Any AT&T Unlimited data

[Applejuiced]

I dunno, I guess it depends on your point of view. This is what my old 24 month contract with unlimited data and a 32gb 5s cost me for 24 months.

$ 300 - Down payment for 32gb iPhone 5s
$1800 - $75 unlimited data, voice and text plans for 24 months
_____
$2100 - total cost for phone and service for 24 months


I upgraded to a 128gb 6s+ with Next and 2gb mobileshare, and this is what it will cost over the next 24 months.

$ 0 - No down payment for phone
$1320 - $55 2gb Mobile Share plan for 24 months
$ 768 - $32 installment payment for 128gb iPhone 6s Plus for 24 months
______
$2088 - total cost for phone and service for 24 months

The $5 increase in unlimited data would add another $120 over the course of 24 months if I kept the old plan. I can see why some people want to keep unlimited data, but I just wasn't using it and this seemed like a much better deal. I upgraded to a 128gb 6s+ and it's going to cost basically the same as I paid for a 32gb 5s over the past two years.

Good comparison and number breakdown. Some people and also AT&T reps themselves only put out the monthly carrier service portion without including any next payments or the customer having to pay for their own device in full.
Even if you were not using much data before the savings over 2 years are minimal IMO and having the peace of mind you will never get any overages is also a plus.
On single lines like yours its a close comparison, when you get into family plans with 3-4 lines and when those lines only cost $9.99 on old nonshare plans and all of them get full subsidized devices is where the big difference in money comes in.
Even though AT&T reps will do everything in their power to make you switch away from old 2 year contract plans to mobile share and next payments plans and cook up the numbers to make it look like you'll be saving.

 

[aneftp]

I dunno, I guess it depends on your point of view. This is what my old 24 month contract with unlimited data and a 32gb 5s cost me for 24 months.

$ 300 - Down payment for 32gb iPhone 5s
$1800 - $75 unlimited data, voice and text plans for 24 months
_____
$2100 - total cost for phone and service for 24 months


I upgraded to a 128gb 6s+ with Next and 2gb mobileshare, and this is what it will cost over the next 24 months.

$ 0 - No down payment for phone
$1320 - $55 2gb Mobile Share plan for 24 months
$ 768 - $32 installment payment for 128gb iPhone 6s Plus for 24 months
______
$2088 - total cost for phone and service for 24 months

The $5 increase in unlimited data would add another $120 over the course of 24 months if I kept the old plan. I can see why some people want to keep unlimited data, but I just wasn't using it and this seemed like a much better deal. I upgraded to a 128gb 6s+ and it's going to cost basically the same as I paid for a 32gb 5s over the past two years.

Again. Numbers are misleading.

A 128gb 6s plus costs $950 plus taxes. Looks like they are giving u around a $200 credit ($768). Att is running various promos for att next during holidays (Costco/SAMs had $300 gift cards, target $250 gift cards).

Your true numbers ($768) needs to be replaced with $1000 for the 6s plus 128gb model.

And $300 isn't a down payment for the 5S 32gb. That's the subsidy price paid for it. Again we can get lower pricing for the 32gb pricing of the 5S where during 2013 lifecycle when it was flagship various retailers had different promos where people were paying much less than $300 for the 5S under contract.

Everything being equal (they out promo for ur $768 128gb 6s plus model ($1000 real price) when adding back phone subsidy. You really aren't saving anything with att next 2gb plan vs keeping unlimited.

I run laps around all the att reps each time they ask if I want to change my unlimited data plan over to mobile share.

Now if att ever had true rollover data like they did with voice minutes (12 months rolling voice cycle) rather than 2 month rolling data rollover cycle. I would consider switching to the 15gb/$100 mobile share. And I am not a super heavy data user (3-8gb a month). My wife is too lazy to turn on/off wifi even though she's stay a home mom and bright house Cable wifi hotspot plus att hotspots annoy the crap out of her (hotspots suck if you are constantly moving and signal gets weak). So she leaves LTE on. She uses between 8-15gb these months. We have home internet.

 

[Boyd01]

Again. Numbers are misleading.

That certainly can be true, and I pointed out that it depends on your point of view. But those are the real numbers from my past 24 month plan and what I will pay over the next 24 months. I am not selling anything or suggesting that anyone do what I did. I didn't do any analysis or shopping around, it was actually sort of an impulse upgrade.

