AT&T adds data caps, changes rates for iPhone plans, will support tethering for extra charge
AT&T has just changed the face of cell data in the US by axing their "unlimited" plans, offering cheaper but data-capped (200MB/2GB) plans in their place, and supporting tethering for an additional fee. Existing customers can keep their own plans, but new customers get these starting June 7. Coincidentally, that's the day Steve Jobs takes the keynote stage at WWDC 2010 to announce the 4th generation iPhone HD/iPhone 4G, probably with video chat over 3G.
NOTE: Existing customers -- even if you upgrade to the new iPhone HD/iPhone 4G in June -- can still keep your existing unlimited data plans. You're grandfathered in.
Here are the details:
DataPlus. Provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data – for example, enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 150 emails with attachments, plus view 400 Web pages, plus post 50 photos on social media sites, plus watch 20 minutes of streaming video – for just $15 per month.** This plan, which can save customers up to 50 percent off their wireless data charges, is designed for people who primarily like to surf the web, send email and use social networking apps. If customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle, they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in the cycle. Currently, 65 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 200 MB of data per month on average.
DataPro. Provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data – for example, enough to send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, plus view 4,000 Web pages, plus post 500 photos to social media sites, plus watch 200 minutes of streaming video – for $25 per month.** Should a customer exceed 2 GB during a billing cycle, they will receive an additional 1 GB of data for $10 for use in the cycle. Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average.
Tethering. Smartphone customers – including iPhone customers – who choose the DataPro plan have the option to add tethering for an additional $20 per month. Tethering lets customers use their smartphones as a modem to provide a broadband connection for laptop computers, netbooks or other computing devices. Tethering for iPhones will be available when Apple releases iPhone OS 4 this summer.
No 5GB option, even if purely for psychological reasons, is pretty hard to imagine. You can do it by adding $30 in overage to your $25/2GB plan but that sounds silly.
As Jeremy would say, sound off in the comments!
[AT&T]
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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I think this is great for existing users because it gives us options we can keep our $30 dollar unlimited plan or change it for less if we want also what's great is now for us that are jailbroken and use a tethering app from there don't have to worry about AT&T watching for high usage of data since more all around will be using less in the long run idk could be wrong though
[MV ROB: I use 5-6gbs a month on one phone and my gf uses 4-6gbs on hers.] What the hell do you use your iPhones for???
I think the issue here why folks are getting upset has to do with the fact that AT&T is offering much less for a little less. I don't buy the argument that 98% would never go over the 2GB limit. If that is the case, then why make any kind of change at all? They're giving up $5 for nothing.
My guess is that the AT&T IS SCARED because the iPhone HD will offer something that will cause bandwidth usage to skyrocket like video calling so they're trying to dangle a financial carrot to get folks to switch based on past usage. The $15/mo plan is nothing more than a marketing ploy that only fits a very small audience.
If you use less than 200MB/month is a good deal to add a line to your account switching from MetroPCS, you will pay $9.99 voice and $15 data. BUT at&t is so devil they changed the ETF charge before announcing the new data plans.
I understand that current customers keep their current plans, but what's going to happen to me when I pull this number off of it's plan to put it in my own name? Is that going to be considered a "new plan", even though I'll have been with AT&T for nearly 2 years?! The iPhone is the only phone I want and I'm willing to make some sacrifices to keep it, but last month I used 7.1 GB of data and paying an extra $50 for my "extra" data every month is NOT something I'm willing to do! Does anyone know how it will affect me?
I am curious as to how this will effect me. I am using a BB right now but I plan on switching to the iphone when it comes out.
I'm not worried about the data usage. I only use around 500 - 600 mb a month. My wife uses less than 200 so she'll be downgraded for sure to save the $15 a month. I'll stick to the unlimited just because I can ($5 a month is not a big deal to me). But, its just the extra $20 a month for tethering for those who are data capped. If they allow me to add the tethering to my unlimited data plan, I have no problem paying the extra 20 as I know I'd use significantly more data with it as I'm not worried about watching my usage. But, for those who get capped at 2gb (if they don't want to pay more), its BS that they have to pay extra to "license" their laptop to use part of those 2gb. I wonder if ATT is imposing the fee mainly for all those who are grandfathered in with unlimited data. On the other hand, it would be total crap if they will not allow those grandfathered in to purchase the tethering option without downgrading their plan although I don't see that requirement attached to any tethering announcement just yet.
So if alot of users who thought they were heavy on data are actually on Wifi alot or have a pretty low usage who is bogging down the AT&T network?
