GigaOM:
AT&T’s decision to block Apple’s video-calling program on its cellular network for certain customers has raised the ire of consumers and public-interest groups, and it may even draw the attention of the Federal Communications Commission. And after the wireless carrier posted its rationale on Wednesday on its decision to limit video over FaceTime to customers who have signed up for its Mobile Shared Data plan, I see two reasons the carrier has picked this fight.
The first is to push more consumers over to the Mobile Shared Data plan, and the second is to establish a precedent that will put its Wi-Fi network on the same legal footing as its cellular one, especially when it comes to network neutrality.
AT&T is preventing FaceTime from eating profits by only allowing it on plans with unlimited minutes. People with low minute plans cannot bypass overages by using FaceTime instead.
They delt with iMessage by discontinuing all but unlimited texting plans. This move is all about protecting profits.