“AT&T Mobility just announced its shared wireless data plans on Wednesday. Verizon Wireless did the same thing a few weeks ago. Verizon has been taking a lot of heat on this topic, but not because it’s a bad idea,” Jeff Kagan reports for E-Commerce Times. “It’s actually a great idea. The problem is its approach, which I’ll discuss. I think AT&T’s plan will be welcomed in the marketplace.”
“AT&T offers this new service as another choice. One of many. Verizon offers it as the only choice for new service. If you sign up for a new service, you can choose the plan you want on AT&T. You don’t have that option with Verizon. That is a very important difference,” Kagan reports. “This difference will likely give AT&T an advantage. That’s why I believe Verizon will come around, sooner or later. Sure it will be a bit embarrassing, but that’s better than losing business.”
Kagan reports, “The idea behind these shared wireless data plans is the future. You can put all your wireless data usage from all your separate devices and accounts into one. That means your smartphones, tablet computers — and laptops, and in fact your family’s devices — can share this plan. You can put up to 10 separate devices on this plan. This makes it so much easier to manage. It is quite often less expensive as well. I wonder what happens when there are more than 10 devices? We will get there… trust me.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
AT&T Mobility unveils new shared data plans; ‘Mobile Share’ coming in August – July 18, 2012
Verizon Wireless kills voice minutes, makes data shareable among devices – June 12, 2012
They are hidden (or not so hidden) rate increases masquerading as a feature- otherwise a polished turd.
Ass vs ass, a great idea bogged down by ridiculously high per-device monthly connection charges. I thought we were supposed to be paying for a pool of data! It’s DRAMATICALLY cheaper for me to keep tethering than to add all my devices on a combined plan.
Eventually someone will do this with a competitive pricing plan that will force the big boys to adapt.
The shared wireless data plan approach would not be bad for Verizon if the overall costs were lower. The cost – that is the bad part.
These ass wipes make it easy to not get a “smart” phone. I want one, but I will not pay the ridiculous price for the plans that they want. I find it hard to believe so many people are giving in to them. If you can truly afford it, then great, but I know so many people who can not who struggle to make ends meet but for some reason feel they have to have one of these phones. And what do they do with it? Text and Facebook. A lot of money every month to text and post to Facebook.
You are too right. I still find it hard to believe how effectively advertising can get people to buy things they absolutely can’t afford. I was at the store the other day and saw someone using food stamps at the checkout, talking on a brand new Galaxy S III while in line. As bad a choice for the budget as for the phone!
It’s just like Cable TV. Cable bills are out the wazoo with more channels and less to watch than 20-30 years ago, yet the rates always ratchet upward.
Apple= under promise and over deliver.
ISPs, Cable Cos & Phone Cos= over promise and under deliver.
I notice that the quality of ‘not-quite-so-smart-phones’ hasn’t improved at all lately. I went from a Samsung Intensity I to II and my wife from an LG Cosmos I to II and the only noticeable differences are purely cosmetic. The software still sucks, the camera still sucks. We’ll probably be pushed slowly but surely to smart phones ($$) as the offerings of regular phones continually declines and the quality/feature gap increases.
LOL I love this doublespeak, (the agreement and appropriate liquidated damaged would apply) See the full paragraph. Liquidated damaged, what the fuvk does that even mean.
I am not saying the plan does or doesn’t have advantages but seriously “Liquidated Damage” Why not say termination fees or something someone could understand. This is why you can’t trust them. Plan speak is not in their mindset. Everthing has to be managed like a politicians speech.
If you purchased a tablet for a discounted, two year commitment price and move your tablet to a Mobile Share plan, your existing contract will not follow the tablet. This would terminate the agreement and appropriate liquidated damaged would apply, even if you activate the tablet on a Mobile Share group.