New IPhone Data Plan...

[d96j97]

I was reading somewhere that you can no longer sign up for unlimited Data Plans with AT&T. Is this correct? I have an IPhone that I got for a Christmas gift and absolutely LOVE it. I can't imagine living without it...I know...sounds a bit crazy, huh? I think AT&T is only hurting themselves if they are limiting the plan.

 

[dex08]

You are correct -- you can no longer get an unlimited data plan with their smartphones. However, if you are an existing customer you can continue your unliimited plan.

The new plans are 200MB for $15/mo or 2GB for $25/mo.

I did an analysis of our bills and we've never even come close to the 2GB of data, however we've gone over 200MB every month.

I think AT&T is finding ways to make their plans more affordable for consumers while at the same time charge "super-users" for their additional usage. It's actually quite smart of them.

I doubt if we'll ever go over 2GB per phone. The only area where I think we would is if we were to stream Netflix (new feature with the iPhone 4), but we quit our Netflix membership so it's not a big deal for us.

 

[TheRatPack]

Yikes....guess that seals the deal for me. We won't be getting one without the safety of unlimited data, with 2 teens I like the safety net of unlimited LOL

 

[Anjelica]

All 3GS and the new Iphone 4 have wifi which you can setup to automatically switch you to wifi when you receive a signal. AT&T has over 20,000 wifi area's in the nation so chances are you will get the wifi. With this in mind, the new data plans should have almost no bearing on most of the iphone users as 98% use less than 2GB per month (the top data plan cap).

Honestly - its going to create more sales for AT&T because of the fact that many people didn't want to pay 30.00 a month for a data plan. Now you have the option of paying 15.00 or 25.00 a month for either data plan and quite a few folks are more willing to fork out the 15.00 a month ESPECIALLY for an iphone.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

All 3GS and the new Iphone 4 have wifi which you can setup to automatically switch you to wifi when you receive a signal. AT&T has over 20,000 wifi area's in the nation so chances are you will get the wifi. With this in mind, the new data plans should have almost no bearing on most of the iphone users as 98% use less than 2GB per month (the top data plan cap).

Honestly - its going to create more sales for AT&T because of the fact that many people didn't want to pay 30.00 a month for a data plan. Now you have the option of paying 15.00 or 25.00 a month for either data plan and quite a few folks are more willing to fork out the 15.00 a month ESPECIALLY for an iphone.

I agree that for every customer who decides against the iphone because unlimited 3G data is not available, there will be another customer who decides to get an iphone now that you can add a line to a family plan for as low as $25.

We are going to wait to see how our usages changes after 6/21 when multitasking is added. I predict my DH will be doing a lot of Pandora streaming while reading e-mails. Unless my usages chagnes dramaticallly, at that point we will probably lower my plan to the $15 per month because I have never exceeded 200gb. My DH is already over that, so the potential saving is only $5. Of course, any $$ savings will probably go into locking in the unlimited data plan on our ipad at $30 per month! -- Suzanne

 

[BlakeNJ]

I just got an iPhone. My bill has been astronomical. What is considered data use? I normally text, upload pictures to Facebook, send pictures via text to friends and surf the internet/Facebook/Disboards. It sounds as if I should turn on my wifi more often.

Any suggestions?

 

[Green Tea]

Yikes....guess that seals the deal for me. We won't be getting one without the safety of unlimited data, with 2 teens I like the safety net of unlimited LOL

My child uses his ALL the job. And he has never hit the 2 gb. I am a heavy user, or so I thought. I've never hit the 200 mb.

 

[Green Tea]

I just got an iPhone. My bill has been astronomical. What is considered data use? I normally text, upload pictures to Facebook, send pictures via text to friends and surf the internet/Facebook/Disboards. It sounds as if I should turn on my wifi more often.

Any suggestions?

Why wouldn't you be using it on wifi if it was available?

You can go to the ATT website and it will have a summary of your data useage. You can see what you are using.

