AT&T to Introduce $5 Per Day 250MB iPad Data Passes, $25 3-Month 1GB Data Plan

[b166er]

This actually makes a lot of sense for me. I primarily use wifi. Occasionally while I'm at school their wifi is so jammed up I could use cellular. Or when I'm at work and ignoring my job to get my schoolwork done. That only happens now and then, so paying by the day would be great.

I was planning on buying a new iPad anyway, this makes the idea of buying the cellular model a little nicer since I won't be looking at much of a change to my ATT bill. It's unusual I look at an ATT plan and think "wow, how nice!" I guess every now and then they throw us a bone!

 

[DOSNET]

Thank you all you europeans for chiming in and telling me how awesome service is in your country which is the size of one of our states. Unlike your carriers, our carriers cover us coast to coast, border to border. Not that I agree with it, that's just what we get. Your cost in a ratio for service offered over size of coverage I'm thinking is probably actually more than ours in the US. Again, not that I need.. oh I don't know 95% of the coverage available to me. I'd be more than happy to pay 75% less for only 10% of the coverage offered.

Unfortunately, it could never work that way. AT&T still has to pay to maintain towers out in the middle of nowhere, regardless of how many people use the thing. The US has a ton of relatively sparsely populated areas with cell service. Someone has to pay for it, and you can be sure that those towers don't deliver a return on investment. They're needed for overall reliability though, so they can't be removed. Don't mess with European smug sense of superiority though, or they may try to conquer your lands.

 

[theBB]

In my country, Turkey, 1GB data costs only $10 per month and 4GB costs $20 FYI.

In USA, carriers just **** people. Huge coverage area is not an excuse.

If another carrier would offer 1GB of data that you could use not only in Turkey, but when you are traveling in Italy, Netherlands or the UK all at the same price, would you not think that it is a better offer? If your carrier decides to let you use 1GB in only your hometown, but in no other city, without reducing the price, would you think that the quality has not changed at all?

Larger coverage area obviously provides more value for users. More value does not come out of thin air.

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Yep, when I visited the UK I got a SIM from Three for £10 for 1G of data on a prepay plan.

AT&T wanted US$50 for the same thing, ie about 4 times the price, and then there were all the restrictions (not hot spot sharing with my iPad, etc etc etc)

Well, AT&T is not the cheapest provider in the US, so comparing one out of many providers in the UK with one out of many in the US is a bit incomplete. Besides, it is not really the "same thing". You could fly ten hours non-stop out of NY and still use the same SIM card with no additional cost on AT&T. UK is pretty small compared to that.

Besides, when I was in London last year, I could not believe how iffy Three's coverage was. (A friend who use O2 did not seem more satisfied, either.) People who complain about coverage in SF or NY would probably go nuts in London.

 

[kcamfork]

"We really think that a Wi-Fi only tablet is good, but it is not good enough," said AT&T senior VP Chris Penrose, speaking at the event. The cost of adding a cellular module to tablets is also going down, Penrose said.


"We've seen that price go down substantially over the past several years," Penrose said. "Ultimately we'd like to see tablet manufacturers build just one tablet."

This guy is calling out Apple. He's basically saying that we're getting ripped off by Apple still charging us a $130 premium in 2013 for the cellular module.

I may not like AT&T or its business tactics (he obviously wants more cellular devices in the market), but he's right. Still charging $130 for the cellular module and $100 for each GB capacity upgrade is a crime IMO.

Yeah-- it's kind of sickening that they are still charging $100 for each storage bump when everybody else has dropped to $40 (which is still highly profitable to the manufacturer).

I really don't see Apple dumping the Wi-Fi only model. Why would they? They can still charge a $130 premium and people will pay it. It does make me wonder if more people would choose the cellular model, though, if it were more reasonably priced. I'd pay $50 extra for the capability without even blinking. But $130? Nah. I'll keep my money.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

250mb? Guess they haven't used Facebook ever. It seems that a normal 15 minutes of browsing facebook will eat that 250mb and spit it out.

 

[Xiroteus]

The twenty five over three months sounds good, I would likely never use 1GB over three months and it keeps costs under nine dollars a month. The 250MB at five dollars is horrible.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

meanwhile europe is laughing at this. i just got a prepaid rechargable sim with 1GB for 9€ in spain

Sadly the world is laughing at us for more than just all these ridiculous cell phone plans.

 

[Zellio]

Oh, I get it. You want everything for nothing.

I think you don't get the idea why they are offering it. It's for an occasional user, who may just need access for a day. It's not designed for a heavy user, it's for someone who only needs access now and again and doesn't need a hefty plan with GBs of data they don't use. If you want that, you get the share plan and include your iPad.

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It's not for someone who wants to be streaming movies.

If you want more data, get the mobile share plan, add your iPad and done. Not making you pay twice for anything.

While you are kissing at&t's ass, I hope you realize that worldwide we pay the most for internet service for only average speeds.

 

[javisan]

Yeah-- it's kind of sickening that they are still charging $100 for each storage bump when everybody else has dropped to $40 (which is still highly profitable to the manufacturer).

I really don't see Apple dumping the Wi-Fi only model. Why would they? They can still charge a $130 premium and people will pay it. It does make me wonder if more people would choose the cellular model, though, if it were more reasonably priced. I'd pay $50 extra for the capability without even blinking. But $130? Nah. I'll keep my money.

I'll also keep my money. For the very few times that I don't have wifi on my iPad, I use the iPhone for hotspot. I even use it on Bluetooth, even though it is much slower than through wifi, but it's still ok for me since it uses less energy and it's keeps the connection, unlike wifi tether.

