News
AT&T iPhone service bills running long
New York Times columnist David Pogue and John Gruber of Daring Fireball are reporting that iPhone customers’ AT&T bills contain overly lengthy explanations of data usage. Writes Pogue, “I get six pages of listings of data tidbits that the iPhone has downloaded in the form of email and Web pages–kilobyte by kilobyte! Every graphic on every Web page, every message sent or received–it’s all carefully listed by date and time.” Gruber confirms the excess, stating that his own data listing “weighs in at 45 pages.” It is important to note that while lengthy, the listings provide no specifics of browser activity. For environmentally conscious iPhone owners who would like to enroll in paperless billing and avoid receiving pages of data transfer listings, you can sign up for the free service at att.com/mywireless.
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1
“listings provide no specifics of bowser activity”
Well I bet that makes Super Mario and Princess Peach two happy customers. =P
Posted by Cyantre on July 27, 2007 at 1:36 PM (PST)
2
good thing it’s not specific. Wouldn’t want the wife and kids to see paper evidence of inappropriate web activity.
Posted by Jacob Anderson on July 27, 2007 at 2:02 PM (PST)
3
I go my first post iPhone bill and it’s INSANELY long. ATT does this because they usually charge by kilobyte for their “not unlimited” data plans. It just goes to show how brain dead ATT is. They really need to change their business practices. Sending out dozens and dozens of pages showing “1k transfered” line items is nothing short of asinine.
Posted by Surf Monkey on July 27, 2007 at 2:34 PM (PST)
4
Oh, I can’t wait to get mine. I’ve plowed through 120.1MB so far this month.
Posted by Matthew on July 27, 2007 at 3:59 PM (PST)
5
If I’m not mistaken, a customer can opt for less detailed billing. I’ve had AT&T/Cingular for years…never had a problem with the giant bill.
Posted by rand on July 27, 2007 at 4:11 PM (PST)
6
LOL @ Cyantre’s comment. My bill is very long as well…any time I used the net. Thank god I already have online billing only. Sheesh. What a cluster.
Posted by Matt Dunn on July 27, 2007 at 4:22 PM (PST)
7
wait, so the bills don’t list the urls/names of the websites you visited, right? they just say that you received 1kb at a certain time? Because if it gives the url or the name of the website i really hope the family doesn’t read the bill
Posted by dchamp on July 28, 2007 at 11:22 AM (PST)
8
Nope, it doesn’t show any urls, just hundreds and hundreds of 1k line items. It’s amazingly brain dead.
Posted by Surf Monkey on July 28, 2007 at 12:31 PM (PST)
9
As an AT&T Wireless/Cingular/AT&T customer for years, I’m surprised at what big news this has become. Is it really so hard to click the “no paper bills” option?
Posted by SkylarP on July 29, 2007 at 11:49 AM (PST)
10
this isn’t specific to iphones, its SOP for cingular/AT&T data plan bills.
Posted by don on July 29, 2007 at 8:02 PM (PST)
11
If long bills is such a big deal, why has no one complains about long credit card bills, or bank statement? This has nothing to do with iPhone per se, but yet most web sites reported it as if the iPhone creates this problem.
Posted by Alex on July 30, 2007 at 3:51 AM (PST)
12
@Alex,
This is the first time people are probably getting such large paper bills though, now that you need an unlimited data plan with the iPhone.
Posted by ajmiarka on July 30, 2007 at 5:46 AM (PST)
13
@ajmiarka,
For people who never have data plan before? Sure. But not for people who has data plan before, even the MediaMax plan. My point is, this is not new for the iPhone and why only bring this up now and not before? And why not other type of bills too? Oh I forgot, they don’t have anything to do with iPhone…
Posted by Alex on July 30, 2007 at 5:52 AM (PST)
14
Long bills from Cingular/AT&T are nothing new. As a family plan user with 5 lines and 3 treos. Our bills rival war and peace. I think it is a master plan to confuse you so you don’t actually read it. mistake. At least every quarter review your bill in detail. in the last 2-3 years AT&T has over billed us by 800.00 dollars or so. i always catch it and get it credited back, but I’m sure there are peope who don’t. if you’re monthly bill runs high anyway you might not notice.
Posted by denisew on July 30, 2007 at 11:55 AM (PST)
15
im planning on buying an iphone
but i have cellular one.
will it cost alot for service>?
will i get decent service in alaska?
Posted by Mya on August 7, 2007 at 3:32 PM (PST)