AT&T CEO Confirms Cheaper iPhone Rate Plans Considered

MacRumors · May 21, 2009, 03:52 PM

AT&T executive Ralph de la Vega confirmed earlier reports that the company is considering discounted monthly data plans for the iPhone.

Quote:

The executive said it would be costly for AT&T to cut the price of its unlimited Web surfing service. The minimum plan for iPhone users is $70 a month, which includes unlimited Web surfing and a certain amount of voice calls.

The cheaper rates, however, would come with limits on the amount of data that can be transfered. The current iPhone plans provide unlimited bandwidth. While such a move may make some sense for the price conscious consumer, much of the iPhone's success as a mobile net device seems directly related to the unlimited nature of its data plan.

De la Vega dismissed the possibility of an iPhone with no data plan as AT&T makes the bulk of its income from selling these add-on services.

Article Link: AT&T CEO Confirms Cheaper iPhone Rate Plans Considered

Pandaboots · May 21, 2009, 03:56 PM

just get rid of the AT& T monopoly on the iPhone..then pricing will take care of itself.

Buschmaster · May 21, 2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandaboots

just get rid of the AT& T monopoly on the iPhone..then pricing will take care of itself.

But then who will pay for the phones?

ThunderSkunk · May 21, 2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buschmaster

But then who will pay for the phones?

The same people who already do. The users.

JayLenochiniMac · May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM

Didn't Apple insist on unlimited data?

idea_hamster · May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM

After all, I spend most of my time in NYC, where AT&T's Edge bandwidth is so OUTRAGEOUSLY poor, that I couldn't hit a monthly cap if I surfed the web all day, every day.

(You may note that I don't know what the cap is. I contend it doesn't really matter. NYC is a giant AT&T iPhone stinkhole.)

Cheers!

Buschmaster · May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderSkunk

The same people who already do. The users.

IIRC, AT&T paid for part of my iPhone, hence why I only had to pay $299.

How much would pay if the phone company didn't pay for part of it?

kennycheng93 · May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM

Can current customers change plans when the new plans are available?

Doju · May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM

In Canada the monthly bill is fine, but I guess in the states it's a bit unreasonable. Hopefully they'll offer plans to entice all kinds of budgets to jump on the iPhone raft.

Andronicus · May 21, 2009, 04:00 PM

Free unlimited texts would make me happy.

ThunderSkunk · May 21, 2009, 04:00 PM

I'd much rather have a $20 unlimited (truly unlimited, not this <5GB a month limited "unlimited") data plan with tethering, and a 30 minute a month phone plan. I don't even use the phone anymore.

ThunderSkunk · May 21, 2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buschmaster

IIRC, AT&T paid for part of my iPhone, hence why I only had to pay $299.

How much would pay if the phone company didn't pay for part of it?

Haha, no. You'll have paid that back by the end of your contract.

TwinCities Dan · May 21, 2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderSkunk

Haha, no. You'll have paid that back by the end of your contract.

Yes, we know. We also know he was refering to up front cost.

Buschmaster · May 21, 2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderSkunk

Haha, no. You'll have paid that back by the end of your contract.

Point me in the direction of a plan with unlimited data that I can access anywhere where I don't pay $200 in 2 years and I'll be happy to switch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinCities Dan

Yes, we know. We also know he was refering to up front cost.

Not everyone is as smart as those of us who eat lots of hot dish and drink lots of pop

themoonisdown09 · May 21, 2009, 04:04 PM

I don't mind the $30 for the unlimited data plan. Obviously, it would be nice if it was cheaper, but it's really not that bad.

I do, however, think it would be smart if they added cheaper plans with limited data.

500MB = $15
1GB = $20
2GB = $25
Unlimited = $30

Quote:

Originally Posted by somberlaine

will I get to keep the $20 unlimited plus 200 txt if get the next gen iphone this summer? I highly doubt it.

No.

somberlaine · May 21, 2009, 04:04 PM

will I get to keep the $20 unlimited plus 200 txt if get the next gen iphone this summer? I highly doubt it.

LagunaSol · May 21, 2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandaboots

just get rid of the AT& T monopoly on the iPhone..then pricing will take care of itself.

Yes, because data plans on Verizon are such a bargain.

ltldrummerboy · May 21, 2009, 04:05 PM

Here in Alaska we get 5kbps on EDGE, tops. I don't think I could go over 250MB if I tried. I'm all for a cheaper plan.

LagunaSol · May 21, 2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somberlaine

will I get to keep the $20 unlimited plus 200 txt if get the next gen iphone this summer? I highly doubt it.