Your assumption about the $768 is not correct. I chose the Next 32 program and it takes 32 months to completely pay off the phone. However you can upgrade at no cost after 24 months but you have to turn the phone in.

The actual comparison would be a little more complex, because I traded in my old 5s at Best Buy and got $200. And I actually had two months left on the original contract when I did this. Best Buy also had a promotion with $100 off when you upgraded.

Whatever. All I know is that I replaced my 32gb 5s with a 128gb 6s+, got rid of an expensive data plan that I didn't need, didn't spend anything out of pocket, and the total cost over the next 24 months will be comparable to what I paid over the last 24 months. What's not to like?

If this doesn't work for you, then by all means get something else!

 

[Tom G.]

I plan on staying. Although I'm retired $5.00 a month is not going to break the bank. At worst I may give up a magazine.

 

[imlynxy]

I stay with At&t, it is a sponsor of Infiniti Red Bull Formula 1 team.

 

[alphaod]

No news about my plan hiking.

 

[Boyd01]

Do you have the unlimited plan? I got an e-mail like this from AT&T
__________________________________________

Upcoming changes to your unlimited data plan

Dear XXX,

We'd like to thank you for your business and share an upcoming change. Beginning February 2016, we'll be increasing the price of your unlimited data plan by $5 per month — our first increase in 7 years.

 

[biscuitsxluv]

I've been with att for awhile, over 10 years. I haven't heard anything.

 

[Applejuiced]

That certainly can be true, and I pointed out that it depends on your point of view. But those are the real numbers from my past 24 month plan and what I will pay over the next 24 months. I am not selling anything or suggesting that anyone do what I did. I didn't do any analysis or shopping around, it was actually sort of an impulse upgrade.

Your assumption about the $768 is not correct. I chose the Next 32 program and it takes 32 months to completely pay off the phone. However you can upgrade at no cost after 24 months but you have to turn the phone in.

Hold on.
So you were comparing a 24 month total cost of subsidized plan with service and phone purchase to next payments with a 32 months next plan? Your Math is missing another $256 for that phone.
And you came up you were saving money by switching?
Sounds like typical AT&T customer rep math
You're saving alright...

 

[monkey28rb]

I have att unlimited data. With my Fan discount I am paying $61 before taxes. With the price increase I will be paying $66. However att has been declining in Orlando for sometime now. I have the opportunity to switch to T-Mobile for $45 unlimited everything including data (special plan). With T-Mobile I will also get 5gb of tethering and international data if I need it. This is a hard decision. I'm going to be testing their network this coming month and then decide. So so tough to give up my att unlimited!

 

[techiegirl]

I have att unlimited data. With my Fan discount I am paying $61 before taxes. With the price increase I will be paying $66. However att has been declining in Orlando for sometime now. I have the opportunity to switch to T-Mobile for $45 unlimited everything including data (special plan). With T-Mobile I will also get 5gb of tethering and international data if I need it. This is a hard decision. I'm going to be testing their network this coming month and then decide. So so tough to give up my att unlimited!

How do you get $45 unlimited everything at T-Mobile?

 

[Merkyworks]

Stay

 

[aneftp]

I have att unlimited data. With my Fan discount I am paying $61 before taxes. With the price increase I will be paying $66. However att has been declining in Orlando for sometime now. I have the opportunity to switch to T-Mobile for $45 unlimited everything including data (special plan). With T-Mobile I will also get 5gb of tethering and international data if I need it. This is a hard decision. I'm going to be testing their network this coming month and then decide. So so tough to give up my att unlimited!

I think att is rock solid in orlando and its suburbs and most parts of central Florida even more "rural" parts of central Florida.

T-Mobile is pretty good. But my work colleagues lost LTE inside buildings quickly.

 

[AmyK]

Staying I use too much data to switch. I have 5 lines 2 with unlimited one with 300mb and two dumb phones... All for $200/month with a FAN discount.

 

[bpeeps]

How much is everyone's bill for your unlimited? Just curious. I have 2 extra lines that I will be cancelling. With my 2 main lines left, and the price increase in Feb, my bill will still be about $160-170.

I pay $64 a month for UDP. Even at $69 dollars when the price is increased, no other company can beat this price.

 

[monkey28rb]

How do you get $45 unlimited everything at T-Mobile?

Special rate plan

 

[monkey28rb]

I think att is rock solid in orlando and its suburbs and most parts of central Florida even more "rural" parts of central Florida.

