AT&T Plans to Jack Up Data Plan Prices Next Week Due to Heavy Data Usage Increases

[dgstorm]

Although this new isn't directly related to Verizon, it is nevertheless relevant to all carriers, since they tend to follow each other's leads sometimes. The United States' second largest mobile phone carrier, AT&T, has made plans to sharply raise their pricing on data plans for smartphones and tablets. They are calling this move a response to an explosion in data usage. These new pricing plans will only affect new users, and current customers are grandfathered into their existing plans.

Mark Siegel, an AT&T spokesman explained that with customers consumption of video and music, estimates show that data usage is increasing 40 percent every year, which spurred the company toward this action. Here's a quote from the Yahoo article with details of the new pricing,

From January 22, AT&T customers will pay $20 for a 300-megabyte monthly data plan, up from $15 for 200-mb currently. Users with higher requirements can also opt for $30 for 3 gigabytes -- versus $25 for 2 GB previously -- or $50 for 5 GB, up from $45 for 4 GB.

It makes you wonder how long before Verizon sees this as an opportunity to do the same...

Source: Yahoo! News

[sb1831]

Higher minimum data requirements at a cheaper $/Gb I'll call it a push.

[Red Droid]

The plans are actually cheaper under the new rate structure. $25 for 2GB, if you go over and hit 3GB add $10 for a total of $35 under the current plan. The new AT&T plan only charges $30 for 3GB. Same goes for the 4GB bump to a 5GB plan.

Did I miss something here? Verizon charges $30 for 2GB, AT&T now gives 3GB for the same $30.

Does this mean Verizon needs to give their customers an extra GB for $30 to stay COMPETITIVE?

[305rev305]

The plans are actually cheaper under the new rate structure. $25 for 2GB, if you go over and hit 3GB add $10 for a total of $35 under the current plan. The new AT&T plan only charges $30 for 3GB. Same goes for the 4GB bump to a 5GB plan.

Did I miss something here? Verizon charges $30 for 2GB, AT&T now gives 3GB for the same $30.

Does this mean Verizon needs to give their customers an extra GB for $30 to stay COMPETITIVE?

Maybe not. Maybe Verizon likes to be the most expensive in order to say gouhave to attend for the best... Either way I have unlimited...

[TuxDude]

Yep it would be great if Verizon also offered more or at least equally competitive as AT&T

[sc0rch3d]

gotta love grandfathers

[xsylus]

I'd hate to work in that call center

[Aixelsyd]

How can you say these are increased when the $ per Gb is less. to further add you forgot to mention the $50 5Gb plan also includes tethering which currently is an added fee if I'm not mistaken

[empoweredh22]

Verizon's double data just ended so it's kind of a horse a piece, depending on your exact timing of getting any new device as far as who's cheaper at the moment. No doubt vzw is expensive and no doubt there's LTE growing pains but overall I still say vzw ftw over att.

[rocktoonz]

it's too bad that there wasn't enough outcry and backlash when unlimited plans were discontinued.