AT&T to Begin Offering Shared Data Plans in Late August

[faroZ06]

Holy ****, I've said it before but I'll say it again; prices for cellular service in the US are really high, at least on AT&T and Verizon.

Here in the UK, I can get 250 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data (with no throttling) for £10 per month, which is $15.60.

That's crazy low! $15.60 for unlimited everything, counting 250 minutes as basically unlimited, is totally worth it.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

I just want data without voice and text. Is it possible to make it so you just can't receive text messages and can't get charged? Because if you don't have a plan, you're supposed to just pay per message (a lot).

Given how my kids use their smartphones, my guess is that AT&T and Verizon both realize that Text messaging far, far outweighs voice usage. So they aren't likely to separate the two plans and offer a smartphone "data only" package even though they offer a tablet "data only" package.

Frankly, for your needs, I'd buy a tablet SIM plan and just put it into your smartphone, assuming you are able to do that. Then start using Google Voice for your texting needs. Problem solved.

 

[cvaldes]

I'm enjoying straight talk's byod program at $45 / mo ~$48 including tax on my now off contract iPhone 4.

Unlimited everything but data is unofficially capped at 2 gigs. Uses at&T's infrastructure - I'm a happy camper and my bill was more than halved.

Yes, it's a good deal, although I'm hoping that AT&T's move will persuade Straight Talk to reduce the price of their unlimited monthly plan, or to allow smartphones on the cheaper $30 per month plan. The latter would actually be better for me. I use very few voice minutes per month and I don't really care about texting since I use Google Voice.

However, I really wish AT&T would bring back data packages for smartphones back to their GoPhone Pay As You Go service. It's doubtful they would do so, they weren't making much money from users like me (I was averaging about $13 per month in cellular services).

 

[rdb1976]

Why do I have the feeling my bill is about to get jacked up?

Only if you want it to be. If you do nothing, your bill won't change. These are optional, not replacements.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

at&t will still offer the old plans as well to new customers? that is good, at least at&t gives customers a choice versus verizon..

I was corrected earlier on this by another poster, but you are wrong. Verizon still offers all their old plans as well as the new Share Everything plan...you just have to know how to use the right Shop feature on their website. They are all still there under "Individual Plans."

 

[faroZ06]

That's what we all want.

But there's no money in giving us what we want

---

I think tmob used to (still does?) offer a $30/month unlimited data-only SIM for BB customers. Now _that_ would be perfect (slotted into a non-BB phone, of course )

People have got to stop using SMS. We're ripping ourselves off here.

I couldn't find a $30/month unlimited data plan on their site, but that might just be because their site looks like Yahoo.com.

 

[iSee]

Only if you want it to be. If you do nothing, your bill won't change. These are optional, not replacements.

For now.
I'm normally not one to fear the worst, but AT&T has a pattern here.

 

[lifeinhd]

People have got to stop using SMS. We're ripping ourselves off here.

I never use SMS. I just use Google Voice. Free, and much more flexible (I rarely answer texts on my phone, I usually answer them from the computer or my iPad. And I've been doing that long before Apple rolled out iMessage).

I couldn't find a $30/month unlimited data plan on their site, but that might just be because their site looks like Yahoo.com.

I didn't think they would still have it. This was several years ago, when people still used BBs.

 

[unlimitedx]

I was corrected earlier on this by another poster, but you are wrong. Verizon still offers all their old plans as well as the new Share Everything plan...you just have to know how to use the right Shop feature on their website. They are all still there under "Individual Plans."

Individual plans? What about their old family plans?

 

[ScottYelich]

family plan = shared data

if you have a household with 2 iphones like i do and 4GB data, chances are you don't use it all. my wife is under 200MB most months. why would AT&T allow you to use that data with an ipad without charging you more?
----------

you can buy a $30 unlimited data plan in the US. just go buy your iphone for $650. of wait apple with their $100 billion in cash in the bank is the good guy here and AT&T is the enemy

This is the family plan, right?

So I have *1* data plan and two devices. I didn't pay for a data plan on the ipad3 LTE because why should I pay for a separate data plan for each device -- as you say -- if I never come close to those data limits? If I pay for X GB, does it really matter if I get that X GB via 1 device or 2? or 3?

I had to get a data plan for my iphone. I didn't have to get one for my ipad. My iphone doesn't allow tethering. My iPad can't use the data account that I paid for with my iPhone.

Now, with the family plan, I *should* be able to pay for one X GB amount, and use it with both my iPhone and my iPad ... but I have to pay for each device $30 a month? why?

 

[mantan]

Hey, VZW/ATT decided that for $30/month, they could provide me with unlimited data. UNLIMITED. Doesn't matter that my demands are increasing, I paid (and continue to pay) their asking price for UNLIMITED data. If they couldn't really offer unlimited data for $30, whose fault is that, mine or theirs?

AT&T offered iPhone users unlimited data as an stipulation to be an exclusive carrier of the original iPhone.

They continued to grandfather people under the old contract (despite speculation it would end each iPhone) even though data speeds/usage has increased 5-10 fold and network users have increase several hundred times that amount.

It's been nice while it lasted, but expecting unlimited access to a limited commodity isn't a rational business offering and I people should realistically expect that day would end.

