After enduring a number of complaints from subscribers and
consumer rights groups, AT&T (NYSE:
T
) has decided to
reverse its decision
regarding the implementation of FaceTime over cellular. The
wireless carrier had initially said that only those who subscribe
to a new shared data plan would be allowed to use the feature.
AT&T had argued that its network could be strained if it
allowed a larger number of people to use FaceTime. But while some
video chat services can devour more than one gigabyte for every
10 minutes of use, FaceTime has already been proven to consume
far less data
than its competitors. This is partially due to the quality of
FaceTime video, which is lower than its high-bandwidth
competitors.
During the summer, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson avoided
talking about the pricing structure for FaceTime use, including a
rumor that claimed the network would
charge a separate monthly fee
.
After revealing its plans, three consumer rights groups --
Public Knowledge, Free Press and New America Foundation --
threatened to make a
formal complaint with the FCC
. That strategy (and the ongoing complaints from users and
bloggers) seems to have made a positive impact. Now
all
4G LTE tiered data plan subscribers will be allowed to use
FaceTime over cellular.
"Our primary goal all along has been to bring a swift end to
AT&T's practices that harm consumers, competition and
innovation," John Bergmayer, a senior staff attorney for Public
Knowledge, said in a
statement
. "An FCC complaint offers a path to a positive resolution for
consumers, but it's a path with an uncertain timeline. So we are
willing to wait and see if AT&T will follow through with its
promise to end its illegal practices in short order. We still
intend to pursue legal action against AT&T if it doesn't make
FaceTime available to all of its customers quickly."
Verizon (NYSE:
VZ
) customers must also subscribe to a tiered data plan if they
wish to use FaceTime through a 4G LTE connection. Sprint (NYSE:
S
) is the only company that will allow unlimited data customers to
use the popular iPhone feature, but that could change in the near
future. While Sprint has used to its unlimited data plans to
obtain and maintain new customers, the company has revealed that
it will
not offer unlimited data
to iPad users. This could be a sign that the company will follow
the lead of its competitors and switch to tiered data plans in
2013.
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