AT&T introduces larger, costlier data plans: $30 for 3GB, $20 for 300MB

245

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pmz View Post


    $20 for 300 MB



    automatic charge of $20 for additional 300 MB if you go over.



    Am I dreaming, or is that real? That is the most vulgar, grotesque thing I have ever seen.



    I don't see what all the fuss is about.



    Most people who are using the smallest plan probably don't come close to exceeding it (or do so infrequently). Remember, their current plan has them at 200MB for $15 with an automatic $15 charge if they go over 200MB. And these new rates are for new subscribers; current subscribers can keep their existing plan.



    Moreover, people who move to the new rates will be getting their data cheaper: the current plan gives them 13.33MB per dollar, the new plan gives them 15MB per dollar.



    Why would you want to pay extra money every month if your typical monthly usage is quite minimal? Having a $20 overage fee a couple of times a year ($40) is still a lot cheaper than than paying the extra ten dollars every single month for the next tier ($120).
  • Reply 22 of 82
    A "sumptuary tax" is NOT the best corporate response in this case.
  • Reply 23 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cameronj View Post


    I've told everyone I know - either get an iOS5 iPhone or don't text me, ever.



    Seriously, I personally walk them through or go to their house to make them upgrade so we can have free messaging. LOL



    That way I can keep my $5/200 txts to the "other people."
  • Reply 24 of 82
    $20 for 300MB?! Are you kidding? I pay £6 for 500MB, and I thought that was quite expensive by UK standards...
  • Reply 25 of 82
    just_mejust_me Posts: 590member
    Who would switch to lose their unlimited data?
  • Reply 26 of 82
    andysolandysol Posts: 2,506member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cameronj View Post


    I've told everyone I know - either get an iOS5 iPhone or don't text me, ever.



  • Reply 27 of 82
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wiggin View Post


    Yup, they are really saying that they don't what you to be on a small, reasonably priced plan. They want minimum $30/month from you. Bucause if you are on the small plan and hit 301 MB you'll be paying $40.



    I think all the major US carriers let you adjust your plans to get the beat pricing on data, voice and SMS/MMS, so long as you're within your data cycle.
  • Reply 28 of 82
    technotechno Posts: 737member
    Why does tethering cost anything? If you buy your data, you should be able to use it how you want. Imagine if every company priced things that way.



    Merchant: A loaf of bread costs $2.49. However if you plan to make a turkey sandwich with it, we will charge you $3.49.



    customer: why?



    Merchant: Because we want to provide you with the same quality service you are used to. In order to do that, we want to encourage you to buy a separate loaf for each type of sandwich you make.



    Customer: But what about the extra bread left over for each sandwich?



    merchant: Throw it away.



    Customer: That doesn't make sense.



    Merchant: Sure it does. This way we guarantee that your bread will be fresh for each sandwich.
  • Reply 29 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by techno View Post


    Why does tethering cost anything? If you buy your data, you should be able to use it how you want. Imagine if every company priced things that way.



    A loaf of bread costs $2.49. However if you plan to make a turkey sandwich with it, we will charge you $3.49.



    Well said. Great analogy!
  • Reply 30 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post


    I don't see what all the fuss is about.



    Most people who are using the smallest plan probably don't come close to exceeding it (or do so infrequently). Remember, their current plan has them at 200MB for $15 with an automatic $15 charge if they go over 200MB. And these new rates are for new subscribers; current subscribers can keep their existing plan.



    Moreover, people who move to the new rates will be getting their data cheaper: the current plan gives them 13.33MB per dollar, the new plan gives them 15MB per dollar.



    Why would you want to pay extra money every month if your typical monthly usage is quite minimal? Having a $20 overage fee a couple of times a year ($40) is still a lot cheaper than than paying the extra ten dollars every single month for the next tier ($120).