 

[MrXiro]

No, it didn't. If you're on the 450 minute plan with unlimited text and 3GB of data, you're *still* on the 450 minute plan with unlimited text and 3GB of data at exactly the same price.

These are additional options, they're not replacing the existing plans.

Not that you know of at least... Why would you defend AT&T either way?

 

[tasset]

I just want data without voice and text. Is it possible to make it so you just can't receive text messages and can't get charged? Because if you don't have a plan, you're supposed to just pay per message (a lot).

Oh my friend, they DO offer this. It's exactly what I do. I use an iPhone 4S with the APN info changed to the iPad and pay the $30 data prepaid. All voice and texts go through Skype/Google Voice/iMessage.

 

[note235]

i wonder if premiere discounts will apply to the whole bill now?

and if retention can get any offers haha

 

[mantan]

I agree with most of your post about people's reactions, but I do feel that the data prices are way too high here in the states compared to other countries.

I don't understand your comments on this matter. You say this is what companies do, but clearly you are a consumer. Unless you work for one of these companies, why would you be OK with prices NOT coming down? Do you work for one of these companies?

I'd absolutely love for prices to come down. Just like I'd love the DirecTV bill to come down, the price of gas to come down and the cost of groceries to come down.

But I don't expect those things to happen unless there is a business incentive to see it happen. The point of my post (well one of them anyway) was that AT&T is a big business. And in an environment where minutes/texting/ring tones and other revenue streams aren't growing - data is the one place where they can grow income. (And consequently the one area that drives infrastructure/development costs.) I just think it was naive for anyone to expect either VZW or AT&T were going to implement a shared data plan that significantly cut our costs/their revenue.

 

[tasset]

I'd absolutely love for prices to come down. Just like I'd love the DirecTV bill to come down, the price of gas to come down and the cost of groceries to come down.

But I don't expect those things to happen unless there is a business incentive to see it happen. The point of my post (well one of them anyway) was that AT&T is a big business. And in an environment where minutes/texting/ring tones and other revenue streams aren't growing - data is the one place where they can grow income. (And consequently the one area that drives infrastructure/development costs.) I just think it was naive for anyone to expect either VZW or AT&T were going to implement a shared data plan that significantly cut our costs/their revenue.

The problem as I see it is that a utility company should not be entitled to make 30-40% profit margins on a necessity. I would argue cable television is a frivolous privilege (especially with the amount of crap on it), gasoline does not have that much margin. At one time you could argue cell phones were a luxury. But given they and the internet are now people's increasingly only choice to communicate (landlines are to be phased out in the next decade), it does seem that the European model is better which is to control the infrastructure and let companies compete on price to access.

 

[Navdakilla]

Sounds good to me, I eventually want to upgrade my ipad and get one with 3g in it. can't afford it right now tho

 

[paduck]

I *think* I am saving money by going with the shared data if this truly does include unlimited minutes and messaging from reading this post. There has to be a gotcha, seems to good to be true.

Currently we pay for two lines:
700 minutes - $70, unlimited messaging - $30, 1st iPhone w/2gb of data - $25, 2nd iPhone w/300mb of data - $20, Total bill is $145.

So with the shared data plans I could go with the 4gb plan for $110 for two iPhones, correct?

I think you have $70 + $40 + $40 = = $150. They don't include phone #1 in the base price.

 

[OriginalClone]

What about tethering?

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

What about tethering?

From AT&T's Mobile Share website:

Includes Unlimited Talk & Text for all phones, FREE Mobile Hotspot for capable smartphones and tablets, and no roaming or long distance charges nationwide!

 

[Eddie Bombay]

The 40$ charge per smartphone is just nuts. For 40 per phone they need to up the data to at least 8 GB instead of 4. For 20$ more my current plan can go from 5.25 GB of data to 9 GB. I understand that's not shared but that's still bs. I'm willing to take the 1 GB loss for shared, not 4 GB though.

My fam bam plan atm:

Data: 250 MB, 3GB, 2GB.
Phone #1: 60 + 30 + 15
Phone #2: 10 + 30
Phone #3: 10 + 25 = 180$

4 GB plan:
70 + 40*3 = 190$

The tethering for free is cool though, but not worth the extra 10$ to share.

 

[alent1234]

The problem as I see it is that a utility company should not be entitled to make 30-40% profit margins on a necessity. I would argue cable television is a frivolous privilege (especially with the amount of crap on it), gasoline does not have that much margin. At one time you could argue cell phones were a luxury. But given they and the internet are now people's increasingly only choice to communicate (landlines are to be phased out in the next decade), it does seem that the European model is better which is to control the infrastructure and let companies compete on price to access.

in europe you have to buy your own iphone for $650 plus 20% VAT. tim cook even said he was in favor of the US contract model because it hides the cost of the device and lets apple maintain their prices

 

[greytmom]

If tethering is included, why would anyone pay a fee to add a tablet or computer to their plan?

 

[JHankwitz]

This is still way too complicated. Why not simply charge enough to cover phone financing each month, plus a flat fee per gigabite actually used. Using a complex matrix is nothing more than a way to confuse customers and screw low data users.

 

[Vesian]

I believe admiral ackbar said it best: "IT'S A TRAP!"