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Topic: Wi-Fi

The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT&T

Summary: OK, one of my questions has been answered and it isn't what I was hoping for. According to the AT&T press release, the new iPhone 3G data plan will actually increase US$10/month to US$30/month. In addition you will need a voice plan starting at US$39.99/month so the total monthly fee to use an iPhone 3G will increase US$10/month or US$240 over the life of the new 2-year contract.

Matthew Miller

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise US$10/monthOK, one of my questions has been answered and it isn't what I was hoping for. According to the AT&T press release, the new iPhone 3G data plan will actually increase US$10/month to US$30/month. In addition you will need a voice plan starting at US$39.99/month so the total monthly fee to use an iPhone 3G will increase US$10/month or US$240 over the life of the new 2-year contract.

Business users monthly data access will be US$45/month in addition to a qualifying voice plan so you may want to keep your iPhone 3G devices designated as consumer devices.

I knew there had to be a catch with these low iPhone prices and maybe this is why Steve Jobs never mentioned anything about AT&T or data rates in the keynote and just put the subsidized price of the iPhone 3G out there. The new pricing scheme also means that AT&T will no longer be kicking back any monthly fees to Apple. Hmm, this makes you wonder how much premium Apple was making on the first generation devices, huh?

There is nothing in the press release about current generation iPhone plans, but hopefully they stay the same since they are limited to EDGE data with the current generation iPhone.

Thanks to Kevin Tofel for the link to this press release.

Topics: Wi-Fi, Hardware, iPhone, Mobility, Networking, AT&T

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15 comments
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  • Maybe a deal killer

    This could put the nail in the coffin for me. The previous pricing of $20 was painless enough to rationalize away. They've crossed a mental border by jumping to $30 that may make some people (like me) think twice.
    bljarv
    Reply Vote

    • Yup, kills it for me too

      Too bad Apple, not only is your phone inferior, you can't even appeal to the bargain hunters who may be able to live with the inferior iPhone if it was cheaper than the numerous alternatives. If you can't beat the competition on quality, you should at least try to beat them on price. If you can't do either, you'll sell to the rich and dumb but no one else. I guess luckily for Apple, there are plenty of rich and dumb people out there! :)
      NonZealot
      Reply Vote

  • Wait and spring for a N96 Matt.

    nt
    D T Schmitz
    Reply Vote

    • Yeah, that is one sweet device

      I like the N96, but I think this time I may actually be looking at one of the rumored Eseries devices that may be coming with a bit better multimedia support. I actually am really liking the N78 and N82 as well, but neither of them has US 3G support.
      palmsolo (aka Matthew Miller)
      Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    So, does AT&T actually have different 3G data plans for iPhone users and all other users? I just added unlimited data to my plan for $15/month, and am using that on the s60-based Nokia N75.
    ktneely@...
    Reply Vote

  • Actually it will rise even more than that!

    According to Om Malik... the current $20 plan includes 200
    SMS messages. With the new $30 plan you don't get any
    bundled SMS messages so you'd have to purchase the
    $5/200 SMS plan in addition to the $30 data plan to truly
    equal the current $20 plan. So, the true cost to replace the
    current $20 plan would be $35... a 75% increase!

    http://tinyurl.com/6ylaht
    kuykendc
    Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    I think Apple receives a nice kickback from AT&T for each
    iPhone locked into their subscription plans.
    Maybe something like $ 200 a piece?

    Could explain the price drop.
    Bert Vanderveen
    Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    Yes the monthly fee will increase but you will be getting 3G access. As far as I can tell the iPhone plan now costs the same any other 3G plan from At&t. I don't recall many people praising the iPhone for its lower cost EDGE plan. In fact it was quite the opposite.
    der passant
    Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    You people amaze me. Were you actually thinking that a
    significantly faster data rate for the iPhone was gonna be
    free? I think we should be glad that they didn't keep the
    original price for the hardware and still raise the data rate
    for faster access. Having a higher price for 3G is not
    uncommon, people. All in all, I don't really think it's that
    bad a deal. Think of this...

    With new apps coming to the iPhone (like AIM), I can now
    cancel my extra fee for increased text messages and rely
    on AIM via the unlimited data plan. Therefore, I will
    actually be paying less than before! Of course, this
    scenario is only valid for people who opted for more than
    200 text messages with their plans. But still, not a bad
    deal. At least, not as bad as all of these articles are
    insinuating.
    Lance_G
    Reply Vote

    • New to the US Cell phone system help!

      hi I'm from the Caribbean planning on starting school in the US in the fall...I don't know much about these data plans.. I thought if i wanted to go online and send an instant message or leave a comment on a page that will require text message usage but that would come under my unlimited if i get an iphone data plan?
      dsdarling
      Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    Wait, how is the "iPhone 3G plan" increasing in cost? There
    was never an iPhone 3G plan until now. It's being introduced
    at a higher cost than the EDGE plan. But they are two
    different plans, so it makes no sense to say that the 3G plan
    is increasing in cost.
    dangitman
    Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    The old iPhone hardware is capable of recording video, but
    the software doesn't support it. Third-party developers have
    created apps that can do it.
    intelliot
    Reply Vote

  • All the more reason to Unlock

    At iPhoneInfused.com you can simply unlock the phone and avoid all the contracts and fees. Don't sign away 2 years of your life!
    leo7068
    Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    Horrible plan dirty tactics at a time when gas and oil our
    outrageous, Totally unfair for existing users. Big lie is not
    half the price when you calculate the extra you have to pay
    each month times 24 months. I just returned 2 phones
    yesterday because I could not justify the increase rate for
    what was offered. The 3G connection was not even good.
    Sometimes if took longer then edge GPS seemed very
    inaccurate. NO THANKS AT&T and thanks alot apple for not
    appreciate the idiots who bought your orig iphone for
    $400 apiece.
    nagyordog
    Reply Vote

  • RE: The new iPhone 3G data plan/monthly fee will rise $10/month on AT

    I just upgraded to the 3G from the original iPhone and I'm
    blown away at the nickel-and-diming fees. They stripped
    the included 200 texting minutes, added $10 per line for 3g,
    and the taxes in the end are higher. I had to drop my family
    plan from 1400 to 700 minutes, which could be a killer, but
    I'm paying almost $2000 per year just on the contract!!!
    suterk
    Reply Vote
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