AT&T customers will no longer have to worry about data cap while streaming DirecTV on a mobile device.
AT&T has announced an update to the DirecTV app for iOS, which will allow users to stream more channels on the go. Users can easily watch live or recorded shows and they also have the option to download shows for offline viewing.
Many customers want to catch up with news or watch TV shows while commuting. However, data cap is a major concern for these customers. Now, AT&T confirmed that watching content from DirecTV will not be counted out of a user's data allowance.
"[Y]ou can stream video via your DirecTV or U-verse App without using your mobile data when you're on the go with Data Free TV on the AT&T mobile wireless network. It's easy and automatic after registering and it doesn't count against your AT&T mobile data allotment," says AT&T.
This is good news for AT&T customers who like watching videos. However, the latest announcement may raise questions about net neutrality. Some market experts believe that such an offering from a carrier violates net neutrality as it punishes customers who prefer other networks over AT&T.
However, AT&T believes that the latest offering does not violate net neutrality. AT&T suggests that other carriers in the United States can also offer the same service to their customers.
"We are not treating our services differently from any other data. This feature is simply our way of saying thanks to customers that purchase both video and mobility services from AT&T. Other content providers can do the same thing through our sponsored data program," says AT&T.
The U.S.-based carrier also argues that net neutrality provisions do not apply to mobile data caps. It is worth noting that AT&T is not the only network to offer zero data usage for streaming videos. Verizon's Go90 mobile video service and T-Mobile's (USA) Binge On is also similar to the latest offering from AT&T.
In June, net neutrality advocates submitted 100,000 letters from American internet users to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to stop T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and Comcast from offering zero-rated data services.
Customers who have a DirecTV subscription can download the DirecTV app for free from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The DirecTV iOS app has been updated on Sept. 7, which brings the version to 4.7.013. The app is compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod touch running on iOS 9.0 or later. The app weighs 153 MB.
Photo: Mike Mozart | Flickr
