iPhone: $30 a month data plans? What are these?

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: BHeemsoth

Originally posted by: BouZouki
$30 for unlimited data + $20 for unlimited text + $59.99 for middle of the line voice plan.

That's ridiculous.

Sero + Q9c: $30/month - unilimted texts, data, GPS, 500 minutes, free nights/weekends.

Best deal out there.

That's what I have. Sure, I have a little ipod envy, but I'm happy that I'll save over $1300 during the next two years (that assumes around $85 / month from ATT for unlimited data, texting, ~500 min and before taxes).

 

[Aimster]

Get unlimited data and sign up with skype $2.99 unlimited canada/u.s calling
?

 

[thomsbrain]

If you don't get a data plan, there is no point to getting an iPhone.

But you can spend a lot less money upfront and less money per month with a Blackberry Curve and associated data plan, at least from T-Mobile. You get all the same functionality and a real QWERTY keypad.

 

[pm]

From what I read, the $30 data plan is mandatory on top of a mandatory voice plan.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/0...now-but-were-afraid-t/

But in the US, users will have to sign up for a minute plan that includes an extra $30 rate for 3G data access (and has no bundled text messages). This is $10 more than the original iPhone's rate plan, which was $20 for data and 200 included SMSs. Matching voice plans start at $40 per month, so you'll basically be able to get started at $70 per month.

You could get one of the original iPhones used on Ebay/Craigslist/AT FSFT- which shouldn't be hard to do once the new version comes out, unlock it and then use it with any T-Mobile monthly or prepaid plan you want, or any AT&T prepaid plan. No, GPS or 3G... but it's a lot cheaper per month.

If you don't get a data plan, there is no point to getting an iPhone.

I would say that this depends on where you live and work. If you have blanket WiFi coverage in your area - and plenty of cities do - or have blanket WiFi at work/uni, and lots of companies/campuses do, then you have unlimited data for free without a data plan that is much faster than 3G. If you can get unlimited WiFi where you are most of the time (home/work/school/etc), then who needs a data plan?

 

[uli2000]

$30/month is right in line w/ what pretty much all carriers charge for data add ons. I currently pay $30/month for my data, but also get unlimited text and mms. I would have a hard time giving that up for a iphone.

 

[phonefreak]

Yea this new data charge is ridiculous and is what is turning me off from buying a iphone. Personally I would rather buy a more expensive phone and pay less for the service.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: uli2000
$30/month is right in line w/ what pretty much all carriers charge for data add ons. I currently pay $30/month for my data, but also get unlimited text and mms. I would have a hard time giving that up for a iphone.

I pay $15/month with Sprint (non-SERO) for my Q.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I pay $70 plus taxes for my Curve per month - Unlimited data, unlimited BIS, unlimited text, nights start at 7, 450 anytime, unlimited weekends, etc. AT&T couldn't come close to that since they charge for everything that Sprint includes in their "Everything Plan".

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: StinkyMojo
SERO.

'nuff said.

Nothing can even come close to the price of SERO. I give them props for that. That being said, I hate Sprint and all their horrid customer service reps

Been an happy AT&T user for 5+ years now.

Sprint's SERO is nothing more than a desperate move from a crappy company. They have made all of these plan changes, and still can't keep their customers. They lost over 1 million customers just last quarter. That tells me that they still suck big time. Now that they are putting all of their eggs into the basket known as WiMax, I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[intogamer]

Sprint has 5GB caps...

 

[uli2000]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Sprint has 5GB caps...

Right now, AT&T and Alltel are the only carriers without data caps (AT&T has a cap on laptop card and tethering use of 5gb, but handsets are still unlimited). With Alltel going to be soon out of the picture, Im sure it wont be long before AT&T makes 'unlimited' 5gb as well. Though, unless you stream video nonstop, I dont see how anyone could use 5gb/month.

 

[uli2000]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp

Originally posted by: TruePaige
Any idea if I can just get the data plan?

They were allowing it with the first gen, however, who knows with the 3g. Since they are subsidizing the phone it's likely to change what you can/can't do.

Actually, they didnt allow it for 1st gen iphones. A AT&T store in Colorado was selling iphones w/o voice plans (mainly to deaf customers) and corporate shut that down after some hearing customers complained deaf customers didnt have to get the same voice/data packages as the hearing customers did. Im sure they will have a data only option this time, but dont count on the $199/$299 subsidized pricing. Another data only option would be buy a iphone at full price and get a gophone sim. Gophone offers unlimited 3g data for $20/month.

 

[Reckoner]

I think it all depends on what AT&T decides to do about FAN accounts. If they allow people to use their company discounts on the iPhone 3G, then that can make a huge difference in the monthly cost.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
Any idea if I can just get the data plan?

From what I've read, you'll have to prove that you are hearing impaired to get an iPhone with only the data plan.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: pm
From what I read, the $30 data plan is mandatory on top of a mandatory voice plan.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/0...now-but-were-afraid-t/

But in the US, users will have to sign up for a minute plan that includes an extra $30 rate for 3G data access (and has no bundled text messages). This is $10 more than the original iPhone's rate plan, which was $20 for data and 200 included SMSs. Matching voice plans start at $40 per month, so you'll basically be able to get started at $70 per month.

