AT&T feels a little left out, launches unlimited plan, too
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Feb 19th 2008 at 1:25PM
There's no telling whether Verizon's recent announcement had anything to do with it, but something lit a fire underneath AT&T today as they've announced an unlimited plan for the same $99 Verizon is charging (well, $99.99, if you want to get down to the nitty gritty). The plan will be available starting this Friday, February 22, and much like Verizon's setup, it only includes voice calling -- data and messaging will still require an additional package. The plan will be available to both existing and new customers, and anyone can get it month-to-month with no contract extension necessary. When you add in all-you-can-eat bytes and texts, you're looking at a total package that falls roughly in line with Verizon's so-called Premium Plan, so the industry appears to be settling on a fair asking price for this kind of deal. Whether consumers agree, well, that remains to be seen.
Filed under: ATT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
somebody smarter than you @ Feb 19th 2008 9:09PM
AT&T execs: so now that we got this cingular lawsuits and better business stuff behind us...what do we have on the table?
lackey: I was surfing the web and it looks like verizon is offeirng unlimited plans
AT&T execs: seriously...damn we just started figuring this out...
lackey: Yeah
AT&T execs: what did verizon announce?
lackey: 139.99 premium plans
AT&T execs: sounds good, run with it
lackey: shouldn't we try to do something first instead of just following verizon?
AT&T execs: why? we have followed thier lead on everything else...worked so far
lackey: this is true
AT&T execs: now, quick lackey, copy and paste our stuff onto thier slides....you have done it before, do it again!!!
lackey: ZERG RUSH!!!
at least that is how i pictured the meetings....maybe that is just me
Dave @ Feb 19th 2008 4:53PM
i called it
Eric @ Feb 19th 2008 2:43PM
Did I read somewhere that unlimited txt/data/voice is something like 60$[usd] per month in Sweden? What is happening to people in the USA? btw - where is my 200$ N95 from AT&T?
YoJIMbo @ Feb 25th 2008 8:46PM
All I can say is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girardi/1562746292/in/set-72157594585973409/
Ken @ Feb 19th 2008 3:08PM
Sweden has 25% VAT (value added tax), so that's another $15. Try HELIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $99/month, you will get EVERYTHING unlimited!!! Only true unlimited plan in the US! Can people read the numbers??? I don't understand why anyone is staying with ATT or Verizon. I was with ATT for years, they had $99 unlimited Charter plan, but after Cingular took over, they did their best to get me out of it. ATT/Cingular wouldn't let me buy a new phone unless I quiet the plan. So, I got an unlocked phone, ATT/Cingular then cut off my MMS and my web, says my new phone doesn't work with my old calling plan unless I sign a new expansive plan. So, I switched to Helio. ATT: too little too late. I am a very happy Helio customer now, and will be one for the next 2 years!
Seth A @ Feb 19th 2008 3:26PM
If AT&T is so in to copying other providers, why the hell cant they copy Altell or T-Mobile and give me a My Circle or MyFaves rip off. Seriously, I would not complain at all it was not their idea. Even just a "My only Friend" plan would work for me, as the person I talk to the most is on T-Mobile of all things, so she can talk to me day and night, but can I? Nah.
Steve Cory @ Feb 19th 2008 5:42PM
Seth,
The reason why they don't copy Alltel or T-Mobile is at the end of the day, those companies are not ATT's competition, VZW is.
Kraig Roche @ Feb 19th 2008 3:40PM
Personally, I really like these plans, and especially the month to month feature. To me it is totally worth the money. The question is, do they work with the iPhone??
Hammad @ Feb 19th 2008 5:46PM
Why all the hype around these $99 unlimited calling plans? They are way overpriced. Cricket has been offering an unlimited calling, sms texting, and picture messaging plan for $35 for a while now. They have a plan for $60 which includes long distance, roaming, unlimited web and a lot more. Come on people, wake up. Also, did I mention that Cricket has NO CONTRACTS and NO CREDIT CHECKS? T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint all will nail you with a 2 year contract and a cheap phone. Be smart and check out Cricket.
msm @ Feb 19th 2008 11:46PM
...too bad Cricket covers next to nowhere compared to so many other carriers...
Ryan @ Feb 19th 2008 6:49PM
So how will this affect the iPhone plans? Right now you can pay a lot more than that to get a few thousand minutes with unlimited data and SMS. Will that change?
foneguy43512 @ Feb 19th 2008 9:25PM
You forgot to mention that Cricket sucks. It only works in 15 markets. They have shitty phones which you pay full price for. Only $249 for a V3 (which is only a 4 yr old phone)
Gregory Pierce @ Feb 19th 2008 8:19PM
Actually if they want to bench themselves to someone, they should bench themselves to Helio which offers $99 for unlimited Voice AND Data. Pretty much anything you can do with the phone is unlimited: talk, text, email, IM, stream, etc.
I don't have Helio, but that $99 ALL you can eat is very very compelling and if my kids were old enough to warrant getting them cell phones - they'd have Helios.
