Data packages only avalable with monthly plans starting 4/18!!

**tmodlou** · 04-06-2012, 02:43 PM

Someone should put up a poll to find out what everyone will do next. I'm thinking some of the options could be:
"I am giving up data"
"I am upgrading to an AT&T monthly plan"
"I am switching to H20 non-monthly"
"I am switching to AirVoice non-monthly"
"I am switching to a non-AT&T MVNO"

Any other suggestions?

**Bob859** · 04-06-2012, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by tmodlou

Someone should put up a poll to find out what everyone will do next. I'm thinking some of the options could be:
"I am giving up data"
"I am upgrading to an AT&T monthly plan"
"I am switching to H20 non-monthly"
"I am switching to AirVoice non-monthly"
"I am switching to a non-AT&T MVNO"

Any other suggestions?

I will be going back to Platinumtel for data and I will continue to use my Page Plus phone for voice. It is unlikely that I will ever do business with AT&T again. This is reprehensible.

.

**bohbot16** · 04-06-2012, 03:37 PM

I'm going to Air Voice's $10/month plan.
voice $0.04/minute
text $0.02/message
mms $0.10/message
data $0.33/MB

**Bob859** · 04-06-2012, 03:59 PM

I do not want anything to do with AT&T ever again, including their MVNO's, now that they are doing this.

**graveboss** · 04-06-2012, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by tmodlou

Someone should put up a poll to find out what everyone will do next. I'm thinking some of the options could be:
"I am giving up data"
"I am upgrading to an AT&T monthly plan"
"I am switching to H20 non-monthly"
"I am switching to AirVoice non-monthly"
"I am switching to a non-AT&T MVNO"

Any other suggestions?

Since I just bought this GoPhone branded Android Smartphone last November (and I live in Massachusetts with an MA number), I will be losing data and going wifi only. But in a year or so, I might buy a non-smartphone to replace this one so I can use some data at a very higher cost. And yes I will be staying here at AT&T for a while as Verizon Wireless is only feature phones and T-Mobile is not in my area.

However I should mention that I will every now and then buy a message feature package for 30 days, as a matter of fact, I just bought one today.

**graveboss** · 04-06-2012, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by efparri

If your voice plan expires all the features expire too. If your account balance is insufficient to extend the voice plan, you cannot use either messaging or data.

I'm sorry, but your wrong, this isn't postpost, its prepaid and while AT&T is getting rid of data packages, then will continue to offer feature packages that expire in 30 days while my account expires in 365 days since added a 1 year card.

Example:
Messaging Packages
200 Messages $4.99
1000 Messages $9.99
Unlimited messages $19.99

International Long Distance
$10 International Long Distance Feature $10.00

They still expire in 30 days...

**Bob859** · 04-06-2012, 05:25 PM

I use my AT&T phone for data only. Their new deal will not work for me. I have just ordered a new phone from Platinumtel and that will replace my AT&T phone. My AT&T phones and unused airtime pin will go up for sale on Ebay. We can all be thankful that AT&T was not successful in buying out T-Mobile.

**efparri** · 04-06-2012, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bob859

I use my AT&T phone for data only. Their new deal will not work for me. I have just ordered a new phone from Platinumtel and that will replace my AT&T phone. My AT&T phones and unused airtime pin will go up for sale on Ebay. We can all be thankful that AT&T was not successful in buying out T-Mobile.

That is now. We are speculating about then. It would be counterintuitive to continue multiple expiration dates. I expect that the 365 day plan will be discontinued. It would conflict with the monthly plan requirement to get a data package. They might keep it for people strictly on pay per use for voice and data.

AT&T is not getting rid of data packages. They are tying them to the requirement to subscribe to a monthly voice plan to get a data package. Pay-per-use data should still work for nonsmartphones.

**Bob859** · 04-06-2012, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by efparri

That is now. We are speculating about then. It would be counterintuitive to continue multiple expiration dates. I expect that the 365 day plan will be discontinued. It would conflict with the monthly plan requirement to get a data package. They might keep it for people strictly on pay per use for voice and data.

AT&T is not getting rid of data packages. They are tying them to the requirement to subscribe to a monthly voice plan to get a data package. Pay-per-use data should still work for nonsmartphones.

