I have 2 phones with unlimited on a family share (for voice)...
$120. The main account pays more, secondary account pays less.
Average is $60, after taxes. I can reduce my rate by $5 if I eliminate text, which is possible, but then I pay 10 cents per text.
The subsidy is about $450 / 24 = $18.75 per line per month. (EDIT: I later had the idea, the value is not a subsidy, it's an allowance or escrow. I think this better fits the definition than subsidy. Why? Because you don't pay back subsidy, but you do escrows, since this amount is rolled up into our base pay)
This is the business model. Prior to the iPhone, the subsidy could be a different amount, depending on the phone. I recall buying a Sony w810i (walkman phone - which I was very happy with) When I wanted to insure it, I was not allowed, because it was listed at over $500, MSRP. I can't belive this to be true, but that was what I was told.
What I am saying is that I have had my account prior to unlimited data, for a very long time, and the subsidy was always there. Not $450, but depending on the phone it was something.
If you take into account that for new subscribers which pay a rate without subsidy that is on par or higher than mine, or when they request a subsidy phone their rate goes up to cover that. I am going to maintain the perspective that. Either AT&T should have been rasing rates alll along $1 or $2 here and there to maintain profitablity, or treat us long time customers as "charter" customers and keep our rates and subsidy. (which would strike true, thus far.)
This is like saying, AT&T values us keeping with them through thick and thin. We pay our bills on time, we don't hastle, we promote new customers. etc.
I don't mind changing things up, but getting rid of the subsidy while still maintaining the price, somthing we have come accustomed to over decades, is a huge change.
I have to buy a phone every year. I buy one phone, and it lasts 4 years. Then the old phone is recycled and the process starts over again. To cover the loss of an old phone, I get another one.
At any given time, I am utilizing two subsidies at the same time. ($37.50/mo) Take that away, and force me into Next12/24 or Apple's plan, I loose two phones, one via forced trade-in and one when my old one is retired.
Averaged out, this is 31.25% increse in expenses, only considering one phone.
With 2 phones, it's $900. For $900 I can walk at any time.
I don't want to walk. I am not a churning customer, I am stedy income. AT&T doesn't have to come looking for me, they don't have to take me in form Verizon or T-Mobile. I am the reason they purchased Cingular.
Anyway I am a proud customer and I do hope they see that and act accordingly, not as a liablity but a benefit. Why not offer a split down the middle or a gradual change. Reduce my line by $10/mo as I come off contract, and then say there are no more contracts or tack on $15/mo to renew for another 2 years... After a few years of doing this, they will have made up the difference gradually. But I get to choose to continue or not.