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Topic: AT&T

AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

Summary: Calling the move a "streamlining" of its texting plans, AT&T's changes are hardly a deal for its customers.

Ricardo Bilton

By for The ToyBox |

AT&T is making some big changes to its texting plans for new customers. And you won't like them.

It begins with a jettisoning of its $10 texting plan, which offered users a thousand texts a month for a flat price. In its place, AT&T is offering new customers two alternatives: a $20 (or $30 for families) unlimited texting plan or a pay-per-text plan. Neither is a particularly good deal.

But the move is probably the biggest issue for the average texter. Not prone to texting enough to justify an unlimited plan, these middle-of-the-road customers text often enough that paying 20 cents per message isn't the best option either.

The changes begin August 21st, so if you were some reason planning to become an AT&T subscriber, you may get on that soon to lock yourself into the old plans.

[Engadget]

Topic: AT&T

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41 comments
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  • Cricket: $55 per month unlimited everything.

    Been using Cricket for years and have been very pleased with them.
    ye
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @ye I've been with Cricket for years also, love the service. Really crappy customer service if you have to call the 800 number though so I've begun going to the nearest store to take care of whatever I need to.
      brianbigel
      Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @ye What underlying network does Cricket operate on?
      BillDem
      Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

    They charge .30 per text btw. I'll be switching to verizon soon.
    KenoshaSysAdmin
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @KenoshaSysAdmin I believe it's still $.20/text, but I could be wrong.

      I've actually never had any major issues with AT&T and their customer service has been great to me. I misunderstood some options when traveling out of the country and racked up a HUGE bill. They sent me a text to contact them based on going over my data plan. That's how I found out. They worked with me to retroactively change my options for a month to cover the overage and reduce the bill by to about 1/5th. I was very happy.

      My BIG issue with Verizon - can't talk and use data at same time. This is a HUGE deal breaker for me. I frequently am talking and looking up something on my iphone, or using a map or GPS, etc, etc.
      patrick.spike@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

        @patrick.spike@... <br><br>Talking while doing something else at the same time is not hard on the Droid with Verizon Wireless. It may be that you just have the wrong phone.<br><br>I do it all the time. Getting directions to a friends house for instance, or adding someone's details to the directory while talking to them.
        YetAnotherBob
        Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      [i]They charge .30 per text btw. I'll be switching to verizon soon.[/i]

      Good luck. They'll be nickle 'n dimeing you too.

      lol...
      ScorpioBlue
      Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @KenoshaSysAdmin. If you don't "need" Verizon's coverage, SHOP AROUND. Verizon is constantly eliminating or reducing items that are available under the cost of the plan. i.e. contact back up used to be free, now they push you into a data pack addition even for feature phones that don't have a screen suitable for internet viewing. They changed the amount of numbers you can block to 5, if you need to block more they do it for a fee (Sprint still allows 50 blocks for $0). Those are the two recent changes that come to mind, I know there are more. Verizon plans are NOT competitive in comparison to other providers, do a side by side of minutes and the overage costs. Also check to see if the provider has "buckets of minutes" available for you to purchase. Sprint has buckets of minutes you can purchase $5/100, $10/200, $15/300, $20/400 and they will allow a ONE TIME bucket purchase of 599 mins for $25.
      OurNewz
      Reply Vote

      • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

        @OurNewz

        There is an anti-price war going on. In a price war, companies increase services and cut prices to gain customers. The wireless phone companies and Internet Providers are all cutting services and raising prices. It is safe enough for them to do it as long as they all do it, because then we have no real options. God! We need some real competition in the USA!

        Maybe we should rename this country to the United Corporations of America!
        michaellashinsky@...
        Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

    Test messaging used to cost $ 0.10 when it was Cingular
    emiliosic
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @emiliosic I loved Cingular, but I hate AT&T.
      ashdude
      Reply Vote

      • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

        @ashdude Ditto. Cingular was great. AT&T ruined it. T-Mobile customers should be afraid... very afraid...
        BillDem
        Reply Vote

      • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

        @ashdude I had FAR more problems with Cingular such as them calling every single month asking when I was paying my bill. When I would telling them I already had and they confirmed that they would ask when I was paying this months bill. Of course this call always came a good week or more before I ever received the bill to even be able to pay it so would have to tell them not until I receive it.

        We have unlimited family but I though the $10 plan only included 250 message, not 1K.
        non-biased
        Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @emiliosic<br><br>Text messaging should be a free service with your phone plan. The bandwidth used in texting fits inside the packets going to and from the cell towers keeping you connected anyway. (That is why they are only 160 characters.) The cost per text is $0.00 to provide. They are already getting your monthly fee for service. $10 extra a month for something that costs them nothing is not enough, so now they want $20 a month extra. Greedy bastards!<br><br>By the way, I use Immix, and I have unlimited texting as part of the basic rate. We need more small companies that are trying to compete, not more nation wide monopolies.
      michaellashinsky@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

        @michaellashinsky@... I agree that they shouldn't charge as much as they do but do you honestly believe that providing texting service costs the providers nothing at all?
        non-biased
        Reply Vote

  • What about spam text messages, and cost per text

    I get about 10 spam text messages a week. You can block individual cell numbers or all text sent by email. I put up with the spam from email so I can get stock alerts and flight information. What are my options if it is pay per text?

    Anouther question is what does it cost AT&T to send text messages? As I understand it this is already very profitable with very low cost for the carrier. Is this just exploaiting your coustomers? This is a big reason not to renew when my contract is up.
    ken325
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @ken325 I searched AT&T's site regarding spam texts and found they provide a number to forward spam text to them for them to investigate. This only applies to texts with a full 10 digit standard phone number. Forward the text message to 7726. You'll then get an automatic response requesting you send the 10 digit phone number. Then you'll get a thank you confirmation. I've been doing this on every one I received.

      Note that any texts you receive that have the shortened text number can just be replied to with STOP and you should no longer receive them.
      patrick.spike@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

        @patrick.spike@...
        Sounds like a lot of trouble to go through. The best solution would be to have a system like Europe where you only pay for outgoing texts. I refuse to pay for spam coming to my phone so I've blocked all texting anyway.

        Only an idiot would pay for spam. The telephone companies are hoping you are.
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

      @ken325 Are you getting those text messages through a "premium" text service for a monthly fee? If you are find out what their web site is and see if you can "uncheck" allowing 3rd party messages. You can also scour the internet and look for flight information services that DO NOT allow 3rd party spams. Stock alerts...same thing.
      OurNewz
      Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T to axe $10 texting plan, pushing new customers to go unlimited

    I have 2 iPhones on a family plan and switched to the $30 plan a couple of months ago rather than two $10 plans. Since you get unlimited calls to and from any domestic cell phones I was able to drop from a 1400min plan to 700mins since the majority of our calls are to other mobile phones. I actually saved money with the switch. In addition you get unlimited text, pictures, video and IM. Had Verizon for 6 yrs and they are not that great either.
    dealer27
    Reply Vote
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