“Everyone loves mobile data — get your Web fix, check your e-mail and peek at your Facebook account while on the go. But no one loves the cost of mobile data. AT&T, home of the iPhone, charges $15 per month for 200MB of data and $25 for 2GB of data. Overage on the 2GB plan comes at an additional $10 per 1GB. If you are truly a massive data user, that can add up,” Amanda Kooser reports for AOL Small Business. “Plus, you can’t share your connection with your employees, colleagues or friends.”
MacDailyNews Note: AT&T’s iPad data plans are actually $14.99 for 250 MB and $25 for 2GB, unless you’re grandfathered in to a renewable unlimited data plan (like us).
“This is where the MiFi 2200 comes in. MiFi is a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot that can share a 3G data connection with up to five devices, including laptops,” Kooser reports. “The actual MiFi 2200 device has already been available through Verizon Wireless (where it requires a contract to get a price break), but now Virgin Mobile, known for its contract-free cell phone plans, has its hot little hands on it. That means you get unlimited data for $40 per month — with no ongoing contract. There is also an option for a $10 plan for 100MB that can be used during a 10-day window. That equates to about five hours of Web browsing. It’s a smart choice for keeping up with e-mail and other simple Web tasks during vacations or short business trips. Otherwise, go for the gold and go unlimited.”
Kooser reports, “The MiFi hardware runs about $150.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Competition – real competition – is to be encouraged at all times, especially among overpriced control freaks who like to think they’re more than dumb pipes when they’re not.
UK network Three gives you 10GB for £15 a month with NO CONTRACT!
http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/iPad_data_plans
UK network Three gives you 10GB for £15 a month with NO CONTRACT!
http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/iPad_data_plans
What do you mean renewabl grandfathered in in unlimited data now I have a unlimited data what will happen to mine
What do you mean renewabl grandfathered in in unlimited data now I have a unlimited data what will happen to mine
The early 3g adopters will want to stick with their at&t unlimited plan, duh.
But all but $20 of the hardware cost could be covered by a new ipadder buying a wifi model instead of the 3g. The virgin plan is $10 more per month than the original death star plan, but it does allow for multiple devices to use it. Considering that at&t charges an extra $20 for tethering, this plan is CHEAPER if you have multiple devices.
Mifi card can be slipped into a shirt pocket or briefcase, so no big deal. Huh. Using wifi exclusively, and not having at&t throttle back or suspend services while on 3g could also be a benefit. Skype anywhere.
If I were a heavy cellular data user, this could be a very good thing. But I’m not: my home and most of the places I work have wi-fi, so I’m not even using 250 mb of data per month.
But this is the one mifi option that does make a compelling case for itself.
The early 3g adopters will want to stick with their at&t unlimited plan, duh.
But all but $20 of the hardware cost could be covered by a new ipadder buying a wifi model instead of the 3g. The virgin plan is $10 more per month than the original death star plan, but it does allow for multiple devices to use it. Considering that at&t charges an extra $20 for tethering, this plan is CHEAPER if you have multiple devices.
Mifi card can be slipped into a shirt pocket or briefcase, so no big deal. Huh. Using wifi exclusively, and not having at&t throttle back or suspend services while on 3g could also be a benefit. Skype anywhere.
If I were a heavy cellular data user, this could be a very good thing. But I’m not: my home and most of the places I work have wi-fi, so I’m not even using 250 mb of data per month.
But this is the one mifi option that does make a compelling case for itself.
“Competition – real competition – is to be encouraged at all times, “
thanks MDN for informing the readers that there’s ‘illusionary’ based ‘wishful thinking’ ‘competition’, and ‘real-world’ ‘REAL competition’, quite a few people can’t distinguish the two.
“Competition – real competition – is to be encouraged at all times, “
thanks MDN for informing the readers that there’s ‘illusionary’ based ‘wishful thinking’ ‘competition’, and ‘real-world’ ‘REAL competition’, quite a few people can’t distinguish the two.
