AT&T updating their data plan prices and allotment

[Bateluer]

According to AT&T's official release, new smart phone customers will have a choice of three new monthly data plans—300MB for $20, $30 for 3GB, and $50 for 5GB, including the ability to share the wireless data connection with other devices. The 3GB and 5GB monthly plans will also be available to new subscribers with tablets that have 3G wireless data modems built-in. Go over you're monthly allotment and AT&T will charge you an extra $10 per additional gigabyte or $20 for 300MB if you're on the lower plan.

Current subscribers can keep their existing data plans—$15 for 200MB, $25 for 2GB and $45 for 4GB, which also includes tethering. But once customers make a switch to the new pricier plans, they can't go back. And after Jan. 22, the existing $15 for 250MB monthly plan for tablets will be the only old plan still offered—and only to new tablet owners subscribers.

Thoughts? A little extra data for 5 dollars more. Worth it?

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Thoughts? A little extra data for 5 dollars more. Worth it?

Not really. the only thing appealing about the old $15/200mb plan was it was an acceptably cheap way to get a smartphone so the extra 100mb of Data does not make up for the $5 jump in price, especially when the old 2gb plan was $25. I'm glad all of our lines are grandfathered in on the $15 plan.

Since these new prices are the same as Verizon's I don't see why anyone would pick At&t.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

I'm more interested in the sharing bit. Does this mean my wife and I can have phones on the same plan and share the data now? It's my understanding that we would need individual data plans before.

 

[pm]

I'm more interested in the sharing bit. Does this mean my wife and I can have phones on the same plan and share the data now? It's my understanding that we would need individual data plans before.

I read the sharing as "we are allowing tethering without a special tethering plan". But a shared family data plan would be great.

 

[vi edit]

I read it as included tethering too. I'm on Verizon and I'd gladly give up my unlimited data plan for $30 to trade it in for 3 gig & free tethering.

 

[Spoooon]

I read it as included tethering too. I'm on Verizon and I'd gladly give up my unlimited data plan for $30 to trade it in for 3 gig & free tethering.

That's how I read it. I personally wouldn't switch for that though. My Droid 1 days I probably averaged 2GB per month. With my Galaxy Nexus, my average is around 3GB (hard to really say as it's only been 30 days or so). I can't imagine what I would burn through between having a modern smartphone plus a tethered device.

 

[MrX8503]

Not really. the only thing appealing about the old $15/200mb plan was it was an acceptably cheap way to get a smartphone so the extra 100mb of Data does not make up for the $5 jump in price, especially when the old 2gb plan was $25. I'm glad all of our lines are grandfathered in on the $15 plan.

Since these new prices are the same as Verizon's I don't see why anyone would pick At&t.

ATT includes tethering. ATT also offers 3GB for $30, whereas on Verizon its 2GB for $30. Another reason why someone might stick with ATT is for its GSM capability. I don't do this often, but it has been convenient to check something online during a phone conversation.

IMO, anything that's not $30 for 5GB is a ripoff. Sadly those days are over. There's always Sprint I guess.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Definitely not worth the $5 in my case. AT&T overage sucks in North/Central Alabama if you are outside any major city aka Huntsville or B'Ham which is horrible. I barely hit 500 mb a month due to no 3G signal most of the time

 

[Dulanic]

Man these prices are insane. I may hate the days when I get 100KB/sec from Sprint but if I had to pay these prices, I wouldn't use a smartphone.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

ATT includes tethering. ATT also offers 3GB for $30, whereas on Verizon its 2GB for $30. Another reason why someone might stick with ATT is for its GSM capability. I don't do this often, but it has been convenient to check something online during a phone conversation.

IMO, anything that's not $30 for 5GB is a ripoff. Sadly those days are over. There's always Sprint I guess.

Verizon can talk and browse at the same time thanks to LTE and of course there is also the massive performance increase LTE brings. I'm on At&t now but if Verizon was the same price I would go with them in a heartbeat.

 

[bearxor]

I'm on the unlimited plan on AT&T now. I'd like tethering but the thought of going to $45/mo for 4GB just didn't settle with me.

For some reason, $50/mo for 5GB does. It might be because I so rarely go over 5GB anyways, like 2-3 times a year) and the overages aren't bad. If I got a new iPad that was WiFi only, I might be willing to go $50/5 w/tethering.

