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

[Rodimus Prime]

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)

problem is are they remove the old plans (aka if you are not grandfathered in or changed your plan you are SOL)

Like VZW plans these are crap. You are paying more for less.

The unlimited minutes is meaningless because I am willing to bet most people here are on the lowest minute plan (or could be on the lowest plan) and still have an insane amount of role over hence the reason why they give this "unlimited" crap.

 

[Josh125]

I agree, these family plans (Both AT&T and Verizon's) are a rip off for two phones.

How so? We gave up a collective 1GB of data (7 to 6) and gained hotspots for the same money We have two 4s phones on the plan.

 

[Krayzie116]

How does this work looks like I would be paying more if I do this share plan with family right? I know I don't have to go with it when I get the new iPhone right?

right now on our premier account we have 3 iPhone

$60 700 mins
$30 unlimited family text
$15 200mb data iPhone 4
$15 200mb date iPhone 4S
$30 unlimited data iPhone 4S

around $187.5 with taxes


if we go with the share plan

$90 6gb data
$35 iPhone 4
$35 iPhone 4S
$35 iPhone 4S

that would come around $190 don't think it includes taxes does it? and with the share plan we do get unlimited talk and text right?

 

[SuperMatt]

If only they could've made it more complicated!

 

[BJMRamage]

OK, just looked over my bill from last month...

starting price difference for 2 Family Talk Plans is an increase of $30/month

with all the taxes and texting charges (we don't have a texting plan) our bill was $142 for last month...which is still cheaper than the Base price for two phones to share the 4GB model.

Maybe if they had a decent 1gb or 2gb plan but the 1GB Shared Plan is still starting at $10 MORE than our current 2GB EACH plan.

sucks to be a 2-person/Phone Family with the new pricing.

 

[robjulo]

I agree, these family plans (Both AT&T and Verizon's) are a rip off for two phones.

Not a ripoff for everyone. It's going to save me a significant amount of money. Previously on a 4gig and 2gig plan, will get to fit both into a single 4 gig plan as the phone on the 2gig plan never came close to 2 gig usage.

 

[techiegirl]

problem is are they remove the old plans (aka if you are not grandfathered in or changed your plan you are SOL)

How are they removing the old plans? Verizon removed all the non shared plans. AT&T (according to the article on page 1) will give you the option of signing up for the shared plan or one of their individual or family plans.

 

[BJMRamage]

Not a ripoff for everyone. It's going to save me a significant amount of money. Previously on a 4gig and 2gig plan, will get to fit both into a single 4 gig plan.

but you're "losing" 2gigs of data right?

 

[ualymerej]

anyone notice that when you hit 6 smartphones, the 6gb and 10gb plans cost the same?

6gb plan:
$90 + $35 x 6 = $300

10gb plan:
$120 + $30 x 6 = $300

any more phones and the 10gb plan is actually cheaper... now the question is, are they still limiting 5 lines per shared plan as they do with family plans or did AT&T not really think this all the way through?

 

[lifeinhd]

Who would you go to, Verizon?....who IS FORCING these new plans?

Verizon removed all the non shared plans.

Grrr.... Verizon. Is. Not. Forcing. These. Plans. How many times must I say it? That was a rumor that never came to fruition.

The individual plans are not exactly heavily advertised on their website anymore (if you look under "plans," your only options appear to be "family" and "prepaid") but if you select the phone first, there is still an option for individual plans.

 

[alent1234]

Can someone please explain to me why one must pay MONTHLY PER DEVICE to have access to a data stream that you're also paying for MONTHLY?

I could understand a one time registration fee per device, if you wanted to go there... but if I'm paying for, say, 10GB data -- and I have 10 slots where I can put in device IDs (pins? whatever) -- why do I also then have to pay MONTHLY for each of those devices -- what is the burden on the provider of keeping track of a device that seems to warrant this (insane?) cost point?

I have an LTE ipad3 -- no data plan. Why? I have unlimited data on my iphone. What I'd like to do is pay for some data amount and use it either on my ipad3 OR my iphone. But I have to pay basically $40 +/- a month PER DEVICE?

Am I crazy to think it should be something like:

$XXX base ($25? $50?)
$X per GB (where $X is far less than $15!)
20 devices [max] (free? or one time "association" fee?)
[20 devices -- family of 5 each with 2 devices still only means 10 devices]

I think I pay $85 or so a month now for my limited "unlimited" plan -- but only on my iphone. My ipad is data dead (thanks AT&T).

So, now I want to share both devices and use the LTE as a hotspot while doing 6 hrs a week on amtrak (Amtrak connect out of NYC gets 1 to 10KB down usually -- ie: 100% unusable).

