AT&T debuts Mobile Protection Pack plan; iPad, iPhone need not apply

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Via a press release today, AT&T announced a new, comprehensive insurance offering dubbed Mobile Protection Pack. As the company explains, the new offering is a combination of three services: mobile insurance, enhanced support, and mobile locate. Mobile Protection, which will retail for $9.99 per month, covers subscribers against equipment loss, theft, accidental damage, liquid damage, and out-of-warranty malfunction. It also provides users with the ability to locate, lock, and trigger an alarm on a misplaced phone — and includes a handful of setup services. The complete list of covered devices can be found here, and includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Atrix 4G. Users looking to replace a damaged or lost device will have to pay a $50 or $125 deductible and, like all AT&T insurance offerings, Apple’s iPad and iPhone are not eligible. Hit the jump for the full press release.

AT&T Introduces the AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, a First-of-its-Kind Offer to Replace, Support, and Locate Your Mobile Device

Mobile Protection Pack features Mobile Insurance, Enhanced Support and Mobile Locate

AT&T* today announced the availability of the new AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, providing comprehensive protection and service support for several devices in AT&T’s mobile phone portfolio. The new package, available for $9.99 a month, combines two existing AT&T services – Mobile Insurance and Enhanced Support – along with the new Mobile Locate app, offered exclusively as part of the protection pack.

“This package is designed with the customer and their wireless support needs in mind,” said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Voice and Data Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Now concentrated in one service package, customers have a more convenient, affordable and seamless way to protect and manage their wireless device.”

AT&T Mobile Protection Pack combines the following services:

Mobile Insurance. Formerly Wireless Phone Insurance, Mobile Insurance provides replacement for approved claims involving loss, theft, accidental damage, liquid damage, or mechanical and electrical failure after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. Customers can sign up within 30 days of service activation or device upgrade.

Enhanced Support. Customers can take advantage of direct live support (via phone or web chat) for device setup, plus general “how to” help and ongoing troubleshooting assistance. Customers can also grant the service agent permission to remotely access a capable device and/or customer’s computer via a secure connection to help manage account and device needs.

Mobile Locate. Available exclusively within the AT&T Protection Pack, Mobile Locate allows users to remotely locate, lock or sound an alarm on their missing phone via the Mobile Protection Pack website. Compatible phones must be powered-on and be within an AT&T coverage area. Highlights include:

  • Locate missing phone in real-time. Customers can locate their phone in real time, plus retrieve the last five locations of the device, including turn-by-turn directions to each of the locations.
  • Sound an alarm. An alarm on the device can be activated, even if the phone is on silent or vibrate. The alarm will sound for three minutes unless turned off by the customer.
  • Secure data by remotely locking the phone. Customers have the ability to remotely lock the phone if lost. If the phone is found, customers can simply enter a unique pin to unlock the phone.

To enroll in and learn more about the AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, customers can call 866-MOBILITY or visit http://www.att.com/mobileprotectionpack.Mobile Insurance is available separately for $4.99 per month per enrolled mobile number. Enhanced Support is also available separately for $9.00 per month per enrolled mobile number.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Customers must enroll in AT&T Mobile Protection Pack within 30 days of activation date or device upgrade date. Existing Mobile Insurance customers can upgrade to the Mobile Protection Pack at any time. Both Mobile Insurance and Enhanced Support are available as standalone products, however Mobile Locate is only available as part of the Mobile Protection Pack. If the customer is enrolled in Mobile Protection Pack and decides to drop Mobile Insurance, both Enhanced Support and Mobile Locate will also be dropped. However, the customer can still purchase Enhanced Support separately for $9.00 per month per enrolled number. Mobile Locate is available on select phones. All features may not work on all devices. Visit att.com/mobileprotectionpack for more information.

