AT&T a-la-carte data plan pricing for Samsung Galaxy Tab leaked. (Spoiler: They suck)

I sure hope you weren’t planing on using that shiny new Samsung Galaxy Tab of yours for anything useful while you are out and about, far from the reaches of traditional WiFi networks. The supposed data plans for the Galaxy Tab were leaked not more than 24 hours ago by an AndroidGuys AT&T source, and boy is it looking mighty bad for 3G hopefuls.

AT&T a-la-carte Galaxy Tab data plan pricing

• $15: 100MB for 1 day

• $30: 300MB for 3 days

• $50: 1GB for 30 days

Can you say ripoff, rape, highway robbery? If there was any shred of interest inside of me that was looking at purchasing a 3G plan for the Galaxy Tab, it was effectively strangled, hung, and then taken out back and shot. Seriously, I can’t fathom how AT&T can think these prices/plans are even remotely “fair” or of value to their customers.

AT&T already fucked over iPad owners when they advertised the original $30 unlimited data plan at the top of their voices and then a couple of months later pulled an ‘ol bait and switch, chopping down their data plan to a max of 2GB/month. Now AT&T is just blatantly giving potential Tab owners the finger.

Of course, I shouldn’t get too worked up. I’m not getting a Samsung Tab. But I know plenty of you out there are at the very least interested. For those that were/are eyeing picking up a data plan, what do you think of these prices? Remember, they could change by the time they become official.

AT&T is the sole reason for poor network performance, not anyone else. *Stop pointing fingers at everyone else*

Late last week and over the weekend I have seen numerous articles about AT&T calling out heavy data users, smartphones, and the iPhone (not directly — but gingerly stepping around a direct shout out with ample hints and suggestions) as the reasoning for their poor network performance. Ads have been made, lawsuits filed, and many a blog posts written all decrying AT&T’s pitiful performance. Yet AT&T bucks the trend and instead goes on calling out mobile devices as the reason for network problems. Clearly there is a disconnect between AT&T and the rest of the country or they’re simply in denial.

The truth of the matter is, at the end of the day when every finger has been pointed, every excuse used, and every backdoor attempt to salvage your ever decreasing image from the garbage has been expired, the only reason that will remain for poor network performance rests solely on AT&T’s broken shoulders. Their inability to properly support their network is the reason so many AT&T users face day after day of strife, dropped calls, poor data throughput, and other network related problems.

So the iPhone uses a ton of data, that’s not Apple or the end users fault that AT&T’s network can’t handle it. It’s the fault of the various think tank departments that allocate money poorly for network upgrades and AT&T’s overall poor decisions on network management. The most telling however is the statements made by AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega when he stated that AT&T would “educate” customers on how to “properly use their mobile devices”. Translation: our network blows, we know it, everyone knows it, we’re going to teach you how to not use your phone. For a company that relies so heavily on a single phone to drive a large chunk of their business, you’d think they’d do a better job of addressing network issues related to actually using those features.

The iPhone is a multimedia device as are many other smartphones available on AT&T’s network. AT&T needs to learn to stop bitching when people actually use their phones the way they’re meant to be used and even marketed for. Hell, customers are forced into paying for “unlimited” data plans. Why slap their hands when they “use too much”?

**By the way, when anyone figures out how much “too much” is on a claimed “unlimited” data plan drop me a line…

I know I’m ranting about something many others have already ranted about many times over. But you know what, AT&T obviously isn’t getting the picture. “Educating” customers and basically telling them they’re (1) stupid and (2) if they don’t stop using their phones for what they’re designed to do, penalties (tiered/higher data plan pricing) will be employed. Just a few examples of how to purposely destroy any shred of a positive company image.

You know how the saying goes: For every one finger your point at someone else, there are at least three pointing right back at you…

T-Mobile confirms Project Dark pricing!

T-mobile’s Project Dark has been quite the talk of the town these past few weeks especially after the prices leaked earlier last week. Those leaked prices were in fact legit as T-Mobile has gone ahead and acknowledged the Project Dark pricing and details on their website. The only thing that hasn’t been announced or revealed yet *fingers still crossed* is that of a rapid 3G expansion or ‘ol flip of the switch on their 21Mbps HSPA+ network that they’ve been caught bragging about once or twice. There is still time…

After having a few days to let the details soak in and crunch the numbers, how are you feeling with Project Dark and TMO’s new direction?

Androinica > TmoNews > @ERK > T-Mobile