Comments on: Explaining AT&T and Verizons’ complex shared-data plans

By: micha

micha — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 02:25:46 +0000

I guess the cheapest way is for users to keep their usual plan and use Open Garden app on Android. data can be shared with laptops (Mac and Windows), Android tablets and other Android phones in the family.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:37:29 +0000

First… I actually like the shared data plans that verizon came out with.. My partner and I both have an iPhone and were paying for unl data on each. Most data in a month we were using combined was about 1.5 – 2 gigs. We had 1400 minutes to share and unl text. We were paying 190 a month including tax ( small corporate discount ) NOW we bought two iPads and even though we got the Verizon iPads, I was not going to pay for data on a continuous basis… Then enter these share plans… Umm we pay less now, and have both iPads on the shared Data… what is not to like? My bill went down about $24 and we have 4 GB to share. Now I realize not everyone will work out this way.. so why don’t those people just stay on what they have and pay full price for a phone.. no big deal.. and no contracts.

As far as the title “complex” Ummm only complex for a complete moron. It’s pretty basic pricing. Also, keep in mind that we really would not even have to pay the $10 for the iPads and could save another $20 and use the hotspot feature in our phone, and anyone else could do the same to save some money, since that hotspot feature no longer costs extra.

By: joesph

joesph — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 02:09:19 +0000

I hope the biggest movement will come in the next few years. Sprint as lack luster they are,still have unlimited plans. Myself and I know a few others if still available will make this transition from Verizon to Sprint. Taking unlimited away was the most foolish move both companies could have made. It’s not like I had trust before for Verizon I don’t likewise any other big company but this last move sealed any possibility. Hopefully Sprint will be ready in 1 or 2 years once grandfather contracts start coming to renewal and I hope others around that time do a mass Exodus from Verizon and ATT. There has been some articles that this maybe if indeed it happens over 65% of wireless customer base. Putting Sprint in the for front of customers. Don’t screw it up Sprint.

By: roundedoff

roundedoff — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:27:15 +0000

Looks like price fixing to me.

By: Java 1959

Java 1959 — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:34:08 +0000

Imagine that. The two largest TELCO’s coming up with very similar pricing plans at about exactly the same time. Price fixing anyone?

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:52:08 +0000

Really, Back… How’s that? In my family, we can easily cut our bill $20 per month on average. In the rare month we go over that allotment, we can pay just $10 for 2GB more. Sounds like a win for us. Two smartphones we use as much as we want…

By: Tony Camilli

Tony Camilli — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:01:08 +0000

Verizon includes mobile hotspot at no extra cost. Any word on AT&T?

By: Gary Yund

Gary Yund — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 23:30:06 +0000

Hehe, yah, I had to update my spreadsheet a number of times to get everything just right for myself. I wish I could share it so people could tweak the numbers without being able to save it. I was also taking a look at Sprint, and it seemed like they have the best value of the major carriers that you can buy or use the iPhone on it so far, but I don’t know how great the service is.

By: Dave Wright

Dave Wright — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:13:25 +0000

IMO it’s fairly obvious that these new plans are admissions by ATT and VZW that voice and SMS revenues (cash cows) are going the way of the Dodo in a hurry (see the article yesterday by Chetan Sharma on what OTT is doing to voice and text). Does anyone really care about unlimited voice and text in the age of Skype, iMessage and WhatsApp? The per device access charges are simply a maneuver to preserve those revenue streams, Basically, you’ll still be paying for unlimited voice and text, even though you don’t want or need it.

Kudos to Kevin for pointing out how inane it is that tablet access fees are 50% of hotspots or laptops. Someone might want to let these guys know that the iPad 3 (new iPad) works perfectly well as a hotspot.

By: aufan

aufan — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:40:44 +0000

att could have toss the per device fee gain customers back sold more phones and tablets but no greedy corporation and i will no longer be a att customer sharing is good but in this case u spend more then u should for data remember its just a phone we all have pc’s at home where data is unlimited but probably soon will be capped also