Why is my AT&T unlimited data plan problem free in terms of no dropped connection and I get all my five bars anytime? I used it in Nyc and I could use maps. I used it in Miami as my sole gps and internet device even in Syracuse where they are mostly verizon cells I could use the 3 G connection. Anyone recommend MiFi at 40$ or I should stay in my virtual contract with AT&T forever. I am afraid all carriers will change this come on rates not now but maybe later.
Why is my AT&T unlimited data plan problem free in terms of no dropped connection and I get all my five bars anytime? I used it in Nyc and I could use maps. I used it in Miami as my sole gps and internet device even in Syracuse where they are mostly verizon cells I could use the 3 G connection. Anyone recommend MiFi at 40$ or I should stay in my virtual contract with AT&T forever. I am afraid all carriers will change this come on rates not now but maybe later.
I did an analysis of the contract terms of the Mifi here: http://www.proandcontracts.com/?p=201
Generally it’s a good deal, but it’s good to know about the potential commitments.
I did an analysis of the contract terms of the Mifi here: http://www.proandcontracts.com/?p=201
Generally it’s a good deal, but it’s good to know about the potential commitments.
@KingMel,
I hear you, but…
While what AT&T should’ve done is grandfathered in the ability to go unlimited off/on instead of maintaining those on unlimited, the reality is that unlimited wasn’t really unlimited. There was still a cap on it.
It turns out that the overwhelming majority of people benefit from the new pricing. I took a look at my usage and rarely went over the 2GB of data. So it’s $5 a month cheaper for me for most of the year and $5 more maybe 1 or 2 months of the year.
So while what they did seems bad, take a look at how the numbers actually would affect you and you’ll most likely find the rates are cheaper.
As far as tethering, AT&T has enabled tethering for the iPhone. Granted, it’s too expensive and doesn’t allow hotspotting, but AT&T never promised free or hotspotting.
@KingMel,
I hear you, but…
While what AT&T should’ve done is grandfathered in the ability to go unlimited off/on instead of maintaining those on unlimited, the reality is that unlimited wasn’t really unlimited. There was still a cap on it.
It turns out that the overwhelming majority of people benefit from the new pricing. I took a look at my usage and rarely went over the 2GB of data. So it’s $5 a month cheaper for me for most of the year and $5 more maybe 1 or 2 months of the year.
So while what they did seems bad, take a look at how the numbers actually would affect you and you’ll most likely find the rates are cheaper.
As far as tethering, AT&T has enabled tethering for the iPhone. Granted, it’s too expensive and doesn’t allow hotspotting, but AT&T never promised free or hotspotting.
Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint network. Sprint network runs on CDMA.
From my experience, Sprint’s CDMA is much slower than At&t 3G speeds. I don’t have Sprint’s 4G anywhere near me either.
I would use tethering if At&t provided it free as part of their data plans.
But they don’t.
Just saying.
Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint network. Sprint network runs on CDMA.
From my experience, Sprint’s CDMA is much slower than At&t 3G speeds. I don’t have Sprint’s 4G anywhere near me either.
I would use tethering if At&t provided it free as part of their data plans.
But they don’t.
Just saying.
This is an excellent next step, and perhaps something that can tide me over until you can purchase a block of data time that doesn’t expire like you can phone time. Let me plunk down $40 or $50 for 3 to 5 gb of data, then buy more when I need it.
This is an excellent next step, and perhaps something that can tide me over until you can purchase a block of data time that doesn’t expire like you can phone time. Let me plunk down $40 or $50 for 3 to 5 gb of data, then buy more when I need it.
@ ob1spyker & MDN,
You are quite right – sorry. I was checking to upgrade at the same time and had iPhone on the brain. Oh yeah, gonna order two this weekend. Yahoo!
@ ob1spyker & MDN,
You are quite right – sorry. I was checking to upgrade at the same time and had iPhone on the brain. Oh yeah, gonna order two this weekend. Yahoo!