How Exactly Will AT&T Remain Competitive?

[i0wnj00]

Now that VZW has taken its stand, AT&T would be a FOOL to match their policy.

Let them stand out there on their own and watch the customers come flock to you.

How that for competitiveness!?

This is assured to happen. Just watch...
Sometimes I wonder if Verizon Wireless and AT&T are one in the same.

[Baldilocks]

This is assured to happen. Just watch...
Sometimes I wonder if Verizon Wireless and AT&T are one in the same.

Of course they are. Verizon didn't really put up much of a fuss about the T-Mobile merger.

[Trocks797]

Oh yea...AT&T will definitely follow Verizon's lead. After all, AT&T is rolling out shared data plans too. Verizon just gave them the OK to kill grandfathered unlimited plans as well. Mark my words.

[fraydog]

Oh yea...AT&T will definitely follow Verizon's lead. After all, AT&T is rolling out shared data plans too. Verizon just gave them the OK to kill grandfathered unlimited plans as well. Mark my words.

I could see them holding off until 2013. After all, they can throttle their LTE networks. From my understanding of the 700 C Open Access Rules, throttling might not be an option on that band, so Verizon has went to retiring grandfathered plans earlier. Usually AT&T would be the first to do this but since they already throttled their networks are not nearly under the same pressure as Verizon's.

[DRC72]

Oh yea...AT&T will definitely follow Verizon's lead. After all, AT&T is rolling out shared data plans too. Verizon just gave them the OK to kill grandfathered unlimited plans as well. Mark my words.

Maybe not...... AT&T could use this to their advantage when advertising their shared plans.

[fraydog]

Maybe not...... AT&T could use this to their advantage when advertising their shared plans.

I don't know if that specifically would work. However AT&T can use their stronger device lineup to drive customers away from them. AT&T has a lead as far as Android devices go for the first time, and they're way ahead of Big Red on Windows Phone. AT&T can play that up.

Yes, they're behind on LTE. That's a problem. Yet it's not a killer. Most of the people I know have a hard time telling the difference between HSPA+ on AT&T and Verizon LTE. Most people don't even know what the speed test app is. They just know if the HSPA+ connection is strong enough to post videos to Facebook, and most of the time it is. As long as you're not in the 5% of AT&T users on EDGE you're OK. As far as Verizon's EV-DO goes, that's starting to show it's age. Even in Chester, which is a place where people are just beginning to really move to smartphones, EV-DO will be great in the mornings when no one is using it. When it comes to actual times people use it, it's more inconsistent. Yet, in the end, if AT&T plays its GSM evolution cards correctly they'll be OK. Another acquisition to fill their rural gaps like USCC would not hurt, however. I also think AT&T should start buying 700 A and have Band 12 support on their devices.

[Wireless Junkie]

Maybe not...... AT&T could use this to their advantage when advertising their shared plans.

Well considering Randall himself said he wished unlimited was never even brought to the table, its highly unlikely. They want people off unlimited just as much as Verizon.

[i0wnj00]

Maybe not...... AT&T could use this to their advantage when advertising their shared plans.

The only advantage AT&T would have is by offering a bit more for their shared data plans. Most people probably won't notice the stuff found in the "fine print" or the asterisk located next to the advertisement as it relates to grandfathering unlimited data plans and new devices.

Shared data pricing will likely be the first things people notice. They want more for less.

[Wide_opeN]

I think my last quote was mistaken. I HOPE and think AT&T should NOT follow VZW steps in this one.

It would be a GREAT competitive advantage for AT&T.

[Trocks797]

I think my last quote was mistaken. I HOPE and think AT&T should NOT follow VZW steps in this one.

It would be a GREAT competitive advantage for AT&T.

Huh? How exactly would AT&T market this? "Come get our new shared data plans! Or don't! You can keep unlimited!"

[fraydog]

Huh? How exactly would AT&T market this? "Come get our new shared data plans! Or don't! You can keep unlimited!"

They would advertise cheaper data prices? That would work unless VZW made double data a permanent fixture, at which point AT&T could strike back. Chances are good VZW will cost more given their larger and larger nets of LTE coverage. Someone has to pay the piper for all that expansion.

[DRC72]

The only advantage AT&T would have is by offering a bit more for their shared data plans. Most people probably won't notice the stuff found in the "fine print" or the asterisk located next to the advertisement as it relates to grandfathering unlimited data plans and new devices.

Shared data pricing will likely be the first things people notice. They want more for less.

I don't know? Mass media can be a pretty powerful thing.

Huh? How exactly would AT&T market this? "Come get our new shared data plans! Or don't! You can keep unlimited!"

LOL! Why not? Of course the wording needs be tweaked, but hey it could work. I wouldn't necessarily say it would be out of the ordinary. Anyhow if history continues unaltered as it usually does, both AT&T and Verizon will follow each others leads.

[Trocks797]

Once all promos are said and done and both are on their new plans, I expect Verizon to be either the same price as AT&T for a little less data, or a little more expensive for the same amount of data. Verizon still holds themselves as the nations premium network (price wise).

[Steveanderson13]

Someone has to pay the piper for all that expansion.

It's looking to me like toll-free is their plans for that per Shammo's remarks.

[Wide_opeN]

Also, I think the notion that AT&T has double redundancy @ 4G, as opposed to VZW just being singularly 4G...

AT&T isn't as bad off as some of you naysayers are making it out to be.