AT&T Launches Business Plans for iPhone

[MacRumors]

As rumored, AT&T launched business plans for the iPhone today.

To use iPhone as a business customer, you’ll need to sign up for a 2-year service agreement or a renewed 2-year service agreement if you’re an existing AT&T wireless customer.

$45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail
$55/mo. 1500 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail
$65/mo. Unlimited SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail

For international travelers, there are Data Global Add-Ons for the iPhone that can be purchased in addition.

$24.99/mo. 20MB Data Global Plan.
$59.99/mo. 50MB Data Global Plan.



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[macintel4me]

But how many minutes do you get for these plans??

 

[dacreativeguy]

Still can't see why everyone is so excited over this unless there are some hidden discounts somewhere for large volume businesses. At a quick glance, you don't seem to get anything more than a regular plan for the same price (after discount from inflated price).

 

[devilot]

But how many minutes do you get for these plans??

AT&T's page about iPhone for business.

After a brief scan, it seems like business/ corporate accounts might have to pay per minute? I'm really not sure...

 

[deckwalker]

I think it's big news because people who have an iPhone can now use it with their business account. Or people with business accounts can now get an iPhone as part of that account.

 

[naroola]

These rates are just for data and SMS. Basically, the voice plans for business have have the discounts already (depending on the plan you have of course). My company gets about 20% discount on standard AT&T individual plans. Here is a quick comparison I made of the website, and the discounted voice plans our company gets:

Standard AT&T plan Nation 450 w/Rollover: $39.99; Discounted: $31.99.
Standard AT&T plan Nation 900 w/Rollover: $59.99; Discounted: $47.99.

Add on the $45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail, you get:
Nation 450 w/Rollover Discounted: $31.99 + $45 = $76.99.
Nation 900 w/Rollover Discounted: $47.99 + $45 = $92.99.

Compare these to the iPhone plans:
Nation 450 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $59.99.
Nation 900 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $79.99.

The business plans proposed today are lousy in these cases. However, let's compare this with the other end of the spectrum... i.e. the higher minutes.

Standard AT&T plan Nation 4000 w/Rollover: $149.99; Discounted: $119.99.
Standard AT&T plan Nation 6000 w/Rollover: $199.99; Discounted: $159.99.

Add on the $45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail, you get:
Nation 4000 w/Rollover Discounted: $119.99 + $45 = $164.99.
Nation 6000 w/Rollover Discounted: $159.99 + $45 = $204.99.

Compare these to the iPhone plans:
Nation 4000 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $169.99.
Nation 6000 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $219.99.

There are some savings for higher voice plans, but negligible.

Unless of course, I am just reading this all wrong. It could be that the data rates are an option for business users, but they can enjoy the discounted voice rates without the data plan AND they can choose that option.

The additional $10 for 1500 SMSs and another $10 for Unlimited SMSs are exactly the same increments as the regular iPhone plans anyways, so that has a zero net effect.

Personally, I think these so called "discounted" rates are a ripoff by AT&T!

 

[chadsteruw]

These rates are just for data and SMS. Basically, the voice plans for business have have the discounts already (depending on the plan you have of course). My company gets about 20% discount on standard AT&T individual plans. Here is a quick comparison I made of the website, and the discounted voice plans our company gets:

Standard AT&T plan Nation 450 w/Rollover: $39.99; Discounted: $31.99.
Standard AT&T plan Nation 900 w/Rollover: $59.99; Discounted: $47.99.

Add on the $45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail, you get:
Nation 450 w/Rollover Discounted: $31.99 + $45 = $76.99.
Nation 900 w/Rollover Discounted: $47.99 + $45 = $92.99.

Compare these to the iPhone plans:
Nation 450 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $59.99.
Nation 900 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $79.99.

The business plans proposed today are lousy in these cases. However, let's compare this with the other end of the spectrum... i.e. the higher minutes.

Standard AT&T plan Nation 4000 w/Rollover: $149.99; Discounted: $119.99.
Standard AT&T plan Nation 6000 w/Rollover: $199.99; Discounted: $159.99.

Add on the $45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail, you get:
Nation 4000 w/Rollover Discounted: $119.99 + $45 = $164.99.
Nation 6000 w/Rollover Discounted: $159.99 + $45 = $204.99.

Compare these to the iPhone plans:
Nation 4000 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $169.99.
Nation 6000 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $219.99.

There are some savings for higher voice plans, but negligible.

Unless of course, I am just reading this all wrong. It could be that the data rates are an option for business users, but they can enjoy the discounted voice rates without the data plan AND they can choose that option.