Will @ Feb 19th 2008 8:48PM
why benchmark yourself with Helio? that would be like at&t comparing themselves to Sprint...those companies have no coverage area and no customers. when you're the leader you don't have to concern yourself with companies that you have a major advantage in coverage area
Ken @ Feb 19th 2008 10:43PM
What are you talking about? Have you checked out Helio? Do you have one? Helio uses Sprint's network, so they are totally covered nationwide. So far, Helio is the best carrier I have had. The best price for a TRUE UNLIMITED plan, and great service too. I would have picked T-mobile if Helio uses Sprint people, but Helio has their own customer service, nice and fast on the phone. GO HELIOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Anyone who is using anything else but Helio if they needed a lot of minutes for talking and surfing, they are idiots!
Gregory Pierce @ Feb 19th 2008 11:03PM
Will you clearly don't know too much about Helio. The system and its data network operate just fine nationwide at least as well at AT&Ts and in many cases I have tested with Helio devices (I am a developer in that space) that have operated while the AT&T devices were dropping signal while claiming to have 4+ bars. So I would suggest, Will, that you inform yourself a little better before you start spreading untruths about Helio. I have a number of reasons for not liking Helio, but lack of coverage would certainly not be one.
NuShrike @ Feb 20th 2008 5:26PM
When Helio lets me use by world-wide 3G coverage phone, then I'll look at them. Otherwise, baby in the corner.
Iknow everything @ Feb 19th 2008 9:18PM
How does the saying go??
"Monkey see, monkey do, monkey want to do it too..."
egoviri @ Feb 19th 2008 10:38PM
It should be noted that Verizon was trying to undercut Sprint's initial trial of unlimited service, which is a good move for something that could attract customers. AT&T just did they same since Verizon made it serious. Only people who don't play this game are Sprint, T Mobile, Alltel and (insert regional here). Soon as AT&T changes a plan or feature, Verizon does the same.
Adagio @ Feb 19th 2008 11:48PM
Guys, figure out how the real world works, of course it took Verizon to do it for AT&T to do it, they're the leader right now, they had no reason to have unlimited data plans.
Verizon is in a close second and announced it, so they had to act fast before Verizon closes the gap. Helio, Cricket, and MetroPCs aren't threats. Hell, they aren't even viewed as competition. Stop crying that AT&T is following the Verizon price tag, if they match the price they minimized the chance of people switching over to their only real competitor.
Adagio @ Feb 19th 2008 11:49PM
Er- Sorry, I meant voice plans.
Haha, tired.
Chris B. @ Feb 20th 2008 12:16AM
Checked out Helio - no data roaming off Sprint's network, which isn't so hot in the PNW. Cricket, liked them too but travel 6 miles north from Portland and I'm roaming; 200 minutes of roaming per month won't cut it for me (and I'd then be in the $60 per month plan. I love what MetroPCS is doing, just wish I didn't have to drive 800 miles to be in their home area.
T-Mobile's got about the worst coverage of the major providers in the US in the PNW - and the nearest Starbucks from Gresham is Redmond, a two-hour drive. I was about to sign up for a SERO account, wishing for an unlimited minutes plan outside of Sprint's $199 voice plan. I got stuck in traffic on Friday, and gave it up for a pint or I would have signed up that night. Two hours from a trip to a Sprint shop on Saturday I cruised HoFo and saw what a lot of phone geeks saw. I'll be upping both my VZ service and my AT&T service to unlimited minutes in the next week; I can drive 100 miles in the PNW with no service with either, but rarely with both being out of service. One missed call two weeks ago cost me $25k and I learned my lesson. No more missed calls and no more buckets o' minutes to worry about, that's what I'm talkin' about! I'm not waiting for Mr. Hesse to join the fray, sorry Sprint!
Xultar @ Feb 20th 2008 8:14AM
Someone has to read the darn thing. Unlimited data @ AT&T often goes something like this,
Unlimited data does not include data, streaming, the streaming of data, video, data, the streaming of video and data, connectivity, or connectivity to the internet for the streaming of data, video, audio or anything there of.
Y'all know I'm right.
Brian Prows @ Feb 20th 2008 12:12PM
It depends if your handset supports it. If you have a 3G AT&T phone with a data plan, you can stream video. 3G is slower than Verizon and Sprints EVDO broadband service.
Xultar @ Feb 20th 2008 12:31PM
Nope you are not correct. Read the contract. Regardless of handset you aren't supposed to stream content on AT&T unless it is AT&T content. Basically they don't want you doing anything on your handset that doesn't bring more money in to them.
danizel1 @ Feb 21st 2008 9:03AM
Actually, as long as you have an unlimited plan and a 3G device (a newer one preferably since they would be HSDPA) you can stream youtube to your device as well as do pretty much whatever on At&t's network.
dmite @ Feb 21st 2008 3:25PM
Does this unlimited work with family share plan?
postal @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:24AM
Yes, it works with family plans.
The iPhone also is actually cheaper on the month to month bills, for the person who asked earlier.
AlphaTeam @ Feb 23rd 2008 5:39PM
I just read their plans and they still have the 3000 and 6000 minutes plans on their site for $130+. Now who would get those plans?