Mobile Insurance: A nonrefundable deductible of either $50 or $125 applies, depending upon the device model for each approved claim. Claims may be fulfilled with a new or remanufactured device. Customers are allowed 2 claims within any consecutive 12 months with a maximum device value of $1,500 per occurrence. Customers can cancel the optional coverage at any time and receive a prorated refund of unearned premium. Mobile Insurance is insurance underwritten by Continental Casualty Company, a CNA company (CNA), and administered by Asurion Protection Services, LLC (in California, Asurion Protection Services Insurance Agency, LLC, CA Lic. #OD63161. In Puerto Rico, Asurion Protection Services of Puerto Rico, Inc.) a licensed agent of CNA.

21 Comments
  • http://twitter.com/Veeoh Mark Thomas

    Just don’t lose your phone.

    • Anonymous

      This makes Worst Buy’s PSP a great deal.

  • blada

    Was there nothing more interesting to write about other than about a move done by AT&T that no one on this site probably even cares about?

    • Anonymous

      98 million subs on AT&T. LOL I am sure many people care,

  • Anonymous

    this package sounds even worse than those “extended warranties’ sales people push on you at BB, etc

    save your money folks…

    • Anonymous

      by the way, do the math; you own cell phone and at month 12 you lose/drop/wreck it;

      youve paid $120 for the plan, and you have $125 deductible, and add in any extra fees (lets say $50, shipping handling, ‘processing fee’, etc.); now youll get, at best, a rather outdated *refurbished* unit at the cost of about $300

      ’nuff said

      • Nick

        If you make an insurance claim, there are no “other fees”. $50/$125 and that’s it. So if you buy an HTC Inspire, which has a retail price of $399, and you sign up for this insurance program, you pay $120 over one year. If you use it to make a claim at 1 year, the deductible is $125. Do the math…$120 + $125 = $245. Far less than the $400 price tag on the phone itself. At some point, the cost of insurance and the deductible don’t make sense, so you know what you do? Remove it from your account!

      • Anonymous

        well, my mom went thru this (albeit not with this plan) with AT&T, and she got a 29.99 “processing fee” and 19.99 “s/h fee”; also, she got a ‘refurbished’ (NOT new) phone that looked liked it had been through trials in Afghanistan by a delta force

  • Ghostnyc

    Apple & RIM offer similar services that can remote lock, locate and wipe device if lost or stolen, they both also offer ability to remotely back up.

    Also with associated deductibles and fees as with traditional “extended warranty” plans it doesn’t seem worth it. However I would like a more detailed explanation of “liquid damage” ?

    I will repeat the best advice already seen here in the comments area- DONT LOSE YOUR DEVICE

  • BadaBadaBING

    It’s an Asurion feature…T-Mobile is on-board for June as well.

  • John

    Apple already provides these services – so it really ought not matter.

    • Nick

      Apple offers insurance to cover lost, stolen, or damaged?

    • Ryan

      Apple does not offer any replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged device u nitwit.

  • http://twitter.com/tn678 Tony

    Why are the iPhone and iPad always put up on this huge pedestal? Other phones are just as expensive or more expensive, and they qualify for regular insurance.

    • Anonymous

      Because Apple already offers AppleCare.

      • Ryan

        Apple does not offer any replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged device u nitwit.

  • Sincere

    I have iPhone protected through Mobile Protect or whatever the hell its called there’s an app for it (don’t sue me Apple) It cost $14 a month supposedly they are partners with AT&T and AT&T disables the phone sim and ESN when reported lost or stolen to mobile protect… So how is this insurance different besides being a few bucks cheaper?

    • Nick

      AT&T can block the IMEI all they want, the phone can still be used with a different SIM no problem. Also, the supposed $14 a month you pay, for a service that is only $12 a month BTW, doesn’t offer tech support. If you want that, you have to buy applecare.

  • Generatione

    What a rip off.

    • Ryan

      Whys that?

  • Anonymous

    I use SquareTrade. I’ve had awesome service for my iPhone and I’d just signed up for my iPad 2

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