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AT&T Is the Latest Carrier To Offer Unlimited Data For All Its Customers (phonedog.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the battle-is-raging dept.

Earlier this week, Verizon announced it is bringing back unlimited data plans after years of selling capped data packages. Now, ATT will be doing the same. ATT will let any current or potential customer buy an unlimited data plan. Until now, only DirecTV customers were able to purchase unlimited data from the carrier. PhoneDog reports: ATT says that starting tomorrow, February 17, its Unlimited Plan will be available to all customers. The plan will include unlimited data, talk, and text, and customers with the plan will also be able to travel to Canada or Mexico and use their plan just as they would at home, with zero roaming charges. ATT's Unlimited Plan also includes Stream Saver, which will optimize video streams to 480p. However, Stream Saver can be disabled if you'd like. One feature that's missing from ATT's Unlimited Plan is mobile hotspot usage, which is notable because the unlimited plans from the other three major U.S. carriers do include some mobile hotspot. Finally, it's worth noting that after 22GB of usage, ATT Unlimited Plan customers may have their speeds slowed during times of network congestion. This policy is also in place at the other three major U.S. carriers, with Verizon's threshold being 22GB, Sprint's 23GB, and T-Mobile's 26GB. A single line on the ATT Unlimited Plan will cost $100 per month. Each additional line will cost $40, but ATT will offer the fourth line free, making the cost for a family of four $180 per month.

62 comments

  1. Almost got it right... by briankwest · · Score: 1

    They had the chance, and they screwed this one up, I'm starting to think their billing system can't handle that situation. /b

    1. Re:Almost got it right... by buss_error · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They had the chance

      I am an ardent opponent of AT&T. My opinion for them could not, absolutely not, be any lower than it is. If I were elected King, the second thing I would do is to convict AT&T management from mid-level up of terminal idiocy, sentencing them to sweeping floors for the rest of their natural lives, since they have proven they are too stupid, greedy, and careless to be trusted to wash dirty dishes.

      My opinion of ComCast is even worse.

      --
      Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
    2. Re:Almost got it right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Alright, I'll bite. What's the first thing you would do?

    3. Re:Almost got it right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Duh... be elected king. /me giggles at "elected" in this context. Hmmm, maybe change the definition of "king". "Elected" == "kill current king" ?

    4. Re:Almost got it right... by rhazz · · Score: 2

      /me giggles

      I hate you.

    5. Re:Almost got it right... by buss_error · · Score: 1
      Alright, I'll bite. What's the first thing you would do?

      Spammer nads? Meet hammer.
      Hammer, Spammer.

      BANG

      --
      Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
    6. Re:Almost got it right... by buss_error · · Score: 1
      Duh... be elected king. /me giggles at "elected" in this context.

      I know it sounds counter-intuitive for a monarch to be elected, but, yeah, it's a thing.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      --
      Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
  2. I'll stick with my Sprint SERO plan. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    $55, unlimited unthrottled data, roaming, text.

  3. Not good enough by omnichad · · Score: 4, Informative

    They're trying to get every customer on their largest package by playing with the price. I don't need unlimited data. Or 20GB of data. Or even 2GB. I get by on home wifi and 1GB or less away from home. My wife and I pay less than $50 for two phones on Ting.

    The whole 'fear of missing out' thing is working for them. I'm just happy to be connected - I don't need to be streaming audio or video over a congested cell tower.

    1. Re:Not good enough by Penguinisto · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Ditto here. I actually use Net10 (which uses either AT&T or Verizon's towers/data/tech, depending on which phone you buy or bring)... $35/mo for unlimited talk/text, and 2GB data (then throttled after that, but with no further charges). So really, why the frig would I pay Verizon or AT&T $100/mo for something that I wouldn't use? In the 5 years I've been with Net10, I think I've gone over the 2GB cap once, a year ago (when I was farting around with rooting).

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    2. Re:Not good enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I pay $70/mo to AT&T for two phones with a whole bunch of minutes I never use up, unlimited texts, and some amount of data I don't use either. I'm trying to find the least expensive (as opposed to "cheapest") voice and txt only provider. Suggestions?

