Mentor
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30 Messages
The Future of GPS and no unlimited everything plan?
Hi there
Its interesting that phones are getting bigger with bigger screen realestate plus phones are becoming (if not already) our go to device on the go. i don't know if GPS apps on phones are still a new concept?
i understand GPS uses Data so why doesn't ATT offer unlimited Everything including Data plan so we can use GPS without worry? i understand unlimited Everything is "grandfathered" in.
as ATT customers we should have a "worry free"plan where we can use our phones using as much usage as we want or need.
i know that other carriers have unlimited everything but i very happy with ATT.
i just wonder when phone/tablets will replace standalone GPS navigation? do you know?
Thanks!
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
GeekBoy
Master
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4.1K Messages
9 years ago
For the first question, it would depend upon the app. If the app caches the maps to the device internal memory while you are connected to your computer or home wifi, then they would not use your cellular data, but they would potentially use a large portion of your device storage capacity. If the app doesn't do that, then it will have to use your cellular data connection to download the information it will be displaying on the screen. There are some SPG/Nav apps which use about 5GB storage on your device, but load maps for the entire US so that you don't need to use your data connection. Those apps also tend to cost you about $50-100 for the app too.
As for the unlimited data question... In the past, AT&T offered unlimited data for smartphone users. At that time, they found that the top 5% of users were using 50% or more of the bandwidth consumed. As long as you allow unlimited consuption there will be some who feel that they should be allowed to stream data at the top allowable speeds 24x7 the entire month. Those users will cause excessive drain on system resources slowing the whole network down for everyone. AT&T first tried to curb their usage by implementing the "fair use" and "terms of service" but that didn't stop the users who felt that paying a small fee entiteld them to use whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, no matter who it would impact. After enough of these users reducing the overall satisfaction for the majority of the users, AT&T stopped offering the "unlimited data" options, and started to throttle the "bandwidth hogs". Many of these customers threated to leave AT&T for this practice, wo which many of the rest of us said "please do, then the system will get much better for everyone else". It's not hard to find some of these threads in the forms even now, over 4 years after AT&T stopped offering those data plans...
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
9 years ago
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Caretaker1379
Mentor
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30 Messages
9 years ago
thanks for that info but what i'm saying if i got a navigation app say i want to go to Starbucks... Turn left here... type app... would refreshing the map and follow path use data?
i know ATT can't legally say why they can't offer unlim everything to newer customers but if u offered that would there be to much data through the pipeline? or does ATT not feel the need for that?
i'm not upset... im just curious
i love chatting via forum.
Thanks again
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Caretaker1379
Mentor
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30 Messages
9 years ago
thanks jerry! great answer
when the time comes i'll just get a standalone nav device.
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draver
Teacher
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8 Messages
9 years ago
There are apps such as "CoPilot" that have the maps included, so that you do not download "On The Fly" and do not even require a data connection. I've used that app for several years and it works perfectly well in the middle of nowhere with no service. You can even pull your sim card out and it will navigate properly since the GPS does not require a carrier signal to function.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
9 years ago
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GeekBoy
Master
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4.1K Messages
9 years ago
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Marlena60
Contributor
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3 Messages
7 years ago
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Busternutt
Professor
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3.2K Messages
7 years ago
@Caretaker1379
Actually, I do have unlimited data with the new MSA plan. The catch is that after I use the data I actually subscribe to and pay for, it slows down. But it is still unlimited......never shut off and no overage charge. Still should be fast enough for everything except video streaming.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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113.6K Messages
7 years ago
@Marlena60. Actually, you have 3 GBs per month, just like the 3 GBs Gophone plan ATT offers.
The 3 GBs Gophone plan is $45 less $5 if signed up for autopay. Just like Metro, the paid plan is for 3 GBs, unlimiteas talk and text. Once the 3 GBs is used up, the speed cuts to 2G speed.
The difference? ATT covers far more of the USA than T-mo. In Connecticut, T-mo coverage still has a long way to go to match ATT or Verizon.
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