AT&T says goodbye to unlimited data plans & hello to cheaper ones
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For those who rarely find themselves eating up any data per month can choose to go with the DataPlus plan which offers 200MB of data per month for $15. According to AT&T, they believe that 65 percent of their customers fit into this bill and could obviously benefit on the cheaper plan. However, they will be charged $15 more for an additional 200MB of data if they exceed the initial 200MB cap – so basically it seems like $30 for 400MB. On the other hand, heavy users will most likely side with the DataPro plan which tallies in at 2GB per month for $25. Out of all their customers, only 2 percent would probably exceed this amount as they say that 98 percent of their customers use less than 2GB per month on the average. If they exceed this quota, they will be issued an additional 1GB of data for $10. Seeing that tethering is surely going to be a prominent thing as we witness the next iPhone, smartphone customers who are on the DataPro plan can add this option for an additional $20 per month. Finally, Apple iPad owners will also be offered the same plans in place of the current unlimited one – $15 for 200MB or $25 for 2GB.
So if you're a heavy data user, you'd probably want to stick to that current unlimited data plan that you're on right now to save yourself some money. However, it's really difficult to say how these new plan offerings will affect both customers and AT&T in the long run. Ultimately this new move is pretty gutsy when you consider how entrenched customers are when it comes to the notion of unlimited data plans, but of course AT&T positions it as being “more affordable for more people to enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet.” We'll see who is next to follow suit with a similar move of their own.
source: AT&T
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45 Comments
5. clevername posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:17 0 0
If 98% of AT&T customers use less than 2gb/mo., and those that use more can choose to keep their current unlimited plan, How does it suck for them? Only ones that will lose r those looking to save money but don't pay attention to their usage. But they need a wakeup anyway. Sounds like a win/win since they can keep their unlimited.
19. rwolf1984 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 12:32 0 0
Sucks for at&t customers?? Verizon CEO also said that Unlimited Data is unsustainable...Tiered pricing will be coming to all carriers soon enough...I do not agree with it, but that is the direction the industry is moving in. I will just have to move to a city that has abundant wifi. It is funny how most wifi hotspots are airports and starbucks...places where u are sitting...these are mobile devices the point is to be moving around why u use them not be stuck in one spot.
2. GlenF posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:01 0 0
$10 per gb after 2 GB? that automatically makes it more expensive than their current plan and you get unlim with current. Dumb My Fiance uses a Blackberry for phone, text, Facebook, twitter & weather and nothing else. She's already used 177MB this month. How is the $15 plan even remotely feasable for most smartphone users? what you're going to see is alot of people lowering theirn plans to "save money" and then getting nailed with $10 or $15 add ons when they go over the 200MB or 2GB. There is no way this will eliminate "Bill Shock" it will just help line AT&T's pockets
3. Jyakotu posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:10 0 0
Oh the irony of people complaining about a data cap. These are going to be the same people who complained about having to pay $30 for Unlimited Data. Here's how AT&T should've done it: DataPlus - 500MB for $10 DataPro - 5GB for $20 DataUnlimited - Unlimited data for $30 Tethering - Free What I'm trying to say is, maybe for DataPlus and DataPro, they should increase the amount of data people can use. Tethering should be free and I think the Unlimited Data option should be kept. Idk if people agree with my pricing suggestion, but I think it'll ease some people.
20. rwolf1984 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 12:34 0 0
No one gives tethering away...dream on. But they should adopt your tier it is fair.
32. remixfa posted on 02 Jun 2010, 16:52 0 0
tmobile doesnt charge for tethering on ANY phones. i guess the dream is reality.. lol
34. Jyakotu posted on 02 Jun 2010, 19:42 0 0
Actually, you're wrong. You can tether for free on Verizon with the Mobile HotSpot and I believe T-Mobile allows free tethering too.
