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  • AT&T to Revamp Data Plans With More Bang for Your Buck
    by
    Anthony Bouchard
    Published on 01-18-2012 06:26 PM
    44 Comments Comments

    AT&T wants to offer you more data: for just a little bit more money.

    Here is an odd turn of events from AT&T - in what seems like a strange move by them, they are going to start offering you higher data caps so that you can use more data per month without overages. The only prerequisite? You'll have to shell out an extra five dollars per month. Now before you pre-judge the fact that it will cost more, you should take note that for just five dollars, you are getting a rather large data increase. It's actually a pretty good deal compared to what you're paying for now if you're on the tiered plans.

    Currently, if you are paying monthly for a capped data plan from AT&T, then you are on one of the following plans:

    • $15/month gets you 200MB/month
    • $25/month gets you 2GB/month
    • $45/month gets you 4GB/month with tethering


    The new data plans that AT&T will be offering are as follows:

    • $20/month gets you 300MB/month
    • $30/month gets you 3GB/month
    • $50/month gets you 5GB/month with tethering

    If you're on the 256MB plan already, then upgrading to the 300MB plan for $5 more per month doesn't make much sense. But if you're on either of the other two plans, then $5 gives you a whole extra gigabyte to play around with. I think that is a pretty good deal, considering the fact that 2GB = $25 meaning that you're paying around $12.50 per gigabyte. So getting an extra one for $5 is a steal. I currently have the 2GB plan and I will be upgrading to the 3GB plan as soon as I get the chance to.

    These new tiers will become available to you beginning January 22nd. You can upgrade online, over the phone, or through an AT&T store near you. If you are grandfathered into the unlimited data plan, then this change will not affect you and you can keep your unlimited data. If you are on the current AT&T plans and you plan to upgrade to the new plans on January 22nd, you can upgrade without renewing your contract for another two years. So you can upgrade and cancel your contract one month after you upgrade without paying a cent more for early termination fees (assuming that you've completed 2 years of your contract already).

    Will you upgrade to the new AT&T data plans if you're currently tiered on AT&T's network? Share in the comments.

    Sources: Cowboy (AT&T employee)
    This article was originally published in forum thread: AT&T Revamps Data Plans With More Bang for Your Buck started by Anthony Bouchard View original post
    Categories:
    1. iPhone,
    2. iOS,
    3. iPad
    Comments 44 Comments
    1. GenesisDH's Avatar
      GenesisDH - 01-18-2012, 08:20 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by A3gOwner View Post
      This is the truth. I averaged like 30-40gb of data per month the last 5 months, last month they throttled me back at ~2.4gb, then this month already right at 3.1gb used. It's total bs. Half tempted to take my iPhone to straight talk but I'm sure theyll throttle that too once enough people go that route.
      Actually ST already cuts people off for excessive usage, but they don't have a set limit as to when that happens. Most everybody on HoFo believes they flag around 2GB/month or about 70-80MB/day.
    1. hadzo's Avatar
      hadzo - 01-18-2012, 08:32 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by A3gOwner View Post
      This is the truth. I averaged like 30-40gb of data per month the last 5 months, last month they throttled me back at ~2.4gb, then this month already right at 3.1gb used. It's total bs. Half tempted to take my iPhone to straight talk but I'm sure theyll throttle that too once enough people go that route.
      Well thanks a lot for making our lives a 💩 hole... Take this as you want but it's cuz of ppl like you that we get capped at 2GB any more. 30-40GB PER MONTH 😱 wtf! you can't get on a wifi for heavy downloads??? I don't care about the whole "but it's unlimited crap" you sir are a data hog!
    1. A3gOwner's Avatar
      A3gOwner - 01-18-2012, 08:40 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by hadzo View Post
      Well thanks a lot for making our lives a 💩 hole... Take this as you want but it's cuz of ppl like you that we get capped at 2GB any more. 30-40GB PER MONTH 😱 wtf! you can't get on a wifi for heavy downloads??? I don't care about the whole "but it's unlimited crap" you sir are a data hog!
      Yes I am sorry. It's not my fault they offered us unlimited data and some of us actually used it as unlimited. I travel a lot and sharing a 20+mb cable connection for a whole hotel, speeds can get ridiculously slow and 3G is faster. I used my phone for everything from Netflix to Hulu because with the $30 dollar/month unlimited data and the $30 dollars/month for Netflix and Hulu is still cheaper than cable where I'm at. Plus way more content. So say as you wish but it's not our fault for using a ton of bandwidth it's AT&T for giving it to us. Now they are taking it away slowly but surely. It wasn't the last five months tho either I've been in Iraq for six months and returned a couple of months ago. The last two months since I've been home it's been throttled right round 2-3gb.
    1. *T*'s Avatar
      *T* - 01-18-2012, 08:56 PM
      U like the word pre-requisite don't u? U like it do much u put the pre in front of other words haha
    1. albo23's Avatar
      albo23 - 01-18-2012, 09:07 PM
      Not enticing until I see a reasonably price unlimited plan.
    1. mmaboi21's Avatar
      mmaboi21 - 01-18-2012, 10:18 PM
      About time att&t...
    1. ta84's Avatar
      ta84 - 01-18-2012, 10:59 PM
      Boy am i glad i switchto tmobile prepaid. For $30 a month i get 5GB of 4g speeds (unlimited at edge speeds), unlimited text, and 100 minutes. Plus i'm not on contact and the galaxy s2 is pretty competitive to the 4s.
    1. flightsim's Avatar
      flightsim - 01-18-2012, 11:15 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Truckerbear View Post
      Next year when Sprint gets the iPhone 5,6, LTE whatever its called it will certainly have 4G and all this will be a non issue because you can use the 4G and talk and they have unlimited plans and will always have unlimited plans.. AT&T is changing because they are losing people every day due to connectivity issues and throttling.
      Incorrect. ATT is thriving. Check your sources. They also had the lowest percentage of complaints.