    3. Re:Not good enough by omnichad · · Score: 2

      I'd maybe recommend Ting for that too. $6/mo. per line, plus whatever bucket size of minutes/texts you use that month. If you use minutes/texts like I do, but no data at all, that's about $26/mo. for two lines before taxes. With these (and even the major carriers now), you have to buy/bring your own phone.

      Before I went smartphone, I rarely used texting - 5-10 msgs per month. I probably did better on Net10. It was $30 every 2 months to top up and keep two flip phones going with 300 minutes per 2 months. Used VoIP a lot more for calling at home then.

    4. Re:Not good enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bam. Good info. Do you know if Ting's "buckets" (e.g. "small", 100 minutes) are the number of minutes allotted per-phone or shared for both phones?

    5. Re:Not good enough by omnichad · · Score: 1

      It's shared among all the devices on the plan. And if you use more one month, your plan only goes up for that month. If you use less one month, your bill actually goes down to the lowest package that contains your usage.

    6. Re:Not good enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the info.

    7. Re:Not good enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I get by on home wifi and 1GB or less away from home. My wife and I pay less than $50 for two phones on Ting.

      Yep. I've got Ting too. I used to pay $120-$140 for Sprint for two phones. Now, I have three phones and pay around $70-$80 depending on our usage. We mostly use wifi for data to avoid the big bills. I'm much happier with what we pay now.

    8. Re:Not good enough by MaestroRC · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I'm not sure why they try to force people up in the plans by eliminating the bottom ones or tweaking the prices. However, I'm one that needs as much data as they'll offer, because we don't have access to landline internet at home even though we live in a major metropolitan area (Knoxville, TN) and less than a mile as the crow flies to the city center. My workaround is using a couple of hotspots connected to the same router with WAPs around the house to get the home devices online, combined with cell data. We were doing pretty well with a 22GB general access hotspot, 6GB TV streaming hotspot, and our phones with 6GB each on T-Mobile. Streaming worked well because they don't count that data against you from Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/etc with the plan over 6GB, and using one hotspot didn't work out because when it ran out of data and went to 128Kbps speeds it killed streaming too. I usually got close or ran out of data on my phone because I can't use it at work, but my wife used less than 1GB because she'd do all of her updates and such on wifi at work.

      So, the latest changes that T-Mobile made were enough to finally get me to jump with the phone lines to unlimited. It is costing us less for more data (unlimited but also 10GB tethered data per line as well). As a side effect they're also making the hotspot lines tax-inclusive so that will save us some more as well. All said and done our bill will be about $30-40/mo less than last month, with more data.

      For that, I'm thankful for the competition, but I can definitely understand folks in your position that have what they need and don't want to pay more.

      --
      I hate sigs...
    9. Re:Not good enough by omnichad · · Score: 1

      And it seems to only be possible because people with adequate home wifi are generally subsidizing the rest. And if those people had lower packages available, it wouldn't work.

    10. Re:Not good enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I don't get why anyone would accept a $100/mo cell phone. I pay $30/mo for the hidden T-Mobile plan which is 100min voice, unlim text, 5GB LTE data then unlimited throttled data. Even with heavy usage I never exceeded 5GB, and bing-on helps ensure I never do. 100 minutes voice isn't much, google voice+hangouts voip works more than good enough that I don't have to use it. I cringe whenever I hear someone paying even $60/mo and $100/mo is just unbelievable.

    11. Re:Not good enough by MaestroRC · · Score: 1

      On T-Mobile at least, they'll gladly let you keep your plan and let you stay grandfathered, but they're not making any plans that are cheaper to let you pay less. That probably means the actual cost per GB that you use is probably a multiple of the cost per GB that I use, though.

      --
      I hate sigs...
  4. ATT Hidden Data Throttling by BoRegardless · · Score: 1

    They do it on the iPhone on my account routinely, even though I'm not over my data limit.

    Frustrating trying to get a web page to load at 10KB/sec. Bastards.

