The OC Technophile

If you read the AT&T press statement below, they certainly aren’t becoming friendly to Smartphone users in the US but then again, which cell phone carrier is. New lower caps and price points for minimal tethering will change users across the US. 2GB caps and $10/GB overages? Really?

AT&T ANNOUNCES NEW LOWER-PRICED WIRELESS DATA PLANS TO MAKE MOBILE INTERNET MORE AFFORDABLE TO MORE PEOPLE

DALLAS, June 2, 2010 – AT&T*, the U.S. smartphone leader, today introduced new wireless data plans that make it more affordable for more people to enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet. Customers can pick the new data plan that best meets their needs – either a $15 per month entry plan or a $25 per month plan with 10 times more data. Current smartphone customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension.

“AT&T helps mobilize everything on the Internet – your favorite web sites, TV shows, music, games and social networks. Virtually everything previously done while sitting at a computer can now be done on the go,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “To give more people the opportunity to experience these benefits, we’re breaking free from the traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ pricing model and making the mobile Internet more affordable to a greater number of people.”

Each plan includes unlimited access at no additional charge to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the U.S. Customers can also use unlimited Wi-Fi at home, in the office or elsewhere if available. AT&T will also help customers manage their wireless data usage by sending free text messages when customers reach different usage intervals, and by providing online tools, including a smartphone app that shows monthly usage information.

The new wireless data plans – including a new tethering option – will be available beginning June 7. Current AT&T voice and texting plans are unchanged.

More Choice

The new AT&T plans provide large amounts of data to enable people to enjoy their favorite online activities:

* DataPlus. Provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data – enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), send/receive 150 emails with attachments, view 400 Web pages, post 50 photos on social media sites and 20 minutes of streaming video – for just $15 per month. This plan, which can save customers up to 20 percent off their wireless voice and data charges, is designed for people who primarily like to surf the web, send email and use social networking apps. If customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle, they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in the month. Currently, 65 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 200 MB of data per month on average.

* DataPro. Provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data – enough to send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, view 4,000 Web pages, post 500 photos to social media sites and watch 200 minutes of streaming video – for $25 per month. Should a customer exceed 2 GB during a billing cycle, they will receive an additional 1 GB of data for $10 for use in the month. Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average.

* Tethering. Smartphone customers – including iPhone customers – who choose the DataPro plan have the option to add tethering for an additional $20 per month. Tethering enables customers to use their smartphone as a modem to provide a broadband connection for laptop computers, netbooks or other computing devices. Tethering for iPhones will be available when Apple releases OS 4.0 this summer.

With the new wireless data plans, pricing for a smartphone voice and data bundle now starts at just $54.99 per month for an individual plan, or $24.99 per month for an additional line on a FamilyTalk plan, $15 per month less than the price of the previous entry level bundle.

For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan can keep that plan or switch to the new $25 per month plan with 2 GB of data.

Wi-Fi at 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots

The vast majority of smartphones that AT&T offers have built-in Wi-Fi, which lets the devices automatically switch from the wireless network to a Wi-Fi hotspot without prompting, making Wi-Fi even more convenient and easy to use. This enables customers to use Wi-Fi in the home, office and at public locations where available. Using Wi-Fi does not count against a customer’s monthly data plan usage total. In addition, virtually all AT&T smartphone customers have access at no additional charge to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and other U.S. locations. Customers can get more information on how to use Wi-Fi and find the location of AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at www.att.com/wifiaccess.

Monitoring and Managing Usage

To help customers easily check their data usage, AT&T has made the information readily available in a number of ways:

* Customer Text Notifications On Data Usage. When customers begin to approach their monthly usage limit, AT&T will send three text notifications – when they reach 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of the threshold. Customers will also be sent emails if AT&T has their email address.

* Data Usage Monitoring. Additionally, customers with iPhones and other select devices can use the free AT&T myWireless application to check data usage. The application is available for download in several smartphone app stores. Also, AT&T customers can call *DATA# from their wireless phone to check their data usage for the current billing period. They receive a free text message with their usage information. Customers can also go online to www.att.com/wireless to see all their usage information, past and present.

* Data Calculator. The easy-to-use online data calculator enables customers to estimate their mobile data usage and get a better sense for which data plan is right for them. It’s located at www.att.com/datacalculator.

Customers can learn more about the new plans online at www.att.com/dataplans, by contacting AT&T customer service at 1-800-331-0500, or by visiting an AT&T retail store.

AT&T expects these new data plans to have minimal revenue impact this year and to not affect previous guidance for 2010.

Blackberry is constantly updating their lineup of phones and most recently updated their Bold line of phones with the Blackberry Bold 9700. If you’ve ever used the Bold line, the 9000 was the most recent of the line. It was a little larger than the current phone but proved it could handle anything thrown at it and had a strong battery life as well. The 9700 contains updated software, a smaller device factor, and proves that smaller things do come in better packages. No longer do you have the trackball but now have a trackpad which makes navigating the interface so much better. The 9700 also contains a longer battery life than most Blackberry units and has lasted us well through the day with multiple options open at the same time. The email interface remains the same as does the browser, but an upcoming browser update is in the words according to those in the know.

Overall, we’d highly recommend the newest addition in the Blackberry lineup as they’ve kicked it up a notch, to quote the celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. Sturdy, productive, and a professionals dream equal a great product. Grab it from AT&T today for $199 with a 2 year contract.

It’s a big day in the Blackberry community, as RIM announced the Blackberry 9700. It’s going to be released on T-Mobile and AT&T, plus others as carrier announcements come out. For T-Mobile, it’s their first 3G Blackberry device and for AT&T, it’s a replacement of the current Bold 9000. It’ll be operating on the 5.0 operating system, feature Wi-Fi, GPS, an optical trackpad, and a 3.2 Megapixel camera. It’s looking for a dropdate of November. $199 after $100 MIR on both carriers. Enjoy the press pic via Boygeniusreport that we’ve got up as well.

The newest Blackberry is hitting the AT&T stores this Tuesday and it’s the Bold. This is one sexy blackberry as it features the latest OS, a super bright screen, a vast multimedia presenter, 3G speeds, and the 99.9% reliable Blackberry service. It’s going for $299 after a $100 mail in rebate. Are you buying it? Let us know in the comments.

RCR Wirless has released wireless carrier subscriber numbers through the 2nd quarter in 2008, and to no surprise, AT&T and Verizon Wireless lead the numbers. It’s interesting to see how Sprint has come on strong and is surging in the number of subscribers. Possibly their $99 unlimited plan has found a niche amongst the millions of cellular plans out there. Sound chart.