AT&T Drops Unlimited Plan for iPhone and iPad to 2GB, Adds $20 Tethering Option

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Posted June 2, 2010 at 11:59am by iClarified

AT&T has announced that it will drop the unlimited data plan for iPad and iPhone and is now offering only a measly 2gb plan for iDevices.

The new wireless data plans – including a new tethering option – will be available beginning June 7.

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. AT&T says that 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. AT&T says that 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.

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.

It's unclear why AT&T has made this drastic change especially concerning the iPad. 2GB is no where near enough data on that device. Perhaps something has changed in the Apple/AT&T relationship.

Apple is set to announce a new iPhone in a week's time and AT&T's actions only serve to increase dissatisfaction among their already upset customers. Hopefully this move brings a Verizon iPhone closer if it isn't on the way already.

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AT&T Drops Unlimited Plan for iPhone and iPad to 2GB, Adds $20 Tethering Option

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Jaylou180 - June 2, 2010 at 12:55pm

I have been seriously thinking of going android from iPhone 3gs. This is another slap in the face. I have been a AT&T customer fir about 6 years. I have a family plan with 3 iPhones and two other devices. I pay about 300.00 a month with data and messaging. I'll probally go to another carrier.

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Tergel - June 2, 2010 at 2:18pm

While I don't understand eliminating an unlimited data plan, existing customers will not be required to change to one of the new plans: "Current smartphone customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension."

Nick - June 2, 2010 at 2:20pm

Yeah we aren't required to switch now, but I bet when we renew our contract to purchase a new iPhone or a new phone in general they'll force us to switch. I don't know about you, but I plan on selling my 3GS and getting the new iPhone coming out in a few weeks since I won't have to pay anything to ugprade.

Tergel - June 2, 2010 at 2:21pm

Yeah, fair point - and I'm seriously hoping that doesn't happen.

Nick - June 2, 2010 at 2:24pm

I'm definitely going to make it a point to check before I upgrade. I hope that the iPhone does go to Verizon though, not only would my plan be cheaper, but it seems like they don't try and screw their customers over as much like AT&T has been lately with all these iPhone restrictions. I understand that it's putting strain on their network, but how much money are they making off of all the iPhone users and smartphone users? They should have been spending money on upgrading their network to handle the increased loads, instead of just soaking up all the profits for themselves.

Tergel - June 2, 2010 at 2:28pm

I certainly will as well. I really want the new iphone as well, but not if I will be forced to one of the new plans. AT&T is the typical example of a company that does not respect its customers and fails to view the direct correlation between customer satisfaction and profits. Time Warner is another one. Here in Austin, TX, when TW announced that it was going to start offering tiered pricing for high-speed internet bandwidth, the uproar from customers was enough to convince TW to back off that plan - so had least they had enough sense to do that. But even that was billed as a market test." AT&T isn't testing anything. They could not care less what their customers think. I myself am very interested in a switch to Verizon.

Nick - June 2, 2010 at 2:32pm

Yeah, that plan might be what forces me to not get the new iPhone. I know what you mean about Time Warner, that's what we have up here and theres nothing else besides Satellite where I'm at and I need fast internet for all the downloading and gaming I do. I'm definitely moving to Verizon once the iPhone comes out for it, a cheaper plan and a company that won't mess with me seems like a pretty good thing.

mateen - June 2, 2010 at 12:01pm

For 98% of people, this will help save money. For the Other 2% who use over 2GB of data, they are screwed. But hey, hopefully this will reduce the strain on the network!

Benjamin - June 2, 2010 at 1:25pm

Actually your wrong. If you read correctly 98% of typical SMARTPHONE users. not iPhone. If you remember previous articles, researches and statistics analyses showed that typical iPhone users use between 2-7 GB of data a month, far above most average smartphones, because of how the device views information, its not compressed at all. So in essence I think that this is ATTs way of saying, our network isnt strong enough for this, slow down or get lost. If you use over your plans data in a month, they send you a couple warning letters to reduce, then disconnect you. That is why i am no longer with att