AT&T preps $30 unlimited data/message pack
updated 11:55 am EST, Fri January 23, 2009
ATT Unlimited Messaging
AT&T is gearing up to launch a new set of data plans that includes a lower-cost unlimited data and messaging bundle, a leak of a briefing sheet and additional information to Engadget reveals. The carrer is poised to drop its longstanding MEdia Net name for its regular data services and will top the offerings with a lower-cost $30 Messaging & Data Unlimited plan; the feature is $5 less than before but still allows its namesake unrestricted data use, MMS and SMS.
Other plans are mostly rebadges of lesser MEdia Net plans and include Data Unlimited as well as Data Unlimited & AT&T Navigator for regular subscribers. Both Data Pay Per Use as well as GoPhone Data 1MB for prepaid phone users. Some of the basic MEDia plans have also been scrapped to simplify the choices, including the Basic, Works Max 200 and plain 1MB plans.
AT&T's full motivations for the changeup aren't mentioned, though the $30 price matches Verizon's Connect plan. The naming also emphasizes general data use for video streaming and other features where MEdia Net has primarily centered on the web.
Whether or not the provider plans any changes for its smartphone plans is also unknown. The company's unlimited smartphone plan at $30 doesn't include any messaging and has been cited at times as a key obstacle to the adoption of the iPhone, which until the iPhone 3G had a less expensive $20 plan that included text.




Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2005
MMS on iPhone?
AT&T is the one blocking MMS messages on the iPhone, not Apple.
Thus it would be interesting to see if MMS can finally be done on the iPhone.