AT&T Launches New Aio Wireless Prepaid Brand, iPhone Plans Start at $55/Month

[MacRumors]

Aio Wireless, a new prepaid cellular brand from AT&T, today announced that it has launched operations in Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, with additional cities coming over the next year. The brand offers customers access to increasingly popular prepaid cellular services alongside popular devices including the iPhone.

"We talked with no-annual-contract customers and created our service around what they want. They want simple, easy plan choices with unlimited offers; first-class service at affordable prices; great devices; nationwide voice and data coverage; and no annual contracts. Today's wireless customers don't want to compromise," said Jennifer Van Buskirk , president of Aio Wireless. "We are set up to win over value-conscious customers who are increasingly moving towards smartphones and mobile broadband."

Aio offers two no-contract plans for smartphone customers, with the carrier's "Aio Smart" plan priced at $55/month offering unlimited talk, text, and data, with a 2 GB soft cap on high-speed data. An "Aio Pro" tier priced at $70/month increases the data soft cap to 7 GB. Aio offers the iPhone 5, 4S, and 4, with devices carrying full unsubsidized prices that see the iPhone 5 start at $650.

As noted by GigaOM, Aio mentions in its press release that the carrier offers "4G download speeds of up to 4Mbs per second", indicating that LTE is not currently supported with high-speed data limited to HSPA+ networks.

Article Link: AT&T Launches New Aio Wireless Prepaid Brand, iPhone Plans Start at $55/Month

 

[GoCubsGo]

So if you're in these areas and travel out of them, what happens? Serious question.

 

[alent1234]

way too expensive

i split a $266 bill with my inlaws. 4 smartphones, 10GB shared data, unlimited minutes/text and phone subsidies.

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So if you're in these areas and travel out of them, what happens? Serious question.

nothing, they are only selling these plans in these areas as a test

 

[2bikes]

Seems like their move into unsubsidized phones. Clever.

 

[truettray]

So I'm assuming this is going to use the current AT&T network correct? Straighttalk still seem like a better deal. Especially since you still can't access the LTE network.

 

[uknowimright]

the luxurious prepaid plan

 

[Xenomorph]

For an individual user, this might be a good deal.

But what about family plans? *THAT* is what I'm interested in.

T-Mobile charges:
$50 for the first line + $10 for 2.5 GB
$30 for the second line + $10 for 2.5 GB
$10 for each additional line + $10 for 2.5 GB

AT&T's Aio charges:
$55 for the first line
$55 for the second line
$55 for each additional line

 

[mKizzo]

Pure pain. $20 per month for unlimited data in Taiwan. Why so xpensive in US?

 

[aristobrat]

So if you're in these areas and travel out of them, what happens? Serious question.

Here is their coverage map.

 

[daneoni]

As noted by GigaOM, Aio mentions in its press release that the carrier offers "4G download speeds of up to 4Mbs per second", indicating that LTE is not currently supported with high-speed data limited to HSPA+ networks.

Hahahahaha

 

[GoCubsGo]

way too expensive

i split a $266 bill with my inlaws. 4 smartphones, 10GB shared data, unlimited minutes/text and phone subsidies.

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nothing, they are only selling these plans in these areas as a test

Oh so you can use it anywhere, but can't buy it anywhere.
Individually, this isn't priced too badly. If you're on a shared plan then it sucks.

 

[aristobrat]

Pure pain. $20 per month for unlimited data in Taiwan. Why so xpensive in US?

Maybe because the US needs a gazillion more cell towers to provide coverage?

Size of Taiwan = 13,972 sq miles
Size of US = 3,794,000 sq miles

 

[jdavtz]

$55/month for 2GB data??? For once I'm glad to live in the UK -- I pay about $20/month for unlimited data, 600 mins, 2000 texts, and got about $100 cashback for signing up for 12 months

 

[CheesePuff]

$55/month for 2GB data??? For once I'm glad to live in the UK -- I pay about $20/month for unlimited data, 600 mins, 2000 texts, and got about $100 cashback for signing up for 12 months

$55 a month with unlimited text and minutes, with data for a smart phone is actually a great deal in the US... unfortunately.

 

[theBB]

$55/month for 2GB data??? For once I'm glad to live in the UK -- I pay about $20/month for unlimited data, 600 mins, 2000 texts, and got about $100 cashback for signing up for 12 months

The coverage in the UK, at least in London and the countryside surrounding it was poor last summer. People used to complain about AT&T in large cities, but coverage in London seemed worse. (I had one carrier and my friend another, issues seemed similar.)

Functionally, nationwide US coverage is equivalent to EU-wide coverage, where you don't pay anything extra if you make phone calls to and from other countries, well in our case, states. Such plans are rare and more expensive over there, so the comparison is not really apples to apples.

 

[mabhatter]

the luxurious prepaid plan

I don't really see a discount here. The base iPhone plan from AT&T is $70 WITH subsidy (unlimited Talk, text, 2GB data) they are not even discounting the full subsidy (only getting $360 off instead of $450 off the iphone)

for plan parity it should be $22.50 off the base iPhone plan or $47.50 per month, not $55. They are actually charging a lot more AND getting full price for the phone.

 

[blairh]

4Mbs sounds incredibly slow for HSPA+, no? Isn't that more in line with 3G speeds?

I don't like the name of this new branch (pronounced 'A-O', really?), but this is a smart move. Assuming you can live with the speeds, 7 GB for $70 is probably the best deal going today for those who need it. Keep in mind 'unlimited' data usually means 5 GB.

My current grandfathered plan is 2 GB a month but that's of course with LTE in the mix.

 

[theBB]

So I'm assuming this is going to use the current AT&T network correct? Straighttalk still seem like a better deal. Especially since you still can't access the LTE network.

I don't see an advantage over ST, either. I am planning to move to ST once my contract runs out, unless I decide to upgrade to a new smartphone.

 

[Chuck-Norris]

lol its pretty outragous that most smartphone plans start at 50 dollar range. quite expensive just to use it every month

i pay 35 dollars for my iphhone 5 LOLZ

 

[theBB]

for plan parity it should be $22.50 off the base iPhone plan or $47.50 per month, not $55. They are actually charging a lot more AND getting full price for the phone.

$450/24 = $18.75. How did you get $22.50?

 

[cameronjpu]

Pure pain. $20 per month for unlimited data in Taiwan. Why so xpensive in US?

Take your phone in Taipei and travel 500 miles to the west. Can you still use it? And 500 miles north. Still $20 per month?

There's your answer.

 

[crisss1205]

Pure pain. $20 per month for unlimited data in Taiwan. Why so xpensive in US?

The median household income in Taiwan is $12,000 USD while in the US it is closer to about $50,000 USD. So our income is roughly 4X more than Taiwan. Therefor, your $20 cell phone bill should cost about $80 in the US.

 

[mccldwll]

I don't really see a discount here. The base iPhone plan from AT&T is $70 WITH subsidy (unlimited Talk, text, 2GB data) they are not even discounting the full subsidy (only getting $360 off instead of $450 off the iphone)

for plan parity it should be $22.50 off the base iPhone plan or $47.50 per month, not $55. They are actually charging a lot more AND getting full price for the phone.

Huh? Base plan is 450 minutes and no text.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Pure pain. $20 per month for unlimited data in Taiwan. Why so xpensive in US?

How big is Taiwan? How big is the US? If you want to set up full coverage LTE across the country it's gonna cost a company.

 

[Derekuda]

WHY does the prepaid have a "soft cap" that just throttles after 2GB but LOYAL post paid subscribers get a "hard cap" that charges more money. Once again ATT is screwing over their customers. JUST DIE ATT!!!