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AT&T is slightly raising the price of its Unlimited plans
AT&T is raising its Unlimited plan prices a bit on March 5, 2024, though users will at least get more hotspot data.
AT&T gives customers 'bonus' data (and a $10 price hike)
AT&T customers who subscribe to the company's Mobile Share Value offering are reporting that an additional 15GB of mobile data have been added to their plan. According to The Verge and later confirmed by AT&T, the telecom company is positioning this as a "bonus," but is also charging the recipients an additional $10 per month. It sounds like AT&T -- not the customers -- is the one getting a bonus.
Sprint and Verizon are doubling data on shared plans too
Not to be outdone by AT&T, Sprint and Verizon have now announced they are also going to double the data for users on shared mobile plans, at no extra cost. What's more, both carriers are bringing the promotion to family and business customers alike, making the news all the better. With Sprint, for example, you can get 120GB maximum for $225 per month on a family plan, while business accounts will receive up to 200GB for $330 -- on the former, there's also the $130 option, which lets you share 60GB between lines. Similarly, Verizon is set to double the data amount on its 20GB, 30GB, 40GB and 50GB More Everything plans; the 12GB and 16GB are making the jump as well, but only to 15GB and 30GB, respectively. Verizon's promo is kicking off tomorrow, with Sprint following suit the day after. But be sure to act fast, since the networks will only be offering this through the end of October.
Mobile carrier Ting turns two, celebrates by lowering data prices
What would a birthday be without presents? Instead of receiving gifts, wireless provider Ting is celebrating its second birthday this week unwrapping lower data prices. Most data "buckets" on the service are now a bit cheaper, with the deepest discounts happening for its heaviest users. While traditional carriers are looking at new and different takes on mobile phone contracts, Ting ditches the idea of having a phone plan entirely. Instead of picking a plan, Ting bills you at the end of the month based on how much (and how) you use your phone. Usage is divided up like shirt sizes (from S-XL); and you're charged for messages, minutes and data based on your monthly usage. That could equal savings if your mobile mileage varies from month to month and there's decent Ting coverage in your area. XL data users already rocking one of the handsets on Ting's fairly impressive list of supported devices will see the most benefits from Monday's drop, scoring 100 more minutes and 800 additional messages each month for the same amount. New pricing automatically kicks off for existing customers on their next billing cycle, or for new customers starting today. Check out all the deets after the break.
Sprint launches unlimited plans with lifetime guarantee
Earlier this week T-Mobile announced the Jump subscription plan that allows subscribers to trade in their old equipment -- including iPhones -- twice a year. Following that, Sprint announced that it is now offering new unlimited plans with lifetime guarantees. Called The Sprint Unlimited Guarantee, the plan lets customers lock in unlimited talk, text and data not for just two years, but for life. The new Unlimited, My Way and My All-in rate plans feature unlimited talk, text and data while on the Sprint network for as little as $80 per month. With the Unlimited, My Way plan, Sprint customers can also customize their wireless plan to meet their family's needs, including mixing smartphones and basic phones, selecting their data options, and adding up to 10 lines all on the same account. As customers add additional lines to their account, the more they can save on each line every month. For example, on lines four to 10, customers can get unlimited talk, text and data for as little as $50 per month. The guarantee applies to new and existing customers who join the "Unlimited, My Way" plan or the "My All-in" plan. The new guarantee is available as of today, July 12. For details on the prices and terms of the eligible plans, head on over to Sprint's website.
Sprint rolls out new 4G tablet data plans November 11th, likely just in time for new(er) iPad, iPad mini
As a carrier trailing Verizon and AT&T in terms of subscribers and now 4G coverage, Sprint has made it a habit to undercut the other two on value. While its upcoming tablet-specific data plans won't necessarily be cheaper, they do promise up to 20 percent more data for the same price and still do not require a contract. Sure to come in handy now that it's offering the fourth generation iPad and iPad mini on its network, they are 300MB/$14.99, 3GB/$34.99, 6GB/$49.99, or 12GB for $79.99. There are also $10 and $15 offers for customers that also have Sprint smartphones that offer 100MB and 1GB of data, respectively, and activation fees for all 3G/4G tablets are being waived for a limited time. As you'll recall, Verizon and AT&T's offerings include 2GB/$30 (3GB/$30 on AT&T), 5GB/$50 and on Verizon, 10GB/$80 packages. Even if you're not an Apple user these plans apply for all 4G capable slates, with Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 specifically mentioned. For those planning to pick up one of the latest iPads with wifi + cellular capability however, their mid-November launch date may have narrowed slightly , since these plans go into effect November 11th. Check the press release after the break or a post on its Sprint Community blog for more info.
