AT&T kills off unlimited smartphone data, announces cheaper rates

By on Jun 2, 2010 at 5:58 AM
Services June 2, 2010

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Ladies and Gentleman, unlimited smartphone data from AT&T is a thing of the past. Or at least it will be as of June 7th. Starting that day, AT&T will introduce two new data plans to replace its current $30 unlimited smartphone plan. Without a bunch of preamble and crying over the changes, here’s the skinny on the plans that AT&T says will make it possible for “more affordable for more people to enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet.”

DataPlus

  • 200MB of data for $15 per month. AT&T says this will be enough data to meet the needs of 65% of its smartphone users. If you go over the 200MB cap, AT&T will charge you $15 per 200MB of overages.

DataPro

  • 2GB of data for $25 per month. According to AT&T, only 2% of its smartphone customers manage to blow through more than 2GB of data per month. Go over the limit and you’ll be charged $10 per GB.

Tethering

  • Smartphone users that want tethering and have a DataPro plan can add the feature for $20 per month. This means you’ll be sharing 2GB between your phone and your laptop for $45 per month. Not great at all, but remember this: A 5GB data card plan costs $60 per month. This means — with overages — you’ll be able to have 5GB of smartphone and tethering data for $75 and not have to worry about two contracts. Oh, and “Tethering for iPhones will be available when Apple releases iPhone OS 4 this summer.” About bloody time.

iPad

  • The $29.99 unlimited data plan for the iPad has not escaped the chop. Starting June 7th, new iPad customers will have two options: $15 for 250MB and $25 for 2GB of data. Any iPad customers who wish to stick to the $30 unlimited plan are free to do so, but AT&T is hoping most people will opt to save $5 and change plans.

As much as it hurts to see unlimited plans die off (and don’t pretend we didn’t know it was coming), the new rates will make data more accessible to those who don’t have a lot of coins in their coffer. And again, to be perfectly clear, you are welcome to stay on the current $30 unlimited smartphone data plan, but if you think you can squeak by on the new plans and save $5 to $15, AT&T will move you over to the DataPlus or DataPro plan without renewing your data commitment. Awww, so sweet.

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  • Abe Aalen

    That $15 is a money trap. $15 more if you go over 200MB? That’s insane.

    This is good for AT&T. They’ll get new customers who don’t want to fork over $30 a month for data. Their network should get q breather once people restrict their usage. And they’ll make more money from people who go over their limit. Oh, and some of the bandwidth hogs (like me) will go elsewhere, which will further clear up their network.

    Win, win, win. The person/team who came up with this plan should get a bonus.

  • latinjersey

    the bottom line is that if you own an itouch or the wifi version ipad you did all your gaming and media via wifi. these plans only pertain to att smartphones which all have wifi and att has the largest wifi footprint of any other wireless carrier. it’s a give and take people have been whining about tethering on an iPhone, well now they’re giving it to you. but it also means they’re gonna take that unlimited name off your plan. I average 1.5 gigs a month on the iPhone so if I wanted to I can switch to data pro plan and save 5 bucks a month.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • doublejizzle

    Everyone will now follow suit probably except Sprint. If VZW goes this route, I may have to bail. True indeed, I averaged less data on my WinMo phone, but with my Droid, I do use a gig or so a month. I still don’t see how they have the audacity to charge $20 a month to tether when it eats up your 2GB monthly limit and doesn’t have it’s own allotment? If the phone can natively tether, what is the $20 fee for. That is just gouging and I hope the FCC steps in.

  • Soddy

    Don’t see the point. I checked a few of my past bills and I’m averaging around 600mb of use a month. So I’m only saving $5 a month and have to worry about a data cap? Any word if VZW is planning this as well?

  • Daniel Spielman

    I’ve been using the Media Max 200 Unlimited plans for ages (20/month for unlimited data + 200 text messages). I decided to upgrade to the $30 unlimited text/data plan before it goes away.

