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AT&T's latest promo doubles your data on shared phone plans
Given the avalanche of new smartphones this fall, there's a good chance that your data use is about to spike as you put that fresh hardware through its paces. If so, AT&T might just have you covered. It's running a promo between September 28th and October 31st that doubles the amount of data you get with its Mobile Share Value plans, whether or not you're a new customer. Signing up for the special rates nets you up to a hefty 100GB per month of shared data at the high end. However, the starter offer is arguably the best -- $130 per month (plus line fees) gets you 30GB to play with, which should hopefully accommodate your family's Netflix viewing habits. AT&T's deal isn't necessarily as sweet as what you'll get with Sprint or T-Mobile, which start at a respective $100 and $140 per month for roughly the same service. However, it's competitive enough that it could keep you on Big Blue's network for a little while longer.
AT&T reduces 2GB Mobile Share Value plans by $15 per month
Following up on the news that its UnCarrier rival will soon raise the cost of its unlimited data plan, AT&T is making some pricing changes of its own -- in the completely opposite direction. The base rate for the company's 2GB Mobile Share Value plan is currently $55 (that's the base price, excluding per-smartphone costs), but it just announced that beginning tomorrow customers will be able to grab the same plan for $40 per month instead.
AT&T announces free, unlimited international text, picture and video messaging for Mobile Share customers
Starting February 28th, all AT&T Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value users will be able to send text picture and video messages internationally for free. However, there's a not-so ulterior motive behind the announcement (one that's referenced in AT&T's own release), as in comparison "other messaging services or applications will incur cellular data charges," pointing a vague finger at the likes of Hangouts, WhatsApp, Viber, LINE and, well, all the other ones we've forgotten. The full service will be compatible with around 120 countries, while text messages can be sent to over 190 different locales. Alongside it, AT&T's got another offer for anyone with a global circle of friends, announcing a new international calling plan, World Connect ValueSM. It might not roll off the tongue, but will offer a-cent-per-minute calls to over 35 countries, including neighboring Canada and Mexico. The plan will be on offer to any post-paid AT&T customer, but you'll have to stump up $5 for it when it launches this Friday.
AT&T's lower off-contract pricing and revamped Mobile Share plans launch next week
Whether or not you buy into T-Mobile CEO John Legere's UnCarrier strategy, we can't dispute the fact that it's at least making waves in the US wireless industry. Some of the network's biggest competitors are responding with new strategies of their own, and AT&T is one of them. Starting next Sunday, the GSM giant will make a few noticeable tweaks to its Mobile Share and Next plans. What's on the menu for December 8th? Quite a bit, so let's break it down. Under the current plans, your per-smartphone cost goes down as your data plan goes up; for instance, you pay $50 per smartphone on the 300MB plan, but only $30 if you're on any plan that's 10GB or higher. And as it stands right now, you still pay that same amount after your contract expires. With the new changes, you can tack smartphones onto your plan at a flat rate of $40 a pop, but you get a $15 discount on each one if you aren't in a contract. (AT&T informed us that as soon as your commitment expires, the rate is automatically taken off, so you don't need to call in to make the adjustment.) Basic phones are lower too, seeing a drop from $30 per handset to $20. Along with this change, the base cost for each data tier has moved as well; we'll add a table after the break to show what's different. The higher tiers get a significant drop to make up for the additional per-device charge, so keep that in mind if you have a lot of smartphones on your plan. On the other hand, the lower tiers become more advantageous when you add more lines. There's also a new 8GB plan that fits right in between the 6GB and 10GB options.
AT&T to streamline traditional voice plans in favor of Mobile Share on October 25th
AT&T is planning to axe its traditional monthly calling and data plans for new customers -- both individual and family -- in favor of the network's latest shared data options, Engadget has learned after receiving an anonymous tip and reaching out to AT&T. It appears that this move is in response to the overwhelming success of AT&T's Mobile Share since its original debut. Existing customers who have been enjoying the older offerings won't see any change to their plan, and will even still have the option to upgrade phones, activate lines and adjust their plans accordingly without being forced onto the shared data plans (for instance, you'd be able to move from one traditional family plan to another). We've also confirmed that the individual $40 plan that comes with 450 minutes, which doesn't require texting or data, will still be available to new customers who only need an absolute basic plan. We had a feeling that it was only a matter of time before AT&T followed Verizon's move (Big Red killed off its traditional plans right when its new shared data plans launched), since the two carriers have put most of their focus on shared data plans in the past year or so. AT&T tells us that more details will be on the way in the near future, so we'll update our post at that time. Update: AT&T has now made the news official on its consumer blog. The simplification will take place on October 25th. We've added the text from the blog post below the break, if you want to check out more details. [Thanks, Anonymous]
AT&T announces new Mobile Share plans
AT&T have announced an expansion of their pre-paid Mobile Share plans, offering relatively low-cost plans coupled with incredibly low data allotments. For US$20 a month you can get a whopping 300 MB of data each month, while $50 gets you 2 GB. Both plans include unlimited talk and texts. Mobile Share plans create a bucket of data that can be shared among a number of different phones on one account. Account holders pay for the cost of their data along with a monthly charge for each phone activated on the account. Your price per phone goes down as you add more phones to your plan. So that $20 a month plan that looks like a crazy good deal is actually a $20 a month plus another $50 a month per smartphone. This pricing structure has lead to criticism that the plans' advertised prices are misleading, leading some customers to overpay for less service. The Verge have put together an expose about the new payment plans being offered by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Before giving these new plans a shot, you might want to give their charts a look.
