AT&T put caps on their data plans, starting June 7 users can choose either a $15 per month 200 megabyte entry plan or a $25
per month plan with 2 gigabytes of data. Current smartphone customers
are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so
without a contract extension.
Each plan includes unlimited access at no additional charge to more
than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the U.S. Customers can also use
unlimited Wi-Fi at home, in the office or elsewhere if available.
For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the
existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay
for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad
customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan can keep that
plan or switch to the new $25 per month plan with 2 GB of data.
- DataPlus. Provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data - for
example, enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), plus
send/receive 150 emails with attachments, plus view 400 Web pages, plus
post 50 photos on social media sites, plus watch 20 minutes of streaming
video - for just $15 per month.** This plan, which can save customers
up to 50 percent off their wireless data charges, is designed for people
who primarily like to surf the web, send email and use social
networking apps. If customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle,
they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in
the cycle. Currently, 65 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use
less than 200 MB of data per month on average. - DataPro.
Provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data - for
example, enough to send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), plus
send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, plus view 4,000 Web pages,
plus post 500 photos to social media sites, plus watch 200 minutes of
streaming video - for $25 per month.** Should a customer exceed 2 GB
during a billing cycle, they will receive an additional 1 GB of data for
$10 for use in the cycle. Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone
customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average. - Tethering.
Smartphone customers - including iPhone
customers - who choose the DataPro plan have the option to add tethering
for an additional $20 per month. Tethering lets customers use their
smartphones as a modem to provide a broadband connection for laptop
computers, netbooks or other computing devices. Tethering for iPhones
will be available when Apple releases iPhone OS 4 this summer.
Monitoring and Managing Usage
To help customers easily check their data usage, AT&T has made
the information readily available in a number of ways***:
- Customer Text Notifications On Data Usage. When
customers begin to approach their monthly usage limit, AT&T will
send three text notifications - after they reach 65 percent, 90 percent
and 100 percent of the threshold. Customers will also be sent emails if
AT&T has their email address. - Data Usage
Monitoring. Additionally, customers with
iPhones and other select devices can use the free AT&T myWireless
application to check data usage. The application is available for
download in several smartphone app stores. Also, AT&T customers can
call *DATA# from their wireless phone to check their data usage for the
current billing period. They receive a free text message with their
usage information. Customers can also go online to www.att.com/wireless
to see all of their usage information, past and present. - Data
Calculator. The easy-to-use online data
calculator enables customers to estimate their mobile data usage and get
a better sense for which data plan is right for them. It's located at
www.att.com/datacalculator.