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

[lou2ser]

The real value seems to be in having a bunch of devices. My breakdowns:

Our current bill (4 iPhones, 1 dumbphone) is $230. Split 5 ways is $45 a person. The 4 iPhones use roughly 6GB a month, split between one unlimited plan and three 2GB plans. Say I want to add an iPad to the mix, it would be $30 for 3GB bringing my monthly total to $270, split 5 ways is $54.

If we add a four more, low bandwidth users it breaks down to:
10GB: $120
User 1: $30
User 2: $30
User 3: $30
User 4: $30
User 5: $30
User 6: $30
User 7: $30
User 8: $30
User 9: $30
iPad: $10
Total: $400
minus discount (24%): $96
Grand total: $304
Divided 10 ways: $30.40 + a few bucks in taxes

EDIT: The above information is probably invalid. The discount will probably only apply to the data plan portion of the bill. New breakdown as follows:

10GB: $120
User 1: $30
User 2: $30
User 3: $30
User 4: $30
User 5: $30
User 6: $30
User 7: $30
User 8: $30
User 9: $30
iPad: $10
Total: $400
minus discount (24%): $30
Grand total: $370
Divided 10 ways: $37 + a few bucks in taxes

It's not as cheap as I thought, but I'll still be saving ~$5 a month. The real savers will be extended family members who are currently on their own plans paying ~$70 a month without a data plan. They'll save $25 a month and gain access to the data pool.

 

[nws0291]

With these plans it kinda kills the market for Laptops with Cell data built in or those laptop connect cards or even 3G/4G Tablets because now that tethering is included with your pool of data you can tether the requried smart phone to a laptop or tablet.

Not completely. Not everyone can use their phone to tether all the time. Many who use it heavily on the go will kill their phone battery quickly. An independant usb device etc connected to a laptop running off the laptop's battery is much better.

 

[ohio.emt]

So keep your existing plan. (Also, $105-$90 is a $15 difference, not $25. )

I know I was just hoping I could get a better deal only really use around 4GB. Doh, I had $20 at first and when I went to change it I only changed the 0 to a 5 talk about a :Facepalm:

 

[charlieegan3]

What laptops can you buy that have cellular data built in?

Some netbooks do. Don't know of any laptops though.

 

[CZSZSZ]

Mobile data

In Austria mobile data USB stick 24 months contract costs
1GB = 5 eur = 6.2$
6GB = 10eur = 12.4$
15gb = 15 eur = 18.6$

The sim card is a micro sim, and data tethering included.

[source in german]
http://www.orange.at/Content.Node/tarife/mobiles-internet-tarife/

 

[sfwalter]

I didn't see anything about the cost (if there is one) to tether my smartphone (ie. use my iPhone as a hotspot for my laptop, iPad, etc).

Anyone?

I believe tethering is included: Each plan includes tethering and unlimited domestic calls and texts for smartphones and basic or quick messaging phones

 

[Psylancer]

Under this plan by bill will go up from 180 to 250 with this plan. Time to get serious about researching competition

 

[Corrode]

You'd think with the huge adoption of smart phones and the increased revenue from the already ridiculous data prices, they might lower their prices?? Like when high speed Internet was unaffordable but now has come way down in price.

I hate telecommunications companies.

 

[William7]

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?

No you cant. it is $70 just for the text, data and minutes. then EACH iphone is 40$ a month so 2 iphones is $80, 70+80=150. Sorry

 

[alm99]

It would be $70+40+40 = $150

Ah, now it makes sense.....way to go AT&T....

 

[ImageWrangler]

What laptops can you buy that have cellular data built in?

I know most people wouldn't consider it a laptop but for my job often I can forgo my MBP and simply use an iPad. I HATE typing on glass though, probably because I'm old and a touch typist hence I have a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard and cover. After learning it's okay to learn new things regarding the experience of an iPad not only isn't that of being on a computer and that's not a bad thing at all and being open to change, I can get a lot done on my iPad and not be lugging a MBP around and nobody notices, knows, cares, and I still get my job done and make money, sooo, yeah, point being "what laptop" an iPad, that's what.

This all said and a bit more on point, I have unlimited data for my iPhone, and will do my best to never, ever, part with it, and I share that with my iPad jailbroken. I'm paying for these 1s and 0s and it's total BS and robbery these big corporations charge people extra, usually a lot extra, for something they're already paying for.

 

[edonohoo]

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?

No, its $40 per smartphone at that tier. 40 + 40 + 70 = 150

 

[bhuwan]

at&T = *******s

 

[ohio.emt]

For me it wouldn't be so bad if the basic phone price wasn't $30. I have my parents phone on my account right now it was only $10 to add it, but if I wanted to switch to shared data it would cost more. I think this is a good deal if you talk or text alot, but not if you don't. I only use maybe 50 talk minutes an month and about 100 text.

 

[jent]

This is so disappointing.

 

[bender0069]

This plan will actually save up money. I can't wait. We have unlimited talk, text and data on 2 iphones. That's about $210 a month and generally we just go over 1 to 1.5 GB, getting the 4GB plane will save us $60 a month.

 

[zin]

Holy hell, 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.

 

[ian.]

So, no answer on the Hotspot? Is it free or will it cost? Just curious.

I'm moving over to Verizon anyway, cuz AT&T still hasn't fixed their signal issues.

 

[mysticbluebmw]

Incorrect. You would be paying $70 + $40 + $40 = total of $150. Didja really think AT&T would allow you to save money?
This is price signaling/collusion at its finest folks. Welcome to corporate America.

Good grief. Hate much? $5 more to go from 700 minutes to UNLIMITED and you think that's collusion, lol?

 

[PeterQVenkman]

I'm finally on straight talk. $45 a month. Used an AT&T iPhone 4s with the t-mobile sim swap to fix MMS without jailbreaking.

Love it to death.

 

[jclardy]

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?

Nope, $40 for each smartphone, so $150. Otherwise they would be selling g me my single iPhone plan for $40, which is never going to happen.

These plans are just here to create more confusion and make people think they are saving money by giving them unlimited things that most people don't need.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

At least people seem to be a bit calmer in looking at this plan from AT&T versus when Verizon announced the shared plan. They are virtually identical, with a few twists that makes one carrier slightly more competitive in certain situations versus the other.

But AT&T's announcement was totally predictable via the Verizon changes. People who felt AT&T wouldn't ever, ever go down this route can now see that the two big carriers are virtually price fixing.

This plan will actually save up money. I can't wait. We have unlimited talk, text and data on 2 iphones. That's about $210 a month and generally we just go over 1 to 1.5 GB, getting the 4GB plane will save us $60 a month.

Just like with the Verizon plans, these new shared data models benefit those customers that were already paying for unlimited minutes and texting. If you were primarily just using your phone for data purposes, the new model penalizes you by forcing a pay-per-drink plan for data consumption but giving you unlimited voice/text for a good price.

All you have to do is look at the unlimited voice/text business in the prepaid world to see where AT&T and Verizon are trying to gain market share. They want to get data hogs to pay more and they want to offer voice/texting at prepaid slash/discount rates.

 

[duxy]

So - could I keep my current plan and just add an iPad for $10 more a month? I would like this...

 

[RedCroissant]

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?

Nope, You'd actually end up paying a little bit more.

1)4GB plan -$70
2)1st iPhone -$40
3)2nd iPhone -$40
TOTAL =$150(+taxes and fees of course)

I wish I had looked to see how many people responded to this before I posted....

 

[mysticbluebmw]

Holy hell, 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.

Yes, but remind me, how much for 4 litres of petrol?