AT&T

AT&T's recent throttling policy hasn't been popular with its customers, but they hope to score some brownie points with a new plan that would allow developers to pay for a user's data consumption while using an app. The idea is for app developers to foot part of people's data bills in hopes customers will make more in-app purchases. AT&T’s network and technology head John Donovan told the The Wall Street Journal that it would be like using a toll-free 1-800 number.

“A feature that we’re hoping to have out sometime next year is the equivalent of 800 numbers that would say, if you take this app, this app will come without any network usage”

Pro-tem Judge Russell Nadel said it isn't fair for AT&T to slow down a person's iPhone after selling them an "unlimited data" plan.

According to a statement released by AT&T they only throttle "the top five percent of the heaviest data users." iPhone users who are approaching the the top five receive a message that advises them to use Wi-Fi to avoid "reduced speeds." AT&T's throttling policy didn't sit well with many customers, and it even caused one man to take the carrier to small claims court.

An unemployed truck driver and student sued AT&T after they throttled his iPhone and he won. Matt Spaccarelli was awarded $850 in a California small claims court. This could spell trouble for AT&T who does not allow its 17 million customers with unlimited data plans to consolidate their claims into a class action suit.

Hot on the heels of AT&T changing its tiered data plans once again, reports have surfaced regarding data throttling on unlimited plans. Although the unlimited option has been discontinued, some iPhone users are grandfathered into the plans and continue to enjoy no monthly limits on usage.

Only catch is that AT&T will start throttling data speeds when a threshold is reached, typically when a customer enters the top five percent of data usage. According to MacRumors this threshold has decreased significantly and now includes subscribers who have reached just 2GB of usage. This number is even lower than the 3GB tiered data plan costing $30 per month that was recently announced.

It only took a few months but Sprint finally released an iPhone app for their customers. Like other carrier apps, the "Sprint Zone" allows users to access their account, search for promotions, read Sprint news and locate Sprint stores. There is also an Apple store locator, easy access to Apple Care, and the ability to check simple device info like battery stats and data connection. The App is free in the iTunes App Store for devices running iOS 5 or later.

AT&T is changing its smartphone data plans on Sunday January 22. The announcement modified pricing and data tiers across the board, with new plans offered for not only the iPhone but tablets including the iPad as well. Current plans at 200MB for $15 per month, 2GB for $25 and 4GB for $45 with tethering are set to become a thing of the past for new subscribers.

The goal of the new plans is said to be preventing overages on users' data plans, but with fierce competition from other mobile service providers, AT&T is looking to stay competitive amid the relentless growth of mobile data consumption. Price hikes will come with additional data allowances in the new tiered plans.