AT&T has launched a new initiative called Mobile Share Value Plans that is designed to save customers money on their monthly AT&T mobile phone service bills. The following changes are specifically for the Mobile Share program, which allows devices to work under the same AT&T account and share data, talk, and text plans. Similar to T-Mobile’s “un-carrier” approach, the new AT&T plans separate the cost of the device hardware completely from the monthly service charges:
With the ‘No Annual Service Contract’ options, smartphone customers can save $15 a month on Mobile Share Value plans.2 Customers can receive these monthly savings when they: Get a new smartphone for no down payment with AT&T Next; bring their own smartphone; purchase a smartphone at full retail price; or when their smartphone is no longer under contract and they switch to the new plans. All Mobile Share Value plan customers will benefit from shared data plus unlimited talk and text on their phones. Consumers will have the ability to connect up to 10 devices, including tablets and other wireless devices, while business customers will be able to connect up to 10, 15, 20 or 25 devices, depending on the plan.
So, if you do not want your AT&T phone on a contract with a hardware subsidy, you will save $15 a month off the top. This applies to both new and existing customers (if they inquire) and supports devices brought to the network by a customer, AT&T Next devices, and phones bought at their full retail price. The most notable part of the new plans are the additional monthly savings. Depending on the plan you pick, you will be saving between $10 and $115 per month for one device or between $20 and $105 on an account with two devices.
For instance, the 300MB/month data version for one device currently costs $70 per month, but the new plans will drop this down to $60. At the high end, the $530/month 50GB plan will become $415. AT&T is also adding a new 8GB/month data tier for $130/month (1 device) and $170/month (2 devices). With the new approach of separating the phone cost from the monthly charge, the savings are even more significant if your phone is not subsidized. For instance, one phone on the 300MB/monthly plan will be $45 per month, and two phones on the 4GB plan will be $120/month.
In addition to the Mobile Share Value Plans, AT&T has announced a new tier for its AT&T Next program. AT&T Next allows a customer to pay (at minimum) $0 down for a device and roll the price of the phone into the service bill over the course of a 12-month period. The new tier allows a customer to pay over 18 months, and this means lower payment installments per month. This plan is meant for people who feel like they would be better suited to upgrading their device every year-and-a-half, rather than annually.
The Mobile Share Value Plans and new 18-month AT&T Next program become available on Sunday, December 8th. Full press release below:
Written by: Mark Gurman @markgurman December 5, 2013/5:00 am - 9to5mac.com
