AT&T Announces New Unlimited Data Plan With 10GB of Tethering and $25 Off DirecTV

[InfoTime]

I'm on T-Mobile, with about 10 lines (business plan)

But I fail to see why anyone is still on AT&T.

With T-Mobile being the cheaper option, and Verizon having a vastly better network than AT&T while still being cheaper, it astounds me that people are still on AT&T.

This is not meant as a personal attack, please explain why you wouldn't switch from them?

Because where I live and work AT&T has a solid reliable network and T-Mobile is spotty.

 

[alphaod]

Every time these american data plans are presented i laugh look up at the skylines if you wonder where your money is going.
Unlimited 4g everything is about 17$ here

Everywhere in Denmark? Or everywhere in Europe? Last time I visited Denmark (beautiful country), it didn't seem very big compared to the US. I'm not saying I like paying more, but I expect to pay more when it can be used in more places.

 

[EnJaNir]

...Also, unfortunately, if someone doesn't need hotspot but they still want "unlimited" data, starting Thursday, they have to agree to having all their data throttled to 3 Mbps, which seems like a cruel joke. I have AT&T's gigabit fiber at my home (which I love). There's no way I would voluntarily agree to capping my cellular data throughput to 3 Mbps. That's insane. I'd love to meet the suits that arbitrarily decided that 3 Mbps would be the figure they would go with. My guess is, they came up with that number by playing a game of darts.

The real headline here is, "If you want unlimited data and don't need hotspot, sign up before Thursday"

ummm

Right from ATT's website

3Mpbs Max Speed
After 22GB of data usage, AT&T may slow speeds.​

 

[michael31986]

There's nothing in the fine print that says FAN discounts don't apply. However, it does say explicitly that you cannot stack the DIRECTV discount on top of other discounts. So, presumably, you'd have to choose whether you want to use the DIRECTV discount or the FAN discount.

In my case, the 24% FAN discount we have gives us slightly more of a discount on the $105.00 plan fee vs. the DIRECTV discount ($25.20 vs. $25.00) so I'd use the FAN discount if I switch us to the new plan. Plus, the FAN discount would likely be applied day one as opposed to having to wait two billing cycles for the DIRECTV discount to be applied.

I don't have direct tv so Guess doesn't affect me

 

[avanpelt]

ummm

Right from ATT's website

3Mpbs Max Speed
After 22GB of data usage, AT&T may slow speeds.​

Not sure if you're disagreeing with what I posted or not; but...

The existing unlimited plan offering did not cap data throughput at 3 Mbps. The new unlimited plan that does not include hotspot that rolls out on Thursday caps data throughput at 3 Mbps. And then I guess after 22 GB, they may slow you down even more? 128 Kbps, perhaps?

 

[routine_analyst]

MACRUMORS, Please post another graphic table showing the plans and which one has the best/cheapest!

 

[EnJaNir]

Not sure if you're disagreeing with what I posted or not; but...

The existing unlimited plan offering did not cap data throughput at 3 Mbps. The new unlimited plan that does not include hotspot that rolls out on Thursday caps data throughput at 3 Mbps. And then I guess after 22 GB, they may slow you down even more? 128 Kbps, perhaps?

I read their bullet point as...

After you exceed 22gb your speed would be limited to 3mbps.

Not that you are limited to 3mbps and once you exceed 22gb you would be limited to even less.

But I can certainly see it being interpreted the second way now that I reread it.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Yep. I guess AT&T figures that since they're making hotspot available on the new $145.00 plan, a family of 4 should be willing to pay $5.00 more for the privilege of using hotspot?

Also, unfortunately, if someone doesn't need hotspot but they still want "unlimited" data, starting Thursday, they have to agree to having all their data throttled to 3 Mbps, which seems like a cruel joke. I have AT&T's gigabit fiber at my home (which I love). There's no way I would voluntarily agree to capping my cellular data throughput to 3 Mbps. That's insane. I'd love to meet the suits that arbitrarily decided that 3 Mbps would be the figure they would go with. My guess is, they came up with that number by playing a game of darts.

The real headline here is, "If you want unlimited data and don't need hotspot, sign up before Thursday"

Not really. It may be $5 more a month, but you had to pay the extra $40 a month on the 4th line for 2 months before the discount kicked in. So really you had to pay an extra $80 up front. Thats $16 months of the $5 up front. New plan is better deal, even being $5 more.

 

[avanpelt]

I read their bullet point as...

After you exceed 22gb your speed would be limited to 3mbps.

Not that you are limited to 3mbps and once you exceed 22gb you would be limited to even less.

But I can certainly see it being interpreted the second way now that I reread it.

Nope, if someone opts for the Unlimited Choice plan, all their data is throttled to 3 Mbps.

Video (if AT&T can identify something as video) is further throttled to 1.5 Mbps, which they approximate will give the user the equivalent of 480p quality.