 

[savage1]

I don't get it. Does Wifi limit data usage? How?

 

[sherry7]

Why wouldn't you be using it on wifi if it was available?

You can go to the ATT website and it will have a summary of your data useage. You can see what you are using.

Wi-fi uses more battery life from the phone, so that is why some people choose not to use it even when it is available. I personally have the Wi-fi set to "off" on my phone to conserve battery life.

I don't have AT&T (I have Verizon Wireless, with the Motorola Droid), but I just checked a couple of months of my data usage out of curiosity. During one month I used 470 MB, and for the second month I used 665 MB...so the $15 plan for 200 MB from AT&T wouldn't even come close to working for me. I'm not really a "power user" of my phone, but I do listen to internet radio a couple of times a week while I'm at work, and that really racks up the data usage.

I think AT&T is making a huge mistake with this decision. They need to invest some $$$ and upgrade their infrastructure to support the higher demand for data.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Question: I just got an iPhone yesterday and missed the unlimited data plan by 1 day. Chances are, I wouldn't have needed it, but I hate worrying about if I'm going over. Anyway, I chose the 2GB plan. If after a month or two I see that I don't even go over 200MB (don't think this will happen, but who knows?), can I switch to the 200MB plan? I'm thinking not without a penalty or something, since it will be a downgrade. Correct me if I'm wrong - I'm new to the contract cell phone thing. I used to have prepaid. Thanks!

 

[Anjelica]

Wi-fi uses more battery life from the phone, so that is why some people choose not to use it even when it is available. I personally have the Wi-fi set to "off" on my phone to conserve battery life.

I don't have AT&T (I have Verizon Wireless, with the Motorola Droid), but I just checked a couple of months of my data usage out of curiosity. During one month I used 470 MB, and for the second month I used 665 MB...so the $15 plan for 200 MB from AT&T wouldn't even come close to working for me. I'm not really a "power user" of my phone, but I do listen to internet radio a couple of times a week while I'm at work, and that really racks up the data usage.

I think AT&T is making a huge mistake with this decision. They need to invest some $$$ and upgrade their infrastructure to support the higher demand for data.

I would be SHOCKED if Verizon wasn't far behind with their own data limiting plan. AT&T has the iphone, Verizon doesn't - trust me, AT&T WILL gain more customers with their option of new data plans. The new iphone's have battery power lifes similar to the ipad so running it off of wifi is not an issue.

98% of current customers do not use more than 2GB as it stands today. No one is making those who have the unlimited plan today get rid of it - it is only for new customers and those who wish to switch phones.

 

[Amandaj0831]

I heard other companies will also be doing this soon. I also wonder if it is a way to get people to sign new contracts quick so you are locked into unlimited rates. I know our ATT is up in Sep and we are switching and are thinking of doing it early for that reason. We drop calls with ATT all the time. So yes they def. need to upgrade maybe this is how they are funding it?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Question: I just got an iPhone yesterday and missed the unlimited data plan by 1 day. Chances are, I wouldn't have needed it, but I hate worrying about if I'm going over. Anyway, I chose the 2GB plan. If after a month or two I see that I don't even go over 200MB (don't think this will happen, but who knows?), can I switch to the 200MB plan? I'm thinking not without a penalty or something, since it will be a downgrade. Correct me if I'm wrong - I'm new to the contract cell phone thing. I used to have prepaid. Thanks!

AT&T says you can downgrade without penalty. If you go over on the 2GB plan, you get another 1GB for $10. You can monitor your monthly date use online or on the free ATT app. I already use this app to monitor texts each month. -- Suzanne

 

[SandrA9810]

as long as they don't limit the text messaging, it's ok. I'm always on IMs and more so this month because there's no internet here (AT&T is finally laying the lines for UVerse in a verizon only territory). I have over 18000 texts... An ultimate high for me, i usually average 2-3,000.
I've been on my phone daily browsing the web... Mostly dis, email, and a little facebook. And i'm up to 321mb. I average under 200 when i spend time on the computer.


