In a move that may signal the demise of unlimited data plans for mobile devices, new buyers of AT&T smart phones, including Apple's iPhone, and of Apple's iPad will soon be offered only plans that include monthly limits on data usage.
Where current iPhone and iPad owners have (and will continue to have), the option for unlimited plans, new customers for those devices who buy after June 7 will have the choice of two plans, both with monthly data limits.
The Data Plus plan will offer 200 MB of data for $15 a month, with the option to get 200 MB more for an additional $15 if and when the initial 200 MB is used up. The DataPro plan provides 2 GB of data per month for $25. If you exceed that amount, an extra 1 GB for the month can be purchased for an additional $10. And Data Pro customers will also have the option to use their phone as a data modem for a laptop or netbook for an additional $20 per month—the first time that such "tethering" has been offered for the iPhone.
AT&T says the new plans make mobile data access "more affordable for more people." But Consumers Union, the parent company for Consumer Reports, was quick to criticize the move. Joel Kelsey, CU policy analyst, called the new plans "a rate hike dressed up as clever public relations."
We'll follow up shortly with more on the impact of the new plans on current and would-be iPhone and iPad owners, and on the best options in response to them.
—Paul Reynolds.