  5. Compares to Old Unlimited Plan how? by pollarda · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have to wonder how this compares to the old unlimited data plan (which I'm still on).... seems they send me a nasty gram when I hit 16GB warning me that if I go above 22GB, I'll be throttled by their data preservation team. (I bet they're all named bubba too.). So it may be a bit of a better plan than the old one. Thoughts?

    1. Re: Compares to Old Unlimited Plan how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's the same plan, they're just letting everyone on it now.

    2. Re: Compares to Old Unlimited Plan how? by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      I'm a DirecTV customer and they offered me that plan which I passed on. I've currently got AT&T Next plan with 3 phones and 30GB of shared data with tethering included for $200 with all fees and taxes. My wife uses almost no data as she's mostly home all the time on my high speed internet there. My daughter and I usually use 10-12 GB a month and the data we don't use we can use the next month although it doesn't build month to month. It's cheap enough that I haven't looked anywhere else. The "unlimited" plan would have been worse than what I have for more money.

    3. Re:Compares to Old Unlimited Plan how? by rsmith-mac · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I have to wonder how this compares to the old unlimited data plan (which I'm still on)

      It's exactly the same plan, with exactly the same limitations, at exactly the same price.

      Which wouldn't be so bad, except that everyone else is cheaper, and everyone else offers some amount of tethering. Which is damned useful to have in a pinch.

    4. Re:Compares to Old Unlimited Plan how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Looks like the 4th unlimited line, which they just credit you for if you already have 3, can be a tablet.

    5. Re:Compares to Old Unlimited Plan how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What in the world does it matter if their preservation team is all named bubba? And why would you think that? What are you even implying? Does the name a person is given some how determine the kind of person they are? Or are you just being a dick?

  6. Funny... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I currently pay AT&T a hair over $300 a month for five lines and 15GB of data spread between them. Guess my ex-wife and kids upgrading their phones every chance they get costs me about as much as my service does.

    1. Re:Funny... by bobbied · · Score: 1

      If you take care of those devices, you can make a little back once you upgrade by selling them... Assuming you don't do the stupid thing and trade them in for new at 80% paid off.

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  7. I just want by desdinova+216 · · Score: 1

    faster that 3mb/sec DSL wired connection with no monthly cap

  8. ATT will screw you any way they can by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're surprised that AT&T is lying to you? They'll fuck you any way they can.

    1. Re:ATT will screw you any way they can by BoRegardless · · Score: 1

      Just not sure if TMobile is better yet. I'll switch once I confirm if it is.

    2. Re: ATT will screw you any way they can by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      T-mobile only screws with the price rarely and doesn't lie to me. ATT jacked with the price every quarter and then said that they didn't,t said that I changed plans, and all sorts of blatantly obvious lies. To hell with AT&T

  9. AT&T already have this? by wolf68k · · Score: 1

    Some time mid-last year we had the 10GB (or 15GB I forget which) plan and of course the mobile hot spot. Then added a line and switched to an unlimited data plan since it was offered, not knowing that the hot spot feature would be lost, no one mentioned that to us at the time. When in just a few hours we realized that hot spot was missing and switched back. My point being is that I don't see how this is new but for maybe that after 6 months or so they finally make it official.

  10. Proof of Throttling? by mi · · Score: 2

    They do it on the iPhone on my account routinely, even though I'm not over my data limit.

    I'm curious, how you established that. What's the evidence, it is AT&T's throttling and not something else between you and the server(s) you are talking to?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Proof of Throttling? by BoRegardless · · Score: 0

      It took 3 trips to the ATT store before I got a guy who knew how to check and he said "You are definitely nowhere near over your limit." He agreed that 10-20KB/sec data on a hotspot connection to the iPhone was rediculous.

      He then said "Have you tried resetting your Network Preferences?" I said "No, what's that." Go to "General" all the way to the bottom "Reset" and then to the middle of the page item "Reset Network Settings." It causes the phone to reboot and then the data speed was restored to 'normal' speeds.

      The average ATT store employee has NO CLUE.

    2. Re:Proof of Throttling? by mi · · Score: 1

      "You are definitely nowhere near over your limit."

      That's good, but is no proof, you are being throttled.