Edit: Here's the fine print:

AT&T UNLIMITED CHOICE℠: Data speed limited to a max of 3Mbps. Plan is not eligible for Stream Saver, but for content we can identify as video, speed will be at a max of 1.5Mbps at Standard Definition quality (about 480p). Data and video speeds will be capped at amounts shown above, regardless of the network your device is on (for example 4G LTE, 4G or 3G). Tethering and mobile hotspot use prohibited (except for these products: Connected Cars, Hot Spots, and Wireless Home Phone and Internet).

 

[EnJaNir]

Nope, if someone opts for the Unlimited Choice plan, all their data is throttled to 3 Mbps.

Video (if AT&T can identify something as video) is further throttled to 1.5 Mbps, which they approximate will give the user the equivalent of 480p quality. That's why you can't turn stream saver off on the "Unlimited Choice" plan...it stays on by default.

Now that I think about it that makes more sense... lame. I'm sticking with my double data 20gb special.

I don't need "unlimited" so the only thing I am missing out on is the North America roaming.

 

[chriscrowlee]

Thats a very good work around for the auto pay. I like paying with my card because i get miles. So set up auto pay with my bank but pay early with my CC is a good trick to qualify for the $10 credit plus continue to earn miles

Not really a trick, haha. They want people on autopay because delinquent customers cost them a TON in collection costs, so by doing auto-pay they give a little to get a guarantee they get paid one way or another.
[doublepost=1488218280][/doublepost]

Does their system allow you to make manual credit card payments while auto-pay is enabled? I've never used auto-pay, so I'm not sure whether or not it does. It would seem counter-productive if their system did still allow manual credit card payments while auto-pay is enabled since they're trying to get around having to pay credit card processing fees by not allowing credit cards to be used in conjunction with auto-pay.

Yep, both TMO and ATT allow it. The misconception is they're trying to avoid the fees, that's NOT what they're doing. It's a scary contract when it comes to auto-pay for the consumer. It basically takes the unpaid balance on the due date by any means you have (if you have a stored bank account it goes there first, then credit card). As a consumer if it wasn't a company I trusted, I'd never sign up. But yeah, every month I get the bill alert, pay it, and I'm done. One time I forgot to pay it and auto-pay debited it from my bank account. It's huge upside for ATT never having to worry about late payments. That's why they offer perks to enable auto-pay.

 

[burnside]

-Excludes DirecTV Now "Go Big" $35/month
-Excludes credit card auto pay discount
-3mps max data speed

THIS PLAN IS A JOKE

Where are you getting 3mps max data speed? That only comes into affect after you've gone past 22GB of data usage.

 

[alpha076]

Just read that Tmobile is going to offer third line free on 100$ for 2 line plans. That is a great deal if one has good coverage..

 

[ACG12]

Just read that Tmobile is going to offer third line free on 100$ for 2 line plans. That is a great deal if one has good coverage..

If this is true, I'm jumping ship.

 

[C DM]

If this is true, I'm jumping ship.

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/27/tmobile-extra-line-free-promotion/

 

[Freakonomics101]

It's a great question - I would LOVE to switch to verizon - at&t SUCKS. but they offer one important thing that verizon does not: you can be on the phone AND the internet at the same time on the LTE network. this is critical for my business. I think t-mobile offers this as well but they don't have near the network that at&t does.

then there's multi call functions, which are significantly better on at&t are significantly better than verizon. for instance: if i create a conference call between myself and 6 other people on at&t I can individually add and remove certain people. on verizon, once someone is in.. they are in and the only way to remove one person is to remake the entire call.

Also - mobile data is critical in my line of work. So I have both an iphone on at&t and an ipad on verizon. This way no matter where i am i have some kind of internet... if one has no signal the other usually has something. it's rare that both don't work. so if at&t has no signal, i can hop on the verizon hot spot and then enable wifi calling and my phone is back up and running.

when verizon introduces a phone that allows being on the phone AND the internet at the same time (without needing wifi) as well as better support for the iphone's multi call features, i'll switch. in the mean time i'm stuck paying too much for less service at a crappy company

You can be on the phone and use data with Verizon LTE data... at the same time. VoLTE allows people to do just that. Your device just has to SUPPORT VoLTE.

 

[Digidesign]

As a 10 year customer of AT&T, we just switched to T-Mobile last week. We're saving so much money and the service has been the same. Peace out AT&T!

We're $40 less a month than AT&T's new plans and there were no activation fees. What a joke!