      Quote Originally Posted by hadzo View Post
      Well thanks a lot for making our lives a 💩 hole... Take this as you want but it's cuz of ppl like you that we get capped at 2GB any more. 30-40GB PER MONTH 😱 wtf! you can't get on a wifi for heavy downloads??? I don't care about the whole "but it's unlimited crap" you sir are a data hog!
      Way wrong, they allow unlimited data users to get more data, seeing as how they "raise the roof" and that top 5% is much higher. As long as your not in the top 5%, your good to go. Its basic math, we should be thankful for people like this!
    1. 14u2nv's Avatar
      14u2nv - 01-19-2012, 12:39 AM
      <<< still sticking with the unlimited plan. When I get the Ipad 3 I'll get one of those for it.
    1. Icemanmods's Avatar
      Icemanmods - 01-19-2012, 12:43 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by toawkanavngthded View Post
      The moment they stop honoring unlimited data on AT&T I'm out!!

      They already have.. they kicked my parents off of the unlimited, and put them on tethering for using netflix ON THE PHONE.. not even tethering.. throttling .. nothing they just changed them outright.
    1. Airwaves182's Avatar
      Airwaves182 - 01-19-2012, 01:40 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by A3gOwner View Post
      Yes I am sorry. It's not my fault they offered us unlimited data and some of us actually used it as unlimited. I travel a lot and sharing a 20+mb cable connection for a whole hotel, speeds can get ridiculously slow and 3G is faster. I used my phone for everything from Netflix to Hulu because with the $30 dollar/month unlimited data and the $30 dollars/month for Netflix and Hulu is still cheaper than cable where I'm at. Plus way more content. So say as you wish but it's not our fault for using a ton of bandwidth it's AT&T for giving it to us. Now they are taking it away slowly but surely. It wasn't the last five months tho either I've been in Iraq for six months and returned a couple of months ago. The last two months since I've been home it's been throttled right round 2-3gb.
      I'm guessing 30gb were used on pornn?? Haha
    1. MikePA's Avatar
      MikePA - 01-19-2012, 02:17 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ikesmasher View Post
      Why is there not an unlimited plan still? no one even likes even thinking about having to worry about data...at least no one who uses more than 2GB.
      For reasons, refer to all the threads when ATT got rid of their unlimited plan.
    1. draztikbeast's Avatar
      draztikbeast - 01-19-2012, 02:53 AM
      Pretty much i will take my unlimited and change it to 3GB. There is no sense for me having to keep the unlmtd if they slow my speed down. Ive only used 2.14GB and they throttled me. Really what a pain.
    1. AUZambo's Avatar
      AUZambo - 01-19-2012, 05:02 AM
      Anyone know when these rates go into affect? I'm grandfathered into unlimited, but in the last year I have yet to go over 2 GB, so I'm about to drop down to the 2 GB plan and save me an extra $10 a month (we have two iPhones on our plan)....but if I then won't be grandfathered into the $25/month deal I'll just stick with the unlimited.

