AT&T New "Whako" data plans, Kills Unlimited Data for iPad, Smartphones

[Gerry]

I read this article and thought to myself, is AT&T single handedly trying to kill the iPhone market?

This is nuts.

They kill the Unlimited Data plan for the iPad, iPhone, and all their other smartphones - just when everyone else is coming out with awesome phones and plans.

AT&T has now devised this plan that allows users to purchase "blocks" of data usage.

And just when the iPad is kicking ass in sales, they CUT the unlimited date usage plan for $30 month, and replace it with a $25, 2GB option. That is only about 2 hours worth of video per month.

Steve Jobs better do a much better job at teaming up with a provider. AT&T has just shot themselves in the foot with this new bizarre plans, prices, and features.

The new prices go into effect on June 7th. Yes, that same June 7th that Steve Jobs makes his keynote address to the 2010 WWDC.

Here's a kicker...these new plans are for new subscribers. Is Jobs and the Apple 4G finally getting ready to be sold on more (and better) networks than AT&T?


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[draggar]

This is nothing new - even Comcast is doing this in my area.

[Gerry]

This is nothing new - even Comcast is doing this in my area.

Its not really a point of being "not new" or "others have done it"

It is a point of this being quite new with AT&T Dropping ALL of their unlimited plans.

The iPhone all inclusive plan was already costing nearly 200 a month, if I am not mistaken.

That just does not seem to be a smart business choice to remain competitive with other carriers and equipment coming out

Perhaps they are just trying to milk every dime out of Apple iPhone and Apple iPad users.

[draggar]

This is why I want go to with Sprint's 4G when it's released here (for home) - it's unlimited (unlike their 3G - but I think that's capped at 5GB?)

[Gerry]

This is why I want go to with Sprint's 4G when it's released here (for home) - it's unlimited (unlike their 3G - but I think that's capped at 5GB?)

Not sure of caps.

But a big reason I did not buy an iPad with 3G is because I do not feel that should be an added on fee of $29.99 per month to connect to the internet. Poor, poor, marketing tactics by AT&T. Plus, I am sure many (like myself) did not fall for the extra couple of hundred bucks to buy a 3g version when nearly every service offered some WiFi tethering service or mobile hotspot.

Also, the article pointed out that the new iPhone will come with WiFi tether. So if you buy a new 4G iPhone, you will be able to connect to the AT&T network using your iPhone as a Hotspot and there will be no need to have a seperate plan for the iPad 3g. I am sure this was also a HUGE factor in creating these new pricing schemes.

Likewise, Soon Android will be releasing their 2.2 version which in turn will create a WiFi tether (HotSpot) out of my nexus one.

By the way, I personally think that Sprint is the absolute best and clearest of all the carriers.


All of this just seems like very poor marketing decisions in light of the fact that there will be as many as 5-7 new WiFi/3g tablets released this fall. I was reading ASUS, Acer, and many others are already showing theirs off at an Asian Electronics market. One actually was configured like a laptop that you could just disconnect the screenfrom and carry around using as a touch tablet, then reattach it to the keyboard and fold for storage. Very cool and convenient (apple is selling a keyboard for the iPad for $70 bucks but only lets you connect in Vertical mode). Dell is releasing a smaller (about 6" tablet), Samsung has one. The one I am really anxious to see is the HP Slate which is now reported to be using Palm OS and even Android. As a matter of fact, most of the Apple competitors are coming out Android with only a couple offering Microsoft Mobile. Microsoft is the clear loser in the mobile market as everyone is steering away from them.

The point is, all of these in the works will be WiFi and 3G enabled, ample storage, and many will have cameras (for photo taking) plus cameras and mics built in for streaming content or videoconferencing.

And nearly every carrier by the end of the year will have one plan at a reasonable cost to run nearly any device you own.

Bundled plans for bundled machines.

[draggar]

So if you buy a new 4G iPhone, you will be able to connect to the AT&T network using your iPhone as a Hotspot and there will be no need to have a seperate plan for the iPad 3g. I am sure this was also a HUGE factor in creating these new pricing schemes.

AT&T won't have a 4G network for a while.

Likewise, Soon Android will be releasing their 2.2 version which in turn will create a WiFi tether (HotSpot) out of my nexus one.

By the way, I personally think that Sprint is the absolute best and clearest of all the carriers.

The point is, all of these in the works will be WiFi and 3G enabled, ample storage, and many will have cameras (for photo taking) plus cameras and mics built in for streaming content or videoconferencing.

Not just in the works anymore.

[Mike Cruz]

I have a Nexus One with T-mobile, pay $95/month for unlimited everything on the 3g platform. Couldn't ask for anything better.

AT&T is terribad.

[whitebark]

Still cheaper than the ripoff prices in Canada!

[Gerry]

I have a Nexus One with T-mobile, pay $95/month for unlimited everything on the 3g platform. Couldn't ask for anything better.

AT&T is terribad.

Yeah, but when T-Mobile jumps over to AT&T for coverage, it sucks and get many dropped calls. Imagine two people talking to each other with AT&T. That happened the other night with me and another member who is working on a site for me. Talk about dropped calls and frustrations! I think I ended up using my landline to call him back.

I had read that Verizon was looking to buy T-mobile.

I would rather Sprint do it.

[draggar]

I had read that Verizon was looking to buy T-mobile.

I would rather Sprint do it.

Most likely won't happen - Verizon and Sprint both use CDMA (and Sprint uses iDEN for Nextel devices but that is being phased out). It would cost too much to merge the two networks together w/o forcing all the subscribers to purchase new phones.

T-Mo is GSM like AT&T.

I do think we're going to see more consolidation in the US market, though. Deutsche Telekom wants to get more into the US market (if they sell T-Mo then they could make an aggressive purchase of Sprint considering where the stock is at). HP is getting into the game with their purchase of Palm and Microsoft wants to get into the game with their own device (not just the OS). I also hear that Comcast wants to get into the game, too (Google a little known company called "Spectrumco" if you don't believe me).

[Gerry]

I am so glad I did not buy the 3G model.

I knew that a couple hundred bucks more for the 3G version plus paying $30 month was a monumental waste of money.

First year's cost just to have a 3G model was an additional $560 over the non 3G model.

Now, those that buy the 3G model will be limited to 2gb vs unlimited and will pay $25 month vs. $29.99 month.

One report related that 2gb will get you a grand total of about 2 hours of streaming vid from HULU.

Go over the limit and pay an additional $10 bucks per GB.

Seeing that there are so many existing WiFi Hotspots (and how smartphones will be a WiFi Tethering device) it just does not make sense to purchase a 3G model.

[Gerry]

The only recourse is to now completely ignore her, put her on the ignor list, and move on.

Otherwise, it seems every thread is destroyed by her rants, her politics, and her ignorance to the issues.

And, to be honest with you, ignoring her makes the thread stay on topic and actually makes for a nice read.

I think everyone should try it.


Now, back on track, I don't want to give up my iPad, I don't have to give up my iPad, and I don't have to use AT&T.

I posted this thread to make those aware who are THINKING about getting an iPad or iPhone that AT&T is drastically changing their plans to customers.

I even had someone email me last night asking if I had heard about AT&T dropping their unlimited plans.

Naturally, I replied yes.

He replied, "Dadddy wants a new android...", most likely the new HTC Evo.

He is the newest (and first!) Evo Commerical

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdLtW...layer_embedded