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AT&T Introduces New Smartphone Data Plans w/3GB and 5GB Options
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So basically we're paying $120 more per contract. AT&T has already said that most people (97%?) use x ≤ 2GB of data so even if they did go over once, or a few times for that matter ... it would still be less than paying $120 for wasted data.
And I thought Canada was bad. We pretty much have two major providers, Bell and Rogers. Everyone else has contracts using the towers of those two companies. And what do they offer? It's called a "Flex Plan".
20$ for first 500mb. If you go over 500mb, they automatically switch you to the 5gb plan for 35$ (oh, and yes, you can tether on these plans, though they say you are supposed to have a 50$ plan for tethering, in fact the hotspot is enabled by default on all plans, and there is no charge for using it).
what is BS and should be illegal is that you can't tether or hotspot on the 3 gb plan, you're buying an amount of data not what you can do with it. That's lilke saying you can't use speakerphone unless you're on the 900 min/month package. Euros all get this and nobody cares or wants more for tethering.
just bring Unlimited Plans back soon (SOPA/PIPA) we won't be able to stream video/music anymore so won't hog your data... So just bring Unlimited Back...
Wow, when I saw the title of this article, I thought "Finally, AT&T has come to it's senses!" Then I read the article. So, now there is absolutely no incentive to drop the unlimited data plan unless you absolutely have to have official tethering.
Just when you thought AT&T couldn't get more greedy...
Just when you thought AT&T couldn't get more greedy...
As the 3 biggest carriers move to LTE, I have hope that people who use unlocked iPhones and other multi-band phones will have the ability to just swap SIM cards (Verizon's LTE phones have SIM cards) without any restrictions. The big four have benefitted from the fact that their networks are largely incompatible, thus stifling the ability of people to switch networks and lowering the demand for monthly plans that don't include the costs of a subsidized phone. T-Mobile is the only carrier that offers plans that don't include the cost of a phone, and they're encumbered with that stupid AWS 3G band.
Great. They want customers to help subsidize AT&T's $3 billion (plus 4G spectrum worth about $1 billion) breakup fee to T-Mobile.
The least they can do is offer family data plan (I would've been okay with $50/month for 5 GB Hotspot and sharing data with family).
The least they can do is offer family data plan (I would've been okay with $50/month for 5 GB Hotspot and sharing data with family).
If the carriers' concern truly was that their network capacity is limited, they would allow customers to purchase a block of data and have it roll over when it is used up. There would not be any recurring monthly charges. Buy 10gigs for $100, keep it on your phone for as long as you want. 2 years later if you still have not used it all, the remaining data is still there... No new data charges until you roll over from 10 gigs.
THAT would motivate people to get on wifi and use wifi whenever possible. That would motivate people to not use so much bandwidth on the carriers' networks.
THAT would motivate people to get on wifi and use wifi whenever possible. That would motivate people to not use so much bandwidth on the carriers' networks.
These are blatant price hikes. Most users need more than 300 MB. But, 3 GB? I don't think so. 2 GB is no different than 3 GB because the average consumer doesn't likely use nearly that much. So, instead of paying $25, people now have to pay $30.
I'm going to go tether on my grandfathered unlimited plan now, just because. Internet nannies come get me. Me tethering is "illegal", but corporations charging unfair prices is a "legal contract". Right.
I'm going to go tether on my grandfathered unlimited plan now, just because. Internet nannies come get me. Me tethering is "illegal", but corporations charging unfair prices is a "legal contract". Right.
I see no point for the 5GB plan. If I were to use this plan, I'd choose the 3GB even if I use 5GB a month on average. If I only use 4GB one month, I'd save $10.
I'm sorry- wait- what?!? Is AT&T no longer grandfathering unlimited plan holders when they're new their contracts even if they buy new phones?
It's a rate increase by the numbers
Old Data Plans
200 MB / $15 = $13.33 / MB
2000 MB / $25 = $80.00 / MB
New Data Plans
300 MB / $20 = $15.00 / MB
3000 MB / $30 = $100.00 / MB
5000 MB / $50 = $100.00 / MB
$15 and $100 per MB is higher than $13 and $80. Isn't innovation supposed to make things cheaper? Someone is making a pretty penny off these latest increases.
Edit: Math was backwards
$0.08 (old) vs $0.07 (new)
Old Data Plans
200 MB / $15 = $13.33 / MB
2000 MB / $25 = $80.00 / MB
New Data Plans
300 MB / $20 = $15.00 / MB
3000 MB / $30 = $100.00 / MB
5000 MB / $50 = $100.00 / MB
$15 and $100 per MB is higher than $13 and $80. Isn't innovation supposed to make things cheaper? Someone is making a pretty penny off these latest increases.
Edit: Math was backwards
$0.08 (old) vs $0.07 (new)
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In China, they have signals even on Himalaya Mountains and the price is much cheaper than that of the US... makes me wonder which one is the developed country and which is the developing...
I was happy to see more data.. UNTIL I realized that all was changed was the price. Absolute ****. Honestly the word 'smartphone' is a curse that keeps on giving.
The Best Buy Mobile representative ALMOST gave me the 4gb for $30 plan until someone said, "you can't discount that, the 4S isn't a 4g phone". AT&T's iPhone 4S is the same speed as 4g! What a myth...
Oh well, I only used 300mb this month
So upgrade before Sunday and get 2GB for $25. As long as you don't change your plan again after Sunday, you'll keep this rate.
For me this is bad as I used to turn on tethering occasionally for a few days as needed then turn it back off afterwards. If you switch plans after Sunday you'll only have the new plans to choose from.
I wish they would get family data plans starting at 3GB for 30 and then just charge $10 per GB afterwards. That would be fair.
What the hell is this crap?!
A fair plan would have been this:
Plan 1) $10/month for 500 Megs.
Plan 2) $20/month for 1GB, tethering included.
$5 for each additional 500 Megs.
Done.
This isn't costing them anymore. They are already making fat money on their plans. They are not offering anything better, but are raising prices.
A fair plan would have been this:
Plan 1) $10/month for 500 Megs.
Plan 2) $20/month for 1GB, tethering included.
$5 for each additional 500 Megs.
Done.
This isn't costing them anymore. They are already making fat money on their plans. They are not offering anything better, but are raising prices.
That's partly because they don't have much in the way of zoning laws. People complain about bad signal, but they also don't want visible antennas.
Well considering that I pay $30 for unlimited and am getting tethered at the 2GB mark and slowed down to unusable speeds, the 3GB for the same price doesn't sound so bad....