New AT and T data plan - Lower prices and lower limits

On Monday, there could be new data plans a pricing for AT and T smartphones and tablets. This new AT and T data plan pricing is intended to help reduce network usage while providing more transparency in the billing process. Many wonder whether other wireless carriers will follow suit.

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AT and T data plans will eliminate ‘unlimited’

When the iPhone was introduced on the AT and T network within the beginning, the one-size-fits-all data plan was a $29.99 a month “unlimited” plan. Sometimes the definition of unlimited was confused. Some of the AT and T customers got huge data-use bills that indicated there was a limit to network usage that they weren’t aware of. Some customers had to pay their bills with easy payday loans . Such heavy use of the data network has also led to quite a couple of dropped calls and slow data speeds that are a tough sticking point between the carrier and customers.

The AT and T data plan

The new data plans revealed by AT and T can have 3 “levels” of data use. The first can be a $15 plan that will allow 200 mb of data per month. The second is a $25 plan allowing 2 gb per month. It costs an additional $20 per month to connect a laptop to the internet. These new AT and T data plans will send a free text message to users when they’re approaching their data limit. These data limits will not apply when the smartphone or tablet is being used at a WiFi hotspot – only the 3G network. Users that already have a contract with AT and T can keep their “unlimited” plans and pricing, even when renewing their contracts.

Different effects on the AT and T data plans

While the new AT and T data plans will reduce cost for light data users, heavy data users will feel the strongest effects. Many wireless carriers and app developers have been working to move streaming video and data-intense applications onto smartphones and tablets. By limiting all of their data use so heavily, AT and T will be limiting the accessible applications on its 3G or 4G network. The chairman of the FCC showed concern over the “bandwidth crisis” that smartphones have created. If other wireless carriers don’t follow the AT and T data plan model and limit their data usage, then heavy users will probably just switch carriers. Though demand for wireless data services has increased dramatically within the last few years, capacity is growing at a much slower rate.