The additional $10 for 1500 SMSs and another $10 for Unlimited SMSs are exactly the same increments as the regular iPhone plans anyways, so that has a zero net effect.

Personally, I think these so called "discounted" rates are a ripoff by AT&T!

Thank you for explaining this. I get a discount through my work too, and I was seeing if it would save me some money, and it doesn't look like it will..

 

[LinuxGigolo]

I find these business plans intriguing, as well. I get corporate discount from my University with ATT. The discount is around 20% off per month on all aspects of service. I have an ATT 8525 (3G Windows Mobile-based HTC phone) with a $39.99 month PDA Personal Unlimited add-on. The add-on provides me with Unlimited data and 1500 messages (text/multimedia) per month. Since I'm a Premier customer, my corporate discount makes that only around $32/month.

It looks like ATT is charging a bit much for the iPhone add-on for business customers.. even compared to the already price-gouging normal PDA plans. Sheesh.

 

[bbplayer5]

wow... the unlimited text and data for 65 bucks... im close to 90 on mine...

 

[Grimace]

lower price is not necessarily what they are going for. Some companies will NOT reimburse individual phone plans. If your company used AT&T and had been paying for your phone, now you can have an iPhone.

Nickel and dime-ing large companies takes a backseat to easy accounting.

(edit) I used to have unlimited data with Verizon for around $48/month, no texts included. Other companies might see this as a switching opportunity or an add-on if they want to support two providers.

 

[bbplayer5]

can you get a business plan even if you arent a business owner and your business isnt paying for your phone?

That plan would save me 40 bucks a month...

 

[paul17win]

ya that is exactly what i was thinking, whats to stop regular people from getting an iphone and activating a business plan through the activation process??

 

[ijohn3]

Now if we have a FAN(Foundation Account Number from our employee) on our personal accounts, are we going to get the discount on our service for our personal iphone?

When i called a few weeks ago about this they told me since the iphone is only a consumer phone, the corporate employee discount didn't apply to the iphone. Anyone have any info?

 

[bbplayer5]

im talking to tech support about this... they are looking into if i can switch to corp.. id save 40 effing bucks...

 

[scheming]

this is dumb. if i understand correctly, those prices are the costs for the data features only. regular customers pay only $20 for unlm data and 200 sms. this is stating that business customers pay about $25 more than that. why do phone companies always treat their business customers like crap.

 

[bbplayer5]

pretty sure its not just for data and text...

 

[bigmc6000]

can you get a business plan even if you arent a business owner and your business isnt paying for your phone?

That plan would save me 40 bucks a month...

Just curious - what plan do you have that it would save you $40 a month? As a poster earlier noted for anything less than the 4000 min plan you actually pay MORE. I've got an option to get on a discount but what they are charging is $25 MORE for unlimited data and SMS then you pay as a residential customer. What sense does that make?

 

[bbplayer5]

Ya i think i thought those plans included minutes.. for me i have the 450 with unlimited sms and data. I pay (after taxes) 92 bucks a month.

 

[naroola]

I know that my firm reimburses me for my monthly rate minus $20. So for example, if my bill last month's was $90, I only pay $20 and the rest is covered by the firm. However, they will only reimburse me if I have the "business discounted" plan noted on the bill itself. As someone mentioned earlier, this requires a FAN number from your firm as well as your employee ID to register for this discount.

This may not be the case for every firm, but it is for most and AT&T knows this and is taking advantage of it. Even though the monthly rates are technically higher, they are banking on the fact that business users who have refrained from buying the iPhone in the past will now go ahead and purchase one in order to get that reimbursement because a FAN number will now show up on the bill. Since most business users don't pay anything, or very little (like I do - $20/month) for their "business discounted" mobile phone bills, they don't really care if it costs more than the individual plans since their firms are picking up the tab anyways.

 

[naroola]

Now if we have a FAN(Foundation Account Number from our employee) on our personal accounts, are we going to get the discount on our service for our personal iphone?

When i called a few weeks ago about this they told me since the iphone is only a consumer phone, the corporate employee discount didn't apply to the iphone. Anyone have any info?

Yes, if your firm has a FAN setup with AT&T you would get this "discount", but look at my previous post (the long one)... you end up spending more, but you personally may pay less since your firm might accept the bills with the FAN numbers on them. However, if you want it for personal use... don't bother.

 

[naroola]

ya that is exactly what i was thinking, whats to stop regular people from getting an iphone and activating a business plan through the activation process??

can you get a business plan even if you arent a business owner and your business isnt paying for your phone?

That plan would save me 40 bucks a month...

Your company needs to be registered for discounted with AT&T, which means you will need a FAN number for your company and your employee ID number. They check this with your company's payroll department and then apply the discounted plan... OR, they can ask for payroll stubs, which is what Cingular used to do about a year and half ago.

