The unlimited data plan competition is becoming a royal rumble as AT&T has announced it will roll out a new unlimited offering starting Feb. 17.
No one is surprised as it has been a week-long trading of blows by Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint to lure in customers with their unlimited plans. One carrier does not want to be outmaneuvered by the other. So, customers are seeing HD video streaming and extra gigabytes of Hotspot data. Verizon is even offering a free iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus or other flagship smartphones just so users will switch.
New AT&T Unlimited Data Plan
AT&T has revealed that starting Feb. 17, its unlimited data will be made available to all postpaid wireless customers. This means that one does not need to have a DirecTV or U-Verse subscription to enjoy its unlimited data offering.
"Whether you love to stream your favorite shows, play games, video chat or simply surf the web, the AT&T Unlimited Plan provides access to what matters most to you," AT&T said in a statement.
The new AT&T Unlimited Plan includes unlimited data, talk, and text. A single line will cost users $100 per month.
For a group or family of four, the plans will initially cost $220 until credit of $40 starts after two billing cycles during which monthly fees will be $180.
Unlimited plan subscribers can also make unlimited calls from U.S. to Mexico and Canada. You can also send unlimited text messages to over 120 countries. In addition, users do not have to worry about roaming charges when they add the Roam North America feature.
Just like what other carriers offer, AT&T unlimited also comes with a soft data cap. After 22 GB of data usage, the service provider may slow speeds when network is congested.
No Tethering, Includes Stream Saver
Customers should take note that the new AT&T data plan does not include tethering (Yes, no HotSpot for you). Subscribers who want to use their smartphones as a HotSpot need to get one of the capped plans.
The fine print of the deal also says the plan includes stream saver. This feature brings down the quality of video to 480p but according to AT&T, users can turn it off.
How It Compares To Other Unlimited Plans
Comparison charts need to be updated as carriers try to offer customers better plans. The latest move by AT&T does not offer anything new.
In terms of price, AT&T's starting price of $100 for the first line is the most expensive of the bunch. The absence of 4G LTE tethering is also another dealbreaker.
