AT&T Launches New Data Plans
Here’s something interesting that supposedly is better for us AT&T customers, but I’m not sure about that. Data isn’t this expensive, and I don’t know why it has to be so costly but our cellular companies make it that way. How can one company offer unlimited data for a set price but another not?! Anyway, read on to see the new data plans AT&T customers can choose from..
AT&T today announced new data plans for smartphone and tablet customers that will launch this Sunday, January 22. The plans give customers more data and value.
The new smartphone plans include:
- AT&T DataPlus 300MB: $20 for 300MB
- AT&T DataPro 3GB: $30 for 3GB
- AT&T DataPro 5GB: $50 for 5GB, with mobile hotspot / tethering
Smartphone customers needing additional data can pay $10 per additional gigabyte on the AT&T DataPro 3GB and DataPro 5GB plans; AT&T DataPlus users will receive an extra 300MB for $20.
The new tablet plans* include:
- AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $30 for 3GB
- AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50 for 5GB
Existing smartphone and tablet customers will have the choice of keeping their current plans or choosing one of these new plans, and the current $14.99 for 250MB plan for tablet customers will remain available.
To help customers determine which data plan best matches their needs, AT&T has helpful tools at www.att.com/dataplans – including a data calculator where customers can estimate usage for their typical data activity. Once smartphone and tablet customers are on a plan, AT&T keeps them informed of their usage levels by sending usage alerts as they consume data within their plan. For example, a smartphone customer with AT&T DataPlus 300MB will receive a text message when they consume 65 percent of their data bucket, plus two additional alerts as they approach the 300MB provided with their plan.
"Customers are using more data than ever before," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Our new plans are driven by this increasing demand in a highly competitive environment, and continue to deliver a great value to customers, especially as we continue our4G LTE deployment."
Customers are encouraged to keep their device’s Wi-Fi turned on because data usage over Wi-Fi does not count against a customer’s monthly data plan. As an added value, AT&T smartphone and tablet customers have access at no additional charge to AT&T’s 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide – the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.** Customers can get more information at www.att.com/wifiaccess.
For more information, visit www.att.com/dataplans.
* Plans are for 30 days and automatically renew every 30 days, unless you cancel service prior to the start of the 30 day renewal. Overage rates only apply to postpaid tablet plans – not session based pricing – and include: $14.99 for 250MB with AT&T DataConnect 250MB; and $10 per additional gigabyte with AT&T DataConnect 3GB and AT&T DataConnect 5GB.
** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations .
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Kristofer
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I do like that tethering is included in the 5gb plan. I mean, it’s data you’re paying for so at least now you can use it without fear of them cutting you off. I still have my unlimited plan and will ride it as long as I can…
Yeah, but how much is 5gig really with something like Netflix?! I take my tablet with me and just use my phone for email usually and sometimes Netflix and browsing, but if I had tethering I’d be tempted to watch Netflix on my tablet and blow through the 5gigs..
And yes I still have my unlimited plan as well, but no tethering of course. I’m just worried about this 4g stuff, I recall reading something awhile back that if you have an unlimited plan you can’t have it anymore with a 4g phone..
I hate At&t, they are just trying to slow squeeze more money out of their customers pockets. In what way is $20 for 300 mb fair for the consumer? Oh well come July Bye Bye At&t, hello T-Mobile for as long as you can hang in there.
Is this a shocker? How did you expect them to pay for the T-Mobile failed acquisition stupid tax? I have to get another $5 dollars together for a crappy 50mb of data just so my kids can have a smart phone. I turn their data off but to have the phone I have to get a data plan. Total BS. Oh well, I guess we all get to wear the 4 billion dollars those idiots lost because they couldn’t make the T-Mobile deal happen. WIN FOR THE DEATH STAR!
@Doug, ha I guess it shouldn’t shock me but it still enrages me, especially since their data service has been poor in Houston the last few years.