$50 base
$30 10GB @ $3 per GB

$80 ...

That's close to what I pay now, both my devices would be usable, it's only 2X the "unlimited" amount (5GB, right?) and I can tether on my ipad3.

Why would this make AT&T go bankrupt? at $4 per GB it's $90 and they actually make $5 (or so) more from me.

Also, I'm interested in what happens when data reaches the limit. Are we back to insane data overage costs? or will data just be blocked unless we pony up more cash to "rectify" our data consumption addiction?

It's funny how with talk minutes, you can get some carry over -- but does this happen with data? If I'm paying for unlimited... ahem, I mean 10GB/mo and I only use < 1GB a month, can I get a bank of +10 (max?) in case I hit an overage? of course not -- there's no profit in that and I'm sure it would lead to the downfall of civilization as we know it.

Scott

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?

----------

I can't believe how greedy US providers are prices in Europe are dirt cheap.

According to this, we'll be paying ~$10 more a month with our family plan with 3 iPhones. I guess it's not a horrible deal considering we'd be getting unlimited minutes, but we rarely make calls anyway, that's why we have 450 minutes/month

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

 

[Dcuellar]

It's no surprise this is going to work for some and not for others. It's a good thing this is an option.

What I like about it is that it says tethering is included. So if you were paying for tethering before you could be saving a good chunk with a shared data plan. There is also peace of mind with talk time. I don't have to worry about going over my limit and paying additional.

I'm paying $160 now after taxes for unlimited text, 750 minutes, 2 iPhones, and unlimited data with throttling after 3GB. I've always wanted tethering but wasn't willing to pay. I've also wanted to get my two daughters a smartphone. With my old plan it would have been (25 x 2) + (10 x 2) = $70 additional to add them on. So my total would be $230+taxes without tethering.

With this new plan I'm looking at $240+taxes with tethering and no worries about my daughters going over the 750 minute limit. A bit more expensive once taxes are figured in but I feel it's worth it for me because my teenage daughters talk a lot.

 

[robjulo]

but you're "losing" 2gigs of data right?

Correct, but based on my usage, much of it was unneeded and unused.

With the new 4 gig family plan, I'm comfortable I can fit both phones into the 4 gig and still have the hotspot (which I need).

Not saying it will work for everyone, but in my situation, its a plus.

 

[Penn Jennings]

Where is what I never understand about these threads. If this plan is not for you, stay with the plan that you have and you are totally unaffected. AT&T is not forcing anyone to do anything. Why do people go on a minor rant when they are ONLY being given a choice and are otherwise unaffected?

 

[alent1234]

It's no surprise this is going to work for some and not for others. It's a good thing this is an option.

What I like about it is that it says tethering is included. So if you were paying for tethering before you could be saving a good chunk with a shared data plan. There is also peace of mind with talk time. I don't have to worry about going over my limit and paying additional.

I'm paying $160 now after taxes for unlimited text, 750 minutes, 2 iPhones, and unlimited data with throttling after 3GB. I've always wanted tethering but wasn't willing to pay. I've also wanted to get my two daughters a smartphone. With my old plan it would have been (25 x 2) + (10 x 2) = $70 additional to add them on. So my total would be $230+taxes without tethering.

With this new plan I'm looking at $240+taxes with tethering and no worries about my daughters going over the 750 minute limit. A bit more expensive once taxes are figured in but I feel it's worth it for me because my teenage daughters talk a lot.

prepaid? $45 a month on straight talk for unlimited everything

 

[KanosWRX]

Anyone who thought AT$T would actually make a new plan that saved you money is delusional. They are trying to make more money off people and this is one way to do that. Create new plans that make you think your saving money but in reality your paying more. Right now for my two iPhones on my family plan I pay about 140 dollars. On their new "shared plan" I would pay 150. 70+40+40. This is no a good plan at all! Not to mention I would get less data! I have unlimited on one phone and 2GB on another. Plus don't think for a second at$t would make this unlimited everything. They will charge extra for extras like they always have. FaceTime... Just to name one. Can't wait for the new iPhone. Leaving AT$T.

 

[unplugme71]

So I'm basically going from 147/mo to 232/mo - only difference is I get unlimited talk vs 700 min and instead of unlimited data, I'm capped at 4GB.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Grrr.... Verizon. Is. Not. Forcing. These. Plans. How many times must I say it? That was a rumor that never came to fruition.

The individual plans are not exactly heavily advertised on their website anymore (if you look under "plans," your only options appear to be "family" and "prepaid") but if you select the phone first, there is still an option for individual plans.

so translation Verizon is making it difficult to get the old individual plans and I am willing to bet AT&T will follow suit. The fact they make it fairly difficult to get to it should speak volumes at how much of a rip off the new plans are.

