AT&T Inc. this week announced expanded messaging plans to include unlimited messaging packages for the first time. AT&T’s 62.2 million wireless customers can now choose from new options to supercharge their messaging lifestyle.
A new plan from AT&T called Messaging Unlimited will give customers the ability to send unlimited messages of any type, including text, picture, video and instant messages (IM), to any wireless phone in the U.S. for $19.99 a month.
Additionally, AT&T customers who send most of their messages to other AT&T subscribers can add unlimited mobile-to-mobile messaging to a messaging plan for just $5 more a month. For as low as $9.99, customers can get unlimited mobile-to-mobile messaging in addition to the 200 text, picture, video and IM messages included in AT&T’s Messaging Starter package.
“Our customers are sending messages more than ever before, and we are committed to creating plans that accommodate all of their needs,” said Cristy Swink, executive director of Messaging, AT&T wireless unit, in the press release.
AT&T and Apple iPhone: http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iPhone.jsp
[Attribution: Electronista. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Another Irish Dude” for the heads up.]
Kill the competition and send messages for free across the board the same time as the iPhone release. Lose some money now and make a ton longterm!
The iPhone is your golden nugget, so rely on it.
Unlimited messaging is all well and good, but what about internet access as well?
To be honest, I send a lot of text messages, but not $20 worth a month, so this plan isn’t going to make one bit of difference to me.
And in another Mac-related note, birdfood is on sale at Petsmart.
Is this a deal? Geez, that’s $240 a year just to be able to type ‘lol’ a billion times. $300 if you want to type ‘lol’ a billion more to someone else who’s shelling out a butt-load of cash on your network. This, all on top of your regular phone plan, right?
I’m going back to smoke signals. Or shouting. I have to weigh my options…
lame…$19.95 – that’s more than what I pay per month for DSL and I can do way more than just send messages. Am i missing something in the value here?
I’ve had my own cell phone for over a year now – the family yanked my land line while I napped – and have yet to spend $2.50 on text messages. My wife has had her cell for longer and doesn’t even know how to read text messages. Someone out there has been using our share of text messages! Some pimply, insecure teenage Paris Hilton wanna-be, I bet.
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DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page Pod Cast
India has free IM, fre incoming calls. US is way too backward or the corporate types too greedy and then they complain about losing jobs oversees.
Holy Cow! $20/month!
Thats 200 messages, or nearly seven messages a day! Really does anyone message that much?
Do you know how hard it is to text message while you are going down the highway at 78 MPH with a beer in one hand and a smoke in the other while trying to pick up a CD off the floorboard?
That’s why I talk instead of text…….it’s safer.
Georgy Porgy: “Kill the competition and send messages for free across the board the same time as the iPhone release. Lose some money now and make a ton longterm!”
Taken strait out of the Microsoft market domination manual…
$19.99 per month to send ultimated messages to any wireless phone in the U.S.
For an additional $5 per month on <i>any<i> messaging plan, you get unlimited mobile-to-mobile messaging.
Is anyone else confused?
This is one of the problems with cellular providers (and there any many). Can’t AT&T just give a straight-forward plan like:
– $20 per month to send messages to any mobile phone in the U.S.
– Messages sent to AT&T subscribers are free.
I hate this shell game they try to get customers to play by choosing a lower “plan” than they need only to surprise valued customers with massive overage charges!
@ TT
Totally. It’s almost impossible to see the School Zone with that one headlight. And where the heck do I put my gun?
The carrier closer to a K.I.S.S. plan gets my biz.
“Thats 200 messages, or nearly seven messages a day! Really does anyone message that much?”
Teenagers.
Note also that Cingular now charge for incoming text messages as well (bastards) so really that’s only 3.5 text messages a day sent, if you recieve a reply for each one.
Exactly. And I don’t know which is louder, the brake squeal or the metal from the tires slapping the road. Who can text with all that going on?
I’ll stick to yodeling. Thanks.
How about this question regarding 3G vs. the 2.5G to be shipped. We all are aware of the issue of AT&T’/Cingular’s market avaliability:
Why not just include the radio components for HSDPA/UMTS 3G with this version 1 rollout? Then (when their 3G network is a bit more saturated in various markets), simply allow customers to download a firmware upgrade to activate that 3G radio!!
How much more would that be in manufacturing costs vs. the blowout demand that would result from the elimination of one of the big concerns to potential buyers (Edge 2.5G)?
Wow, right?
I suppose this *is* all about the US market, so this may be of little relevance. Texting is the primary form of communication on mobile phones here in the UK. I was very much of the opinion it was only for teenage girls whilst living in Canada, but upon moving here the first thing I noticed was a 70 year-old woman texting her partner to come pick her up. Since then, I very rarely actually “talk” on the phone, a simple message is much quicker and you have a record of details (address, time, etc. you’re meeting someone). Though, this is also likely due to the fact that for 20 pounds a month (~35 US) you get 200 minutes and 1000 texts. Whilst I’ve never hit the 1000 texts limit, I have gone over the 200 minutes and had to re-morgage my flat to pay the bill.
ummm…
the $20 a month is unlimited to any cell phone including cingular. if you just want to shell out $5 a month then you can get unlimited to just cingular customers.
i guess it takes a degree in rocket science to read and understand these days. i can see how anyone could confuse the two of these seeing as how they’re in separate paragraphs. my bad for getting an education.
I’ve had AT&T for awhile now, and I’ve always thought they’re data and messaging plans have always been way too steep. I’m hoping the iPhone will change that. It would be nice if they came up with a range of entirely new, all inclusive plans just for the iPhone.
kida wrote: “ummm…
the $20 a month is unlimited to any cell phone including cingular. if you just want to shell out $5 a month then you can get unlimited to just cingular customers.
i guess it takes a degree in rocket science to read and understand these days. i can see how anyone could confuse the two of these seeing as how they’re in separate paragraphs. my bad for getting an education.”
Well, that may be your interpretation of what was written (and it’s my best guess too), but is not what is actually written!
Intelligible writing… a lost art.
kida wrote: “ummm…
the $20 a month is unlimited to any cell phone including cingular. if you just want to shell out $5 a month then you can get unlimited to just cingular customers.
i guess it takes a degree in rocket science to read and understand these days. i can see how anyone could confuse the two of these seeing as how they’re in separate paragraphs. my bad for getting an education.”
Well, that may be your interpretation of what was written (and it’s my best guess too), but is not what is actually written!
Intelligible writing… a lost art.
I signed up for a T-Mobile plan a while back, It’s $9.99 for unlimited messaging of any kind for both of my family plan phones.
way to catch up at&t and verizon, just not starting this!!
Tmobiles been doing this for 14.99 for years.