I'm on an older $49.99 family talk plan with 550 minutes. Will they let me keep it like before, or will I have to change that too?
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Appears that 3G plans do get included sms
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Doesn't sound bogus at all. Other sources have reported the same information.
It looks like AT&T will update their voice rate plans to all include 200 SMS messages before or on July 11th.
The old messagss were included in the data plan. Those listings have nothing to do with the data plan, but instead the voice plan.
I checked the site, and they do not show SMS messages as part of the voice plan YET. But they simply may not have added them yet, and will do so in due course.
So there is nothing he said that makes this bogus.
The only thing is that the AT&T 3G rollout memo quoted at BoyGenius (link below) says existing voice plans will be used, and the new 3G data plans include Visual Voicemail but no SMS. Perhaps AT&T will change their mind, but I haven't seen it announced yet. If you have seen this, a link would be appreciated.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/06/09/iphone-3g-the-details-you-never-wanted-to-know/
So if I read this right, it states that since I am a current iPhone user with the plan, if I was to upgrade to the 3G Iphone I would still only pay the $20 and not the $30, since it says that current iPhone users will be grandfathered and will not be required to pay any more a month than what they pay now. Am I reading this right??
I'll believe it when I see it.
The boygenius site has the leaked AT&T memo, which pretty much spells it out. They may have a change of heart with all this negative attention the plans have been getting.
Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility, has specifically stated that SMS messages are not bundled with the data plan any more.
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/09/att-mobility-ceo-new-3g-iphone-game-changer/
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/09/att-mobility-ceo-new-3g-iphone-game-changer/
So I can get unlimited data and texts for $50 a month! That is just £25!
Why the **** do we in the UK get ripped off so much! 
Yeah, I think it's far more likely that ZDNet just made an error, considering that this it the only place there has been any indication that AT&T would include SMS with all voice plans. On top of that, it's just an unlikely thing for them to do because I remember reading that SMS is a huge cash cow for cellular providers -- people pay for it but it doesn't cost the cell companies hardly anything to implement -- so I doubt they'd want to start giving it away. I'll gladly take it if they do, but I really think it's far more likely ZDNet made a mistake..
I really doubt they will have a change of heart. I hope so. I wish they would at least give you the option, like other phones, to not purchase the data plan. I haven't shopped for a phone in a long time. I got so confused in the AT&T store the other day. other phones example.. $79 with data plan. $199 without a data plan. I just wish with the iPhone you had an option to pay $100 more for it without a plan. I'd be content with just finding Wi-fi and a voice plan.
That's exactly my complaint. In what world does $0.20 for 150 bytes of data not reek of unreasonable gouging? The one time they had a reasonable plan, in the $5 for unlimited in-messaging, something that might actually draw people to encourage their friends to join AT&T, they get rid of it.
I call shenanigans.
LoL i get you... Ask a sales associate to tell you all the availible data plans for txt... they might still have the 200 msgs/unlimited m2m for $10 im not sure i saw something in the system the other day... anyway... PM me if yall have ne other questions...
okay that just means family plans are now screwed
EDIT: Nevermind... apparently family plans also get 200 too
okay that just means family plans are now screwed
EDIT: Nevermind... apparently family plans also get 200 too
Read the rest of the thread...
If it is true, I'm going to switch to AT&T immediately, get a RAZR for the wife (who has no interest in the iPhone - at least not yet
I don't think you can do that. If you get a RAZR and a $0 "backup" you are not upgrade eligible because you have subsidized phones. Check other postings on this subject. AT&T have said that they have not yet determined what the price will be for non-eligible upgrades. There again they may change their minds but the whole idea of giving you a subsidized phone (for whatever price including free) is that they recover the subsidy over the two year contract period. Why would they give you subsidized phones today and then give you a subsidized iPhone 3G tomorrow? Doesn't make sense.
In that case just stick with the 1st generation iPhone. Why would you shell out for the new 3G (at $100 more) without a data plan - you get no benefit with the faster speed and GPS is no good to you because you cannot use Google maps (or the Garmin app). You argument has no logic as I see it.
I'm still confused on the $200 and $300 price being subsidies... aren't those the actual prices? Why are they beng called subsidies?
This whole mess is a headache
This whole mess is a headache
Because when a 3G iPhone is sold for $199, AT&T gives Apple $200 or so. Meaning that AT&T is subsidizing the cost of the phone, making it cheaper for the initial purchase. AT&T can do this because the service plan price is higher than it was for the original phone, and over the life of the two year contract they actually make MORE than if the 3G iPhone was sold for the "normal" $399/$499.
That's why you can get a RAZR for free - Motorola isn't giving them away, AT&T is simply paying Motorola on your behalf, and making their money back on the monthly service charges.
Because (so far) you can't get an iPhone 3G without service for $200/$300 in the US. When this is the case we usually consider the handset to be subsidised.
EDIT: beaten by elistan