@Doug Smith,
Totally +1. AT&T have to recoup the non-buying tax that they are paying to T-Mo somehow and it is the easy avenue to tariff data thirst consumers.
@Doug Call the customer service line: They may agree to not charge you data if you have them block it. I had to do that for financial reasons (admittedly it was a few years back), and they did it. It doesn’t hurt to try.
I saw this happening the moment I read that if the T-Mobile deal failed they’d have to pony up a couple billion. I knew the AT&T subscribers would fit that bill.
Yes 5GB is nothing these days especially with Tethering included. About 10-15 episodes on Netflix will run through that. I have the 2GB plan on AT&T and the last couple months I exceeded that and had to pay overrage charges of $10 & $20 respectively.
The whole 4G network will make people burn through data even faster. We are an insatiable country and being able to access data faster is just going to make most people browse more and view more streaming videos & pictures. The U.S. carriers will make ar more money now than they ever did.
They still don’t get it. It’s all about the volume stupid. Offer a 500MB for $15 (plus $15/per add’l 500MB) plan and 75% of current dumbphone users will finally make the switch to a data plan/smartphone, and they will do it on AT&T.
When a new smartphone users needs mature, they will make the jump to a more appropriate plan, or might never need more than that minimum. Add this up; 10 million users on the 300MB/$20 plan, or 40 million on the 500MB/$15 plan. Which would you prefer if you were the CEO, or a stockholder.
In New Jersey, we called it the Pathmark Principle, for a local surpermarket chain that introduced discount pricing about 45 years ago (way ahead of their time). They would rather sell a 1,000 cans of peas for .10 every day rather than 100 cans for .18 (like A&P). Brought hundreds more people into the store daily which helped them to turn an incredible volume.
I have an unlimiterd plan, and will probably stick with it, although my average monthly usage is only around 200MB a month, using the “much higher speed” WiFi networks available to me most of the day. But talking a dumbphone user into making the switch is still tough with $20/data, $10/1000 messages + their normal voice plan. $5 a month does not sound like much, but for someone currently spending $0 for data now, it is.
And 300MB is just not enough to get by, even if you use WiFi most of the time like I do. One little slipup while out with friends and you will jump past that 300MB and get popped for another $20, which AT&T knows will encourage you to move up to the 3GB/$30 plan.
But here is some reality. We already know that 5% of the users (looking at you iChris) consume something like 30-50% of the data across AT&T’s network. What if tomorrow, all the $30/3GB users started using 2.9GB/month. You think your connection is slow now. So AT&T, put users on a reasonable data diet, at a reasonable price. Might even inprove your image, and J.D. Powers rating.
Or they could, I don’t know, actually DO SOMETHING about their system…
I am getting robbed! I have an unlimited plan. I have never gotten close to 2G usage. There is a New (?) Feature on the AT+T website, that allows you to create reports of past usage. I currently have up 8/10-12/11, the lifetime of my current device, the Dell Streak 5. My average use is less than 0.6G, there are two spikes at 0.7G, and one spike at 1.1G.
Needless to say, I don’t get a lot of time for mobile use, mostly just news and tech blogs durring my breaks.
But I always expect my usage to increase, and I am not going to give up my unlimited plan. I am paying a premium for a service I don’t take full advantage of. I don’t want to hear any Shit from AT+T.
Peace
Umm…. I just checked – and Verizon is 2GB for $30, and 5GB for $50. And that $50 plan does not include mobile hotspot or tethering. So even after this world ending announcement, they are still a better deal than Verizon. But the ads on TV tell us that Verizon is great and ATT sucks, so lets keep complaining.
Verizon has never had anything worth anything, except a connection.
Verizon has always been more restrictive, more expensive and less capable.
So back off and let us cry about how our superior mobile internet is starting to suck a big a big one, and will soon not be worth having. I already shut off one family data account. Just mine remains. AT+T didn’t care, they needed the bandwidth anyway. Still a superior company as I have stayed with them for 16 years now.
Peace