That extra $15 a month (including the ridiculous $5 upcharge for 200 texts) is what's kept me holding on to my 1st gen. There just wasn't a compelling enough reason to buy a new phone and double my monthly data cost.

manu chao · May 21, 2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

The cheaper rates, however, would come with limits on the amount of data that can be transfered. The current iPhone plans provide unlimited bandwidth. While such a move may make some sense for the price conscious consumer, much of the iPhone's success as a mobile net device seems directly related to the unlimited nature of its data plan.

Big deal. In most countries outside the U.S. iPhone plans include bandwidth caps. That is one way different carriers can compete with each other and carriers can offer multiple, differentiated offers. In some countries, you pay per KB above your quota, in others your speed gets reduced when you reach the cap. If you only use 100 MB per month why pay for a plan that includes 1 GB?

czeluff · May 21, 2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andronicus

Free unlimited texts would make me happy.

Best idea and worst idea at the same time. Best idea, because texting has virtually no impact on their hardware. Worst idea, because it's a free $20/mo in their pocket.

TwinCities Dan · May 21, 2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

I don't mind the $30 for the unlimited data plan. Obviously, it would be nice if it was cheaper, but it's really not that bad.

I do, however, think it would be smart if they added cheaper plans with limited data.

500MB = $15
1GB = $20
2GB = $25
Unlimited = $30

No.

Wait, I thought you didn't have an iPhone?

themoonisdown09 · May 21, 2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czeluff

Best idea and worst idea at the same time. Best idea, because texting has virtually no impact on their hardware. Worst idea, because it's a free $20/mo in their pocket.

That's why it's best to use the AIM application. Especially now that push notifications will be here this summer.

Drumjim85 · May 21, 2009, 04:08 PM

ATT unlimited = <5gb

Fenir · May 21, 2009, 04:09 PM

I'm all for this; Most of the data that I use gets pushed over wifi. Its hard to push a cap over edge speeds.

May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM	#5
JayLenochiniMac macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Sanfrakota	Didn't Apple insist on unlimited data? __________________ Home iMac 24" 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme 4GB Work iMac 20" 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 3GB Mobile MacBook 2.0GHz Core Duo 2GB & iPhone 3G S⃣

May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM	#6
idea_hamster macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NYC, Area 1	Less $ for less bandwidth? You had me at hello. After all, I spend most of my time in NYC, where AT&T's Edge bandwidth is so OUTRAGEOUSLY poor, that I couldn't hit a monthly cap if I surfed the web all day, every day. (You may note that I don't know what the cap is. I contend it doesn't really matter. NYC is a giant AT&T iPhone stinkhole.) Cheers! __________________ The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. -- B. Russell

May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM	#8
kennycheng93 macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2008	new plans Can current customers change plans when the new plans are available?

May 21, 2009, 04:00 PM	#11
ThunderSkunk macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: On the moon.	I'd much rather have a $20 unlimited (truly unlimited, not this <5GB a month limited "unlimited") data plan with tethering, and a 30 minute a month phone plan. I don't even use the phone anymore. __________________ Science and Philosophy, not Religion and Politics

May 21, 2009, 04:04 PM	#16
somberlaine macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fairfax, VA	how about the early adopters? will I get to keep the $20 unlimited plus 200 txt if get the next gen iphone this summer? I highly doubt it. __________________ iMac Core Duo, 2GB RAM, 10.6 8GB iPhone Edge; 16GB 3GS

May 21, 2009, 03:56 PM	#2
Pandaboots macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas	just get rid of the AT& T monopoly on the iPhone..then pricing will take care of itself.

May 21, 2009, 03:59 PM	#9
Doju macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2008	In Canada the monthly bill is fine, but I guess in the states it's a bit unreasonable. Hopefully they'll offer plans to entice all kinds of budgets to jump on the iPhone raft.

May 21, 2009, 04:00 PM	#10
Andronicus macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2008	Free unlimited texts would make me happy.

May 21, 2009, 04:05 PM	#18
ltldrummerboy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kenai Peninsula	Here in Alaska we get 5kbps on EDGE, tops. I don't think I could go over 250MB if I tried. I'm all for a cheaper plan. __________________ New to AT&T (30 days or less)? Want a $25 credit towards your next bill? PM me and we can both save!

May 21, 2009, 04:08 PM	#24
Drumjim85 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DFW, TX	ATT unlimited = <5gb __________________ Creative Commons - because copyright is broken.

May 21, 2009, 04:09 PM	#25
Fenir macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saginaw, MI	I'm all for this; Most of the data that I use gets pushed over wifi. Its hard to push a cap over edge speeds.

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