Tep Wireless review: another great option for international mobile hotspot rentals
Traveling is great -- nay, amazing. And travel that requires a passport can be even more fulfilling for those willing to open their minds to new cultures (and, perhaps, deal with entirely too much security screening). But here's the thing -- travel is a lot better, generally speaking, with an internet connection within arm's reach. Things are never more likely to go awry than when you leave your comfort zone (or, you know, home nation), and we here at Engadget have been investigating the best methods for maintaining a connection whilst abroad for the better part of our lives. To date, you've got a smattering of options: rent a mobile hotspot from XCom Global, pick up a rental SIM from iPhoneTrip, pray that you can find a shop that rents data SIMs upon your arrival or pony up for whatever absurd roaming fees that your home operator deems fit. All of the above options have their pros and cons, but the good news here is that your choices are expanding. As the market for ubiquitous connections continues to grow, another player has recently entered the market. Tep Wireless began as a hotspot rental service that mainly looked after those traversing the United Kingdom, but recently, it expanded its coverage umbrella to include some 38 countries across Europe and 50 nations total. This here editor recently had the opportunity to cross through four of those on a single journey, with a Tep hotspot in hand the entire way. Care to see how things turned out? Let's reconvene after the break.
Tep Wireless expands mobile hotspot rental plan to 50 countries, revamps pricing
The international mobile hotspot rental market just got a lot more interesting. While Xcom Global's offerings are still broader, Tep Wireless is expanding in a major way. Previously reserved for European nations, the upstart is now serving a full 50 nations, adding Brazil, the United States, South Africa, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and UAE to its repertoire. For those in need of a refresher, the company enables customers facing an international trip to order their hotspot and get it delivered prior to departure, with a prepaid envelope included to ship it back once they've returned. The company's made clear that its hotspots will track data usage in real time right on the inbuilt display, and they're programmed to hop onto different networks as borders are crossed. (If you're curious, we confirmed that it all works as advertised in a recent jaunt across European borders.) The full pricing chart fo is hosted up after the break, with those needing unlimited buckets able to pay a $6.95-per day surcharge. (It should be noted that the preexisting EU-wide pricing options remain for those sticking to that region.) It'll probably look a touch pricey to light users and common tourists, but business travelers unwilling to take chances on connectivity when heading overseas will find the rates far more palatable than roaming fees from their home carrier.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 20th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week was a bit slow, but we've managed to dig up a couple interesting MeeGo tidbits, along with an excellent utility for Nexus 7 / OS X users -- something to help you in the pursuit of slack. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of August 20th, 2012.
T-Mobile unlimited 4G data plan might be a boon to unofficial iPhone users
TmoNews broke the news that T-Mobile is rolling out a truly unlimited nationwide 4G data plan, but All Things D's Ina Fried offered an enticing snippet for iPhone users on T-Mobile's network. T-Mobile has more than a million iPhones running on its network at 2G speeds, and along with a rebranding campaign, T-Mobile plans to allow iPhones to run at full speed, Fried said. This is good news for those who consume a lot of data and have unlocked iPhones -- especially if the next iPhone takes advantage of a 4G network. T-Mobile said in its press release that its 4G network will have no data caps or throttling of download speeds once a limit has been reached, a move it's been criticized for. The data plans will cost $20 or $30 a month depending on the plan picked, with value plans starting at $69.99 for talk, text and unlimited data. The new T-Mobile unlimited data plans start on September 5.
AT&T Mobile Share plans to be available beginning August 23rd
AT&T announced Mobile Share, its shared data plans, a couple weeks ago with the promise that they would arrive sometime in August. The carrier has finally confirmed the specific date: August 23rd. To catch up on exactly what these plans entail, read our lengthy analysis and see if it makes sense for you to move over.
Do shared iPhone data plans help consumers?
