Still Protecting Your Wireless Rights, for WT and Keith today……..

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What To Do

Other Settings to Check for Data Usage:

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