AT&T to introduce 300MB and 2GB Mobile Share plans on July 26th (updated)
AT&T's Mobile Share plans have sometimes been too expensive for customers who only need a little data. The carrier will soon be more accommodating, however: it's adding both 300MB and 2GB tiers on July 26th. The $20, 300MB pack costs half as much as the 1GB plan, and is intended mostly for basic phone users. We've reached out for more details on 2GB pricing, but it's not hard to see this new tier slotting neatly between the 1GB and 4GB offerings. Both new plans should represent better bargains for frugal customers, although they won't do much for bandwidth lovers -- Lumia 1020 customers will likely want some extra headroom. Update: AT&T tells us that the 2GB plan will cost $50, plus $45 for each smartphone.
AT&T intros extra-large Mobile Share and pooled data plans with business in mind
We can't vouch with any certainty that individual subscribers have embraced AT&T's Mobile Share plans with open arms. Corporate customers (and simply the very well-heeled) are another matter: they could use big buckets of data to get their many devices online, which is why AT&T is adding considerably more headroom today. It's launching new 30GB, 40GB and 50GB Mobile Share plans that respectively cost $300, $400 and $500 per month when there's unlimited voice and messaging attached. While those rates will be eye-watering for most of us, they make more sense knowing that the carrier ups the maximum number of devices on these plans to a more office-friendly 15 to 25, instead of the usual 10. Data-only users can get away with paying 'just' $185, $260 or $335 for similar Mobile Share plans. Companies with a larger staff count can also spring for new Business Pooled Nation plans that offer per-device data between $20 per month for 300MB and $80 per month for 10GB. Hit the source for more details, whether you're outfitting your business with phones or just have a streaming movie marathon that really, really can't wait for WiFi.
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.
AT&T Mobile Share plans now available
AT&T promised it would have Mobile Share plans rolled out by now, and here they are. Remember that the only way you'll be able to use FaceTime over cellular is with one of these plans, so ante up or switch, compadres. My question to you readers: do the Mobile Share plans save you money versus your current plans, or cost you more? In my case, with just one phone, it's a wash -- except for me losing my unlimited data, minutes and texting. [Update: turns out these plans come with unlimited minutes and texting] The AT&T site has also been streamlined when ordering, and I must say it's a more pleasant experience than before.
AT&T confesses: its network couldn't handle unchecked FaceTime over cellular
Well, at least no one can blame AT&T for dodging the core issue any longer. After watching Verizon Wireless snag satisfaction crown after satisfaction crown from AT&T over the years, it seems that the latter is finally using a highly defensive blog post on the issue of FaceTime over cellular in order to cop to what we've all known: AT&T's network is in no shape to handle the glut of devices currently running on it. After being taken by storm in 2007 with the iPhone, AT&T has been racing to right the supply / demand curve, and it came to a head once more last week when the operator announced that only Mobile Share users would be able to use FaceTime over its 3G / 4G airwaves once iOS 6 hit. Naturally, pundits were quick to slam the company for implementing a policy that nudges existing users with grandfathered unlimited data plans to slide up to a plan that's potentially less awesome, but a lengthy letter on AT&T's Public Policy Blog lays out the real reason. The company makes clear that the decision to limit FaceTime over cellular to Mobile Share customers does not violate the FCC's net neutrality rules -- after all, it's being decidedly transparent about the frowned-upon choice -- nor does it cross the line on any "blocking" issues. Its argument is simple: it's not blocking you from using any video chat application you want, but it is exercising its right to manage the doors through which all chat applications can and can't be used. The money quote is here: "We are broadening our customers' ability to use the preloaded version of FaceTime but limiting it in this manner to our newly developed AT&T Mobile Share data plans out of an overriding concern for the impact this expansion may have on our network and the overall customer experience." Despite our scorn, we're halfway glad the policy is in place -- after all, how would you feel if you couldn't load a vital email because everyone else on the block was chatting with their mum about chimera cats on FaceTime? Rock, meet hard place.
AT&T may discontinue subsidized tablet sales, will still offer slates at full price
Saving a few short-term bucks on a subsidized tablet by inking a two-year contract with AT&T may be a thing of the past. According to a document sent to us by a tipster, Ma Bell will no longer offer discounted, on-contract slates as of August 19th. However, it looks like Big Blue is still happy to offer slabs at standard, no-commitment prices along with DataConnect and MobileShare plans. Head past the break if you'd like to take a peek at the notice in deeper detail.
AT&T: FaceTime over cellular feature to be included in Mobile Share plans at no extra charge, not available for other data plans
AT&T is offering a bit of clarification on the rumors involving a standalone feature offering FaceTime over Cellular for an additional charge: the iOS6 feature (due out this fall) will actually be included at no extra cost, but only for those customers who opt for the Mobile Share plans. Anyone on the grandfathered unlimited data plans or traditional tiered offerings will only be able to rely on the good 'ol WiFi whenever they feel the urge to use Apple's video chat service. From the looks of it, it seems that AT&T is hoping to conserve the amount of network bandwidth that would be chewed up by unlimited customers, while also having it function as a value-added feature for its newest shared data plans. In terms of usage, this FaceTime capability will use up part of your data allotment (instead of minutes). So, the good news is that the feature is free -- the bad news is that it won't make unlimited users any happier. Find AT&T's official statement below.
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.
AT&T and Verizon shared data plans compared
With the introduction of AT&T's Mobile Share this morning, the two largest mobile operators in the US (the other one, of course, being Verizon) have officially embraced the idea of pooled data plans. The concept is simple: bundle talk, text and data together in the same family plan, instead of forcing each individual member to pay a separate fee if they want internet access. With the announcement of these plans, we were instantly curious to find out if these new options will save customers money on a monthly basis -- and which company offers the best value. Determined to get some answers, we've broken down AT&T and Verizon's plans and will highlight the pros and cons for you after the break.
