AT&T is already making changes to its unlimited data plan as the competition with Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint heats up!
Starting March 2, the wireless provider will offer two new unlimited data plans, including one for budget-conscious consumers. But that doesn’t mean these plans are good for your wallet.
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AT&T’s unlimited plans: What you need to know
In mid-February, AT&T expanded access to its unlimited data plan by dropping the requirement that a user must sign up for pay TV service.
Its current unlimited plan starts at $100 a month for a single line, compared to $80/month for Verizon, T-Mobile for $70/month (including taxes and fees) and $50/month for new Sprint customers.
So here are the new options after AT&T went back to the drawing board:
Option #1: AT&T Unlimited Plus
- $90/month for a single line after automatic payment and paperless billing discount
- $145 for 2 lines; additional lines $20/month each
- Unlimited data, talk and text
- High-definition video
- 10 GB mobile hotspot
- Save $25 a month on DirecTV, DirecTV Now or U-verse TV
AT&T has lowered the price for a single line from $100 to $90 a month with AT&T Unlimited Plus, but it’s still the most expensive unlimited plan around.
In addition, the new plan adds 10 GB of mobile hotspot data per billing cycle, which Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint already offer. AT&T previously offered no mobile hotspot with its unlimited plan.
And although pay TV service is no longer a requirement to get an unlimited data plan with AT&T, the wireless provider will give a $25 a month credit to DirecTV, DirecTV Now or U-verse TV subscribers.
Option #2: AT&T Unlimited Choice
- $60/month for a single line after automatic payment and paperless billing discount
- 3Mbps maximum speed
- Standard-definition video (video streamed at max of 1.5Mbps)
AT&T Unlimited Choice is $30/month cheaper for a single line, but speeds are limited to 3Mbps, plus there’s no mobile hotspot or HD video.
“This plan is perfect for surfing the web, keeping up with your friends on social and streaming standard definition (about 480p) video at a max of 1.5Mbps,” AT&T said in a news release.
On both of these unlimited plans, after 22 GB of data usage per line, AT&T said it may slow speeds during times of network congestion.
Consumerist reports that new and existing customers can switch to these plans.
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