AT&T switching to tiered data plans for smartphones

AT&T has announced that they have decided to finally end unlimited data plans for smartphone users, and will now offer two different tiered pricing plans for new data subscribers.

The $15 per month DataPlus plan offers 200MB of data, with the plan aimed at data subscribers who browse the Internet, send e-mails and log onto social networking sites.  If you use more than 200MB, you'll pay $15 for each 200MB block of data that's used, AT&T noted in a press release.

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The more expensive DataPro plan, which offers 2GB of data, is available for $25 per month.  Subscribers who use more than 2GB of data can pay $10 for each additional GB of data used, though it seems like very few people will end up needing that additional allotment.

AT&T plans to roll out the new prices starting on June 7.

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The current AT&T plans, which will remain intact for current iPhone and other smartphone owners, will not be changed.  AT&T currently charges $30 per month for unlimited data, but has adjusted the pricing tier to give owners with lower data use a cheaper option.

Around 98 percent of AT&T subscribers ues less than 2GB of data per month -- and 65 percent of the company's subscribers use 200MB or less -- so the $30 unlimited data plans are not being put to good use in many cases.

"AT&T helps mobilize everything on the Internet – your favorite web sites, TV shows, music, games and social networks. Virtually everything previously done while sitting at a computer can now be done on the go,” said Ralph de va Vega, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets President and CEO, in a statement.

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Despite constant criticism -- led by the large number of iPhone users -- AT&T topped PCWorld's February 3G wireless tests.  The wireless company hopes to convince subscribers to use Wi-Fi networks more than AT&T's networks, as new customers now have a monetary incentive to ease pressure on AT&T's 3G network.

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