AT&T Wireless mis-markets the word "unlimited" for its data plans; forces consumer to purchase more expensive products and services. Dallas Texas

AT&T Wireless sells 3G / HSDPA "unlimited" data plans under a myriad of different pricing structures while imposing a 5GB limit / month on data transfer.

Two things wrong here:

1. The 3G / HSDPA service operates at the same transfer rate no matter what data plan you purchase. (They sell the same type of service at different rates).

2. You DO NOT have "unlimited" usage to data access - There is a 5GB limit

What else do they do:

1. They apply the different "unlimited" data plans (and rates) to different devices:
a. NON-PDA unit - 15.00 / month
b. PDA Unit - 30.00 / month
c. PC Connectivity - 60.00 / month
Note: They claim that the non-PDA devices use less data than than PDA or PC devices. I claim they cannot prove that the non-PDA device uses less data.
2. They remove manufacturer's features from the less expensive devices - such as the ability to get normal email (other than hotmail / gmail) which force you to buy more expensive phones and data plans.

Sample:

I upgraded my original razor phone and purchased a razor 2 (with 3G capabilities). Motorola had manufactured that specific model to pickup normal email (myaddress at some domain dot com) - This is not the same as gmail or hotmail. Yet, when AT&T made it available to the consumer they had removed that feature and told me that the ONLY way I could get to my normal mail was to purchase a PDA device.

Pricing Structures (under 2 year extended contract):

Razor 2 Phone (at the time)
Phone: 99.00
Data Plan / Month: 15.00

PDA (AT&T Tilt) (at the time)
Phone: 399.00 - not inlcuding rebates
Data Plan / Month: 30.00

Just to get normal email - which was a feature of that particular phone

These practices are actively in use today...

I see price fixing in this sample.

The use of unlimited in their marketing is completely off.

Robert
Lake Bluff, Illinois
U.S.A.