With AT&T announcing its shared data plan, it joins Verizon with a new model aiming to get consumers to pay for a shared bucket of data, voice and texting among multiple devices on a family account. The companies argue that it will save money in the long run, and for some, it just might. But should you and your account sharers leap on the shared-data plan? If you've been holding onto a grandfathered unlimited-data plan and holding off on a mobile hotspot option, maybe it's time to give shared data a look. There's a number of use-case scenarios among TUAW staff. Some of us, such as Kelly Hodgkins, have already made the leap despite the change hitting her family in the wallet. Others are at the point where it could go one way or another. Here's now it breaks down for each of us. Megan Lavey-Heaton When my husband Mike (better known to the TUAW talkcast/TV crowd as LinuxScouser) moved to the U.S. in November, we made the leap to Verizon so he could get his dream phone, a Galaxy Nexus. I upgraded to the iPhone 4S at that time. Our current plan is the low-tier family plan with 700 shared voice minutes for $50. Each of us pay $10 for 1,000 text messages, $9.99 for line access and $30 for data plans. I currently have 2 GB of data, but thanks to a special that Verizon was running at the time, Mike has 4 GB for the price of 2 GB. We both use less than 1 GB a month, though I have used more of my allotment when traveling. On the shared data plans, I ran it through with Mike and I sharing a combined 4 GB per month. 2 GB was too little, but we agreed 6 GB was too much. Here's how it turned out. Note, this is before taxes and any incidental fees, which vary by location and usage: Pros: We would gain mobile tethering, which neither of us have right now. This means Mike and I could use our data allotment to tether our Wi-Fi-only tablets. We wouldn't have to worry about texting limits. Cons: We'd be losing 2 GB of data per month, but we weren't using it anyhow. Current plan (Verizon): $149.98 Verizon shared-data plan: $150 AT&T shared-data plan: $150 Verdict: We'd only spend two more cents a month by switching to the shared-data plan. Shared data plans would cost exactly the same whether it's AT&T or Verizon. We most likely will be moving to the shared-data plan, not so much for the savings but to take advantage of the potential of using the phones as a mobile hotspot. Kelly Hodgkins My husband and I were on a Family Share plan with Verizon Wireless. We had the base plan that offered 700 minutes and unlimited texting for $80. Our primary line had a basic phone without data. We had two additional smartphones which cost us an extra $80 a month ($40 for each smart phone). The fourth and final line was a MiFi device which was costing us $35 for 3 GB of data. All told our monthly bill was around $200 each month with taxes. When we switched to the Shared Data plan, we dropped the MiFi completely now that mobile hotspot is included in the new plan. We chose the 6 GB data bucket for $80 each month, which is more than enough based on our previous usage. We average about 3-4 GB per month with the two smartphones and MiFi. We added two smartphones for $40 each and one basic phone for $30. We now pay just under $200 a month for the plan. Switching to Shared data didn't save us any money, but the flexibility of being able to use mobile hotspot when we are out is worth the switch. The MiFi was a great device, but we only had the one device and I never seemed to have it when I needed it. Now, I have a mobile hotspot and can use it with my MacBook Pro whenever I want. One other bonus is the ability to add a tablet for $10 a month. I just sold my 64 GB iPad 3 and swapped it for a 32 GB LTE version. I can easily add the iPad inexpensively and use it without worrying about the mobile hotpsot draining my iPhone's battery. In the end, we are paying a few dollars more and get mobile hotspot and a 4G tablet on our line. Yes, we lost unlimited data, but we weren't taking advantage of it anyway. For the record, I didn't even look at AT&T as the carrier does not offer service where I live. Steve Sande Bionic Barb (TUAW TV Live viewers will recognize the name) and I have an iPhone 4S, an iPhone 4, and two 3rd-generation iPads between us. My lovely spouse is on a grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan on the iPad, although she never uses more than 2 GB of data a month. All of the devices except my iPad are on AT&T; that iPad is on Verizon because they actually have a 4G LTE network in place in Denver. One good thing about that Verizon plan is that it also includes "free" mobile hotspot service as well. Me: iPhone AT&T --> Nationwide 450 with Rollover, DataPro 4GB $85 per month iPad Verizon -- $30 per month Barb: iPhone AT&T --> Nationwide 450 with Rollover, Unlimited Messaging, DataPro 2GB $85 per month iPad AT&T -- $30 per month TOTAL: $225 per month before taxes With shared data plans Verizon $80 for 6 GB data plan $80 for two