AT&T Announces iPhone Tethering and New Smartphone Data Plans

[sportguy0913]

total garbage. 2GB caps are a joke and 10/GB overages charges are as well. PR below

AT&T ANNOUNCES NEW LOWER-PRICED WIRELESS DATA PLANS TO MAKE MOBILE INTERNET MORE AFFORDABLE TO MORE PEOPLE

DALLAS, June 2, 2010 - AT&T*, the U.S. smartphone leader, today introduced new wireless data plans that make it more affordable for more people to enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet. Customers can pick the new data plan that best meets their needs - either a $15 per month entry plan or a $25 per month plan with 10 times more data. Current smartphone customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension.

"AT&T helps mobilize everything on the Internet - your favorite web sites, TV shows, music, games and social networks. Virtually everything previously done while sitting at a computer can now be done on the go," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "To give more people the opportunity to experience these benefits, we're breaking free from the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' pricing model and making the mobile Internet more affordable to a greater number of people."

Each plan includes unlimited access at no additional charge to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the U.S. Customers can also use unlimited Wi-Fi at home, in the office or elsewhere if available. AT&T will also help customers manage their wireless data usage by sending free text messages when customers reach different usage intervals, and by providing online tools, including a smartphone app that shows monthly usage information.

The new wireless data plans - including a new tethering option - will be available beginning June 7. Current AT&T voice and texting plans are unchanged.

More Choice

The new AT&T plans provide large amounts of data to enable people to enjoy their favorite online activities:

* DataPlus. Provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data - enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), send/receive 150 emails with attachments, view 400 Web pages, post 50 photos on social media sites and 20 minutes of streaming video - for just $15 per month. This plan, which can save customers up to 20 percent off their wireless voice and data charges, is designed for people who primarily like to surf the web, send email and use social networking apps. If customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle, they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in the month. Currently, 65 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 200 MB of data per month on average.

* DataPro. Provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data - enough to send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, view 4,000 Web pages, post 500 photos to social media sites and watch 200 minutes of streaming video - for $25 per month. Should a customer exceed 2 GB during a billing cycle, they will receive an additional 1 GB of data for $10 for use in the month. Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average.

* Tethering. Smartphone customers - including iPhone customers - who choose the DataPro plan have the option to add tethering for an additional $20 per month. Tethering enables customers to use their smartphone as a modem to provide a broadband connection for laptop computers, netbooks or other computing devices. Tethering for iPhones will be available when Apple releases OS 4.0 this summer.

With the new wireless data plans, pricing for a smartphone voice and data bundle now starts at just $54.99 per month for an individual plan, or $24.99 per month for an additional line on a FamilyTalk plan, $15 per month less than the price of the previous entry level bundle.

For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan can keep that plan or switch to the new $25 per month plan with 2 GB of data.

Wi-Fi at 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots

The vast majority of smartphones that AT&T offers have built-in Wi-Fi, which lets the devices automatically switch from the wireless network to a Wi-Fi hotspot without prompting, making Wi-Fi even more convenient and easy to use. This enables customers to use Wi-Fi in the home, office and at public locations where available. Using Wi-Fi does not count against a customer's monthly data plan usage total. In addition, virtually all AT&T smartphone customers have access at no additional charge to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and other U.S. locations. Customers can get more information on how to use Wi-Fi and find the location of AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at www.att.com/wifiaccess.

Monitoring and Managing Usage

To help customers easily check their data usage, AT&T has made the information readily available in a number of ways:

* Customer Text Notifications On Data Usage. When customers begin to approach their monthly usage limit, AT&T will send three text notifications - when they reach 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of the threshold. Customers will also be sent emails if AT&T has their email address.

* Data Usage Monitoring. Additionally, customers with iPhones and other select devices can use the free AT&T myWireless application to check data usage. The application is available for download in several smartphone app stores. Also, AT&T customers can call *DATA# from their wireless phone to check their data usage for the current billing period. They receive a free text message with their usage information. Customers can also go online to www.att.com/wireless to see all their usage information, past and present.

* Data Calculator. The easy-to-use online data calculator enables customers to estimate their mobile data usage and get a better sense for which data plan is right for them. It's located at www.att.com/datacalculator.

Customers can learn more about the new plans online at www.att.com/dataplans, by contacting AT&T customer service at 1-800-331-0500, or by visiting an AT&T retail store.

AT&T expects these new data plans to have minimal revenue impact this year and to not affect previous guidance for 2010.

Does this mean that if you choose to tether, the data you use while tethering will eat from your 2GB iPhone data, or do you get unlimited data for tethering? If you have to pay $20 extra for that feature and you don't get any extra data, that isn't right.

