AT&T caps phone data usage with new wireless plans

[Throwin Darts]

From the article in case some of you didn't take the time to read it.

"Current subscribers will be able to keep their $30-per-month unlimited plans, even if they renew their contracts"

"starting Monday, new customers will have to choose one of two new data plans for all smart phones, including iPhones and BlackBerrys."

"One of the new AT&T plans will cost $25 per month and offer 2 gigabytes of data per month, which AT&T says will be enough for 98 percent of its smart phone customers."

"A second plan will cost $15 per month for 200 megabytes of data, which AT&T says is enough for 65 percent of its smart phone customers."

So it looks like a cheaper option that will accomodate 98% of customers is available for new subscribers.

I am on my iPhone all day and I average 0.8GB a month.

The other two iPhones on my plan average 600mb and 470mb.

Right now I am paying $90 in data for the three phones. I can modify to the new plan and pay $75 in data for all three or just keep my unlimited data plan.

Take a look at your data usage on ATT.com or through any of the multiple iPhone apps that track it and I bet you might be able to save some money.

[blacksunshine]

when looking at usage on the iphone, there is a listing for time since last full charge: usage and standby, then call time: current and lifetime, then cellular network data: sent and received.....then down at the bottom, below the 'reset stats' button, there is 'last reset', mine says never...

since it does not actually tell you the start date for these numbers....is there a way to determine that?

[Throwin Darts]

I've broken the 2,000 texts in one month barrier more than a few times

I've sent 4,098 texts this month and I still have four more days in my billing cycle!

[KDinTX]

Current subscribers will be able to keep their $30-per-month unlimited plans, even if they renew their contracts. But starting Monday, new customers will have to choose one of two new data plans for all smart phones, including iPhones and BlackBerrys.

from what i understand in readin this if you have ANY smart phone plan thats unlimited now, it dosnt change, even if you get a new phone or upgrade min, etc. I may even downgrade my iphone plan if it becomes cheaper as i use wireless at home and only use very little data plan when away.

[Throwin Darts]

Sounds like a bait and switch scheme to me. AT&T gave their customers a great deal with $30 a month unlimited data, and now that everyone is used to being able to use their phones the way they were were intended to be used, they're going to cap your data usage and charge you extra for going over. I bet a lot of people will get hammered on the first month with a new contract because they don't realize how much data they are using, get a new contract and all of a sudden, they're limited....bamm $1200 bill! Seen it happen with teenagers and the unlimited text plans that their parents cancelled, not realizing how many texts their kids actually send.

From the article.

"Current subscribers will be able to keep their $30-per-month unlimited plans, even if they renew their contracts"

[KDinTX]

i think ill be downgrading as ive only used 1.3 gb since last feb since mines never been reset and thats when i got my 3g, i do use the wireless alot but i guess it dont record that since its not their network usage

[CaptainDave]

i don't see it being that big a deal. 2 gig of data is a lot of data. i have only downloaded 3.1 in about 6 months.

I have a broadband modem for my laptop from Verizon that has a 5 gig limit.

The most that I have ever used was about 1.5 gigs. However, that was 8 plus hours on my company's VPN, uploading multiple files, etc, almost every day the entire month. On an average month, my usage is in the 800 mb range.

So yes, I will agree, 2 gigs is a lot of data and would be more than enough for the majority of people.

[Maddox]

I've used 57 Mb since 6:30 am

[blacksunshine]

ok, dummy here has logged in to his att account in the web, if I go into the second module on the right side (mine says GROUP USAGE, don't know if it is a single user), in the bottom right hand corner of that module is a link labeled 'view past data usage'.

this will actually show you in graphed view your past months data usage.

I would consider myself a user who would use more than average...but then again I don't do stupid you tube and crap like that...so, take it for what you will (although, I might bust into a justin.tv situation from time to time...look it up....)...that being said, dec09,jan10,feb10, I used .4gb each, then my usage dropped to .3mb in mar10, then somehow it went to 1.1gb in apr10, and in may10 I was at .6gb....

hmm...so it looks like, even with my heavy usage, i am still under the new highest plan...but, for $5 a month....I think I will stay with the unlimited..just in case...because if I do go over somehow....man, they will want an arm or a nut or something...$5 insurance plan is good for me....

[Maddox]

Look, if all you do is view internet websites you are not a heavy user. A heavy user is someone who listens to webcast, online radio, video conferencing (yes, you can do that), and transferring large amounts of photos from your phone to your favorite vanity website (facebook, *******, etc).

Im a heavy user just b/c I listen to talk radio and pandora radio through my phone.

[47]

Anybody want to buy my motorola flip phone?

It has call waiting and backlit keypad!

I still have my old one

[blacksunshine]

Look, if all you do is view internet websites you are not a heavy user. A heavy user is someone who listens to webcast, online radio, video conferencing (yes, you can do that), and transferring large amounts of photos from your phone to your favorite vanity website (facebook, *******, etc).

Im a heavy user just b/c I listen to talk radio and pandora radio through my phone.

I think that just means you are one of the abusers who they are cracking down on with this new plan...

take it easy...just throwing that antagonism out there....

[quackerback]

i use wunderradio, pandora and i heart radio. i just dont have the time to do it all the time. i am not worried about it though, i have unlimited and my wife just signed up 2 weeks ago so we don't have to worry about our plan changing.

[Smart]

As a long time AT&T user, I am OK with this. I don't even come close to the 2GB max of the $25 plan. Looks like its a good way to save a little bit on the plan if you aren't an extreme data junkie.

[47]

As a long time AT&T user, I am OK with this. I don't even come close to the 2GB max of the $25 plan. Looks like its a good way to save a little bit on the plan if you aren't an extreme data junkie.

psst
I hope most of the AT&T iPhone users DO migrate over to Verizon, would free up a lot of bandwidth................... for me