      *EDIT: Whoops...should have read the whole article. I guess I need to make the change in the next few days. I'll have to call them and see if I can hold onto my $25/2GB plan or if they'll force me to change to the $30/3.
    1. Mbeck0265's Avatar
      Mbeck0265 - 01-19-2012, 07:07 AM
      I have multiple lines on my account and I am the only one with the unlimited data. I like the idea of an extra gig for 5$. I do think that they are having a little pressure to bring back the unlimited plan because of sprint. Fingers crossed that it will return
    1. JacquesChirac's Avatar
      JacquesChirac - 01-19-2012, 07:47 AM
      This isn't a steal by any stretch of the imagination. These new plans are horrible for the consumer and typical AT&T price gouging.

      Firstly, most users don't ever get close to using 2GB of data. AT&T knows that. It deliberately makes data plans that either provide too much or too little, and that's because that's how it makes money. If everyone used data at capacity, it'd be a huge hit on AT&T's profits. These more expensive data plans basically translate into fast cash at the cost of an almost negligibly increased pressure for them to expand and improve their networks.

      Think about it.

      If you're someone (like a huge swath of people out there) who just wants an iphone, plans on using it primarily through wifi, and has no desire to use much or any data on your phone, you used to be forced into paying $15/month for a service you didn't want. That a $360 fee for using an iphone over your two-year contract. With these new contracts, that's now $480!

      The same applies to the 2GB data plan. A moderate amount of data usage on the iphone usually involves maybe at most 1GB. Few people use the phone constantly for video streaming and data uploading, so generally most users (not counting those who tether of course) who use their data freely without worrying about their data expenditure rarely go over 1GB. Trust me, AT&T knows this. They do market research and hire fancy consultants to crunch the numbers and figure out how they can quietly increase their profits and screw their customers. They did the same thing when they got rid of the $5/month texting plans (they realized it was too convenient for texters and would prompt people to shy away from more expensive texting plans now that most texts can be sent over the internet) and forced everyone into more expensive texting plans.

      Each of these little $5 increases translate into $120 extra you have to pay over your contract to AT&T. Don't let them fool you.
    1. Greatbiguns's Avatar
      Greatbiguns - 01-19-2012, 08:39 AM
      I love new plans, but could someone please explain to AT&T that the definition of "Unlimited" is "unconstrained, unrestrained, unfettered". In layman terms there is NO CAP, No Maximum!! Why are they threatening loyal, long term customers with throttling down their internet speed??? That is just NOT Right. A better question is, why am I staying with a company that is punishing it's loyal long term customers? I guess its finally time to look elsewhere for a Truly Unlimited Plan.
      What a shame...
    1. Bluemoldycheeze88's Avatar
      Bluemoldycheeze88 - 01-19-2012, 09:22 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by R.Mortera View Post
      Same here. Really worth it.
      It's not worth it anymore. You get throttled after 2 Gigs to Edge data.
    1. mmaboi21's Avatar
      mmaboi21 - 01-19-2012, 10:37 AM
      A buddy just emailed me this.
      Not too bad
      AboutUs Mobile
    1. hadzo's Avatar
      hadzo - 01-19-2012, 02:58 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by A3gOwner View Post
      Yes I am sorry. It's not my fault they offered us unlimited data and some of us actually used it as unlimited. I travel a lot and sharing a 20+mb cable connection for a whole hotel, speeds can get ridiculously slow and 3G is faster. I used my phone for everything from Netflix to Hulu because with the $30 dollar/month unlimited data and the $30 dollars/month for Netflix and Hulu is still cheaper than cable where I'm at. Plus way more content. So say as you wish but it's not our fault for using a ton of bandwidth it's AT&T for giving it to us. Now they are taking it away slowly but surely. It wasn't the last five months tho either I've been in Iraq for six months and returned a couple of months ago. The last two months since I've been home it's been throttled right round 2-3gb.
      I have netflix and Hulu plus and some web links to streaming content and in my busiest month I didn't break 15GB! This type of network isn't like broadband it takes a hit pretty bad when ton of data is streamed/downloaded forcing cheap companies to take action...

      Yes I get what unlimited means, and they are not cutting your data just slowing it down so that in a sense you wont be dumping 30GB, instead you'll manage 10GB with that speed, per month.

      Quote Originally Posted by flightsim View Post
      Way wrong, they allow unlimited data users to get more data, seeing as how they "raise the roof" and that top 5% is much higher. As long as your not in the top 5%, your good to go. Its basic math, we should be thankful for people like this!

      I get you're point ... its just that these type of usage is what started the whole thing.
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