AT&T Introduces New Data Plans Without Overage Charges

[MacRumors]

AT&T has introduced new Mobile Share Advantage plans that eliminate data overage charges. Instead, after customers use all of their high-speed data amounts, all data usage will be reduced to a maximum of 128 kbps for the rest of their bill cycle, akin to what T-Mobile has offered for several years.

Old Plans
- 300MB for $20/month
- 2GB for $30/month
- 5GB for $50/month
- 15GB for $100/month
- 20GB for $140/month
- 25GB for $175/month
- 30GB for $225/month
New Plans
- 1GB for $30/month
- 3GB for $40/month
- 6GB for $60/month
- 10GB for $80/month
- 16GB for $90/month
- 25GB for $110/month
- 30GB for $135/month

40GB, 50GB, 60GB, 80GB, and 100GB data tiers are also available, while business customers can choose plans with between 25GB and 200GB of data shared across up to 25 lines. The new plans continue to include unlimited U.S. talk and text, rollover data, sharable data, and Mobile Hotspot tethering.

AT&T charges an additional $20 access charge per smartphone per month for each plan. The carrier previously charged $25 per month for 5GB or lower plans and $15 per month for 15GB and above plans. Overage charges, meanwhile, were previously $15/GB or $20 per 300MB for customers on the now-eliminated 300MB plan.

AT&T boasts that many of its new plans include more data at a lower cost per megabyte than some plans it offers today.

If you have 2 smartphone lines on a current Mobile Share Value 5GB plan for $100 per month, you can now get the new Mobile Share Advantage 6GB plan - 1 additional GB of data for the same price, plus no overages. If you need more data, for $20 more a month, you can get 10GB of data.

We've also revised our 25GB and higher plans. We now offer a new 25GB plan for $190 per month for 4 smartphone lines (previously $235 per month) and our 30GB plan is now $215 per month for 4 smartphone lines (previously $285 per month). Customers can add up to 10 lines on both plans.

The new Mobile Share Advantage plans are available August 21. Existing AT&T customers will not be automatically migrated to the new plans, so those interested in switching should inquire with the carrier next week.

AT&T follows in the footsteps of Verizon's new data plans introduced last month.

Article Link: AT&T Introduces New Data Plans Without Overage Charges

 

[gsmornot]

I can't wait until the DTV Unlimited plans include the ability to use hotspot.
If you're using one of the plans listed here, many of the prices are indeed better and can't complain too much about the loss of overage fees.

 

[Crosscreek]

lol....... 128 kbps sounds a lot like my freaking AT&T DSL speed

 

[SandboxGeneral]

Hmmm... I have the Mobile Share Value 3GB & 3GB Bonus w/Rollover Data plan and so far I've only used 0.21GB and I'm halfway through my cycle. I can't see that I would need or want to change plans. Thankfully I don't go over mine for cost or potentially getting throttled to unbearable speeds.

 

[Asarien]

Hmm. This is surprisingly acceptable.

 

[oneMadRssn]

This actually ends up being more expensive in many common scenarios, because the device access fee is now higher. This easily wipes away any savings.

For example:

Old 15GB plan, 4 lines shared: $100 + 4 x $15 = $160/month
New 16GB plan, 4 lines shared: $90 + 4 x $20 = $170/month
​

Dropping cost of data, but raising line access fees, sneaky weasels.

EDIT: Here is a nice chart comparing old vs new vs number of lines:

 

[TimUSCA]

I'm sure some people who don't use much data will get hosed by this, but as someone on the 15GB family share plan, this works our wonderfully for me. I'll get 1GB more for $10 less. AND no risk of overage if I approach my data cap? I'm thrilled.

 

[gsmornot]

Hmmm... I have the Mobile Share Value 3GB & 3GB Bonus w/Rollover Data plan and so far I've only used 0.21GB and I'm halfway through my cycle. I can't see that I would need or want to change plans. Thankfully I don't go over mine for cost or potentially getting throttled to unbearable speeds.

We are not quite half way though the month here and have already used 45GB this month.

 

[spencers]

I'd rather pay for overages than suffer extremely slow DIALUP speed.

 

[1applerules1]

Unlimited at T-Mobile for $50

 

[SandboxGeneral]

We are not quite half way though the month here and have already used 45GB this month.

Wow!

I'm fortunate enough to almost always be on wifi, be it at home, work or the gym.

 

[Juan Andrés]

Internet is so expensive in USA.
I pay 29€ in Spain for 20GB.

(But probably we would have to wait one month more to the new iPhone).

 

[xaqt93]

This actually ends up being more expensive in many common scenarios, because the device access fee is now higher. This easily wipes away any savings.

For example:

Old 15GB plan, 4 lines shared: $100 + 4 x $15 = $160/month
New 16GB plan, 4 lines shared: $90 + 4 x $20 = $170/month
​

Dropping cost of data, but raising line access fees, sneaky weasels.

This is exactly what I thought when I compared. I get one extra gig for 10 dollars. I have an account with 4 lines on it...I rather stay with my current 15Gig shared with Rollover and then get one more gig and have an account change charge.

 

[SandboxGeneral]

I'd rather pay for overages than suffer extremely slow DIALUP speed.

I agree. If I were in a situation like that, I'd rather pay extra than get throttled to useless speeds.

 

[Persicuta]

Meanwhile here in Australia, we are paying $100 for 5GB and unlimited calls

 

[sundog925]

I'm cool off my contract unlimited verizon data.

$74/month.

 

[d0minick]

still on unlimited. screw that nonsense.

 

[penajmz]

Am I the only one that thinks 1GB for $30 is ridiculous?

 

[Chris Grande]

I'm sure some people who don't use much data will get hosed by this, but as someone on the 15GB family share plan, this works our wonderfully for me. I'll get 1GB more for $10 less. AND no risk of overage if I approach my data cap? I'm thrilled.

Well, not really...

Old 15GB plan, 4 lines shared: $100 + 4 x $15 = $160/month
New 16GB plan, 4 lines shared: $90 + 4 x $20 = $170/month

 

[oneMadRssn]

I'm sure some people who don't use much data will get hosed by this, but as someone on the 15GB family share plan, this works our wonderfully for me. I'll get 1GB more for $10 less. AND no risk of overage if I approach my data cap? I'm thrilled.

Check the line access fees. With that 15GB vs 16GB plan savings, if you have 2 lines, that $10 savings is cancelled out. If you have 3 or more lines, it's a worse deal overall.

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

While I applaud AT&T for [partially] pulling their heads out of you-know-where... they still are holding true to "Dumb and Dumber" by making it more expensive for people on certain plans and still charging you a ridiculous line access fee to access data you already paid for..

 

[Mlrollin91]

Wow. The 25GB and 30GB are significantly cheaper.

 

[saudor]

Meanwhile here in Australia, we are paying $100 for 5GB and unlimited calls

Meanwhile here in Canada, we are paying $100 for 2gb and unlimited calls

 

[gsmornot]

Wow!

I'm fortunate enough to almost always be on wifi, be it at home, work or the gym.

We each spend about 75% of our time near WiFi as well. At home we average about 700-800GB a month. We have 5 devices total.

 

[BeSweeet]

It's nice when competition makes you change your ways. I don't think T-Mobile will need to respond to this just yet.