AT&T Unveils Data Plans to Help Manage IPhone Demand

[Cant trust em]

Source: Bloomberg

June 2 (Bloomberg) -- AT&T Inc., the largest U.S. phone company, is offering new wireless data plans as it struggles to meet surging demand for data-hungry devices like Apple Inc.’s iPhone on its network.

AT&T will offer a basic 200-megabyte plan for $15 a month, and a 2-gigabyte package at $25 that includes 10 times as much data, the Dallas-based company said in a statement today. The 2- gigabyte plan replaces an existing $29.99 plan for iPad customers, which has no limit on data usage.

AT&T wireless chief Ralph de la Vega has said the carrier is battling congestion in New York and San Francisco as a surge in smartphone use has clogged its network. Customers who use the iPhone, which is sold exclusively through AT&T in the U.S., consume seven times the bandwidth of typical mobile phones, according to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. in New York.

The new plans will be available June 7. AT&T also will allow customers to connect smartphones to laptops and other devices for wireless Internet connections, an approach known as tethering. The service costs $20 a month on top of the wireless plan.


Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-02/at-t-unveils-data-plans-to-help-manage-iphone-demand-update1-.html

---

Does the data plan limits include apps, or is it just e-mails and text messages?

I have no idea how this works.

[cbdo2007]

1. How many GB is your typcal Netflix movie? Anyone out there know?

I see this as an Ipad killer if they're limiting you to 3-4 movies per month on top of everything else people are doing with them.

[BadgerKid]

2. Guesstimating ~250 MB per hour for iPod quality and size.

Typical desktop viewing would be ~450 MB per hour.

[davepc]

12. If you're going to be watching movies on an Ipad wouldent you do it via wi-fi and not g3?

[cbdo2007]

42. Wouldn't you only buy a wi-fi iPad if you were in 2005 rather than 2010?

I don't get the people who bought the wifi one because if you're getting one you would want to use it anywhere rather than sitting next to your laptop, so I would guess those with 3g would be watching more movies on them. Otherwise they would just use their tv, if they are at home with their wi-fi anyways.

[Romulox]

60. I have an Iphone for the road, and a laptop with 3g for work.

I bought my wife a WiFi Ipad--she uses it on the couch or the back porch like a magazine.

Frankly, I don't know of many people who casually lug any entertainment-focused device around with them everywhere they go... :shrug:

[no limit]

I was looking to get the new iphone instead Im gonna get the evo 4g android from sprint this friday

and with news like this looks like I made a good decision.

200MB is nothing, 2GB isn't all that large either. With Sprint I'll get unlimited data, texting, unlimited mobile to mobile, and 400 minutes for $69.99. Same plan with ATT is around $100.

[cally]

13. Do you know if you are allowed to tether

the Sprint phone? I'm looking into a new phone. I live in the SF Bay Area and my 2 1/2 year old iphone is extremely slow. I plan to give the old one to my daughter. I'm considering the new iPhone but the Sprint phone may be better for me.

[Xithras]

68. I don't know about "allowed"...

...but any Android owner can download the free PDANet application off the marketplace and tether their laptop to their Android via USB. If you want to get the full paid version, you can also tether wirelessly. No rooting or hacking required.

[CRF450]

75. You can go wireless bluetooth with the free version...

The only catch is, you can't go to secured sites like for your online banking and such.

[JCMach1]

72. Always get sticker shock when I see the contract prices in the US...

I prefer the model in Asia... buy your own unlocked phone and then choose your service/services. The companies here don't subsidize the phones. You pay for the connection only in most cases.

Hate the data Performance on AT&T, you could cancel and pop in the SIM for the next company.

Really cheap for me as there is free WiFi in 90% of the places I spend my time.

[no limit]

3. Self delete: Duplicate post

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[108]

5. 500 min, free nights & weekends, unlimited data and text for $59.99 w TMobile

While I would love to get an IPhone, I just cannot rationalize ATT's prices

[no limit]

6. Check out sprint's evo 4g coming out Friday. I think the package you quoted is 69.99 with t-mobile

if you under a contract that is. Otherwise t-mobile is a great deal, you just have to get your own phone. But $69.99 from sprint isn't bad and personally I think their new android phone will be a iphone killer.