 

[odinslord]

Seriously, ATT keeps getting worse. I've been trapped in ATT's gulag camp for almost three years now, and cannot wait to get out of their service if/when Apple decides to open the iPhone to other carriers. As far as the iPhone goes, it seems these plans may actually enable some customers to save money. However, ATT dropped the ball with the iPad plans. And charging for tethering on a monthly basis?!? What kind of bs is that? I mean, whatever you consume through tethering is *already* being charged off on your regular iPhone plan! Tethering should not be an additional charge, you already paid for that damn data!

 

[douglaswilliams]

Shoot, this does it for me. It's over the top. My wife and I were finally going to switch to AT&T but now I'm gonna wait for Verizon this Fall.

I'm sure I wouldn't go over 2GB/month but just the fear of the limit would make me not enjoy the phone's abilities.

 

[nabechu]

Does this mean that if you choose to tether, the data you use while tethering will eat from your 2GB iPhone data, or do you get unlimited data for tethering? If you have to pay $20 extra for that feature and you don't get any extra data, that isn't right.

Tethering will consume data from the 2GB on the iPhone plan.

 

[BrettJDeriso]

So let me see if I got this right...

I have to cough up another $15 a month and settle for a 2GB cap just to get tethering? Oh yeah, and live with a doubled early termination fee if I re-up?

Screw you, AT&T. Your exclusivity contract can't expire soon enough.

By the way, for those of you debating how restrictive a 2GB cap really is: consider that your data usage in a tethered configuration will not reflect the usage you've been getting on the phone itself. I have a Sprint Overdrive with a 5GB cap on it's 3G service, and I've hit the wall not even half way through the month, two billing cycles in a row. I wasn't even streaming a Netflix movie, though the bandwidth on Sprint's 3G network can definitely support it.

This news, paired with the 2GB restrictions on new iPad customers just proves that AT&T bit off more than they could chew.

 

[sschwar4]

So, where does the iPhone Enterprise plan fit in, the $40 a month plan???

 

[HornetOSX]

I have a feeling that most of the crowd using that much has jailbroken and is tethering. I don't know how the hell you could use that much per month either if you talk to another human or two daily and sleep for 8 hours.

Oh I'm SURE He is tethering.

and THAT's Why AT&T is a year behind in giving Tethering/is not giving free tethering/ changed the rate plans.

One other thing I learned today is that tho most of Europe seems to give tethering away their data plans are only about 20-30% cheaper then the NEW AT&T Plans. They are NOT Unlimited. So with that in mind.. ok cool that AT&T has boned me for a year with tethering. but I had UNLIMITED Data.

but this 20 bucks more just to be ABLE to tether and not add any more bandwidth is horse crap. bovine manure. pure and simple.

 

[Hurda]

Why should I be paying for your excessive data usage?

Then why do you have and pay for a data-plan, which greatly exceeds your needs?

 

[JediZenMaster]

65 GB....on a phone?

People like you are the reason carriers have to do things like this. You and I pay the same per month and I'm surprised if I go over 1 GB of data a month. Why should I be paying for your excessive data usage?

Don't come at me like that because i pay more in a month than your probarly pay. My MRC is pretty high. Also it's just too bad for you. No one forced you to get an iphone. If you don't want to pay you cant ride.

You cannot go to Waffle House and tell them that you don't want toast and expect to get a cheaper meal. And you can attack me all you want. But it is exactly what it is. And i dont give a S**T what you think about me.

Now do us all a favor and go cry in the corner about the new plan changes. Maybe someone will bring you gouda cheese for your whine.

 

[shiseiryu1]

Pay for Tethering?...NO!

Paying for tethering is the stupidest thing I've ever heard especially when you're going to be capped on the data you can use. we're already paying for the bandwidth...why double-charge us? It's like buying an MP3 on your iPhone and then being charged again if you want to listen to it on your computer. AT&T sucks.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

Well, before I can say whether or not I would dump my unlimited data plan I'd have to find out first if you'd be able to tether via W-Fi or is it strictly USB tethering???

 

[mdatwood]

Does this mean that if you choose to tether, the data you use while tethering will eat from your 2GB iPhone data, or do you get unlimited data for tethering? If you have to pay $20 extra for that feature and you don't get any extra data, that isn't right.

This.

If you're going to cap the data amount then whatever you do with the connection should not matter. Tacking on $20 just for tethering from your already paid for 2GBs is the real rip off here.

 

[j-a-x]

I just looked at my usage and I rarely use over 500 MB, so I guess paying $5 less for a 2 GB plan wouldn't be a bad deal. Still, I like the idea of knowing I have unlimited data and don't have to worry about how much data I use.

 

[ghostlyorb]

AT&T loves to screw people over... First by raising the cost to cancel your contract- then giving you a low amount of data!

