AT&T to respond to Verizon's new global data package?

[GSMinCT]

Do you think AT&T will respond to Verizon's $25/100MB global data package? I think we'll see monkey-see, monkey-do as per usual.

[johnhere]

They might but it still seems a little high if you ask me.

[XFF]

They might but it still seems a little high if you ask me.

True, but it's a lot better than what AT&T currently charges:

• 50 MB @ $25 (VZW customer gets 100 MB for the same price)
• 125 MB @ $50 (VZW customer gets 200 MB for the same price)
• 275 MB @ $100 (VZW customer gets 400 MB for the same price)
• 800 MB @ $200

Only at the highest bracket would an AT&T customer break even with the new VZW international data roaming rate.

Is it still a rip-off? Absolutely! In most developed countries you can get 1 GB of prepaid data for about $30.

[RCtennis3811]

They probably will. Having said that, I usually buy the cheapest international data package for my phone when traveling abroad, but the last time I went international, AT&T only had a 15 or 25 MB plan; didn't use all of it with push e-mail off, and I only used data for Google Maps and Facebook.

[GSMinCT]

Verizon's current (old) prices are about the same as AT&T's, maybe $5-$10 higher, but they also have a $5/MB overage. The new Verizon plan is much less overpriced, although, like AT&T's it doesn't cover every country. AT&T is worse, though, not covering, for example, Russia, Estonia, and Cruise ships in their global data plan.

The $25/100MB is more fair in that the rate stays constant, if you use more, you just pay another $25. They're clearly trying to keep a huge profit mark-up while still making it not worth your while to get an XCOM or local SIM.

[Steveanderson13]

Is it still a rip-off? Absolutely! In most developed countries you can get 1 GB of prepaid data for about $30.

I suspect you are correct; but how much variation is there around that $30? The problem may be analogous to domestic roaming and long distance rates of many years ago--where the local exchange held everyone hostage.

[xchpstang]

I think the prices are silly as they are but I don't think Verizon's new plans are really better for the consumer. If someone travels for a week the current plans are pro rated in cost but you still get the full allotment of data. For example if I get the 800mb package for a week I pay roughly $50 but still get the whole 800mb. If the plan was like Verizon's new plan I would pay $200 for 800mb of data. If I had to choose between the current option or something like Verizon is introducing I think the current option is a much better value.

[DWC1]

Nice to see data roaming prices headed in the right direction.

[i0wnj00]

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Monkey see, monkey do. Thats all at&t ever does in response to what Verizon does. Im glad to see the rates from at&t for international data roaming drop significantly from almost 5 years ago. Significantly much better than me paying $45 for a meager 20 megs now that i can pay $5 more bucks for about 6 times more for international data without playing around with the phone settings or with a customer service agent who will struggle with my pre school like languge skills.

[GSMinCT]

pre-school like language skills... LOL. The local SIM method is still better, but you won't always have access to get one, or may be crossing many different countries in a short period of time (like a cruise).

I hope AT&T plays monkey-see, monkey-do on this one, and adds countries like Estonia and Russia, as well as cruise ships to the list of countries covered. The cruise ship one is so ironic, as some arm of AT&T runs that whole scam, and yet Verizon is the one who covers data roaming there in their plans (I'm assuming over 1xRTT, vs. AT&T's GPRS).

[efparri]

One thing that I noticed is that Verizon includes international roaming under its off-net roaming rules. This could make a difference if you are out of the country for parts of three consecutive months.

Note: Verizon Wireless will terminate your service for good cause if less than half of your voice or data usage over three consecutive billing cycles is on the Verizon Wireless National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Area.

[GSMinCT]

First of all, Verizon doesn't care how much you roam. That's pretty well known. Secondly, with the prices they are charging for international, there's no way they would kick someone off, unless they are on the old $65 unlimited global data plan, and are slurping a lot of data abroad.

Thirdly, you'd basically have to be out of the country most of the months to get anywhere near that, since even at $25/100MB, you're going to be using a lot more data here than abroad.

[efparri]

The Verizon Wireless National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Area includes all of its domestic roaming partners. When you leave the United States, the allowance changes.

[GSMinCT]

If it's anything metered though, they're not going to care, as they're going to be making bank.

[buckspaul]

this is the biggest scam roaming and data roaming prices totally a price gouging effort seriously how much is involved with rerouting and billing.... ** just a thought a few months ago i added the 800mg att global data iphone plan as i was roaming in eu good thing with att they dont prorate these plans and charge by the day only now! . so i was in eu for 11 days i used about 735MB so i was charged only 11 days of of the 30 day billing cycle = $73 for 735mb