[avaistheone1]

16. T-Mobile has the DROID and it is very cool.

[no limit]

18. Their droids are kind of outdated at this point.

[avaistheone1]

19. How so?

[no limit]

21. I don't believe they have any android 2.1 phones, do they?

[Xithras]

70. MyTouch Slide

They're also pushing 2.2 to users of all existing Android phones (EXCEPT the G1, which is old and doesn't have the hardware) by the end of summer.

[avaistheone1]

22. 10 Things Android Phones Do Better Than The Iphone

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1131

[no limit]

23. I can think of so many others. I'm excited about getting an android finally

[avaistheone1]

27. I thought you favored the iphone instead??

[no limit]

30. No, not all. I was going to wait for the new iPhone but I'm going to go with the evo 4g this friday

[avaistheone1]

33. I am in the market for a new phone too.

Why do you prefer the evo 4g to the T-Mobile Droid version?

[no limit]

34. T-mobile is still running phones with Android 1.5 which is pretty outdated at this point

the new version is 2.1 and 2.2 is right around the corner (new phones will be updated to 2.2 soon after release). The new features in 2.1 and 2.2 are huge. Full flash support will finally be included in 2.2.

And just speaking about the Evo 4G it has a 720p HD video camera, has a large 4.3" screen, can be used as a wifi hotspot (costs $30 /mo extra but Im sure they will hack this soon enough), it has 4G (eventhough 4G isn't in most markets yet it will be soon enough so might as well be ready), a 1Ghz processor, the HTC sense interface, and a bunch of other awesome features. For $199 I think it will be one of the best phones out for the summer. I don't think T-mobile currently has any of this.

If sprint isn't your flavor verizon has the HTC incredible which is also great. But I don't like how expensive the verizon service is.

[avaistheone1]

36. Thanks.

I am not a techie. I saw an instore demo on the HTC Incredible this weekend. It is defnitely hot.

Again, I do appreciate the tech tips. :hi:

[no limit]

38. No problem. Let me know what you end up getting, I'll pick up the evo 4g Friday morning.

[avaistheone1]

41. Will do.

[Romulox]

63. Cards face up: I'm an Iphone user, but would definitely consider switching to Droid.

However, that list wasn't terribly impressive. The only thing listed there that I really care about is the ability to turn off bluetooth from the desktop (I guarantee Iphone OS4 will have that.) You take away breathless references to twitter (did I mention how great Android is with twitter???? Well, I'm going to do so again, and it will count as another point!", and there's just not much of substance mentioned in the article.

So my enthusiasm for droid is actually dampened by that article. What can droid do that Iphone can't? Turn off bluetooth from the desktop, apparently. My world has officially -NOT- been rocked!

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. Well this part doesn't make any sense; what am I not getting?

Instead of just having icons littering your phone’s desktop (like the iPhone), the Android phone adds widgets to the desktop. These widgets tend to have an actual purpose

IPhone works the same way. I don't understand how a widget is any better :shrug:

[lutefisk]

7. That's sleazy business practice- Apple/AT&T must have planned this

Generate huge initial sales fueled largely, I assume, by the attractive data plan offered, then switch to a money-making capped plan system. A win-win for Apple and AT&T. The overage charges are already being touted as great for AT&T profits.

[onehandle]

9. The new plan actually drops the monthly iPhone bill by $5 to $10.

And Apple has nothing to do with the data plans. iPhones will be coming to other carriers shortly.

[Hawkeye-X]

10. When?

We are planning to retire our Blackberry Curve 8330 and get iPhones, but will look into Android if it's that good.

Hawkeye-X

[onehandle]

15. The new plans start on Jun 7th, the same day that Steve Jobs will introduce the new models.

The latest rumor is that they may start shipping as soon as mid-June.

[avaistheone1]

17. AT&T does that all the time.

They also break their own contracts when it benefits them, not you.

[onehandle]

8. I never ever hit 2GB and stream 128k music over 3G all of the time.

This change is just to curb the illegal tetherers.

Anyway, with all the WiFi out there, I use 3G less and less for data.

[thereismore]

11. 128kb/s becomes 2GB in just 34.7 hours. Your "all of the time" is not really all of the time. nt

[onehandle]

14. Ok, probably an hour a day.

Mostly at the gym.

Happy?