That is true, but my cost would go much higher if I had to get their monthly plan. I just called customer service again and they told me that if I want to use data that I would have to purchase a monthly plan at $25/month. It would include 250 voice minutes and I believe she said unlimited texting, but I don't need those things. That is not a bad deal for some people, but it would be a waste for me. I get my voice and texting through Page Plus for 4cents/minute voice and 5cents per text. I use about 40MB data per month. There is no way that AT&T would be cost effective for me, with their new deals.

I have about 250mb of data on my AT&T account that I have to lose, whether I stay or not. That is a raw deal for those of use who are losing data that we paid for. No matter what I do, that data is gone, even if I stay with AT&T.

**adam917** · 04-06-2012, 08:03 PM

Anyone looking to take a chance & see if the data that was purchased before the 18th will stick around till the package expires? I'm on board. I hope they at least let one use the data they already bought. This would carry me into May if I did it right.

**Jairzinho** · 04-06-2012, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by efparri

If your voice plan expires all the features expire too. If your account balance is insufficient to extend the voice plan, you cannot use either messaging or data.

That's true but it's not what I meant (if you were replying to me). Data packages still may have a different expiration package to that of the balance on a monthly plan.

Originally Posted by adam917

Anyone looking to take a chance & see if the data that was purchased before the 18th will stick around till the package expires? I'm on board.

I'll be an unwilling subject as two of my GoPhone accounts have like 250MB and 480MB left that expire beyond the 18th and there is no way for me to use that much in such short time. Most likely the data will stick around until the expiration date but you won't be able to extend it unless you convert to a monthly plan. I'll buy $5 data on both on the 17th to extend one 'til 17th of May. That's as much as I can do without caving to at&t whims.

Isn't it cute that the GoPhone page still says absolutely nothing about it so more unsuspecting victims on PAYG buy balance and data packages convinced they will be able to buy more data after the 18th? I wonder if this isn't instead a really bad and belated April Fools joke by at&t on us.

**Bob859** · 04-06-2012, 08:29 PM

I called customer service again. This time it was to get my account number for porting to Platinumtel. As I mentioned somewhere else, I expect to get different info each time I call. The guy that I talked to this time, told me a completely different story. He knew nothing about us losing our data and he said that my account would stay exactly like as it is, with data intact. At this point, I am looking forward to my new phone with Platinumtel. I have my airtime pin code for sale on Ebay. I am not going to sell my AT&T phones yet. They are unlocked and I have an active T-Mobile prepaid SIM to use in them. The only disadvantage of this change for me, is that I occasionally venture into areas of Wisconsin, where there is no Platinumtel/Sprint coverage.

**efparri** · 04-06-2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Jairzinho

That's true but it's not what I meant (if you were replying to me). Data packages still may have a different expiration package to that of the balance on a monthly plan.

I'll be an unwilling subject as two of my GoPhone accounts have like 250MB and 480MB left that expire beyond the 18th and there is no way for me to use that much in such short time. Most likely the data will stick around until the expiration date but you won't be able to extend it unless you convert to a monthly plan. I'll buy $5 data on both on the 17th to extend one 'til 17th of May. That's as much as I can do without caving to at&t whims.

Isn't it cute that the GoPhone page still says absolutely nothing about it so more unsuspecting victims on PAYG buy balance and data packages convinced they will be able to buy more data after the 18th? I wonder if this isn't instead a really bad and belated April Fools joke by at&t on us.

The change has not occurred yet. The status quo might not survive the changes. Five years ago AT&T offered a $19.99 unlimited data plan for GoPhones. It is not around now.

**adam917** · 04-06-2012, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by efparri

The change has not occurred yet. The status quo might not survive the changes. Five years ago AT&T offered a $19.99 unlimited data plan for GoPhones. It is not around now.

Status quo as in us consumers of these options or AT&T's GoPhone division?

**graveboss** · 04-06-2012, 11:42 PM

You know, if Bank of America and Verizon Wireless among other companies can change their policies after consumer backlash or outcry, then maybe having several consumers voice their opinion (cleanly) about the policy change will make AT&T think twice and change it back or at least tell us what's going on. So I think everyone effected by this major change should speak out (cleanly) on Facebook, Twitter and more like we are here on this forum as well as some mainstream sites through comments and emails and see what happens.

Personally I have already blogged on this topic as well as gave a tip to the consumerist. Bottom line, I feel ripped off and I want my $100 back if I can't use my smartphone as it was advertised when I bought it last November. Of course this is just my opinion and its on topic. Good luck everyone.