AT&T to Require Data Plans for [ALL] Smartphones

AT&T to Require Data Plans for Smartphones

Posted by: Olga Kharif on August 21

Starting on Sept. 6, AT&T will require all new smartphone users to
subscribe to the carrier’s wireless data plans, the company confirms
to BusinessWeek.com.

Today, some of AT&T’s smartphone customers can chose not to buy a data
plan, or they can subscribe to MEdia Net, a cheaper service that
offers wireless e-mail and news access for as little as $2 per
Megabyte. Currently, AT&T’s data plans range from $5 to $60 a month.
<snip>
And the move likely means increases in data revenues for the carrier —
and slower sales growth for smartphone vendors.

Heavier monthly charges could deter some people from buying
smartphones. For AT&T, that’s no great loss. The carrier spends a lot
of money on subsidizing handsets so consumers get them at a lower
price; and those subsidies may not pay off when expensive, feature-
rich smartphones are not being used for data services, as intended.
<snip>


The move, which is likely to be copied by other U.S. carriers, could
slow down smartphone sales, however. e...

http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2009/08/att_t...equire.

NightStalker <NightStalker DeleteThis @somewhere.or.other> wrote in
news:MPG.24fa6e01e70c773e9898c5@news-europe.giganews.com:

> Don't worry - you DO have it cheap over there. Here in Australia, the
> data roaming charge by my carrier (Telstra) is $15/Mb. And your Texas
> Calculator should tell you that it works out to $15,000 per Gb.
>
> Needless to say, whenever I leave these shores, I turn ALL data off.
>
> Pity really - would be good to have access to emails, Google Maps, web,
> etc etc while overseas. But not at $15/Mb - no sireee!
>
> --
>
> NightStalker
>
>

OUCH!

I don't understand these charges, myself. If a small business rips off the
consumers, they government cops are all over them like a fly on sugar.
However, if they are a giant telecom corporation, they seem way too immune
from prosecution for it to be a coincidence.

--
Larry