38. taco50 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 20:00 0 0
that's dumb you want them to continue offering 30 unlimited and give cheaper data plans with large allowances? They're network is over congested and that's why they're are doing this. You're idea would make their network even more congested. I think their current plans are fair. It gives the light users cheaper plan options and the heavy users that screw up the network for everybody have to at least pay for it. I use a lot of wifi so I can probably get away with the 200mb/$15, but will definitely stay within $25 plan so at a minimum I'll save $5. Blackberry users can stay for sure within 200mb because their data is optimized.
4. jtucker1987 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:13 0 0
Wow this sucks for us att customers!! At least they will grandfather our unlimited plans even if we upgrade!!
7. testman22 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:28 0 0
Um no... if you upgrade you are forced to change your plan
8. Fallout posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:47 0 0
nah, you aren't forced to change plans:http://www.9to5mac.com/att_att
_attt
9. jtucker1987 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:48 0 0
um no.... the at&t spokesman said "Existing customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension. They are also not required to switch to the new plans if they renew their contract or switch to another smartphone." http://www.informationweek.com
/blog/main/archives/2010/06/at t_kills_off_u.html
21. rwolf1984 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 12:38 0 0
I called AT&T customer service this morning as i was very pissed upon hearing this. I confirmed that if you have a smartphone now and upgrade even from a windows mobile or blackberry to an iPhone 4G you will be able to keep your unlimited data. This mainly affects new customers. A lot of customers want the iPhone but do not want the expense...The techies and early adopters that need the unl data have it...
35. majicc07 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 19:42 0 0
This article is so wrong in some parts. The only way you will have to chnage to the lower data plans is if you want to tether. If you just want an iphone as a phone then you will be able to get the $30 unlimited plan at any time. With all the wifi that is available I can't see how people would go over. At&t has 20,000 hotspots out there not to mention if the time square project goes well, which it wil,l the y will deploy more cities with free wifi for their customers. I'm sorry but some of the blogs I've read that people use 100s of gigs a month is nuts. There is no way you should use that much data on a PDA over 3G. Not to sound like an ass but that is the main cause for these tiered plans. I bet anything VZ will be next being that their data usage has increased. Its also easy to offer unlimited data and free tethering when you have hardly any data devices or customers on your network like T Mobile or when you are so desperate for customers like Sprint that your willing to give away the farm. I'm not pro at&t but I think they get a bum rap for somethings. The way this article is written is proof. It makes it sound that if you upgrade you will loose your unlimited plan. They also don't mention that if you preorder your ipad before the 7th you will still get the unlimited $30 plan. Go ahead haters have your way
6. tkasperek posted on 02 Jun 2010, 09:23 0 0
At&t is really driving into a brickwall with this. All they are doing is trying to get customers to not bog down their network by forcing their customers to use less and less data. When you limit data, most customers will be extra cautious to use their phone for internet use. This is why At&t just flat out sucks. Rather then fix their Data network they will instead try to free up the amount of usage on it. Ha. I still can't believe a company as smart as apple uses a network/company like At&t. What a joke. iPhone users enjoy your new plans. I'll enjoy my Droid and use it as much as I like without a worry of data overages. Plus I'll actually have coverage. Imagine that.
12. Gawain posted on 02 Jun 2010, 10:11 0 0
In addition to what you said, I think what is also telling about this change is this: AT&T is still not able to upgrade their network sufficiently meet the demand, so they will force a decline in data usage by pricing it out.
14. Gawain posted on 02 Jun 2010, 10:13 0 0
Whoops...somehow I managed to miss the middle of your post where you said pretty much the same thing...and I can't delete mine so...fml
22. rwolf1984 posted on 02 Jun 2010, 12:40 0 0
AT&T has fixed their network and are expanding and upgrading 3G as well as adding Wi-Fi hot spots. Even the Verizon CEO said that unlimited data is not sustainable. tiered pricing is the future so we will just have to get use to it. Soon, voice prices will decline and data will increase.
