AT&T

AT&T Mobility has been socked with a class action lawsuit claiming the company overcharges iPad and iPhone subscribers for data usage. The plaintiff in the case claims they purchased a new iPhone and completely turned off any functions that would use cellular data. After 10 days of sitting idle, the device clocked charges for 2.3 kilobytes transferred over 35 transactions.

Although this isn't a whole lot of data, it could point to a problem with millions of subscribers tallying up phantom data usage. Additional claims in the lawsuit point to independent studies accusing AT&T of overclocking web data usage by 7-14 percent per transaction, with instances of up to 300 percent.

AT&T Mobility made big news in June last year when it abolished its unlimited data plans once and for all. Or did they? Current iPhone customers who have not signed a new contract still have unlimited data, and now the AP reports there's hope for the rest. iPhone subscribers who have switched from an unlimited data plan to a tiered one can contact AT&T and have their old data plan reinstated.

The move is not being actively publicized by AT&T, nor will the company confirm the activity. iPhone users report that a quick phone call was all it took to get unlimited data back if they had it before. To reinstate your unlimited data plan call 1-800-331-0500 or dial 611 directly from your iPhone.

Major markets struggling to meet large wireless data demands are about to receive a boost from AT&T Mobility. The company announced that it will be expanding its pilot program to provide free Wi-Fi access to subscribers in strategic locations around the country.

The point of all this is to alleviate data traffic on the AT&T 3G network. Since the iPhone's introduction in 2007, AT&T has been slammed by app downloads, web browsing, and other high bandwidth uses on its network. In a plus for users, data transferred over a Wi-Fi connection does not use data plan bandwidth.

iPhone 4 prices with a two-year contract just keep dropping, thanks to AT&T offering refurbished devices at steep discounts. For only $79, new subscribers can pick up an iPhone 4 16GB with a cosmetic blemish, while the same refurb in new condition goes for only $99.

iPhone 4 32GB models are going for $199 while the cosmetically blemished ones cost only $179. These deals save between $100 and $120 off normal prices. Even refurbished iPhone 3GS models have been slashed, with cosmetic blemish 8GB hardware going for only $19.

The question isn't if Apple's exclusive iPhone deal with AT&T Mobility will end. The question is when, and the answer looks more like early 2011 if recent comments by AT&T CFO Richard Lindner are to be believed. Speaking at the UBS Media and Communications Conference, Lindner explained simply that exclusive arrangements end.

He emphasized that regardless of this inconvenient fact, AT&T has a diversity of phones to offer consumers. Although he didn't give any details, other news this week also points to AT&T rival Verizon Wireless offering Apple a sweet deal to keep the iPhone off of Sprint and T-Mobile's networks in the US.