OK we’re not even done with the Verizon flat-rate phone plans news announcement and here comes Ma Bell with its own $99-a-month unlimited offer.
The plans will be available to new and existing wireless subscribers for $99.99 a month for unlimited U.S. calling on all devices with no domestic roaming or long distance charges. The plans can be combined with any current wireless data plan to give customers the ultimate in wireless freedom. The new plans, available Feb. 22
By the way, this unlimited plan is for voice only. No changes on data and SMS pricing, which still cost an arm and a leg. Hah! Why it was only yesterday that I was wondering how long it would take AT&T and T-Mobile to respond to Verizon’s plans. As someone just said, competition is a bitch ;-). Plan details are below the fold.
The following information is from an AT&T spokesperson
* Unlimited Voice Only: $99.99 unlimited voice only for standard wireless phones (note: smartphones/iPhones/PDAs also require an additional data plan)
* Unlimited Voice and Text Only: $119.99 for unlimited voice and text, picture, video and instant messages
* Unlimited Voice and Data (email and MEdiaNet) Only: $114.99 for unlimited voice and unlimited data for a standard wireless phone (excluding smartphones/BlackBerry and iPhone)
* $129.99 unlimited voice and unlimited data for a smartphone/PDA/BlackBerry on consumer email
* $144.99 unlimited voice and unlimited data for a smartphone/PDA/BlackBerry on corporate email
* Unlimited Voice, Data and Text: $134.99 for unlimited voice and text, picture, video and instant messages and unlimited data for a standard wireless phone.
* iPhone with Unlimited Voice: $99.99 unlimited voice + $20/$30/$40 data package (Note: the unlimited voice option will not be immediately available in iTunes. However, customers can select one of the existing plans in iTunes, then call us to switch, at no charge, to the unlimited voice plan.)
8 comments so far
11:19 AM PT
As mentioned before, Sprint was there first (at least in select markets) and their plan includes web usage and such.
http://www.phonenews.com/sprint-now-offering-unlimited-access-plan-online-2703/
Of course, MetroPCS and such (e.g. Boost in CA) have been offering unlimited plans with no roaming (it’s extra) for $35-$55/month (depending on carrier and options) for years.
11:52 AM PT
This pricing is great of you have a basic phone. Blah.
For those of us in the corporate / professional world who own a Blackberry (corporate account) and unlimited data, it still is an arm and a leg.
I currently pay that much for 1400 minutes ($89.99) + Blackberry Enterprise ($44.99) and 1500 SMS message ($19.99) = $154.97
So I get a $9.98 savings!
Because it is “unlimited”… Most users choose a plan that they know they will average the X amount of minutes. So unlimited won’t make someone talk more.
When will ATTT come out with a package for corporate professionals for a flat $100.00 per month? I would gladly pay that no questions asked!
12:52 PM PT
It amuses me how much carriers charge for SMS (especially a la carte) when it is by far the least resource intensive service they offer. I’d think it takes about 100 SMS to equal 1 MOU, in terms of resources. Why unlimited SMS cost > $5 as a bolt-on is beyond me.
2:45 PM PT
CellularSouth has been offering unlimited phone,text and internet at $79.99 for a few months now. So Verizon, ATT and T-Mobile are still over priced.
6:27 PM PT
Yep. As a Sprint customer, we’ve “been there, done that” with unlimited plans. Sadly, though, admitting I’m a Sprint customer is like admitting I enjoy having a steel pole rammed through my loins.
9:39 PM PT
Since I live in an area where data plans are pointless this will actually save me a good bit of money.
3:44 AM PT
Some context on how these developments fit in the bigger picture.
See The Future of Free
http://gigaom.com/2008/01/31/here-comes-trouble-the-future-of-free/
3:46 AM PT
http://www.feelphones.com/2008/02/20/t-mobile-is-planning-to-announce-an-unlimited-voice-and-data-plan/
Now T-Mobile is planning to announce an unlimited voice and data plan
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