T-Mobile is pretty good. But my work colleagues lost LTE inside buildings quickly.

I should have my phone tomorrow. I'll test out tmobile and see how I like it.

 

[Southern Dad]

My iPad still has the $30 per month unlimited data plan on it through AT&T. I hope it never goes away. I hate trying to keep track of usage and time left in the period.

 

[richxps]

Question, if i change my plan will i than have a upgrade available, or do i have to cancel my number and sign up again to get a upgrade ? It does say etf is waived .

 

[benjitek]

You could always go to T-Mobile and still be on unlimited for way less.

Seems initially to be way less, but they have data roaming charges.

 

[Applejuiced]

Seems initially to be way less, but they have data roaming charges.

Check again.
I heard roaming data and texting is free in over 140 countries.
http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/roaming.html
And mexico and canada gets unlimited calls and texts also.

 

[benjitek]

Check again.
I heard roaming data and texting is free...

And then re-check again, $95 for a 1-phone unlimited plan activated before 11/15/15 includes 50MB of roaming data; for plans activated after 11/15/15 it includes 200MB. My grandfathered AT&T unlimited data, talk & text plan, for $15 less per month than T-Mobile's, doesn't have a limit or additional charge for data roaming.

T-Mobile doesn't charge overages for exceeding data roaming allotments, they just turn off data services for the device until it returns to a T-Mobile coverage area.

 

[Applejuiced]

And then re-check again, $95 for a 1-phone unlimited plan activated before 11/15/15 includes 50MB of roaming data; for plans activated after 11/15/15 it includes 200MB. My grandfathered AT&T unlimited data, talk & text plan, for $15 less per month than T-Mobile's, doesn't have a limit or additional charge for data roaming.

T-Mobile doesn't charge overages for exceeding data roaming allotments, they just turn off data services for the device until it returns to a T-Mobile coverage area.

View attachment 607033

Domestic data roaming?
Why would you need to worry about that?

 

[benjitek]

Domestic data roaming?
Why would you need to worry about that?

Where I live T-Mobile has spotty coverage, for both voice and data, depending what area of the city you're in. My work takes me further out in the suburbs where coverage is even worse -- there Verizon is best, it's what the locals use. Even my AT&T coverage, while better than T-Mobile, fades in and out. I can turn my iPhone's data-roaming on and not think about hitting a data-roaming allotment. If someone has consistent T-Mobile coverage where they live & work, and rarely stray -- then it wouldn't be a consideration. You questioned the validity of T-Mobile having a data-roaming allotment, I provided confirmation that they do... so... you were wrong

This topic is about why or why not someone might consider relinquishing their grandfathered unlimited AT&T data plan, it's not a debate -- just providing a viewpoint as to why they might want to keep it instead of switching to T-Mobile, I don't really care what their eventual choice might be. If it differs from your opinion, that doesn't make it wrong. Regardless, I'm paying $180 per year less than T-Mobile's comparable unlimited plan, and, I don't need to concern myself with carrier data roaming allotments -- not sure why anyone would consider that a bad thing, but, whatever...

 

[HDFan]

I've been running both AT&T and T-Mobile in the San Francisco Bay Area and can't really see any difference in performance even when driving and streaming high bandwidth Tidal HIFI music. That network performance metric is likely going to go away. Even Sprint has shown major improvements. It will be interesting to see how the carriers will compete when they all perform at the same level.

My primary concern is T-Mobile's inexpensive International Coverage. Navigating the subways in Japan is a lot easier when you have a free (if slow) data plan so you can use google maps. 20 cents a minute for calls is dirt cheap.

I also listen to Tidal HiFi which goes through a ton of data. But T-Mobile (for now, finger's crossed!) doesn't charge for it so I can stay on their cheapest ($60 a month) plan, saving $15.

AT&T clearly doesn't want me as a customer. Any time a new feature comes out (teathering, handoff), they just tell me it's unsupported - I need to convert to another plan.

If cost were my primary concern and I just did U.S. calls I would move to Consumer Cellular. I pay $~40 a month for unlimited calls now with AT&T, but I make/get maybe 4 calls a month so I'm throwing away $40 a month. Consumer Cellular, using AT&T's network, allows me to customize my plan for my exact usage both phone and data.

So on February 5th (my billing date) I'm going to ditch AT&T unlimited and move to T-Mobile.