AT&T's Shared Data Plans Arrive Late August
Jul 18, 2012, 6:00 AM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Jul 18, 2012, 6:09 AM
AT&T today responded to Verizon Wireless's shared data plans by announcing its own. AT&T's Mobile Share plans offer unlimited voice minutes and messaging, and offer varying data options from which customers can choose. The plans are compatible with smartphones, tablets, feature phones, laptop dongles, laptops, and mobile hotspots, but at least one device must be a smartphone. The plans require a basic monthly access charge that varies depending on how much data the customer wants. The breakdown costs $40 for 1GB, $70 for 4GB, $90 for 6GB, $120 for 10GB, $160 for 15GB, and $200 for 20GB. Customers then pay an additional charge per device added to the plan. For example, customers who choose the 1GB plan must pay the basic $40 access fee, plus an additional $45 for each smartphone. So, 1GB with unlimited voice and text and two smartphones would cost $130 per month ($40 + $45 +$45). Adding feature phones costs an additional $30 per month; adding a laptop, netbook or dongle costs an additional $20 per month; and adding a tablet or gaming device costs an additional $10 per month. AT&T points out that there are no changes to its device upgrade or grandfathered unlimited data policies. Existing customers, including customers with unlimited data plans, don't have to switch to a shared data plan or pay full price for the device when they upgrade. Overages for the AT&T Mobile Share plans cost $15 per gigabyte.
AT&T* customers will soon have more options in choosing the plan that’s right for them and their mobile devices. With new AT&T Mobile Share plans, available in late August, new and existing customers can share a single bucket of data acrosssmartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices, plus get unlimited talk and text. AT&T Mobile Share plans make it easy for customers to manage their data, voice minutes and texting, without needing to keep track of multiple plans.
Customers can select one of the new shared data plans or choose one of AT&T’s existing individual or family plans. Current customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension. There are no changes to AT&T’s device upgrade policy, which means customers eligible to upgrade to AT&T’s best device price are not required to switch plans. The new plans will also be available for business customers.
With AT&T Mobile Share plans, customers start by choosing how much data they want each month, then choose up to 10 devices to attach to their shared plan, one of which must be a smartphone. Each plan includes tethering and unlimited domestic calls and texts for smartphones and basic or quick messaging phones. The larger the data bucket you choose, the less you pay per gigabyte and the less you pay for each smartphone added to the shared plan.
AT&T Mobile Share allows customers to essentially build a plan to fit their devices and usage. Customers who are more data-centric can choose a larger data bucket. Customers who typically use more voice than data can add multiple smartphones and basic phones and opt for a smaller data bucket.
“We offer customers a broad choice and the best lineup of plans, now enhanced by Mobile Share,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility. “With these new plans, the more you share, the more you save. They’ll be a good fit for a variety of new and existing customers. But if customers want to stay on their current plan or choose from our existing plans, they can do that, too. It’s their choice.
“Today we think of people’s smartphones and tablets sharing a bucket of data. But in the future we’ll see health care monitors, connected cars, security systems and other devices in the home all connected to the mobile Internet,” said Christopher. “Our Mobile Share plans are simple, easy and a great value for individuals or families with multiple mobile Internet devices.”
Mobile Share plans give customers more control over how, where and on what device they use data — which has become more important as people use more data devices. You can choose to use more of your data bucket on your tablet, for example, or tap into your databucket only when needed for devices you use occassionally. And by consolidating data plans, you can take advantage of any data you currently have unused each month by efficiently sharing it across devices.
“The ‘more you share, the more you save’ concept is one that will resonate well with customers because of the value provided through the Mobile Share data plans themselves and in smartphone connection fees,” said Roger Entner, Founder and Lead Analyst of Recon Analytics. “AT&T also is providing its customers with flexibility and choice by keeping its existing data plans and not requiring customers to move to Mobile Share unless they want to. It’s a win-win for both AT&T and its customers.”
To help customers track their data usage, AT&T keeps users informed with courtesy alerts as they near their data allowance for the month. Also, customers can check their usage at anytime online, through the myAT&T mobile app, or by calling *DATA# from their mobile phone.
Each data plan also includes access to more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots — the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network
among wireless carriers — at no additional charge. Wi-Fi usage at public hotspots, home or office does not count toward the monthly wireless data plan usage.
Customers can learn more about the new plans and determine which plan is best for them at www.att.com/mobileshare.
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