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AT&T: Hey, We Have New Calling Plans, Too!AT&T: Hey, We Have New Calling Plans, Too!
Rather than let Verizon Wireless steal all the thunder today, AT&T has responded with new voice, texting and data plans of its own. The plans come close to matching those offered by Verizon, though Sprint still offers a better overall value.
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Rather than let Verizon Wireless steal all the thunder today, AT&T has responded with new voice, texting and data plans of its own. The plans come close to matching those offered by Verizon, though Sprint still offers a better overall value.Here's AT&T's announcement from just a few moments ago:
The new plans, which will be available beginning Monday, Jan. 18, can be ordered at AT&T's 2,200 company-owned retail stores and kiosks, through convenient online service at www.att.com, or at one of the thousands of authorized AT&T retail locations.
Feature Phone customers may choose unlimited talk for $69.99. Family Talk customers (prices assume two lines) may choose unlimited talk for $119.99 per month. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals and $30 for Family Talk plans.
Quick Messaging Device customers may choose unlimited talk and text for $89.99 per month. Quick Messaging Device customers with Family Talk plans may choose unlimited talk and text for $149.99 per month (for two lines). These prices include a required minimum of $20 per month for individual plans and $30 per month for Family Talk plans in texting and/or Web browsing plans for new and upgrading customers.
All smartphone customers, including iPhone customers, may now buy unlimited voice and data for $99.99. For smartphone customers with Family Talk plans (prices assume 2 smartphones), unlimited voice and data is now available for $179.99. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals, $30 for Family Talk Plans.
This is what Verizon announced today:
Beginning Jan. 18, customers may sign up for a new Nationwide Unlimited Talk plan that allows customers to call anyone in the United States for $69.99 monthly access or a Nationwide Unlimited Talk & Text plan to call and send text, picture and video messages to anyone in the country for $89.99 monthly access.
Nationwide Family SharePlans will also have new unlimited options. Nationwide Unlimited Talk Family SharePlans will be $119.99 monthly access while the Nationwide Unlimited Talk & Text Family SharePlans will be $149.99 monthly access. All Family SharePlan pricing includes the first two lines of service. Standard text message rates will apply for customers on the Nationwide Unlimited Talk plans who do not sign up for a text messaging bundle.
Data Packages: The company also announced the expansion of the 25 megabyte for $9.99 per month data package requirement to include all Verizon Wireless 3G Multimedia phones, which gives customers quick access to Mobile E-mail, games and the Internet. The data package requirement was introduced last year with the LG enV TOUCH and the Samsung Rogue. Today's announcement expands that list to include new activations of the LG Chocolate Touch, LG enV3, LG VX8360, Motorola Entice W766, Nokia 7705 Twist and Samsung Alias™ 2. The company expects to introduce a host of 3G Multimedia phones in 2010. The $19.99 data package option for 3G Multimedia phones has been discontinued.
Customers using Simple Feature phones (Mobile Web-enabled) will continue to pay $1.99 per megabyte or choose either the $9.99 or $29.99 data packages. The consumer data package for 3G Smartphones such as BlackBerry, Windows Mobile or Android devices will remain at $29.99 per month.
Prepaid Plans: Verizon Wireless will also offer customers new prepaid plans beginning Jan. 18. For those who prefer pay-as-you-go options, but want a no-holds approach to calling and texting, new Monthly Unlimited Prepaid plans will give customers the same great calling options as monthly contract subscribers for just $5 more per month. Prepaid Monthly Unlimited Talk is now available for $74.99 per month while contract subscribers pay $69.99 for the same unlimited calling option. Prepaid Monthly Unlimited Talk & Text will be available for $94.99 per month. The 450- and 900-minute Monthly Prepaid plans will also be available for $5 more per month than comparable postpaid plans.
Meanwhile, Sprint was sure to remind everyone of its Simply Everything plans, though it made no real changes to its existing offering:
Grandparents texting, moms and dads downloading apps, kids surfing the mobile Web for school research - these days it seems everyone uses their wireless phones for much more than talking. As more and more wireless users send messages, Tweet and access the Internet on their phones, pricing plans that offer more than just voice minutes are the best bet to keep the monthly bill in check. Sprint (NYSE: S) has the answer, with affordable Everything Data plans that offer the best value with unlimited messaging and data included for one low price.
Sprint Everything Data plans offer a savings of nearly $240 per year vs. Verizon's new Nationwide Talk & Text plans plus unlimited data package.1 Families can save nearly $600 per year on unlimited messaging and data with Sprint Everything Data Family plans vs. Verizon's new Nationwide Talk & Text Family SharePlans plus unlimited data package.2 Everything Data plans include Any Mobile, Anytime for unlimited calling while on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless user regardless of carrier, plus unlimited text, picture and video messaging, e-mail, Web browsing and exclusive data services, such as Sprint Navigation and NFL Mobile Live.
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