[no limit]

20. Hour a day is nothing. I would like to be able to stream sirius most of the day

Not to mention all the other things I like to do on my phone, stream youtube, tether, etc, etc, etc.

[Cant trust em]

25. An hour a day would be plenty for me.

[no limit]

26. How much internet do you use daily on your PC? Lets cap that too to the max that you use today

[Cant trust em]

28. an hour a day would be great for my phone. Not so much for my computer. nt

[no limit]

31. So how much do you need? 3 hours a day? 4? Lets cap it at 4

afterall, that's all you use right now so why leave you the option of having more later if you need it?

[Cant trust em]

32. Great. For you an hour a day wouldn't suffice.

For me it would, and I'm willing to pay a little bit to get it.

AT&T should keep their unlimited plan and charge accordingly.

[no limit]

35. Except everyone else has an unlimited plan and they charge what ATT charges for 2GB

[Cant trust em]

37. I'm not arguing with you.

I just want a plan that fits my needs.

[no limit]

39. I agree with that. But I don't think it's fair what ATT did here

if they want to give people a cheaper plan that has 200MB or whatever thats fine. But a month after the release of the iPad they suddenly come out and say they will no longer offer unlimited plans and everyone will be capped at 2GB for the same price as the unlimited plans. I'm not sure if that applies to people that signed a 2 year contract, I'm guessing it does. That means they are slapping their customers in the face.

[Cant trust em]

44. I agree.

Current customers are getting hosed.

I also wonder if this will apply to current contract holders of unlimited data plans, or just new contracts from here on out.

[REP]

46. Used 54.2 MB up and 157 MB down in a year on this iPhone ....

I live in Silicon Valley. WiFi everywhere!

[brooklynite]

24. Apps depend on function

If they call to the web for data (news, weather, online gaming) that'll count against your allotment.

Local games, watching video downloaded through your computer and synced to the iPhone or iPad will not.

[wilt the stilt]

29. I just called AT&T

and it actually will save me money. My son averages 130 megs a month and he is out on the web all the time. My daughter averages 220 mb and she is also out all the time. Even if you go over he 200 MB they only charge you $15.00 more. It actually is a win win.

[onehandle]

40. I think it's a win/win for most users too. And if you want to keep unlimited data...

...like I do, you can stay in your current plan. I have no interest in tethering so I am grateful for this.

[ozu]

43. Right

If you're already on an unlimited data plan before June 7th, you can keep your $30/Unlimited plan exactly how it is. If you wish to switch, which I'm guessing almost everyone would if they looked at their monthly data usage, then you can do that instead.

I think I'm a relatively high data user and the most I've ever used in a month was 1.4GB. Switching to the new Pro/non-tethered plan will save me $5/month.

I don't see the issue here.

[Cant trust em]

45. Good point. I wonder what the average person uses.

I cut my cell phone minutes way down when I actually looked at my bill. I bet it would be the same situation for many data users.

[REP]

47. See my post above; I use my phone heavily for everything except phone calls!,

[rucky]

48. AT&T to end unlimited wireless data plans

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The era of unlimited wireless data, which fed the growing lust for the iPhone and other smart devices, is coming to an end.

AT&T announced Wednesday that its $30 unlimited monthly data plan will no longer be available for new smart phone accounts starting Monday, the day Apple is expected to unveil its next generation iPhone.

Most industry analysts believe AT&T's decision presages a wave of similar actions by competitors Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile, all of whom declined to comment.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/02/MN051DOV39.DTL

[rucky]

49. Suck it, iPhone users!

or at least the ones holding out for the next-gen (which would be me).

:(

[ixion]

50. AT&T is one of the reasons I don't have an iPhone

and this is why: They suck in the extreme.

[AndyA]

51. No one should support AT&T by doing business with them.

They have horrible customer service, and they helped Bushco illegally spy on Americans. No phone is worth having AT&T for a provider.

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. And i have had absolutely wonderful customer service experiences with AT&T

Go figure.

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. Sounds like I'll be saving money on my monthly bill

Works for me.

[rucky]

54. Is 200MB alot of data?

i have no idea if the $15 plan is a good deal or not.

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. Sounds like a good deal

It's a lot less than I'm paying now.

