AT&T Revamps Its Wireless Web Plans
Just in time for the much-anticipated launch of a new iPhone, AT&T is pulling in the reins on data usage by charging customers based on the amount of Web browsing and email traffic they generate on smartphones and iPads.
The company says it is introducing two new data plans, starting June 7, with limits on data consumption. One plan costs $15 a month for 200-megabytes of data traffic, the other is priced at $25 a month for 2-gigabytes. Additional gigabytes will cost $10 each.
The new plans will replace the $30 unlimited-data plan that it had required for all new smartphone users. Existing customers will have the option to stay with their current plans.
The move means the cost of an entry-level voice and data plan would now be lowered to $55, down from $70 a month. But heavy data customers will have to pay more unless they cut back their Internet usage.
The company also said it will drop its current $30 unlimited data plan for new iPad buyers and replace it with the $25 a month 2-gigabyte plan.
This latest development confirms the trend of wireless carriers in shifting away from unlimited data plans, and instead, charging by the amount of traffic they generate, as smartphones become more sophisticated and Web usage continues to increase.