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AT&T to Begin Offering Shared Data Plans in Late August
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People, read the last paragraph.
AT&T isn't forcing anyone on these new plans. Even new customers can still pay on the old plans. So they're not raising prices on you, they are giving you more options and ways to find a better plan for your needs. This is a *GOOD* thing. Unlike Verizon that is forcing everyone on their new plans and for many people the new shared plans are a ripoff (like me)
AT&T isn't forcing anyone on these new plans. Even new customers can still pay on the old plans. So they're not raising prices on you, they are giving you more options and ways to find a better plan for your needs. This is a *GOOD* thing. Unlike Verizon that is forcing everyone on their new plans and for many people the new shared plans are a ripoff (like me)
I guess people were getting a little too close to understanding their cell phone bill. Thankfully AT&T and Verizon have come through with a new way to confuse your parents.
Not bad math ... 2 iphones & an iPad
So here's the breakdown for me. I'd need two iPhones and an iPad:
(CPG = cost per gigabyte)
1Gb for $140. CPG = $140
... Roughly the same I pay to have 250 mb on each device today, so I get another 250 mb to share for "free")
But here's where the math is clearly designed to get you buying more data:
4GB for $160. CPG = $40
6GB for $170. CPG = $28.33
10GB for $190. CPG = $19
15GB for $230. CPG = $15
20GB for $270. CPG = $13.50
So my layman's analysis is that for people who don't use a lot of 3G, stick to the lowest shared plan (1GB) and if you go over, you're saving a TON of money by just paying $15 here or there for an extra gigabyte over a guaranteed extra $20 every month.
For folks that want some data and know they will peak above 2GB every month, an upgrade to the 4GB or 6GB plan would be the best value.
So here's the breakdown for me. I'd need two iPhones and an iPad:
(CPG = cost per gigabyte)
1Gb for $140. CPG = $140
... Roughly the same I pay to have 250 mb on each device today, so I get another 250 mb to share for "free")
But here's where the math is clearly designed to get you buying more data:
4GB for $160. CPG = $40
6GB for $170. CPG = $28.33
10GB for $190. CPG = $19
15GB for $230. CPG = $15
20GB for $270. CPG = $13.50
So my layman's analysis is that for people who don't use a lot of 3G, stick to the lowest shared plan (1GB) and if you go over, you're saving a TON of money by just paying $15 here or there for an extra gigabyte over a guaranteed extra $20 every month.
For folks that want some data and know they will peak above 2GB every month, an upgrade to the 4GB or 6GB plan would be the best value.
I think I'll pass on these plans.
Currently paying $45 a month for unlimited minutes + unlimited text + 2GB of data
T-Mobile?
Everyone keep in mind there are fees and taxes that will be added on top of the prices you calculated.
Not only that, u can get free gifts from certain websites when you sign each contract, when I was living in the uk i got 2 free ps3s and a free ipod touch, the gifts are even better now i seeHoly 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.
With AT&T, you get a discount on the data plan if your data plan is more than $30 a month. I currently get a 28% discount so when I signed up last fall I chose the enterprise 4GB+tethering option for $45. With my discount it brings it down to around $28 which is only $3 more than I would've paid for the 2GB plan.
I'm not sure what will happen with this new structure in regards to discounts, though.
I understand, but $30/month + their share of the data pool ($12) is a lot less than the $70 a month they pay now.
I'm not sure what to make of this. I've been with AT&T for many years and I'm grandfathered in the unlimited data plan. Problem is that you can't make a single damn change otherwise I lose that and I'm with their current plans. It really sucks because I can't take advantage of some of the features unless I make the change.
Curious to see how this all shakes out. Maybe its time to leave AT&T.
Curious to see how this all shakes out. Maybe its time to leave AT&T.
Totally agree. Which is why I am still with ATT, but just imagine if they had copied Sprint or even Tmobiles pricing structures for this.
So, I asked Verizon about my company discount. They said it only applies to the main plan, not the device fees. He could have been mistaken since it was a Verizon reseller, but I don't know for sure.
I've been waiting SO LONG for this!
People who understand the billing process and have Family Plans will immediately recognize the savings possible with a shared-data plan. Yes, it is possible for your phone bill to DROP with these new plans. If your phone bill would increase with these plans, then they are NOT designed for you. They are for those with family plans.
I'll finally be able to get my family iPhones now without the cost of individual data plans killing me.
People who understand the billing process and have Family Plans will immediately recognize the savings possible with a shared-data plan. Yes, it is possible for your phone bill to DROP with these new plans. If your phone bill would increase with these plans, then they are NOT designed for you. They are for those with family plans.
I'll finally be able to get my family iPhones now without the cost of individual data plans killing me.