When i read the first post it was a little annoying, but after checking my usage, saving 15$ a month really isn't that bad.


And you can always change your plan... Downgrade or upgrade to fit your needs. I usually do small upgrades as i see fit. Like my texts used to be limited to 400 a month.... Then when i started to go over by 300 one month i upped it to family unlimited plan. Same with data usage before i got the smart phone. Had 1mb/400text plan for like 5$... Went to family unlimited texting for 20$ and upped my data to like 5mb for 5$.
Minutes have never been an issue and there's a ton in rollover. So 750mins for 60$ is a great deal compared to the rate plans now (which was setup in '03-'04ish). It's either too little or too much for the price.
I've also added international calling one month to get the rate cheaper, but i only needed it for a few calls. So i dropped it after i was done, and only paid for it for the time i had it.
They're also pretty good about letting you backdate a feature... Like you go over your texting limit, just give them a call and they'll add it to your plan for the previous month and credit your account.

When i got my new phone it was preprogramed in, but there's *#'s you can call to get your bill balance, check your minute usage, data/texting, and other stuff. As well as keeping up with it on the website.

 

[Green Tea]

Wi-fi uses more battery life from the phone, so that is why some people choose not to use it even when it is available. I personally have the Wi-fi set to "off" on my phone to conserve battery life.

I don't have AT&T (I have Verizon Wireless, with the Motorola Droid), but I just checked a couple of months of my data usage out of curiosity. During one month I used 470 MB, and for the second month I used 665 MB...so the $15 plan for 200 MB from AT&T wouldn't even come close to working for me. I'm not really a "power user" of my phone, but I do listen to internet radio a couple of times a week while I'm at work, and that really racks up the data usage.

I think AT&T is making a huge mistake with this decision. They need to invest some $$$ and upgrade their infrastructure to support the higher demand for data.

WiFi uses so much less battery than pulling from the data network!!!

And when on wifi, you are not using "data."

 

[TheRatPack]

Well, how exactly will it work? I know we have 3 on our 'family plan' right now. I'm the only one with unlimited Data but I don't have an IPhone so I get it for 10 or 15.00 a month (LG VU, not a smartphone). My oldest son and daughter are on the plan too....would it be 25.00 for each of us if/when we upgraded to an Iphone or another smartphone? My son does 10,000 or so text a month, and loves Youtube, Internet radio...etc so unlimited just seemed more fitting for him. He'll be paying for his own data plan but it'll all be billed on my family plan, so I don't want him to go over....but I suppose paying for his own data usage will keep him on his toes about not going over LOL

 

[Golf4food]

FYI - this is the reason AT&T is changing the data plan (and it ain't to save you money!):

Burried in the announcement about iPhone 4 last week was a little snippet about the upcoming Netflix app - already available for iPad - that will be available later this summer for iPhone and will allow for streaming movies over WiFi to your phone but will shortly thereafter be available over 3G networks... if you think data usage is high now, just wait until people are trying to stream movies over 3G to their phones. It will be crazy. What to do? Drop everyone from the unlimited plan so you can hit those heavy users with extra fees for going over the 2GB each month.

THAT is why they changed the plans now. Do it before most people know why so there is a disassociation between the two and before the service is available to abuse.

Other companies would do the same thing if they had a Netlix app. Once other carriers have the same data streaming bandwidth issues they'll find ways to cap it as well.

America is so far behind other developed countries in internet and cell data speeds it is a joke. We aren't even in the top 20.

 

[madge]

... ok. I have a 1st generation iPhone. Unlimited data plan. If I upgrade to 3Gs or 4G, there's no change to what I already have, right?

 

[abmitch01]

boo hoo, because I was hoping to watch netflix on it on occasion

so many decisions, a Sprint guy at work is pushing hte Evo hard. But I've loved Apple products