      It causes the phone to reboot and then the data speed was restored to 'normal' speeds.

      This means, something was wrong with your phone or, possibly, its settings. If a reset/reboot of the device fixed the problem, than it is most unlikely, that AT&T was deliberately throttling you. Had they really been doing that, no amount of tinkering with the phone itself would've helped.

      The average ATT store employee has NO CLUE.

      Yes, we all love to bash the front-line clerks. But that's irrelevant to the strong-worded claim you made. What you believe is "proof" is not — you owe AT&T an apology...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    3. Re:Proof of Throttling? by mmell · · Score: 1
      I've had similar issues with T-Mobile. The first (and only) C/S guy I talked to talked me through reprovisioning my phone - I forget exactly where, but there's an option (under "more network options"? I think), look at the available cellular provider list and select "Auto" (which is already selected, in all likelihood). Your phone will spend something less than a minute looking at local towers and reprovision your network stack.

      If a reboot fixed your phone's network slowness, I get the impression the problem was on your phone, not your carrier's network. Just sayin'.

    4. Re:Proof of Throttling? by BoRegardless · · Score: 1

      OK, the data rates I saw when connecting my MacBook Pro via Hotspot to my iPhone 5s.

      1. For years it was 200-800 KB/sec when connected
      2. ATT sends me a note I am over my data limit and data transfer goes to 4-20 KB/sec
      3. I go check out info at the ATT store and up my data plan
      4. Data speeds still 4-20 KB/sec (Activity Monitor)
      5. 2 More trips to ATT with all the excuses: Heavy cell traffic, Poor reception at your house, interference, etc. (even though nothing had changed at home)
      6. Final ATT guy says "Let's reset your network connection in your iPhone." One restart and data connections routinely now go up to 200-900 KB/sec as needed.

      Is that enough proof. It is just a data rate after all.

    5. Re:Proof of Throttling? by mi · · Score: 1

      Is that enough proof.It is not proof at all. If tinkering with the device made it go away, you weren't throttled. Period.

      Maybe, just maybe, the sinister "guy with a clue" quietly — without telling you — fixed something else with your account, while lying to you, that you need to reset/reboot. Seems unlikely though...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    6. Re: Proof of Throttling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Resetting the network settings is like a reg clean, DNS flush and just cleans up whatever was not in spec. Also ensures the device has to re-log into the data network. His phone needed a network enema.

    7. Re: Proof of Throttling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Auto means your phone is regularly looking between all available bands for what to lock on to. Choosing your carrier signaling instead of using the scan stabilize the connection. Turn auto on if you know to be in a data roaming situation that you want to use.

    8. Re:Proof of Throttling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm, that sounds more like an Apple issue than an ATT issue.

    9. Re: Proof of Throttling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      haha no it's not unlikely at all.

      I used to tell the field techs to remove one of the low speed cards from the chassis and lightly tap it against said chassis to " realign the laser diode "

      Whilst tapping away, I would madly type in the commands needed to fix the issue.

      Once the now " realigned " card was installed again, everything magically started working ! It was downright amazing I tell you.

    10. Re:Proof of Throttling? by Robert+Goatse · · Score: 1

      The average ATT store employee has NO CLUE.

      So true. I was investigating weird ATT data usage on my account so I brought in a spreadsheet with dates and data usage. The usage column was in kbps and I got in an argument with the worker-drone as to what those numbers mean in MB. This dude turned to the "manager" with a quizzical look on his face and the manager tried to argue with me as to what a MB was.

      Both of them had zero idea what I was talking about and I lost all respect for the people they employ in their retail locations.

  11. Competition vs. Regulation by mi · · Score: 1, Insightful

    So, Trump wins, appoints a free maket (spit!) RethugliKKKunt as the head of FCC and services improve?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Competition vs. Regulation by mmell · · Score: 0

      He only got elected POTUS. He only thinks he's the king - and he only has delusions of godhood (or at least, Narcissistic Personality Disorder - or so I hear).

    2. Re:Competition vs. Regulation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      -1 Offtopic

    3. Re:Competition vs. Regulation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I should point out that it's apparently T-Mobile that forced this issue. A while back, T-Mobile was up for sale. Sprint or one of the other carriers wanted to merge/buy them. So preventing that allowed this current situation.