    What did you just say?!!!
  • Reply 31 of 82
    i shouldn't have to pay for a separate sms plan, just deduct those kb's from my tiered plan and i would have less of a problem.
  • Reply 32 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wiggin View Post


    Yup, they are really saying that they don't what you to be on a small, reasonably priced plan. They want minimum $30/month from you. Bucause if you are on the small plan and hit 301 MB you'll be paying $40.



    It's the same tactic the use when pricing text messages. You can pay 25 cents (or what is it now) for each message, or you can just pay us $20 for "peace of mind" that you won't get slammed with a huge bill if you sent a lot of text messages one month. That alone is enough that I will never switch to ATT. I do send text messages. Too many to be paying 25 cents each, but not enough to justify a $20/month charge on my bill. I'll stick with my $5/month for 250 plan, thankyouverymuch.



    That's why we need more competition.
  • Reply 33 of 82
    What's the answer to this problem of the high price for data in the U.S.? Is there any way to protest?
  • Reply 34 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post


    I don't see what all the fuss is about.



    Most people who are using the smallest plan probably don't come close to exceeding it (or do so infrequently). Remember, their current plan has them at 200MB for $15 with an automatic $15 charge if they go over 200MB. And these new rates are for new subscribers; current subscribers can keep their existing plan.



    Moreover, people who move to the new rates will be getting their data cheaper: the current plan gives them 13.33MB per dollar, the new plan gives them 15MB per dollar.



    Why would you want to pay extra money every month if your typical monthly usage is quite minimal? Having a $20 overage fee a couple of times a year ($40) is still a lot cheaper than than paying the extra ten dollars every single month for the next tier ($120).



    just have email pushed to my phone eats 10-15MBs daily for me, which puts me right up against that 200MB ceiling at the end of a month. that leaves me with what, five to ten minutes of web browsing afterwards?



    the 200MB plan is a joke.
  • Reply 35 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TheShepherd View Post


    What's the answer to this problem of the high price for data in the U.S.?



    Fire everyone in the government who allows themselves to be paid off and allow this.



    Quote:

    Is there any way to protest?



    I can imagine we've tried. Here we are five years later with nothing to show for it.
  • Reply 36 of 82
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sandyf View Post


    Think 79 million baby boomers beginning to retire.

    Think fixed budget.

    Think wifi in most homes, hotels, Starbucks & other hotspots.



    Now think an iPhone that is wifi only and doesn't require a data plan (like the iPad option).

    Now think ATT being the first to market.

    Think they might be able to gain market share (and sell monthly data plans on an as need basis)?

    Ya' think?

    Nahh...to renegade, to crazy.



    And think of the millions of dollars they'd lose monthly if they did that.

    That's not renegade, that's stupid, big difference.
  • Reply 37 of 82
    isn't that an ipod touch?
  • Reply 38 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by maccherry View Post


    What did you just say?!!!



    Current users who are happy with their plans have nothing to complain about.



    New subscribers will get more data per dollar.



    Heck, my monthly cellular data usage is about 100MB and I'm making about twenty minutes of calls. With such minimal usage (and great WiFi both at work and home), I'm actually using AT&T GoPhone Pay As You Go service. My monthly cellular expenses are approximately $12 (about $9-10 for cellular data, $2-3 for voice). I'm using Google Voice for texts, so those are free. Paying for a separate texting plan is silly, it is way overpriced that way.
  • Reply 39 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sandyf View Post


    Think 79 million baby boomers beginning to retire.

    Think fixed budget.

    Think wifi in most homes, hotels, Starbucks & other hotspots.



    Now think an iPhone that is wifi only and doesn't require a data plan (like the iPad option).

    Now think ATT being the first to market.

    Think they might be able to gain market share (and sell monthly data plans on an as need basis)?

    Ya' think?

    Nahh...to renegade, to crazy.



    isn't that an ipod touch?
  • Reply 40 of 82
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TheShepherd View Post


    What's the answer to this problem of the high price for data in the U.S.? Is there any way to protest?



    The problem is that we're the suckers that pay it. Why protest? If we all went back to feature phones without data plans they'll lower the price, supply and demand 101.
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