A better question is why exactly people aren't charged FAIR prices for the USAGE they do use, rather than a flat $40 monthly fee (minimum) which they may or may not utilize.
DickHardKnocks - that would be because AT&T is being charged themselves out the wahzoo for customer's international usage. Why wouldn't any carrier not want to exploit the easiest method of communication for international travelers?
Don't kid yourself into thinking that companies aren't out their to make a PROFIT.
A monthly plan allows AT&T or any company to recoup the costs of providing international roaming -- special billing systems, customer service departments, long distance contracts (all things that you can't expect to just come and go at the whims of YOUR usage), and per minute rates that are attractive to consumers but really have a very low profit margin for the company.
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So, you pay a bit over $1 per mb per month... which you might not even have a chance to use if you don't go out of the country every month.
A better question is why exactly people aren't charged FAIR prices for the USAGE they do use, rather than a flat $40 monthly fee (minimum) which they may or may not utilize.
DickHardKnocks - that would be because AT&T is being charged themselves out the wahzoo for customer's international usage. Why wouldn't any carrier not want to exploit the easiest method of communication for international travelers?
Don't kid yourself into thinking that companies aren't out their to make a PROFIT.
A monthly plan allows AT&T or any company to recoup the costs of providing international roaming -- special billing systems, customer service departments, long distance contracts (all things that you can't expect to just come and go at the whims of YOUR usage), and per minute rates that are attractive to consumers but really have a very low profit margin for the company.