New
AT&T Wireless customers who hope to enjoy unlimited Web surfing will have to pay extra for heavy use. The carrier has announced it is ending the "unlimited" plan June 7.
The change does not affect current customers, only new customers who sign a contract after June 6. Current customers may continue the company`s $29.95 unlimited data plan.
AT&T has been the object of recent grumbling from its smartphone customers about its network. The end of unlimited data is seen as a way for the company to reduce the amount of traffic on its network, especially in markets like New York and Los Angeles, where iPhone penetration is high.
The company, meanwhile, is spinning the move as a price cut for customers. It says customers can pick the new data plan that best meets their needs -- either a $15 per month entry plan or a $25 per month plan with 10 times more data. But even with more data, there are limits to surfing and downloads for that price.
"AT&T helps mobilize everything on the Internet - your favorite web sites, TV shows, music, games and social networks. Virtually everything previously done while sitting at a computer can now be done on the go," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "To give more people the opportunity to experience these benefits, we`re breaking free from the traditional `one-size-fits-all` pricing model and making the mobile Internet more affordable to a greater number of people."
Two plans
The "DataPlus" plan will provide 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 $15 per month. If customers exceed that limit they will be charged another $15 for another 200 MB of data.
The "DataPro" plan provides two 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 customers 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, the company said.
AT&T says 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.
AT&T said it will also help customers manage their wireless data usage by sending free text messages after customers reach different usage intervals and by providing online tools, including a smartphone app that shows monthly usage information.
Current AT&T voice and texting plans are unchanged, the company said.