Same - longtime AT&T customer just switched. I suspect there are many more of us out there that are jumping ship. Here's my breakdown for those interested:

With AT&T:
(including company discount off service)
- 4 lines
- 10gb shared w/rollover
- Unlimited text/voice
Total: $159/month including taxes and fees

With T-mobile:
(standard pricing, no company discount)
- 4 lines
- Unlimited data/text/voice
- Unlimited tethering (lower speeds)
- Can use data/text/voice just the same in Canada/Mexico
- Can use data/text in over 140 countries
- Promotional bonus of $150/line = $600
- 1 hour free in-flight wifi
- No activation fees
- No contract
Total: $160/month including taxes and fees

We were concerned about coverage, but haven't noticed any difference since switching. Our parents often travel internationally, so the T-mobile plan is very convenient.

 

[ACG12]

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/27/tmobile-extra-line-free-promotion/

Thank you!

 

[Mlrollin91]

Where are you getting 3mps max data speed? That only comes into affect after you've gone past 22GB of data usage.

Wrong, reread it. The choice plan gets 3Mbps max. Period.

• 3Mpbs Max Speed
  After 22GB of data usage, AT&T may slow speeds.
  
  https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/u...are&siteId=TnL5HPStwNw-BIadmQy2lCCNwFLvLTPH3w

 

[avanpelt]

Yep, both TMO and ATT allow it. The misconception is they're trying to avoid the fees, that's NOT what they're doing. It's a scary contract when it comes to auto-pay for the consumer. It basically takes the unpaid balance on the due date by any means you have (if you have a stored bank account it goes there first, then credit card). As a consumer if it wasn't a company I trusted, I'd never sign up. But yeah, every month I get the bill alert, pay it, and I'm done. One time I forgot to pay it and auto-pay debited it from my bank account. It's huge upside for ATT never having to worry about late payments. That's why they offer perks to enable auto-pay.

Hmmm, in that case, that's pretty cool. If I can combine the auto-pay discount with my FAN, the new Unlimited Plus plan is looking decently lucrative now that I know I can continue to pay the bill manually with my card the way I always do when I get the bill alert e-mail.

It's worth noting, though, that in order to get the auto-pay discount with the unlimited plans rolling out this week, it says explicitly that auto-pay excludes credit cards. That tells me that you must input a checking account number for them to debit; whereas it sounds like based on what you said that entering a checking account has been optional with auto-pay in the past. Am I mis-understanding? That's why I assumed they're just trying to get around paying the credit card processing fees.

 

[TechZeke]

I'm on T-Mobile, with about 10 lines (business plan)

But I fail to see why anyone is still on AT&T.

With T-Mobile being the cheaper option, and Verizon having a vastly better network than AT&T while still being cheaper, it astounds me that people are still on AT&T.

This is not meant as a personal attack, please explain why you wouldn't switch from them?

Because T-mobile is crap where I live/work/go to school. Also, $90 is only $10 more than what I'm paying now for unlimited LTE with 10GB of Hotspot. Only $10 more than a comparable T-mobile WITH tethering.

 

[avanpelt]

then there's multi call functions, which are significantly better on at&t are significantly better than verizon. for instance: if i create a conference call between myself and 6 other people on at&t I can individually add and remove certain people. on verizon, once someone is in.. they are in and the only way to remove one person is to remake the entire call.

You're spot on with this point. After switching back to AT&T about 18 months ago after being with Verizon for a number of years, I'd forgotten how well AT&T's system handles conference calls and call waiting for iPhone users as opposed to Verizon's system. I'm not sure why Verizon can't/hasn't updated their backend so that their iPhone users have the same UI/UX experience that AT&T's iPhone users have.

 

[Wags]

Nope, if someone opts for the Unlimited Choice plan, all their data is throttled to 3 Mbps.

Video (if AT&T can identify something as video) is further throttled to 1.5 Mbps, which they approximate will give the user the equivalent of 480p quality.

Edit: Here's the fine print:

AT&T UNLIMITED CHOICE℠: Data speed limited to a max of 3Mbps. Plan is not eligible for Stream Saver, but for content we can identify as video, speed will be at a max of 1.5Mbps at Standard Definition quality (about 480p). Data and video speeds will be capped at amounts shown above, regardless of the network your device is on (for example 4G LTE, 4G or 3G). Tethering and mobile hotspot use prohibited (except for these products: Connected Cars, Hot Spots, and Wireless Home Phone and Internet).

AT&T's response to throw some low number out there. A plan that no one should buy or very few that would make sense to buy. Like others have said lower rate but less service is not a deal. It's like they are offering me the opportunity to go back to tube tv.

 

[jcshas]

I read their bullet point as...

After you exceed 22gb your speed would be limited to 3mbps.

Not that you are limited to 3mbps and once you exceed 22gb you would be limited to even less.

But I can certainly see it being interpreted the second way now that I reread it.

Not true. Unlimited Choice limits overall data connections to maximum of 3MB whether or not you exceed 22GB /mo.

 

[lordofthereef]

Just read that Tmobile is going to offer third line free on 100$ for 2 line plans. That is a great deal if one has good coverage..

What does the fourth line cost?