The number-two wireless carrier discontinued its original unlimited plans years ago, but it’s resuscitating the all-you-can-eat option as a cross-promotion with its DirecTV and U-verse television services.
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The company states, “If you are a new or existing DIRECTV or U-Verse TV subscriber but not an AT&T wireless subscriber, for a limited time, you can receive $500 in credits when you switch to the AT&T Unlimited Plan with an eligible trade-in, and buy a smartphone on AT&T NextSM”.
AT&T’s revival of an unlimited data plan, which ended in 2010, is aimed squarely at a similar $180, four-person offer from T-Mobile US Inc., highlighting the industry’s heated battle for new users using competing price and data packaging. This means you’ll be able to have four lines with unlimited data each, for $180/month. The company noted that today’s announcement is the “first of many integrated video and mobility offers” coming to AT&T customers in 2016. A single line costs $100 a month, with $40 for each additional line. Those who are an AT&T wireless customer but not a DirecTV subscriber can add a TV package from Dollars 19.99 per month for 12 months, with a 24 month contract. AT&T notes that you can add a tablet for just $10, but it’ll only have 1GB of data to work with if you do, compared to full access to the entire data pool on a traditional shared plan. “Video traffic continues to grow on our network as fast as ever because people enjoy viewing their favorite video content on their favorite devices”. But the company has caught flak because its Binge On service reduces the quality of the video streams. Pay $220/ month until credit starts. After that the company “may slow data speeds on that line during periods of network congestion”, it says in a footnote to this morning’s announcement. T-Mobile’s features like free music and video streaming have helped the No. 3 carrier to attract more than a million new monthly subscribers a quarter. See att.com/unlimitedplan for details.
That’s not too bad, but the pricing gets trickier when you factor in other internet-connected devices.
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Subscribers can get the wireless plan for $100/month, with additional smartphones at $40.
