AT&T said it will require all new customers who use a smartphone to subscribe to a $30 monthly data plan starting September 6.

The Dallas, Texas-based company said the new mandate was implemented to increase customer satisfaction by eliminating fluctuations and unusually high bills.

The change doesn't affect non-smartphone subscribers. Existing customers with a smartphone can choose not to buy a data plan until they upgrade their phone or plan.

Smartphones include the iPhone, BlackBerries, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Palm devices.

Tweet

Share

Digg

1. Posted by MurphyLaw	Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:34 pm
I think it's a good move by my company (AT&T). Why else would you need a Blackberry, a Fuse, a Palm Treo or anyother smartphone? For Internet and email of course. Now before AT&T started selling "Quick Messaging" phones (phones made for messaging due to the QWERTY keypad) I would agree yes get a Blackberry or smartphone without internet. They were the only QWERTY phones at the time. If you don't want to pay the data plan charges, then it probably means you don't need a smartphone. I work in sales for AT&T and a buddy of mine works for T Mobile. He told me they already had the in effect. Working for sales all the time I hear, " I wan't a Blackberry because it's cute" or "I want an iPhone because it's touchscreen" If that's the case let me show you our messaging phones. Thats what I think, what do you think? Sound off people.
2. Posted by david80	Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:58 pm
I wonder if this is in response that some iPhone users are canceling their ATT data plans and subscribing to Verizons mobile hot spot service in order to get better data coverage.
3. Posted by Nevada	Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:20 pm
I've been with AT&T wireless since 1988 (for those of you who remember when you had a shoulder strap to carry the 10lb phone!). Things that have transpired since then- Good: better service, phone bill below $300, more phones. Bad things: Red tape, customer service, not knowing their own products & services, contracts. When they became Cingular then back to AT&T it was like if GM bought Hummer and didn't know where the dip sticks were, yet sold them any way. I have had my current plan for 6-7 yrs.= 900 mins ($59), 1500 texts ($15), Medianet unlimited internet ($15). Total $89.Great! With this plan I have used Black Berry pearl (granted i think they have changed this so you have to now have a different plan), Moto Q, BlackJack's I&II. With my current BJack II I get all email (Yahoo, Gmail & Hotmail) plus my work email (MSoft Exchange). Also, Google maps, streaming shows, etc. I go into AT&T a couple weeks ago to get a new E71x to be informed i can not because I need a $30 Internet only plan? After explaining that i get Exchange, Outlook, email, web etc. everything now.the response "you can't get those w/o a smart phone w/ $30 plan and therefore we can not sell you this phone.". Even when i asked for a new BlackJack II, she said she could not? Solution, did the upgrade on AT&T's own website, paid zero (new 2 yr contract, refurb E71x, $50 credit). Kept my $15 Medianet, and now get all the goodies of a smart phone with out paying $30 (or $50 total for both txt & Internet as the plans are now). Nutshell- saved $20/mo., got new phone.happy. So how this new directive is helping people?.i have no clue, other than it takes all the people on the old plans and makes them pay $20 more a month. ps. I love the way the couch it by saying they want to reduce over billing. If this is the case, "AT&T please publish a 3rd party analysis of this move". Good luck to all!

Post a comment and discuss this story with other readers.