AT&T's new text plans not quite unlimited
Sources tell us that AT&T has some plan changes in the works -- good news for SMS fanatics (not Verizon good, but still good) and bad news for the data-hungry among us. First, the good: MEdia Works will go from 1,000 messages to 1,500 and both Messaging Extreme and MEdia Max will get a bump from 3,000 to 6,000 SMSes monthly, all with no increase in monthly price. Now the very (very) bad news: the $39.99 PDA Unlimited plan will apparently get dropped to a measly 20MB a month; users will need to instead choose the $49.99 plan to steer clear of a hard cap, which'll get boosted from 1,000 texts to 1,500. Excuse us while we go lock ourselves in the restroom for a few minutes and curse at the top of our lungs.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Update: It seems the $49.99 plan is being brought down to $39.99 and the $39.99 plan is going down to $29.99, so the news isn't that bad after all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ShortFuse @ Apr 10th 2007 12:07PM
You confused me. What's going on with the PDA data plans? Just rewrite the paragraph, don't do the update thing. So is the price going up to $49.99 or is there a new 20mb plan for $39 or is it $29? i'm confuséd
Chris Ziegler @ Apr 10th 2007 12:16PM
ShortFuse, our understanding is that the PDA 20MB plan will run $29.99 and the Unlimited plan will run $39.99. Both are dropping in price by $10. Sorry for the confusion, we got our wires a little crossed on our end.
Cheers,
Chris
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 12:19PM
here's the deal: the 39.99 plan that was unlimited is going to 29.99 with a cap of 20mb. the 49.99 plan that had 1000msgs and unlimited data is going down to 39.99 with 1500msgs, it is a significantly better deal than previously
mike @ Apr 10th 2007 12:50PM
When you say cap, do you mean they will cut you off when you reach 20mb? So no move overages?
JahBuh @ Apr 10th 2007 1:18PM
Is it just me or does it seem like the Wireless carriers work together to hike up prices. Remember when they all raised the prices for text messaging within 2 weeks of one another. There is definitely something fishy about these data hikes.
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 1:22PM
what are you talkin about? where is the hike? they're knocking $10 off their top data plan and adding 500 text msg's at the lower price...you're totally misunderstanding if you think the price is going up
D @ Apr 10th 2007 1:22PM
I'll bet this change is an advance change for the benefit iPhone users so that the updated prices aren't directly associated with the iPhone release. If Apple is getting a cut of the profits from iPhone users and it also makes it easier and more desirable to use the data Cingular is going to ask for more.
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 1:24PM
as for the cap, i guess i used the wrong word there...as far as i know there will be overage charges, more than likely .01 per kb like all the other data plans
Kris @ Apr 10th 2007 2:15PM
I might actually renew if they bump the Messaging Extreme package to 6,000 messages. I'm pushing the threshold with 3k at the moment, but I've never done more than 4k, so 6k might just do the trick.
Oh, sure, unlimited would be nice, but I figure it will come. Cingular has everything else I want.
So, come on, at&tingular, make this messaging bucket increase happen.
wakkonando @ Apr 10th 2007 2:34PM
so everyone is hiking prices yet again....but...
aren't you grandfathered into a plan if you're already in it and don't touch it?
I have been in my old Media Works plan that gives me unlimited data for about 4 years now...get 1500 SMS, 250 MMS, and umlimited data for $20...haven't touched it, never will. Unfortunately, my tethering abilities have been somehow blocked....sigh...
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 2:58PM
seriously, where do y'all see a rate hike in any of this?! the price went down $10 and gives you 500 more text messages than the old higher price...that is a price CUT!
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 3:14PM
FYI: these new rates go into effect on the 20th
Michael Zhonga @ Apr 10th 2007 3:37PM
Will these changes go into effect immediately on our account without any manual effort or do we have to call in to get the newer plan?
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 3:46PM
Zhonga: you will have to sign up for the new one
Elias C. @ Apr 10th 2007 3:56PM
this is really they only zone in which Canada has the US beat in terms of pricing. $10 for unlimited texting, thats it.
Michael Zhonga @ Apr 10th 2007 4:10PM
Thank you, burn. When would be the best time to sign up for this new plan. Would CSR know about this now or should I call up around the 20th?
bob the builder @ Apr 10th 2007 5:23PM
theburn16, this is a rate hike, despite what cingular wants you to think...
the explanation:
it is a rate hike because although prices are dropping, so are the data rates. so thus, you have to pay more for the same data usage...
bob the builder @ Apr 10th 2007 5:24PM
*i meant data usage is dropping down, not data rates
theburn16 @ Apr 10th 2007 5:28PM
Bob: data is not dropping down...u still get unlimited data for 39.99 + you get 1500 text, where as before the 39.99 only got you unlimited data...you had to go to 49.99 to get 1000 text. so i really don't see how u think this is a rate hike, when you're getting 1500 text for the same price you used to get only data.
Zhonga: these new plans will not be in our system until the 20th, you should be able to call that morning and make the change
Michael Zhonga @ Apr 10th 2007 6:41PM
Thank you very much! This is so exciting =D
Jeff @ Apr 10th 2007 7:54PM
Yeah. Canada means $10 for unlimited texting. No limit at all. Except data is about $60 for 30MB. $400/mo for 1GB is the max my carrier offers.
JOHN P. @ Apr 11th 2007 9:25AM
Come on.. where is the old att that use to have many good deals.. they even had the best wireless service.. I miss those old days.
Kyle Foley @ Apr 11th 2007 6:52PM
ATT needs to give up its obsession with avoiding an unlimited SMS plan at all costs. Give in, damn it, and give us our unlimited texting plan!
Michael Zhonga @ Apr 13th 2007 2:39AM
Are there any updates? Is this really going to happen?
mpx220v3 @ Apr 15th 2007 10:24PM
You guys are all paying way to much for your data plan. No matter what phone you have you can use any package there is. So why not just get the $19 package with unlimited internet and 400 txts or the same price without the txting!
I have no clue what happened, but i went over my txting and I changed the plan so I dont have to pay the overage charges. I went from 400txts and 1mb internet for $10 to 1000txts and 5mb internet for $15. Ever since the 5th when my billing cycle renews I have had Unlimited Txting and Internet for no extra charge!