And for those of you that missed it, tethering isn't included in the $30/3 plan, only the $50/5 plan.

I am a little disappointed on the low end though. If I was AT&T, I'd had probably moved the $15/250MB plan down to $10 and inserted a $20/750MB plan. Might have even done a $40/5GB plan without tethering.

 

[zokudu]

This seems reasonable to me. The overages seem like a really good deal. If you don't plan on tethering theres no reason to get the 5GB plan when you can get the 3GB and pay overages if you go above it.

 

[ponyo]

It sucks but I will bend over and take it when I switch to AT&T later this year. They have the best GSM network and I prefer GSM over CDMA.

 

[Deeko]

I read the sharing as "we are allowing tethering without a special tethering plan". But a shared family data plan would be great.

Its the same way tethering works now, I'm on the $45 for 4GB plan w/ tethering.

The extra 1GB for $5 isn't too bad (2/4 to 3/5 respectively), but $20 for 300MB is just laughable.

 

[jhansman]

I don't use anywhere near the 200MB/mo. I pay for now, so I'm not likely to pay for more.

 

[shortylickens]

Not really. the only thing appealing about the old $15/200mb plan was it was an acceptably cheap way to get a smartphone so the extra 100mb of Data does not make up for the $5 jump in price, especially when the old 2gb plan was $25. I'm glad all of our lines are grandfathered in on the $15 plan.

Since these new prices are the same as Verizon's I don't see why anyone would pick At&t.

I wasnt happy with Verizon but sometimes I wish I'd stuck with them so as to keep the unlimited data.
This new tiered crap is a huge ripoff, regardless of company. Sprint has the best deals but arguably the worst service in many areas.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have "unlimited" AT&T. Unfortunately I'm throttled back about half the month so in the end I can only use about 5gb. Really annoying. If I had a better option I'd leave in a minute. Fortunately I'm not under contract so as soon as something better comes along I'm jumping ship.

 

[lupi]

Previous prices looked bad, new stuff doesn't seem to change that, and could be considered worse with the higher base prices.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

that overage charge on the lower plan is ridiculous. they should just up you to the 3gb plan if you happen to go over for that month

 

[Strk]

Well that stinks. It sure would be nice if they'd finally treat messaging as data though. If data costs keep going up, why can't they just treat data as data?

I want a Lumia 900, so this sucks for me

 

[gorcorps]

I'll keep my 25 for 2gig plan. I have no need for an extra gig.

 

[SAWYER]

I like how faster networks roll out and the caps get worse

 

[soccerballtux]

Well that stinks. It sure would be nice if they'd finally treat messaging as data though. If data costs keep going up, why can't they just treat data as data?

I want a Lumia 900, so this sucks for me

technically it doesn't use the data connection, it uses a special band used for relaying signal strength information from the tower to the cellphone, and vice-versa.
The whole thing was free to them to begin with though, so they shouldn't be charging $20 for unlimited. Its kinda good that the FCC hasn't regulated it yet because it gives the smaller operators a chance to differentiate by offering unlimited for free-- such as MetroPCS, Cricket, etc.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'm a long time T-Mobile customer, my contract expires tomorrow. And while I'll probably wait until after Mobile World Congress to decide what carrier I go to, I am pleased to see this 3GB $30 plan on AT&T now.

At the moment AT&T is probably at the top of my list of who I'd switch to if I leave T-Mobile. Big reason is the 18% employer discount I can get with AT&T. I'm pretty sure I could get T-Mobile to match this, I've probably been with T-Mobile 10 years. Maybe I could get Sprint to match it, not sure. I doubt Verizon will match it, so Verizon is the least likely choice for me right now.

I was worried about AT&T's 2GB $25 plan though. I get close to 2GB with my HSPA phone. So I'm sure I'd go over 2GB with an HSPA+ or LTE phone. 3GB makes me feel a little better. Still wish it was 5GB for $30 though, like I get with T-Mobile.

Sprint offers unlimited data, but I hear so many bad things about them, I'm scared. People complain they are slow and getting slower. They gambled on WiMax and lost. They made a deal with LightSquared and they seem to be SOL now. Seems they can do no right lately.

 

[Nebor]

What a scam. I've had a 2gb plan for years, and never gone over 500mb a month, typical usage is less than 200mb a month (with a Windows Phone 7.) Data is so ridiculously overpriced.