Data Plan Archive

  • Unlimited data option disappears from iPads, AT&T tells grandfathered customers not to worry

    Unlimited data option disappears from iPads, AT&T tells grandfathered customers not to worry

    Posted on June 21, 2010 | No Comments
    Even though AT&T's $30 unlimited data plan technically went the way of the dodo back on June 7, the company had assured 3G iPad owners that they'd be entitled to one last hurrah -- buy an iPad prior to the 7th and you'd be allowed to grandfather into the old plan, even if you didn't receive your purchase by the deadline. Problem is, the unlimited plan option finally disappeared off AT&T-connected iPads for the first time today, leaving some of these eligible folks who haven't yet signed up for 3G data in the lurch. Not to worry, though: AT&T says that everyone who's eligible "will be able to select the unlimited plan" and that "details will follow." In other words, we don't know how this is going to work yet, but at least the carrier's aware of the issue. Stay tuned.

    Unlimited data option disappears from iPads, AT&T tells grandfathered customers not to worry originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Sprint to begin throttling data this summer? (update: not exactly)

    Sprint to begin throttling data this summer? (update: not exactly)

    Posted on June 11, 2010 | No Comments
    You know the fine print of your EVO 4G contract that gives Sprint the right to limit throughput speeds without notice? Skipped past that part? Well, consider this your unofficial notice. If what we're reading above is accurate, then Sprint appears ready to introduce data throttling this summer. Where and how are the big questions. The image above received from a tipster appears to have been grabbed from Sprint's own "The Playbook," though we have no way of confirming that at this time. It certainly make sense though given T-Mobile USA's recent move away from overage charges in favor of throttling.

    Update: We're hearing from a couple sources that the shot here from The Playbook is a little out of context, and actually refers to a new feature for businesses looking to restrict disproportionately high usage by employees with company data cards. That sounds a little less painful, does it not? Thanks, everyone!

    Sprint to begin throttling data this summer? (update: not exactly) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • UK’s O2 to impose 3G data limits for iPhone 4 users

    UK’s O2 to impose 3G data limits for iPhone 4 users

    Posted on June 10, 2010 | No Comments
    It seems like the entire United Kingdom (at least those who aren't out partying it up with Patsy Kensit at the Met Bar) has emailed us in the last two minutes to clue us in on the fact that O2 has posted its new iPhone 4 pricing. It looks like your beloved "unlimited 3G" plans of are a thing of the past -- instead, you'll be paying for up to 1GB of data of month. As you approach the limit, a text message will notify you and let you purchase an 500MB for £5 or 1GB for £10. How very AT&T of them, eh? But don't worry, kids! Texting is still unlimited.

    [Thanks to everyone who sent this in... and we mean everyone.]

    UK's O2 to impose 3G data limits for iPhone 4 users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Dan Hesse email: ‘no current plans’ to alter data pricing

    Dan Hesse email: ‘no current plans’ to alter data pricing

    Posted on June 3, 2010 | No Comments
    Bypassing a company's power structure altogether and contacting the CEO directly is the vogue thing to do right now -- and in light of the AT&T incident this week, it probably behooves said CEOs (and / or their assistants) to earn some PR brownie points by responding with a positive attitude. Take this response from Sprint boss Dan Hesse, for example, in reply to a request that the company "keep [its] great pricing and customer service, and most importantly -- keep unlimited data." In short, Hesse says "one can never say 'never,' but [the company] has no current plans to change our pricing." That's certainly the "correct" thing to say coming off AT&T's big strategy shift toward killing unlimited and hints from Verizon that it'll do the same, but whether Sprint is able to hold the line when the WiMAX airwaves are flooded with EVO 4Gs and EVO 4G-like devices is another matter altogether. We'll see.

    [Thanks, Matt P.]

    Dan Hesse email: 'no current plans' to alter data pricing originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • AT&T users can keep $30 unlimited data when upgrading phones… unless they want tethering

    AT&T users can keep $30 unlimited data when upgrading phones… unless they want tethering

    Posted on June 2, 2010 | No Comments
    digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/AT_T_forces_you_to_choose_wisely_young_grasshopper'; There's naturally been a ton of feedback in the past few hours on AT&T's new data pricing strategy, and the company has been responding to comments all morning over on its Facebook page; one of the key tidbits that's come out of the discussion so far is that folks on the current $30 smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan when upgrading hardware. Translation: yes, you'll be able to get a new iPhone without switching to the $25 / 2GB DataPro plan if you so choose. What you won't be able to do, though, is keep the $30 plan and add on the $20 tethering option -- tethering specifically requires DataPro, so your hopes and dreams of a soft 5GB cap are quashed (unless you want to pay $30 for 3GB of overage, of course).

