AT&T Limits Data Plans for Smartphones & iPad With New 200 MB and 2 Gig Data Plans

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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.