AT&T Ditches Metered Billing Trials Without Telling

News
By Marcus Yam
published

Internet is a super highway again.

Those of you on AT&T for wireless probably aren't pleased with the decision to introduce more heavily capped plans for data, but those of you who get your broadband internet from AT&T may be pleased to know that it has put an end to the metered billing trials.

According to Broadband Reports, AT&T has shut down its DSL metered billing since April 1 that it started in Reno, Nevada and Beaumont, Texas.

While AT&T did not officially announce an end to the program, sources told Broadband Reports that the costs of systems and support to run metered billing were rather high, though the negative PR associated with metered billing might have had something to do with it too.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
36 Comments Comment from the forums
  • unrealpinky
    Finally some good news out of AT&T, but I'm still glad I ditched their DSL service.
    Reply
  • skittle
    AT&T probably didnt make(steal) enough money as it would have liked from its 'light' Internet users.
    Reply
  • JasonAkkerman
    I have AT&T Uverse at home with an 18Mbps connection and it has gone down on me maybe twice in the four years I have had it. I recommend it to my friends, the service is great.

    I also have AT&T wireless. The only reason I have it is because the rest of my wife's family is also on it so the calls are free. Their 3G coverage is spotty at best, and when you do get it it's painfully slow . The things they do to WinMo loaded on their phones borders on sadistic(added software and configuration). I cry a little every night.
    Reply
  • fausto
    they probably lost customers and that changed the math.

    see community rating it's ok for internet, phone and netrflix....just not ok for healthcare. we can't all pay a fee, use a service or not use it but make it cheaper for everyone else.

    with reduced numbers of customers and more leaving ATT saw the writing on the wall...we make more money charging 1 fee and keeping everyone hooked than loosing people to the competition.
    Reply
  • matt_b
    Hopefully the other ISP's out there watching will ditch any thought of doing/continuing the same thing. Now if we can get the likes of Comcast to ditch capped monthly transfer limits - we'll be set!
    Reply
  • Hiniberus
    AT&T Responding to negative PR? If that were the case they'd have closed down and re-opened under a new name, with a new CEO and better billing information and such.
    Reply
  • megamanx00
    Heh.
    Reply
  • bk420
    Metered billing of internet usage is retarded and should be banned at all expense. AT&T has to do this 'cause they're to big to fail with an antiquated network. i.e. AT&T can meter-charge you for all dropped data packets...

    NO THANKS.

    I'm happy not rely on them for ANY internet-mobile-tv needs.
    Reply
  • TheKurrgan
    Perhaps the people tested that jumped ship to cox may have had something to do with it too.
    Reply
  • bpislife
    Or should I say metered billing :-P
    Reply