Can You Save Money with the New AT&T Tiered Pricing Plans?

My usage is well under 200M (particularly since firmware improvements allowed WiFi to remain on around the house without slaying the battery).

I will certainly opt down to the 200M tier (AFTER I make very sure that such a change doesn't extend the contract--as a similar change would have when I was with Verizon [old news]). I've become paranoid about making changes that might extend cell phone contracts. Particularly now, when I expire in November, just in time for some interesting choices.

(OK. My contract expires in November. I hope not to.)

(And my AT&T coverage is fine everywhere I need it, so this odd talk about Verizon iPhones is of no interest to me, even though I suspect that they've improved coverage since I left them--it was nearly useless then in three places I often am.)

COMPARING AT&T'S NEW RATES VERSUS VERIZON'S RATES:

FOR INDIVIDUAL PLANS IN THE UNITED STATES:

VERIZON:

Unlimited Talk = $70 a month

Unlimited Text = $20 a month

25 MB Data = $10 a month  <--- STUPID. Almost all users will exceed this.

5 GB Data = $30 a month

Tethering = $30 a month extra

Data over 5 GB = $50 per GB.

-----

AT&T:

Unlimited Talk = $70 a month

Unlimited Text = $20 a month

200 MB Data = $15 a month  <--- covers 68% of iPhone users.

2 GB Data = $25 a month  <--- covers 98% of iPhone users.

3 GB Data = $35 a month

Tethering = $20 a month extra

Data over 3 GB = $10 per GB.

-----

NOTES:

AT&T's rates are very favorable compared to Verizon's rates.

AT&T's Tethering rate is less than Verizon's

For the 98% of users who use less than 2 GB a month, AT&T is $5 a month cheaper than Verizon, saving $60 a year.  With tethering, AT&T is $15 a month cheaper than Verizon, saving $180 a year.

Ideally, AT&T should also have a limit of 5 GB a month, like Verizon. This makes it easier to use video conferencing on the new iPhones.  After all, AT&T in the 1970s did envision someday having video conferencing on phones.  The 5GB limit would still be a good cutoff point for heavy data users.

Yeah, the iPhone app (MyWireless) is key .. especially when you're overseas and working on a limited data package. Of course, that's now true in the US too, so this app will get even more use. They really do a good job. And the times I've had to call or go into the store they've been great. In sharp contrast to the network, but it almost makes the whole thing worthwhile. (I'll try to remember this when my iPhone cuts me off during a call to my wife on a business trip for the upteenth time, and without warning.)

I think I read somewhere that upwards of 90% of iPhone customers will save money on this plan.

Multitasking -- Pandora and Skype - is coming though.  That might send bandwidth usage back through the roof.

I have to dissent on this. I think this is a temporary fix to a long term problem. AT&T's network is STILL an absolute joke. Even in Dallas with HSPA 7.2 rolled out, I still have friends with iPhones who still drop 3G service. I have friends with non-iPhone smartphones who still have 2 bars & dropped calls a lot.

While for some people tiered makes sense, in the long term it's not going to work. People are going to do more streaming, download more content, & more browsing with these devices. What happens when we have screens with 720p? Not just the phones but the tablets!

This will happen much sooner than later. What happens when we have video calls happening? In the U.S., there is no excuse for not having enough bandwidth. Only AT&T seems to have a bandwidth issue.

Instead of screwing over their customers, how about AT&T fix their network? In the longterm, that will have the strongest longterm impact for AT&T's customers. The longer AT&T plays the timeclock pricing game, you know that Verizon, Sprint, & T-Mobile will jump all over this.

If I was Verizon, I can see the new iDon't commercial with some spin.

iDon't have great data plans.

iDon't have enough bandwidth.

iDon't have carrier choice.

iDon't have hardware choice.

iDon't stay connected to 3G networks.

Whatever iDon't, DROID DOES!

And they'd be right for the most part. Dan Hesse will appear in a new Sprint commercial, touting everything plans, unlimited data, & giving what the people want.

T-Mobile will just find another celebrity & sell their new phone.

I just think this an ass backward's approach to shore up AT&T's long term problem. The long term problem of an old & aging infrastructure, insufficient towers, & not enough money allocated to fixing the network. Instead of fixing the problem, they are overpaying their CEO & chief officers instead of getting the network up to speed.