AT&T's Unity plan widens "unlimited in-network calling" umbrella

If you still haven't managed to wrap you mind around this whole AT&T / Cingular dealio, don't sweat it -- you're not the only one. Luckily, all you need to know that if you're currently getting a pair of AT&T bills, one for your cellphone (Cingular), one for unlimited local calling and long distance on your AT&T (or BellSouth) landline, you're about to have a chance to save some Anytime Minutes and worry about one less bill with the new AT&T Unity plan. With about 100 million phone numbers being serviced by the new AT&T deal, it sounds like a good amount of people are going to be enjoying the benefits of the merger. Unfortunately, consumers that are currently getting by on just a mobile line won't be able to talk for free to their newfound AT&T landline brethren unless they sign for an unlimited landline as well -- which goes for about $50 a month -- so not quite everybody is going to be feeling the love.

[Via GigaOM]

[Sam @ Jan 19th 2007 1:43PM]

A lot of my friends don't even have landlines anymore. And most of those that do rarely use them.

[hesh @ Jan 19th 2007 2:15PM]

"wrap you mind"?

Come on guys, let's step up the proofreading. I hope your middle school english teachers don't read your articles.

Anyway, this is ridiculous. They should've just kept everything under the Cingular brand, but no, that would've made too much sense. I don't know too many people with landlines anymore either. I've got Vonage, but that's only so my mom doesn't call me on my cell at inopportune times.

[disciple83 @ Jan 19th 2007 2:20PM]

landlines are more costly than my cell, and with my anytime minutes plan and about 3K rollover minutes stored up, the only landline calls I make are to businesses these days, which take like 2-3 minutes tops. I didn't even realize a merger/buyout/hostile takeover was going on till I read here on engadget, and I still don't really care, as long as they leave my cellphone bill alone.

[Spartacus @ Jan 19th 2007 3:02PM]

And all you have to sacrifice to get those free calls is rollover, and your $39.99 plan. What engadget forgot is that cell plans will start at $60, to go with your $50 landline. Woohoo calling to 42 million AT&T landlines... no thanks.

I was (sorta) surprised to know that there are 16M more cellphones than wirelines on att.

[nigel @ Jan 19th 2007 4:05PM]

what merger? hasnt at&t owned cingular for years?what exactly is the point of all this? land lines will be gone in a few years anyway, i dont even own a house phone.

[BAMF @ Jan 19th 2007 4:26PM]

Actually it was Cingular who bought AT&T Wireless in 2004.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cingular

I can't help but snicker when I think about all the time and money that went into rebranding AT&T Wireless under the Cingular name... only to reverse the whole shebang and then some a mere 2.5 years later. I would be pretty pissed if I was a stockholder.

[JeremytheCamel @ Jan 19th 2007 4:06PM]

So does this mean Cingular may be getting more service in more areas. I want Cingular but they don't have the best of reception where I live.

[Mrmean @ Jan 19th 2007 4:09PM]

lol @ ATT

[Eric @ Jan 19th 2007 4:33PM]

True that not everyone has landlines but this sure will benefit the people who still do who also have a wireless line with Cingular.

[Loyal 2 No 1 @ Jan 19th 2007 4:59PM]

"Unfortunately, consumers that are currently getting by on just a mobile line won't be able to talk for free to their newfound AT&T landline brethren unless they sign for an unlimited landline as well -- which goes for about $50 a month "

Duh.. This also means they don’t have DSL as their choice for broadband. That's all fine and dandy, but complaining about this is like me complaining that Comcast (or your CP) will only offer (heavier) discounts when I get all of their services and not just one or two.

So the "POTS" line is twice that of Skype, that could be balanced with a different cell phone/TV package. I doubt your ol' azz mama will be using Skype-out on the regular, so she'll have one.

It's really just the reverse offering of the Cable companies at a similar price.

Instead of (This doesn’t take into account speeds and such):

Broadband for $40 and Phone for $30

It's:

Broadband for $20 and Phone for $50


Everybody wants themselves to be your sole entertainment/communications provider. So what's wrong with that?

[Bob @ Jan 19th 2007 6:36PM]

I wonder how this merger with AT&T might enhance coverage areas in regards to the new iPhone. I know that has been a complaint. I've got to think that Steve Jobs thought this all out.....

[GoPadge @ Jan 19th 2007 7:23PM]

Spartacus,

There aren't. Read the NYTimes article and you find this gem...

"The offer is not available for ... customers with a regular AT&T home or office line in states and markets where another company owns the local phone network..."

Meaning even if you use AT&T, but Verizon owns the lines you don't quality, (and therefore don't count.)

[Frankenstein Black @ Jan 19th 2007 7:58PM]

Colbert Explains The AT&T/Cingular Deal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj1Mtv9cD0I

[Hammer @ Jan 20th 2007 5:06AM]

Landlines are sooooooooo 1995. LOL