 

[slapppy]

$5 bucks for 24 hours and 250mb only? LOL

AT&T throws that in to make you think its a crappy deal. Then you turn around and say the $25 bucks for 3 months 1gb deal is way better and awesome. I'll buy that!

 

[snowmoon]

You have got to be kidding AT&T. I looked and there is a few major catches.

1) It's an immediate swap, in the past switching rate plans only occurred when you ran out or started a new month.

2) The plans do not auto-renew, you have to sign up each time. This makes no sense for a plan that lasts 3 months.

They really don't like giving even an inch to make it easy on people.

 

[bpeeps]

You seem to not get it at all, $5 for 250MB is ridiculous, $500 for 50GB is way too ridiculous as well... What can you do with 250MB a day? watch 5 youtube videos and use up all your data for the day? it is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S we are not talking about getting it all for nothing, but would you rather buy a DVD for $15 or pay $50 to see it on your phone? How about AT&T gets a more reasonable data plan than their current rip off prices?

I am going to attempt to further clarify what the above user was saying. The new plan is for someone who is going to occasionally need service. That means they most likely aren't watching data-heavy videos on such a small MB allotment. They are checking their email, mapping a destination, using a message/chat program, maybe some social networking. The plan is not intended to stream Netflix on because of course you'd go over limit. This data plan is not marketed to you.

 

[elgrecomac]

How Generous!

Well just another example of our quasi-monopoly when it comes to cell carriers.

I have an grandfathered unlimited ATT data plan so I just tether my jail broken iP5 (running iOS6) to my ipad and call it a day.

 

[Locoboof]

I am going to attempt to further clarify what the above user was saying. The new plan is for someone who is going to occasionally need service. That means they most likely aren't watching data-heavy videos on such a small MB allotment. They are checking their email, mapping a destination, using a message/chat program, maybe some social networking. The plan is not intended to stream Netflix on because of course you'd go over limit. This data plan is not marketed to you.

Exactly!! This is exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[edoates]

Euro plans are not equivalent

Sadly the world is laughing at us for more than just all these ridiculous cell phone plans.

Last time I was in Europe, those SIM data plans were cool if you stayed in the same country. But if you cross a border to a different provider (PTT), often the $20/megabyte rate starts up, just like if you brought a phone from the US: international data rates are insane.

Maybe this has been fixed in Europe, etc. We need WORLD data plans, and roll over data. One should buy a data package by size, not time (instead of size and time as we do now).

Oh, well ...

The $30/3months/1GB is not horrible for occasional use.

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$5 bucks for 24 hours and 250mb only? LOL

AT&T throws that in to make you think its a crappy deal. Then you turn around and say the $25 bucks for 3 months 1gb deal is way better and awesome. I'll buy that!

Note that $5 for 24 hours is cheaper than many hotels charge for use of their WiFi...

 

[rgarjr]

I have an grandfathered unlimited ATT data plan so I just tether my jail broken iP5 (running iOS6) to my ipad and call it a day.

careful now, they will detect you are tethering and change your plan without your consent.

 

[bniu]

Why not just Hotspot to your iPad from your iPhone

It's a PITA to do and ends up draining your phone battery too. Furthermore, I can let my ipad handle the hotspot to connect my laptop to, so I don't drain my phone battery. For $10/month, I just fire up my ipad and surf, don't need to worry about tethering, it's really just convenience. I've got more important things in my life to worry about than my cellular data charges. Best of all, with data share, I know what I have access to, my costs are basically fixed each month, and I don't have to deal with cumbersome workarounds just because I need to do one thing.

 

[Squilly]

That's great but is it 3G or 4G? Wonder if this could be a viable replacement, granted I use my electronics on a daily basis, which would add up quickly... $150 a month

 

[GoCubsGo]

That's great but is it 3G or 4G? Wonder if this could be a viable replacement, granted I use my electronics on a daily basis, which would add up quickly... $150 a month

No one in their right mind would do this if they use data daily. Think this through a little.

 

[braddick]

Anyone remember a few weeks back when AT&T was offering 1GB for one week at 99c?

Many stocked up- buying dozens of weeks before AT&T killed that offer.

Ah, the good 'ol days.

 

[Xiroteus]

Note that $5 for 24 hours is cheaper than many hotels charge for use of their WiFi...

Hotels are crazy even charging for wifi. It should be included with the price of the room.

 

[snowmoon]

That's great but is it 3G or 4G? Wonder if this could be a viable replacement, granted I use my electronics on a daily basis, which would add up quickly... $150 a month

All the plans claim to be LTE.

 

[Nortrab]

I pay $6 a month for 3gb of data usage... granted this is in Indonesia. Not sure how i will survive with the outrageous data costs when i go back home to America. It blows me away how much we Americans will pay for our data/phone service plans, and these companies know that we will pay it anyway. That's why they still charge these outrageous costs.

 

[javisan]

I pay $6 a month for 3gb of data usage... granted this is in Indonesia. Not sure how i will survive with the outrageous data costs when i go back home to America. It blows me away how much we Americans will pay for our data/phone service plans, and these companies know that we will pay it anyway. That's why they still charge these outrageous costs.

What real alternative do we have? Everybody just cancel contracts and not use minutes or data?

Truth is we have no option than to pay whatever there is available HERE, no matter how bad it is. They are an oligopoly, and that won't change.

 

[Xerotech]

It makes me mad that I'm forced to "pay extra" to use my water in a faucet instead of toilet. All these carriers are a monopoly and pay little tax whatsoever.