AT&T says this plan will suffice for people who surf the Web, send e-mail and use applications like Facebook. Data allowance: enough for 1,000 e-mails, 400 Web pages, the posting of 50 photos on social-networking sites and 20 minutes of streaming video.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/02/MN051DOV39.DTL#ixzz0pn2sD0x0

[Posteritatis]

74. It's a pretty miniscule amount of data for a lot of people

If someone did nothing other than email (without attachments or images)/text messaged/etc, then it probably wouldn't be that bad, but I've gone through 200MB on my desktop in an hour without even touching video. I'm a bit of an outlier in that regard, but either way bandwidth adds up really quickly; 200MB's one of the smallest quotas I've heard of these days.

[wilt the stilt]

56. we have 3 iphones in my household

and I called AT&T yesterday. My son averages 130 meg a month and he is surfing a lot, my daughter is on 220 meg a month and she is on a lot. even if you go over 200 meg it is only $15 more which is what it costs now. I am going to save $35.00 a month. My wife has the old 2g so her charge was only $20. works for me.

[soleft]

57. I read another article that presented this as a cost saver to consumers

That it's actually a rate reduction.

[onehandle]

58. Dupe from yesterday, and this will save 98% of iPhone users money.

65% of iPhone users can save $15 a month.

Additionally, Verizon and Sprint charge around $50 per extra gigabyte in overage fees. AT&T is only charging $10 for their DataPro customers.

From yesterday:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4408852

Here I've linked to a couple of blogs that go into more pertinent details on the changes:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=233x8603

[dipsydoodle]

59. To my mind

life's too short to fuck about with such things anyway. I just us a 'phone as a 'phone.

Out of curiousity - is the usage a function of how many pictures are sent and how much is downloaded ?

I'm sure there competitors will do the same anyway so best thing to do is just deal with it.

[droidamus2]

61. Corporate bs

What is happening here people is the AT&Ts are seeing the new video streaming capabilities (Comcast is doing the same to me internet account) where you can access streaming video on your TV (ROKU is one service) or phone and they want some of the income from that. They also want to divide the usage community so when they stick it to the power users the rest the users will not get involved because it doesn't currently effect them. This actually goes back to the initial business model of the internet where you paid by how much you used it. Be honest do you really think these companies would change to this business model if they were going to make 'less' money. I don't think so and I bet if you look deeper their estimates of usage and the effect on users is nothing but bs. Those that say 'if you go over it is just another $15' do you consider that the AT&Ts can start playing with what amount of service limit is going to hit the right number of people so they can hit their profit target for that area of their business. Once they get you to accept this idea they can just ratchet down the amount of service and ratchet up the cost. These people are not in business to supply you with a service they are in business to make as much profit as they possibly can and put it in their own pockets so they can live in the style to which they have become accustomed.

[Romulox]

62. I find that in situations like this, a buncha bandwidth hogs try to make everybody else get upset

on their behalf, even though 99% of us will not experience any issue with this whatsoever.

In general, I applaud efforts to make those extraordinary 2% who "need" more than 2G a month bandwidth to pay for it.

[Occulus]

66. So you want some of us to periodically repay for what we already bought?

And you want that repayment to be given to a third party that had nothing to do with the initial transaction?

[Romulox]

67. Yes. That's precisely what I want.

Actually, I haven't a clue of what you're talking about.

ATT is changing its service offerings; if you don't care for them, sign up with somebody else. If you're already signed up, they are bound by contract to honor your existing agreement (and they said that existing Unlimited customers can remain so at the moment.)

So...what have you paid for that you haven't received? I mean, I am NOT somebody to defend corporations, but at some point....jeeesh. :wtf:

[Occulus]

71. "Actually, I haven't a clue of what you're talking about."

Steam.

[Romulox]

73. There's no such thing as Steam for Iphone...

:wtf:

I have an Iphone as well as an ATT Aircard for my laptop. It has ALWAYS had a data cap of 5 gb. In other words, any machine capable of running Steam has always been subject to this cap when using ATT's network. :hi:

[quakerboy]

65. Sounds to me like a profit raising plan

not anything to do with "managing iphone demand".

[Hempathy]

69. I'll stick with my pay-as-you-go phone, thanks.

I spend less than $100/year for the service- even at 25-cents per minute of phone usage.