 

[RamenBooko]

Jeez, working for Rogers - I just got a little more bitter. People always complaining, "the U.S. has unlimited data, blah blah".

Damn you guys and your large population!

 

[TheseGoTo11]

Thank you for explaining this. I get a discount through my work too, and I was seeing if it would save me some money, and it doesn't look like it will..

These rates are just for data and SMS. Basically, the voice plans for business have have the discounts already (depending on the plan you have of course). My company gets about 20% discount on standard AT&T individual plans. Here is a quick comparison I made of the website, and the discounted voice plans our company gets:

Standard AT&T plan Nation 450 w/Rollover: $39.99; Discounted: $31.99.
Standard AT&T plan Nation 900 w/Rollover: $59.99; Discounted: $47.99.

Add on the $45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail, you get:
Nation 450 w/Rollover Discounted: $31.99 + $45 = $76.99.
Nation 900 w/Rollover Discounted: $47.99 + $45 = $92.99.

Compare these to the iPhone plans:
Nation 450 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $59.99.
Nation 900 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $79.99.

The business plans proposed today are lousy in these cases. However, let's compare this with the other end of the spectrum... i.e. the higher minutes.

Standard AT&T plan Nation 4000 w/Rollover: $149.99; Discounted: $119.99.
Standard AT&T plan Nation 6000 w/Rollover: $199.99; Discounted: $159.99.

Add on the $45/mo. 200 SMS. Unlimited Data. Visual Voicemail, you get:
Nation 4000 w/Rollover Discounted: $119.99 + $45 = $164.99.
Nation 6000 w/Rollover Discounted: $159.99 + $45 = $204.99.

Compare these to the iPhone plans:
Nation 4000 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $169.99.
Nation 6000 w/Rollover w/ 200 SMS & Unlimited Data: $219.99.

There are some savings for higher voice plans, but negligible.

Unless of course, I am just reading this all wrong. It could be that the data rates are an option for business users, but they can enjoy the discounted voice rates without the data plan AND they can choose that option.

The additional $10 for 1500 SMSs and another $10 for Unlimited SMSs are exactly the same increments as the regular iPhone plans anyways, so that has a zero net effect.

Personally, I think these so called "discounted" rates are a ripoff by AT&T!

So...I just called the AT&T Premier line for business customers. The customer service rep was about as lively as my old, dead Toshiba...stay classy, AT&T. He claimed, after multiple attempts to clarify that he really knew what he was talking about, that when you buy a new iPhone that you'll have the option within iTunes to enter your company's FAN and select a business account. Has anyone been able to verify this? I hope it's that easy, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

It looks like the only way that a 450/900 minute business plan may come out cheaper is if you take advantage of the $25 dollar monthly discount. From the AT&T site, "For a limited time, qualified customers save $25 per month on Enterprise Data Plans for iPhone. Additional restrictions apply." The deal goes through March 31st.

 

[naroola]

So...I just called the AT&T Premier line for business customers. The customer service rep was about as lively as my old, dead Toshiba...stay classy, AT&T. He claimed, after multiple attempts to clarify that he really knew what he was talking about, that when you buy a new iPhone that you'll have the option within iTunes to enter your company's FAN and select a business account. Has anyone been able to verify this? I hope it's that easy, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

It looks like the only way that a 450/900 minute business plan may come out cheaper is if you take advantage of the $25 dollar monthly discount. From the AT&T site, "For a limited time, qualified customers save $25 per month on Enterprise Data Plans for iPhone. Additional restrictions apply." The deal goes through March 31st.

I am confused... does that mean that if I sign up today and take this $25/month off deal, will it then go away later, i.e. starting April 1st I will have to pay the $45/month for the data plan?

 

[Kenal0]

So...I just called the AT&T Premier line for business customers. The customer service rep was about as lively as my old, dead Toshiba...stay classy, AT&T. He claimed, after multiple attempts to clarify that he really knew what he was talking about, that when you buy a new iPhone that you'll have the option within iTunes to enter your company's FAN and select a business account. Has anyone been able to verify this? I hope it's that easy, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

It looks like the only way that a 450/900 minute business plan may come out cheaper is if you take advantage of the $25 dollar monthly discount. From the AT&T site, "For a limited time, qualified customers save $25 per month on Enterprise Data Plans for iPhone. Additional restrictions apply." The deal goes through March 31st.

This is incorrect. There is an option on the activation to choose att business customer. You have call ATT and have them pre select the plan you want on your business account and then you can activate via itunes. There is no place to put in a FAN. If your number is already associated with a FAN then it should be no problem.
Kenal0