Steve: "I think the issue here why folks are getting upset has to do with the fact that AT&T is offering much less for a little less. I don’t buy the argument that 98% would never go over the 2GB limit. If that is the case, then why make any kind of change at all? They’re giving up $5 for nothing. My guess is that the AT&T IS SCARED because the iPhone HD will offer something that will cause bandwidth usage to skyrocket like video calling so they’re trying to dangle a financial carrot to get folks to switch based on past usage. The $15/mo plan is nothing more than a marketing ploy that only fits a very small audience."
Couldn't agree more! Don't look any further people, here is exactly why AT&T did what they did.
@jimmyd slingbox my friend, love it and I'm about to add a second one. Yes I do have a life and I work 60-70 hours a week. I also have a Verizon mifi with an old grandfathered unlimited plan that I used 30GB the other month. I love unlimited data
@Gino From The Bronx I do agree with you, IMO we should wait for the next iPhone features and THEN decide wether or not change the data plan.
Now that my wife and I have iPads there is no need to tether anymore... we'll stick with the unlimited, even if we don't use it currently, in case iTunes goes to the cloud or something else fun gets introduced.. what one uses today vs. tomorrow on the next version of iPhone might be completely different. These carriers need to start keeping up with demand though - imagine if your ISP started pulling this crap. Then again they probably want to avoid cheap a$$es using their iPhones as their home ISP connections.
This is an incredibly awful move, in my opinion. It's fantastic that some people were grandfathered into the unlimited plan, but there are plenty of people out there who haven't gotten an iPhone yet, might be enticed by the 4th Gen, and now won't because of AT&T's rather dick move. I'm currently in China, and plan on returning to the US in the future and was hoping to get back on the AT&T boat. With the existence of a data cap, however, I can safely say that is no longer an option. And seriously, tethering with a data cap? Nothing about that sounds good or promising.
These plans look very good, just wondering I am traveling from Ireland ( my home ) to USA for vacation and was wondering if any of these plans can be got as PAYG pay as you go, in other words no need for contract. I want to take my iPhone to USA with me but do not want to get international data charges. So I can continue to check my email, stocks etc. Does such a plan exist with ATT or any carrier that provides 3g speeds?
I just checked my usage and I constantly go over 5gb a month. I use my iphone for everything. Makes want to run out and get an iPad before they change. I have jailbroken my iPhone and I guess continue to after this. This really is bad for everyone .
Let's all remember that Verizon Wireless carries the Droid Incredible, which is two times faster than the I Phone. It actually has a network that will give you more 3G in more places...soon to be LTE. Droid has 30,000 apps, and I Tunes. Most important...UNLIMITED DATA. What are you waiting for?
I can see this failing on so many levels. This is going to put a huge dent on the upcoming iphone which seems to be even more data hungry. I can see ATT coming up with an "unlimited" plan again in the future, charge 40-50 dollars for it. And do this all over again. ATT has a habit of hindering a phone with MASSIVE potential. Att needs to chill out and FIX their current network before we get hit with 4G service. ATT's roadmap is visible now. They wanna give us the cheap service, to "lessen" the blow and then charge double for 4G service. Its gonna be the 20/30 dollar fiasco we whent through when iphone 3G launched.
MV ROB: Ahhhh... that explains it! A friend of mine LOVES his Slingbox!
Once again a site claiming that upgrading to the new iPhone will keep a current user grandfathered on the unlimited plan. There is nothing in the official AT&T info/release that says anything about upgrading or renewing your contract. All they say is that if you are a current user you get to keep what you signed a 2 year only contract for. I will not be surprised when you all go to upgrade to iPhone 4 that you discover you have to sign a new two year contract and only have the new tiered data packages to choose from. Go to the Att web site and read it for yourself.
Since when is AT&T a leader in wireless? All these comments that other carries are moving the same way dont make sence. The only thing AT&T has is the iPhone. Other than that, they lead at nothing. Sprint and Verizon are the current leaders, as far a inovation goes.
Okay, 25$ for the 2Gigs is great, but you have to pay an extra 20$ for the thethering?? That's 45$. I don't know.. Would that even be worth it? My sister has tmo and pays 10$ for her wireless plugin. Eff that.
Holy smokes! $25 gets you guys 2GB of data? In Canada, $35 gets you 500mb
"Let’s all remember that Verizon Wireless carries the Droid Incredible, which is two times faster than the I Phone. It actually has a network that will give you more 3G in more places…soon to be LTE. Droid has 30,000 apps, and I Tunes. Most important…UNLIMITED DATA. What are you waiting for?"
Actually, that's incorrect. Verizon has a 5GB data cap on all smart phone plans. I read the agreement when I got my droid.
I am 17 years old and do not know which plan to choose for a 3GS Iphone. As a teenager, which would be best for me? I had internet capability on my older phone and did not exceed the limit of 200MB a month. However, I am wondering if the Iphone will make me want to Google and use social networking sites more often? What sounds like the best option? I am on money constraints which is why I would like to know which to chooose.