  • Syl3r

    Teather really what the hell. AT&T is giving me more reasons to leave em this new iPhone better be something special cause my 8g had become super slow

  • Giorgio

    This is going to be huge for the industry as a whole.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • Fanboyardee

    EVO is looking better and better. Does anyone realize just how much extra ad data iPhones and Android devices pull down via their apps? I’m afraid these caps were calculated using a blended data usage of various smartphone models and those of us switching to save a few bucks will be surprised…

    Now, I wonder if they will force anyone uograding to an iPhone HD onto these plans…

    • justme

      nope if you have an existing 30 unlimited plan you can keep it until you decide to change it

    • Cold Dead Fingers

      Ads don’t use data until you click on them. All of those data pictures are also on iPod touch applications but that doesn’t mean the iPod is connected to the Internet.

  • Cold Dead Fingers

    Geez if you morons aren’t complaining about the iPhone, you’re complaining about AT&T!!!!! Most of you fuckers probably don’t have either!!! But ya I see what you mean because before, when I was forced to pay for unlimited data just because I bought a smartphone I was happy, despite the fact that I didn’t use data much, but now I’m so pissed because I can choose to buy a $15 plan to keep my bill at a cool $80 bucks as opposed to $100+. Ya AT&T is sooooo bad.

  • Brock

    Check out this article from CNET for more details, debunking some of the uninformed speculation being spouted by some on here…

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20006534-1.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

  • jimmy

    2 words……metroPCS

  • http://(null) nick9283

    bad move. your average consumer sees two things. Internet. and not Internet. keep it simple. have you ever tried to explain how much 200mb is? I rest my case.

    if this hits the I phone I pray for ATT.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • http://(null) nick9283

    @LenLar,
    key word… most.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • Blackberry Bold

    That 15 dollars plan is just a pure genius work. If you go over, you are charged for 15 dollars per 200MB?
    Time for another bill shock.

  • skyy_flyer

    So I’m not real good at the conversions but I have a Droid Incredible, and I’m sure that Verizon may or may not follow ATT’s leado n this depending upon how it works out, but when I do my #data it says I’ve used 1,299,262.76 kilobytes and was just curious how many gigabyte’s that is. As I still have about 14 or so days left for my month’s usage to reset.

  • andrew

    I really don’t have a problem with either a 2MB or a 2GB plan BUT if the carriers do have these they need to have real-time updated stats that you can refer to.

    In addition to that they should allow the user to opt in or out of going above their “cap” and or if a user is getting near their cap they send text message and email message letting know that they are getting near their cap and reply back to that “warning” will mean you have accepting to go over it and are willing to pay the overage.

  • david

    So with the new two way video chat feature and more video over 3G apps coming to the new iphone you can bet most will blow right on thru the 200MB plan and probably even thru the 2GB plan. I average 500MB a month on my iphone 3G – any word on whether we can get the next iphone 4G and still keep our unlimited data?

    • david

      …or have any unused data roll over to the next month like my minutes do?

    • Jimmy

      you can keep your unlimited plan even if you upgrade

  • Excustome

    Damn you ATT. After apple hooks up your network with a lot of customers and potential customers, this is how you say thanks.. So much for all my unlimited options…

  • chad

    It’s funny how people will allow themselves to get raped and still defend ATT just for privilege of having their precious itoy…lmao!!! Sheep…

  • jakeyboy

    thats ok, i’ve been ripping AT&T off since the 3G iPhone came out. I put my sim card from my original iPhone in it and have been using the 3G band since that time. Yeah yeah yeah, I get the texts and the emails a few times a month that say I can’t, but I’ve NEVER been charged accordingly. So that’s about 1.5 years + right? and thats at the cheap old school price from the original iPhone with the original data plan. I’ve reported this before, but nobody ever believes me. I’ve got two phones on my account and I share minutes, and only pay $115 a month. they way I see it, i’ve already been paid by at&t for their new rates…ha ha ha at&t…

  • pucs

    Okay, so my current monthly data usage on my Iphone averages around 500mb, so it appears I could save money by going from unlimited Data to the 25.00 2gb plan, but not so fast my friends! AT$T isn’t doing this change in data plans to help customers save money, AT$T is making this change from unlimited to limited in anticipation of the explosion of data that the next wave of smart phones are going to be able to use. AT$T sees the need to be in a position to collect on a usage based model. Anyone that has an unlimited data plan already would be asinine to give it up any sooner then they have to! don’t make your decision based on past usage because it means nothing!

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • Marc

    I can’t believe people really think AT&T has their best interest at heart. or any other private co. for that matter. Just goes to show you.

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