The top two major wireless carriers seem to be stuck in a game of monkey see, monkey do. AT&T and Verizon Wireless have been going round and round with each other, first with a series of ads, each portraying the other carrier as inferior. Then with the ensuing lawsuits when they both got their feelings hurt over those ads. There was a brief glimmer of hope that maybe they’d both grown up when both companies dropped their respective lawsuits. We’ll see how that goes. For now, they’ve taken their sparring back where it’s supposed to be—in the ring, not the courtroom, the ring being the wireless industry. Last week, Verizon announced its new calling plans, apparently meant to simplify coverage and billing, and it wasn’t long before AT&T followed suit with their own announcement.
AT&T’s new plans went into effect Monday, but like Verizon’s new plans, it’s not a sure bet they’ll save you any money. Don’t be fooled by the word unlimited. It sounds good at first, almost as good as the word free. Pay one price, get an unlimited amount of something. Where do you sign? Nowhere, yet. Back away from the contract and put the pen down. Take some time to examine the new plans, compare them to your existing plan—whether you’re an AT&T customer or not—and run the numbers.
For example, one of the new options is aimed at smartphone customers. It allows them unlimited voice and data for just $99.99, or $179.99 for two lines on the Family Talk plan. That may work for you if you’re a big talker, or you travel a lot and rely on your smartphone to stay in touch. But let’s think about this for a minute. Most smartphones, including the iPhone, require the inclusion of an unlimited data plan to even activate and use the phone, and it runs about $30 per month. Two iPhone lines on a Family Talk plan, sharing 550 voice minutes, with unlimited data (which is required), and with 200 text messages per month each will run you about $130 a month. Do you really need to spend that extra $40?
And here’s the other thing—AT&T offers rollover minutes that don’t expire. If you really need the extra minutes, if you can budget them the way you do your income, you should be able to work it out so that you never run out of minutes between the ones included in your plan, and the rollovers.
On top of that, AT&T has A-List, which allows unlimited calling for ten domestic phone numbers. Again, if you’re smart about it, and are careful to choose only those people you really call the most rather than those who seem the most convenient, you should be able to choose a lower-minute plan, and still come out ahead. If you’ve gotten by without what this new plan is offering up to now, I’d say don’t bother.
It all comes down to personal preferences and needs. If you really think the unlimited voice and data plan, or any of the revamped plans, will give you more and is reasonably priced, then by all means, go for it. But run the numbers first.
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