You could get one of the original iPhones used on Ebay/Craigslist/AT FSFT- which shouldn't be hard to do once the new version comes out, unlock it and then use it with any T-Mobile monthly or prepaid plan you want, or any AT&T prepaid plan. No, GPS or 3G... but it's a lot cheaper per month.

If you don't get a data plan, there is no point to getting an iPhone.

I would say that this depends on where you live and work. If you have blanket WiFi coverage in your area - and plenty of cities do - or have blanket WiFi at work/uni, and lots of companies/campuses do, then you have unlimited data for free without a data plan that is much faster than 3G. If you can get unlimited WiFi where you are most of the time (home/work/school/etc), then who needs a data plan?

Blanket Wi-Fi coverage. What a concept. Yeah try that in NYC where every spot has at least 8 networks to choose from. All of them encrypted. See people at least here are not so stupid as to leave their networks open. Maybe 4 years ago they did but not anymore. People are at least cognizant of network security today. Besides even if networks were open how ghetto is it to keep having to look for and change your network every few blocks? That would be really useful A-GPS counting on a different access point every 100 feet or so. Don't you guys have some WiMax to work on instead of leeching other peoples' Wi-Fi all over the place?

 

[pm]

Blanket Wi-Fi coverage. What a concept. Yeah try that in NYC where every spot has at least 8 networks to choose from. All of them encrypted. See people at least here are not so stupid as to leave their networks open. Maybe 4 years ago they did but not anymore. People are at least cognizant of network security today. Besides even if networks were open how ghetto is it to keep having to look for and change your network every few blocks? That would be really useful A-GPS counting on a different access point every 100 feet or so.

I was referring to large-scale public deployments of freely accessible WiFi. From your reply, I am guessing that this may not be available where you live - which is why I mentioned in my post "depends on where you live and work" - but in my case my city (Fort Collins, CO ( http://www2.nortel.com/go/news...100230540&locale=en-US ), my company and my house all have WiFi access.

I use Devicescape (http://www.devicescape.com/pub/home.do ) on the iPhone to keep the whole thing "seamless" (there's a small delay when crossing networks) and can walk around a browse while crossing encrypted networks and web-based proxy authentication systems.

Don't you guys have some WiMax to work on instead of leeching other peoples' Wi-Fi all over the place?

I never suggested leeching. I was referring to publicly available large-scale WiFi networks such as in cities, college campuses and company campuses. Note the bit where I said "blanket WiFi coverage in your area - and plenty of cities do". Specifically I'm referring to a metro WiFi network such as they have in cities such as Portland, OR; Milton Keyes, England, UK; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Corpus Cristi, TX; Mountain View, CA; Cleveland, OH; San Francisco, CA; and my fairly small city of Fort Collins, CO, and I'm sure dozens of other cities nationwide.

I still stand by what I posted: if you have free (legitimate) WiFi access in your home, where you work or go to school and the city you live in, you may not need a data plan on an iPhone to still get good use out of it.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: pm

Blanket Wi-Fi coverage. What a concept. Yeah try that in NYC where every spot has at least 8 networks to choose from. All of them encrypted. See people at least here are not so stupid as to leave their networks open. Maybe 4 years ago they did but not anymore. People are at least cognizant of network security today. Besides even if networks were open how ghetto is it to keep having to look for and change your network every few blocks? That would be really useful A-GPS counting on a different access point every 100 feet or so.

I was referring to large-scale public deployments of freely accessible WiFi. From your reply, I am guessing that this may not be available where you live - which is why I mentioned in my post "depends on where you live and work" - but in my case my city (Fort Collins, CO ( http://www2.nortel.com/go/news...100230540&locale=en-US ), my company and my house all have WiFi access.

I use Devicescape (http://www.devicescape.com/pub/home.do ) on the iPhone to keep the whole thing "seamless" (there's a small delay when crossing networks) and can walk around a browse while crossing encrypted networks and web-based proxy authentication systems.

Don't you guys have some WiMax to work on instead of leeching other peoples' Wi-Fi all over the place?

I never suggested leeching. I was referring to publicly available large-scale WiFi networks such as in cities, college campuses and company campuses. Note the bit where I said "blanket WiFi coverage in your area - and plenty of cities do". Specifically I'm referring to a metro WiFi network such as they have in cities such as Portland, OR; Milton Keyes, England, UK; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Corpus Cristi, TX; Mountain View, CA; Cleveland, OH; San Francisco, CA; and my fairly small city of Fort Collins, CO, and I'm sure dozens of other cities nationwide.

I still stand by what I posted: if you have free (legitimate) WiFi access in your home, where you work or go to school and the city you live in, you may not need a data plan on an iPhone to still get good use out of it.

You're definitely lucky to have that.

 

[cuti7399]

technically, you could cancel the data plan after keeping the phone for 30 days