Why again am I leaving my 5GB of Verizon data?

 

[TeamDNA]

Don't come at me like that because i pay more in a month than your probarly pay. My MRC is pretty high. Also it's just too bad for you. No one forced you to get an iphone. If you don't want to pay you cant ride.

You cannot go to Waffle House and tell them that you don't want toast and expect to get a cheaper meal. And you can attack me all you want. But it is exactly what it is. And i dont give a S**T what you think about me.

Now do us all a favor and go cry in the corner about the new plan changes. Maybe someone will bring you gouda cheese for your whine.

thank you finally someone that agrees with me.. All these kids are crying blah blah blah I am paying for your data.. last i checked Im pretty sure I used my cash to pay.. screws this people they are just babies

 

[yg17]

Then why do you have and pay for a data-plan, which greatly exceeds your needs?

Because I didn't have a choice before. Now I do. I may switch to the cheaper plan.

 

[HornetOSX]

Don't come at me like that because i pay more in a month than your probarly pay. My MRC is pretty high.

No you both pay the EXACT SAME 30 a month for data. DUH.

Also WTF is MRC? and what's it got to do with how much your paying for data with your iphone and how much your using.?

 

[FSUSem1noles]

Does this mean that if you choose to tether, the data you use while tethering will eat from your 2GB iPhone data, or do you get unlimited data for tethering? If you have to pay $20 extra for that feature and you don't get any extra data, that isn't right.

The 2GB cap is shared between your iPhone and whatever device you tether to...

 

[Little Endian]

to hell with rollover minutes!!! I want rollover mb and gigs of data! making me choose between data caps is just cruel. Almost as cruel as making people choose between early retirement and a smaller Social Security check or later retirement with the bigger one.

Right now I'm wondering if I'll be able to continue using my $30 unlimited plan if I upgrade to the newest iphone or will I be un-grandfathered after I upgrade with a new contract? Can anyone clarify on this?

I am also debating how much sense it would make for me to hold off on upgrading so that I can continue to use my current jailbroken 3G iphone with MyWi's unlimited tethering. Right now I use less than 2Gigs of data a month with tethering for only $30 but it is unlimited. With the new plan I would have to spend $45 a month but I would be capped at 2Gb of Data for both phone and tethering. Life is full of such difficult choices....

meh... AT&Ts official tethering support has been anti-climatic as I was expecting more.

 

[djstile]

For anyone wondering how to check your data usage over time to see which (if any) plan you might want to swtich to, this is how I did it:

Go onto att mywireless
Click 'My Account'
Click 'Bill & Payments' underneath My Account
Click 'Billing Reports' on the left side, the bottom option
In the middle for Report select 'Data Usage Trend'
Bill period start and end date whatever you want, mine went back since I bought my iphone, but would only display data for Nov. 2009 until May 2010.

This is really helpful because if you're like me, you were pissed when you read this, but upon checking back the last 7 months, the closest I got to 2GB was 1.3 in January and that's WITH (alleged) MyWi tethering usage.

 

[JediZenMaster]

Paying for tethering is the stupidest thing I've ever heard especially when you're going to be capped on the data you can use. we're already paying for the bandwidth...why double-charge us? It's like buying an MP3 on your iPhone and then being charged again if you want to listen to it on your computer. AT&T sucks.

Pretty much all providers charge for tethering. But yet AT&T seems to be only one who sucks for it Sometimes i honestly think that people hate AT&T so much that they would even blame global warming on it.

My S***T works fine. So if you don't like it cancel then

 

[Stella]

You're not paying $25 for 2GB of data. You're paying $25 for 2GB of data on an iPhone or iPad. It's nit the same as buying a box of cereal.

2GB is 2GB no matter how its used. If tethering was free I doubt 'everyone' will be using tethering.

So you don't mind $20 for tethering? If so, with customers like you, no wonder AT&T is laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm just glad I don't have to bend over and take it from AT&T.

 

[jhiner]

This is insane. So I can sign up for tethering, but I am capped at 2GB?! I use as much as 1GB a month just on my iPhone. If I tethered to my laptop, I would expect to burn through 2GB of data. AT&T Fail IMHO

 

[iPhone3GCrazed]

And my excitement for the new iPhone has just decreased to almost nothing. Thanks for nothing, AT&T.

 

[JediZenMaster]

No you both pay the EXACT SAME 30 a month for data. DUH.

Also WTF is MRC? and what's it got to do with how much your paying for data with your iphone and how much your using.?

I'm talking about the overall amount of money that's paid to AT&T monthly. Hence MRC - Monthly Recurring Charge. Look it up. Anyways I've got an unlimited plan with 5 lines. I pay a couple of hundred dollars a month. So while we pay the same for Data. I doubt your total bill is more than mine.