iPhones $20 for two iPads ====== $180 per month (before taxes) AT&T $90 for 6 GB data plan $70 for two iPhones $20 for two iPads ====== $180 per month (before taxes) The winner for us would be to go with all Verizon services since most of our usage is in Denver and they are the only carrier at present with a true 4G LTE network in town, but there's one very big fly in the ointment with that -- we'd need to get two new iPhones and one new iPad. Chances are pretty good that we'd also get nailed with early termination fees for the iPhones, so this one's out of the question, at least for a while. If we go with the AT&T shared plan we'd save about $45 per month or $540 a year. That's excellent and the only thing I'd have to do is sell the Verizon iPad and get an AT&T model. Even if we went with the 10 GB shared data bucket we'd still save $25 per month ($300 per year). The winner in our case is AT&T, but only because we're tied to them for the iPhone service. Kelly Guimont Kelly G. reports that she and her husband have two AT&T phones with the grandfathered unlimited data plan and 700 minutes of shared talk time, which costs them $160. Data usage for them tops off around 4 GB. Her husband wants 6 GB under a shared data plan, just in case the ability to tether causes them to use more data. With Verizon and AT&T both, it would be the same $160 they're paying now to move to a shared data plan with 6 GB of data. They would also gain unlimited minutes and tethering. "If I were to give up unlimited data on AT&T I would definitely be getting a new iPhone," Kelly said. "I'm not under contract now so the 'switching' cost to Verizon would be the same two iPhones that would get upgraded on AT&T." Outside the U.S. Our overseas team members tossed in their phone plans to illustrate just how different the pricing structures are. Chris Rawson lives in New Zealand. His iPhone 4S and iPad are on Telecom NZ. He pays NZ$60 per month for 60 minutes of talk time, 1 GB data and around 200 texts. He pays an additional $25 for 500 MB data for his iPad. His wife, on Vodafone, pays $40 a month for 60 minutes of talk time and 250 MB of data. They pay $125 a month in New Zealand dollars for everything, which is around $100 in U.S. dollars. Michael Grothaus and Richard Gaywood are in the UK and are subscribers on Three with non-subsidized iPhones. The plan each of them has includes 2,000 minutes that can be used for any network and 5,000 minutes for calls among Three subscribers. The plan also includes 5,000 texts and unlimited data for £25, which is around $39. The plans cost about £5-10 more under contract, depending on if you have an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S. Rich adds, "The subsidized plans have a minimum term of two years, while the unsubsidized one can be cancelled at any time. Although Three is probably the best value of all the UK operators, the others all offer fairly similar deals. Oh, and that 'unlimited' data? It's genuinely, totally unlimited." #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Sprint won't charge for 3G FaceTime
One new feature that iOS 6 brings to the table is FaceTime calling over 3G. The fact that it runs on a cellular network puts carriers in the position of potentially regulating the video calling app. Unlike AT&T which is on the fence, Sprint has confirmed it will not charge for access to the service, according to Electronista. A spokesperson said Sprint remains "committed to our unlimited data, and that means not charging for data consumption based on the application." Verizon Wireless, the third major carrier in the US to sell the iPhone, has not publicly commented.
AT&T responds to rumor of paid 3G FaceTime
FaceTime over 3G will finally bring Apple's video calling tech to cellular networks, but will it cost you extra? According to AT&T's CEO, "it's too early to talk about pricing." I'm guessing that's business talk for "we'll see if it costs us too much money to support and then decide." Remember unlimited data plans? My kids won't. iOS 6 promises FaceTime over 3G, but here's hoping it won't cost AT&T customers extra. All I know is Google (G+) and Microsoft (Skype) have had video calls over cellular for a little while now and it'll be great for Apple to finally catch up.
C-Spire debuts pre-paid tablet and hotspot plans
As far as regional carriers go, C-Spire is a pretty big deal. Which makes it all the more surprising that the company hasn't offered standalone pre-paid data plans until now. The southern cellphone network now has three tiers of pre-paid access for your tablet or Mi-Fi, beginning with a $15 100MB package that expires after a week. $30 nets you 300MB over two weeks, while the top tier grants you a whole month's access and 1GB of data -- but will set you back a rather steep $50. Of course, there's always post-paid solutions for the more demanding, that start at $20 for 1GB per-month and go up to $50 for 5GB. For more, check out the PR after the break.
