AT&T has been getting a lot of flack lately for its decision to nix their unlimited 3G data plan in favor of a 2GB monthly data plan that saves you a few bucks. Today, the carrier may need to prepare itself to take on even more complaints as the company has confirmed that any data sent through an AT&T Microcell 3G will be counted towards the 2GB data plan. The Microcell 3G is intended to work as a mini cell tower in your home, and routes data and voice transmissions over your home broadband internet connection. And, therein lies the problem.
Sure, if the Microcell 3G functioned as a real cell tower and sent your voice calls and data streams over the air to the wireless network, it would make sense that data usage is counted against the monthly data cap. But, that’s not the case here. AT&T uses your home internet connection as a data pipe – a data pipe that you already pay for and doesn’t cost the carrier so much as a dime to use. The revelation that the AT&T femtocell is effectively charging you twice just adds fuel to fires stoked by customers that say the Microcell 3G is just a rip-off.
The tactic can be seen as a way for AT&T to encourage customers to use WiFi for data services, or discourage the use of 3G data services, depending on how you look at it. Combined with the newly minted data plan caps, it seems the carrier is doing everything it can to keep customers from overloading its network. And, with the iPhone 4 slated to start hammering AT&T’s network in less than a week, it makes sense that the carrier is trying to keep wireless data traffic to a minimum.
What say you, dear reader? Should AT&T be counting data services on its Microcell 3G femtocell against your monthly data plan?
[Via: BroadbandReports]