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

**oglecowboy** · 04-05-2012, 10:53 AM

Well I didn't put any money on the sim yet

I got till May 1 to do so. So I'll wait and see what happens. BTW activated it on the 10 cents/min plan

**blushrts** · 04-05-2012, 10:53 AM

I left TMobile when they ditched the day pass option for data. I'm currently on GoPhone and have about 250MB of data left. I haven't gotten the text yet (using a Samsung Focus) I only need occasional data use so I'm not looking to get into a monthly fee. Looks like I'm running out of options. At least this will save me $450, looks like I don't need that new Nokia Lumia 900.

**slohasley** · 04-05-2012, 11:30 AM

I haven't gotten the message yet, but will switch to the Airvoice $10 plan if this goes through on the 18th. This puts gophone completely out of the light user market. Maybe that's what they want? Bummer about the unused data and texts that I'll have to give up.

**ryan s** · 04-05-2012, 01:16 PM

Today is my balance(s) expiration date, so I'm going to re-up right now and have another month (I hope) to think about options. I haven't received the text about this change yet.

This is definitely a move to scrape up the bottom feeders, so to speak, and lock them/us into a fixed monthly plan...just like Boost did by doubling minute rates and raising the per-day data cost by 15 cents. This was shortly after ATT cut the minute rate from .25 to .10...yet here we are, going backwards again

**graveboss** · 04-05-2012, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Jairzinho

I'm trying to understand at&t's move from a business point of view (if it was a revenue-based decision) and it still doesn't make any sense:

GoPhone subscribers who use enough minutes most probably are already in one of the monthly plans. Those who still are under PAYG plans are light voice/text users and some of them may buy data packages for their smart phones. The move is targeted to those ones and I'd think only a minority of those either consume close enough minutes or are so desperate to not lose data access to justify jumping in to a monthly plan. The rest (the majority of those I assume) must be cost conscious customers who won't be blackmailed and won't shell out extra $25/month for something they don't need, so they will simply stop using data and at&t won't get any of that money anymore. I don't see at&t getting more new monthly subscribers than losing PAYG data package buyers to increase their overall revenue and thus justify this change in GoPhone. Whoever genius exec came with this idea didn't think all this all the way through.

I agree with you. As a matter of fact, I am one of those current GoPhone users with (LG Thrive) that actually only uses my smartphone for emergencies and very light voice calls and texts. But I do use some data (more and more each month). I figured since I bought my phone last November that in one years time, I would have spent around $120 year on data. Now it will be zero. I also do buy 200 text messages feature packages a few times a year so I can do a fantasy bid for Barrett-Jackson on SPEED.

I believe that if AT&T takes away my data fully (which they are) that this is a bait and switch move. One year ago they came out with all of this to get new subscribers in and now AT&T is making all users switch. However I wouldn't be blackmailed (if you will) into a monthly plan. I can't afford it and even if I did, it would be a waste of money. So I will stay with 10 cents per minute and just use wifi when I can at home, my sisters, family members as well as Barnes and Noble, Sam's club, McDonald and more for wifi on the go. The rest of time, I will be unplugged which isn't completely a bad thing.

Good job AT&T, you pissed off and in my case, ripped off yet another loyal customer. I should have stayed at Verizon, of course that was nothing.

**slohasley** · 04-05-2012, 01:53 PM

H2O wireless is looking like a good alternative. They're an AT&T MVNO, have 5 cent calling and texts and 30 cents per MB. The data rate's higher than my current gophone, but it's not too bad. They have a $100, 1 year expiration card too.

**efparri** · 04-05-2012, 04:06 PM

It looks as if AT&T Mobility is reviving the Pick Your Plan account. They will have data and messaging packages as add-ons to the monthly plans rather than a subtraction from the account balance. That way voice, messaging and data all expire on the same date rather than having multiple expiration dates based upon what refill card you used or when you added a feature package.

**phonemagician** · 04-05-2012, 04:10 PM

Wirelessly posted (lg optimus v,huawei m835: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.29532/27.1407; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

make room for sprint prepaid group!

**Pabster** · 04-05-2012, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by efparri

It looks as if AT&T Mobility is reviving the Pick Your Plan account. They will have data and messaging packages as add-ons to the monthly plans rather than a subtraction from the account balance. That way voice, messaging and data all expire on the same date rather than having multiple expiration dates based upon what refill card you used or when you added a feature package.

Yes, with even less value than before. At least we had unlimited data for $19.99 then.

**cacophony555** · 04-05-2012, 07:07 PM

A few questions:

I assume the data will still rollover if you purchase subsequent data packages? In other words, I could still purchase 500MB of data initially, and then 10MB each subsequent month to not loose the data.

Is it possible they'll still allow data package purchases for non smart phones that are on the 10 cent/minute plan? If so, then perhaps one could do a temporary sim swap with a different (non smart phone) each month to allow the data package purchase/renewel.

Is an unlock required for all of the alternative plans that are being mentioned?

**efparri** · 04-05-2012, 07:53 PM

This change is directed at all phones used with GoPhone accounts. You will only be able to purchase data packages if you are on a monthly plan. You can accumulate data if you purchase a package before the current package expires. If it works like the Pick Your Plan used to work, you would subscribe to feature package on a monthly basis. They may make it difficult to change the package size if the subscription is automatic. You will have to wait for the details when the plans are placed into effect.

**dmarkson** · 04-05-2012, 08:13 PM

The way I read it, there will be no data at all on the PAYG or the $2/day plan.

**efparri** · 04-05-2012, 08:58 PM

Based upon the quoted message by the Original Poster, pay-per-use data should work as before. This change affects the purchase of data packages. Nonsmartphones should still be able to use pay-per-use data on the nonmonthly plans. There just can be no data package purchases unless you are on a monthly plan.

**dmarkson** · 04-05-2012, 09:18 PM

Right. I keep forgetting there are non-smartphones

**fonezfonz** · 04-06-2012, 04:39 AM

Basically, Att wants to **** its paygo users or bully them into monthly plans. This bites in that that leaves NO prepaid gsm paygo with reasonable data packs at this time.

I'm glad their Tmo takeover attempt failed. With even casual paygo users having increased data use I hope they **** off plenty of them and they leave.

Att. Dumb. Just plain dumb. 20 cents texts and no data? D-U-M-B.

Att: "Screw paygo users."

And their mvnos' have no really good paygo data options either.