AT&T announces new iPhone data plans

  AT&T's new data plans are blessing to some and a blight to others.  Wikimedia Commons

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As of this moment, almost every iPhone user in the world uses AT&T as their service provider because of the exclusivity contract between them and Apple, maker of the iPhone.  Up until now, all iPhone users who have not unlocked their device have had to pay AT&T $30 per month for data usage.  While a steep price, it did grant unlimited data.  Today, AT&T released a revised data plan option that has eliminated the unlimited data plan.

Just announced today by AT&T,   These new options will take the place of incoming AT&T subscribers for the iPhone.  There are two options for users.  Here are the data plans:

DataPlus provides 200 MB of data.  This is enough to send or receive 1,000 emails without attachments, send or receive 150 emails with attachments, view 400 Web pages, post 50 photos on your favorite social media sites, and watch 20 minutes of streaming video.  This plan costs $15 per month.

DataPro provides 2 GB of data.  This is enough for 10,000 emails with no attachments, 1,500 emails with attachments, the ability to view 4,000 web pages, post 500 photos to social media sites, and watch 200 minutes of streaming video.  This plan costs $25.

If the user at any time during the monthly cycle exceeds the allotted data usage, then the user would be charged heftily for the ability to use more data. 

While the new plans may seem like a major bummer to current iPhone users, fear not because they are all grandfathered into the data rate and can continue it as they see fit.  However, I think the new plan is a bad idea for AT&T to enact.  While I don’t think the implementation of the new plans are a bad idea, as it will save some users money, AT&T should have left the option to pay the original $30 for unlimited usage.  AT&T is already having problems attracting new customers, and with the iPhone 4G inevitably heading to Verizon and Sprint, it shouldn’t be too difficult to choose the best plan.

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