      There are some people out there who want to let corporations do anything (import cheap workers, dominate markets, etc.). They are too unwilling to question corporate behavior.

      I am a Trump supporter. While I disagree with his stance on Net Neutrality, he has tentatively opposed some media conglomerate mergers. If he uses anti-trust on ISPs and enacts last mile rules (or an MVNO system), it's possible to get better internet access without implementing Net Neutrality. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

    4. Re: Competition vs. Regulation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Appointed FCC chair thinks high speed access is a novelty. No chance last mile friendly regs or position will occur. What's good for business contrary to many worshippers is not necessarily good for the consumer. I guess we will get to see.

  12. And no changes down-tier ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

    ... because I checked today.

    The person said, "You don't use data."

    True.

    I have WiFi at home and just about every place I visit has free WiFi.

    I have a 2GB cap, and carry-over data, so this month I'. at 3.63GB remaining.

    I don't use data because ... data cap.

    I was hoping for some trickle-down freebies like 4GB at no extra charge and stuff.

    I'm with Verizon in USA and I get a 15% military discount for having served in the Navy back in the late 1960s.

    I presented then with a copy of my DD-214, which they returned to me.

    Also, I have a License To Carry in Texas, with "Veteran" stamped on my license that can be used as proof of service.

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  13. mmm data buffet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have had unlimited on AT&T for about 12 years. Works great :D
    Also have unlimited on verizon mifi!

  14. How is this lashvertisement... by williamyf · · Score: 0

    ... news for nerds and stuff that matters for readers in:
    UK?
    Germany?
    Canada?
    Australia?
    New Zealand?
    Brazil?
    Rusia?
    India?
    China?
    South Africa?
    Mexico?
    Spain?
    France?
    Austria?
    Japan?
    Venezula?

    Or a long etcetera (basicaly)?

    I mean, like many sites, slashdot started in the US, but have international following. Would be interesting to know if the US readership is bigger than the rest of the world combined.

    I get it that the Advertisements could be targetd to the US if they are the most receptive. But this is suppoed to be an article...

    --
    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    1. Re:How is this lashvertisement... by mmell · · Score: 1

      Well, it's still 99% in English. Not proof, but a definite indicator.

    2. Re:How is this lashvertisement... by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1

      Not every story on every site is going to apply to me. I learned to accept that long ago. I don't find it necessary to imply that that particular fact makes it necessarily contrary to the mission statement that I want to think is the operating rule for EVERY SINGLE STORY. I know that isn't a fact.

      It is an article. It has to do with policy that appears to be spreading through many US providers.

      There's a very simple way of avoiding articles like this if they don't interest you. Look at the headline and don't read it.

      Not everything has to be to your taste to be OK.

      Seriously.

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
    3. Re:How is this lashvertisement... by Solandri · · Score: 1

      I mean, like many sites, slashdot started in the US, but have international following. Would be interesting to know if the US readership is bigger than the rest of the world combined.

      Every country's population is less than half the world population. So by your reasoning, no news relevant to a single country (or groups of countries less than half the world population - e.g. the EU) should be posted to slashdot.

  15. Kicking and screaming by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    And their offering sucks. This AT&T is emulating only too well the AT&T that was broken up in the early 80s. Hopefully, the same destiny awaits them. And Verizon.

    1. Re:Kicking and screaming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes that's right. Exterminate ATT and Verizon. Hand over control of the American telecom industry to the Deutsch Nazis of TMobile and the Imperial Japanese of SoftSprint. Finally at long last, the Axis powers will prevail.

  16. Catch 22 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I had them offer this to me, saving me almost 80/month. Catch: NO tethering.

    Nothanks.

  17. When Unlimited doesn't really mean Unlimited by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think these phone companies need to be taken to court and shown that what False advertising means. They also need to be shown a dictionary so that they know what "Unlimited" means.

  18. Hotspot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can you use hotspot feature if you have a custom ROM? Or are they inspecting packets and blocking it as if they're NSA