Not true. That was just a rumor which (thankfully) never came to fruition. You can still get 2GB/$30 individual plans.
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I have unlimited voice/text/data (throttled over 3 gigs, but I've never hit that threshold) and after fees/taxes it's $133 a month. A 4 gig plan would save me about 10-12 bucks a month. I'm not interested in saving 10-12 bucks. The only added feature I would get is tethering, which I have never had a serious need for since I very very rarely carry my laptop outside my job or apartment.
Now when the iPhone 6 comes out with LTE, I am curious how much my internet usage will change with much faster abilities to get data. However I believe AT&T throttles LTE after 5 gigs instead of 3 for HSPA+ devices.
Now when the iPhone 6 comes out with LTE, I am curious how much my internet usage will change with much faster abilities to get data. However I believe AT&T throttles LTE after 5 gigs instead of 3 for HSPA+ devices.
Terrible plans for people who don't use a lot of data. I have two iPhones and a regular phone for my kids to use. That regular phone only costs $10/month, but now it would be $30? It doesn't even use data! And currently, I could add a new iPhone for $25/month ($10 for the extra line, $15 for 200MB of data, which we've only surpassed on one of our phones ONCE).
I currently pay a few cents under $150/month right now, taxes, etc. included.
This new plan would be $160/month PLUS taxes, etc. I was hoping to turn our third regular line into an iPhone when I upgrade mine (giving the old one to my kids for their phone), but that would be even more. Sure, I get unlimited minutes, hotspot, and more data, but I don't use our minutes as is (almost 6000 rollover minutes), I don't need hotspot service, and I don't need 1GB of data.
What a waste. I'm going to take a serious look at Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.
I currently pay a few cents under $150/month right now, taxes, etc. included.
This new plan would be $160/month PLUS taxes, etc. I was hoping to turn our third regular line into an iPhone when I upgrade mine (giving the old one to my kids for their phone), but that would be even more. Sure, I get unlimited minutes, hotspot, and more data, but I don't use our minutes as is (almost 6000 rollover minutes), I don't need hotspot service, and I don't need 1GB of data.
What a waste. I'm going to take a serious look at Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.
Unless AT&T is offering "unlimited" voice / text / data for $45/month, then I'm headed to Straight-Talk Pre-paid when my contract is up this fall.
Exactly. I wish these plans were cut in half, and the "unlimited minutes/text" was a component you added. No use for it.
From their press release:
“AT&T also is providing its customers with flexibility and choice by keeping its existing data plans and not requiring customers to move to Mobile Share unless they want to."
"Want to" means what, exactly?
-Want to get a subsidized price on the new iPhone 5?
I'd say the other shoe hasn't dropped just yet.
Speaking of other shoes, my tinfoil hat nature has me wondering if both Verizon/AT&T aren't prepping us to start paying for ALL devices that want to connect to their network regardless of HOW we want to connect. Maybe the reason they are willing to give away Hotspot right now is so they can collect all the MAC addresses of the health monitors, wifi-only devices like tablets, video game consoles, etc. and then eventually charge us per device that connects as an a la carte charge? That would totally suck but with the new share everything plans, they have the model to do that in place now.
Good question. Their website still claims that "Unlimited" users will be throttled at 3G and 4G speeds when they reach the 3GB limit, while unlimited 4G LTE customers will be throttled at the 5GB limit.
Source: http://www.att.com/esupport/datausage.jsp
"You'll still be able to use as much data as you want. That won't change. Only your data throughput speed will change if you use 3GB or more in one billing cycle on a 3G or 4G smartphone or 5GB or more on a 4G LTE smartphone."
If you are on a Mobile Share plan, presumably you can burn up to 20GB on a single phone (using up all the shared data for the entire account). I'd guess they aren't planning on throttling you in that instance but who the heck knows?
Considering I only have one device with AT&T and I'm currently getting 3gb for $30, moving to 1 GB at $45 is quite the downgrade. Families may benefit, and those with multiple devices, but single people with a solitary device seemed screwed royally.
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and, you know they'll force you to the new plans eventually, especially at upgrade time.
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and, you know they'll force you to the new plans eventually, especially at upgrade time.
Uhm...AT&T is not forcing this...it is an option.
Who would you go to, Verizon?....who IS FORCING these new plans? Sprint?....who is so slow and offer 4G to only 6 towns?
I'd recommend an Anger Management Class.
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.
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.
2 iPhones = $40 EACH
4GB shared data = $70
Total $150 - still cheaper but not as much as you thought.
The too good to be true comment, for some it ends up cheaper (including me, I have a similar setup to yours just with the 1400 minutes, $5 texts on one phone (200) and $10 texts on the other (1000) 200MB $15 and 4GB $45.
The new plan sharing 4GB brings me from 165 to 150. (Excluding fees and what not)