 

[gotluck]

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

I agree, the common sentiment here that the service providers are always greedy and apple can do no wrong is just unbelievable. Apple is just as synonymous with greed as anyone.

 

[UFGatorMel]

I'll have to wait to see how the FAN discounts shake out but since it includes tethering it may be a better deal for us (depending again on the discount).

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Grrr.... Verizon. Is. Not. Forcing. These. Plans. How many times must I say it? That was a rumor that never came to fruition.

The individual plans are not exactly heavily advertised on their website anymore (if you look under "plans," your only options appear to be "family" and "prepaid") but if you select the phone first, there is still an option for individual plans.

Not sure which Verizon website you are using, but on mine, when I choose a new Smartphone as a new Customer, all I'm given for plan options is the Share everything plan.

I just went in, selected the Droid Incredible (Yuck) and boom....share everything plan is my only option. Up to 20GB of data for $150/month. It looks like any smartphone requires a data plan and, therefore, the Share Everything plan.

I tried again with a basic flipphone and even THAT offers me the Share Everything plan. However, if I scroll all the way to the right, I get an option for the phone and a pay-as-you go data/text plan. 700 mins for $40/month. They calculate it as $30 for the phone + $10 for the minutes. Again, data/text is pay-as-you-go extra.

So looks to me like Verizon has totally eliminated these plans.

 

[SteveLV702]

I have 3 iPhone's on my Verizon Account with Unlimited Account and then had 3 iPads no way giving up Unlimited Data on my iPhones so had to create another account transfer iPads and setup shared on that account which verizon allows you can just have iPads on account... But sucks is reading this AT&T you must have atleast 1 smartphone to get their crappy shared plans.... sure glad now with AT&T anymore.

 

[macozone]

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?

$70+$40+$40= $150

 

[phil-ga]

Savings on plans... and tethering?

My family's current situation is roughly $170/month after tax, tag and title for "unlimited" (of course, throttled at 3GB for 3G) data plans for both of our iPhones. We collectively use less than 3GB data/month.

Under the new plan, before tax, tag and title, we'd be paying for two smart phones at the 4GB tier (40 + 40 + 70) which comes out to being about $150/month.

In theory, we'd be saving somewhere around $4 -$10/month, depending on actual taxes/regulation costs. The point is that we likely wouldn't be paying *more* (which I think is part of their "sweet spot" for most families, though others would have older kids who have phones as well).

Yet, while adding, say, an iPad would cost $10/month for dedicated access, did anyone note that tethering is included in the above?

So, in theory, you could get a wi-fi-only iPad (maybe iPad mini later this year...?), tether it to your iPhone, use the data through the iPhone tether, and be saving $10/month, by definition. This would work in my case, because I would only be accessing data from one device at a time. Therefore, it's not a matter of data being used, it's a matter of which device is going to use the data at the time.

Are we going to switch? Don't know yet. However, the plan doesn't scare us away the way the VZ plan does. Hopefully we'll be able to grandfather all of our account details over to the new iPhone without issue, giving us a chance to see how 4G/LTE works before making said decision.

A few thoughts

Disclosure: I own stock in AAPL, GOOG, VZ and T so no matter how any of this goes, I intend to profit from it.

 

[edwurtle]

Why do the smartphones cost different depending on data bucket? Each device gets the same unlimited voice/messaging. Each device pools from same "shared data". Why doest it cost more for smaller data buckets? Each phone device should be the same price ($30) regardless of phone type (smart/basic) or data bucket. They are double charging anyone who gets the 1,4, or 6GB bucket.

Why charge for tablets? I already paid for the data. The tablet is not making phone calls or sending out text messages, so why double charge me for the data? $10/month for the privilege of bending over and taking it!

Who needs all these minutes and text messages anyways? Most customers are turning away from using minutes and messaging. So now AT$T and Veri$on roll out plans that "look cheap". However for anyone who rarely talks/messages, it's expensive.

Where's the shared data plan with shared limited minutes and shared limited messaging?

This is what I want:
Pay x$ per shared minute
Pay y$ per shared message
Pay z$ per shared GB of data
Pay 0$ per device (I'm paying for each shared minute, shared message, shared GB)

My final question was alway the case with Veri$on and AT$T: Why not offer an unsubsidized rate? If I bought my phone myself, I would be stupid to ever pay for Veri$on or AT$T. So why, after my contract is up, do they charge the same expensive "subsidized" rate?

Preemptive response: I know you currently have the option of staying with your current plan. However eventually that option won't be there. AT$T and Veri$on is moving into an era of expensive forced minutes/messages.