Tep Wireless unveils European-wide hotspot rental service for $5-a-day, 1GB of data included
Hardcore jetsetters should still be turning to Xcom Global, iPhone Trip or a local mobile shop upon arrival, but those who won't be burning up the megabytes now have yet another alternative when traversing European lands. The outfit best known for keeping those traveling to the UK connected is now branching out a bit, enabling a single rental hotspot to provide mobile data access across 38 countries in the EU. You'll pay $5 per day for the privilege, but here's the kicker: only 1GB of data is included, regardless of how long you stay. If you chew through that allotment, you'll have to pay $55 for an extra 1.4GB or $95 for another 4GB. Granted, that's significantly less than what AT&T and Verizon would charge, even if you sign up for their discounted global plans. (For those curious, the same pools would run between $180 and $250.) It ain't ideal for those working on the go, but if you're just looking to tear through a Foursquare Bucket List while Eurotripping... well, you can place your order today in the source link below.
T-Mobile brings out new mobile data plans mainly for the suits and ties, makes overage optional
T-Mobile just updated its prepaid data plans a month ago, and now it's the corporate crowd's turn for a shakeup. The new (and quite frankly daunting) array of primarily business-minded plans is based around whether or not you'd rather face throttling or overage fees if you push past a set cap. Overage Free plans for subsidized (Classic) and unsubsidized (Value) devices are largely self-explanatory and slow down that bandwidth cap-busting hotspot, modem or tablet until the next month. The High-speed plan range costs lower as a matter of course, but you'll be dinged to the order of two to 10 cents for every megabyte over the limit. That said, there's some bargains to be had versus other carriers, especially with the 5GB and 10GB plans. Provided you're happy with T-Mobile's coverage, it may be worth signing up to eke out a few extra dollars in savings every month.
Verizon's Share Everything data plans go live June 28th, let you add family (or a tablet) for a little extra
Verizon has been promising shared data plans for awhile, so it's with some relief (and trepidation) we can say they're here. Share Everything, as it's called, starts off with the assumption you'll want unlimited voice and messages and then bolts on shared data along with a maximum of 10 individual devices: a core plan starts at $50 per month for 1GB of data and requires that you tack on $40 a month for every smartphone, $30 for basic phones, $20 for hotspots and $10 for tablets. Of course, Verizon will gladly let you pay for more data if your family loves to stream Netflix on 4G all day, up to $100 for a common pool of 10GB. A stiff price, but it also includes tethering or hotspot creation support on any device in the mix. The new plans will be ready to tempt you away from your unlimited data on June 28th.
AT&T CEO predicts data-only plans within two years
The fact that modern smartphones still actually make voice calls may well come as a surprise to many users happy to use their mobile devices as pocket-sized computers. Carriers, on the other hand, seem content to keep the "phone" in smartphone. AT&T's Randall Stephenson told an investor conference this week that he sees a time in which carriers offer up data-only options for subscribers -- a time that may well come in the next two years or so. The CEO said he'd, "be surprised if, in the next 24 months, we don't see people in the market place with data-only plans." It's hardly an announcement, but it certainly comes from a guy who knows a thing or two about where the industry is headed.
AT&T CEO voices regret over iPhone unlimited data model
It's always refreshing to hear the head of a major corporation cop to past mistakes -- particularly in front of a large crowd of on-lookers. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson admitted some misgivings about the way the carrier handled iPhone data, telling a crowd at the Milken Institute's Global Conference in Los Angeles, "My only regret was how we introduced pricing in the beginning, because how did we introduce pricing? Thirty dollars and you get all you can eat." Stephenson drove the point home by adding, "Every additional megabyte you use in this network, I have to invest capital." And, for the record, that certainly wasn't the only thing about the iPhone that kept the exec up at night. Stephenson again, You lie awake at night worrying about what is that which will disrupt your business model," he said. "Apple iMessage is a classic example. If you're using iMessage, you're not using one of our messaging services, right? No one ahead said it was easy being the chief.