    On a related note, we've been tipped that some folks' iPad orders from Apple have been pushed back to June 7 -- an interesting coincidence, considering that's when DataPlus and DataPro go live. If true, it's likely so that Apple can pre-install new orders with updated software for managing the new plans, but it's also a preemptive strike against a horde of people trying to grandfather into the $30 plan over the next few days.

    [Thanks, John and Aaron]

    AT&T users can keep $30 unlimited data when upgrading phones... unless they want tethering originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • AT&T makes sweeping changes to data plans, iPhone tethering coming at OS 4 launch

    AT&T makes sweeping changes to data plans, iPhone tethering coming at OS 4 launch

    Posted on June 2, 2010 | No Comments
    var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_tethering_and_new_price_plans_coming_to_AT_T_June_7'; You might think that AT&T would hold off for a national HSPA+ deployment or a full-on LTE launch before tweaking its data pricing strategy, but not so much -- the carrier is coming out swinging today with some significant changes that should benefit the overwhelming majority of its smartphone users (and could stand to harm a select few). Let's break down the major points:

    DataPlus / DataPro
    • The existing $30 fair-use "unlimited" smartphone data plan is being replaced by two new options: $15 per month for 200MB and $25 for 2GB (called "DataPlus" and "DataPro," respectively). Customers currently on the $30 plan are welcome to stay on it, but they can switch at any time without extending their contract.
    • AT&T's new overage system is arguably the game changer: on the $15 plan, you'll pay $15 for each additional 200MB, but on the $25 plan, you'll pay $10 for each additional GB. It's simple and straightforward -- but most importantly, it won't bankrupt you if you go over by a gig or three in a month. This compares to $50 per gigabyte of overage on AT&T's 5GB DataConnect plan for laptops.
    • The carrier's going to be very flexible about changing between the DataPlus and DataPro plans -- if you're on DataPlus, for example, and you discover that you're blowing past your allotment, you can choose either to start DataPro the following billing cycle, pro-rate it, or apply the higher plan retroactively to the beginning of your current billing cycle. That's pretty wild.
    Tethering
    • Tethering will be offered as an add-on to the DataPro plan for an additional $20 per month, which means you'll pay a total of $45 a month for 2GB of data shared between your phone and your tethered devices. If you're light on the usage, it's a sweet deal -- but if you scale it up and you're using the data almost exclusively on your laptop, it compares unfavorably to the traditional DataConnect plan: $60 versus $75 for 5GB (and in the unlikely even you've got a webOS device on Verizon, it compares even less favorably). If you're striking a balance of data use between a smartphone and tethered gear, AT&T's new setup is still pretty solid considering that you would've been paying $60 for the USB stick plus $30 for smartphone data before.
    • Yes, it's finally happening: AT&T's iPhones will get access to the tethering option, too.
    iPad
    • iPad users are also affected by the change. The $30 iPad data plan -- lauded for being labeled by AT&T as truly unlimited -- goes away to be replaced by the same $25 / 2GB plan that smartphone users will see, though current subscribers to the $30 plan can continue unaffected.
    Everything launches on June 7, except for iPhone tethering -- it'll launch when OS 4 does. In the meantime, we're told users can sign up for the $30 plans both on their phones and iPads if they'd like to be grandfathered in. Follow the break for more details along with AT&T's full press release.

    Continue reading AT&T makes sweeping changes to data plans, iPhone tethering coming at OS 4 launch

    AT&T makes sweeping changes to data plans, iPhone tethering coming at OS 4 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service

    T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service

    Posted on November 18, 2009 | No Comments
    Good old T-Mobile's on a roll these days with new phone plans, and this one seems perfectly catered to stocking stuffers. The quartet of phones start at $59.99, but so far we know of two: BlackBerry Curve 8520 for $299.99 and the Pearl for $149.99, according to the Best Buy stores we contacted. There's no contract commitment, and according to the press release, the first month is included in the bill from the point the phone's out of the box and activated. We don't know the details of that first month of service (data? texting?), but it's still a pretty penny for an unsubsidized handset. After that second month, of course, T-Mo's probably hoping you'll be enticed to keep with the network. If not already, you should start seeing the phones pop up at local Best Buy and select Walmart locales shortly. Press release after the break.

    Continue reading T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service

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    T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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