Report: AT&T may offer limited iPhone data plan

Reports of price cuts to AT&T's iPhone data plans have been circulating for a couple of weeks now, but a report in BusinessWeek on Monday adds a new twist to the speculation.

AT&T may soon offer a limited data plan for the iPhone.

(Credit: CNET)

Citing unnamed sources, the report says that AT&T may offer a limited data plan, giving customers a $10 monthly savings on their bill. BusinessWeek speculates the lower prices are part of the negotiations to keep AT&T as the exclusive wireless carrier for the device.

There are no details about what limits would be placed on the iPhone under the proposed data plan, but it seems unlikely that customers would be satisfied with a plan that cut down on the usability of the iPhone. While the iPhone can be used on a Wi-Fi network, it is the ability to go from broadband to cellular networks that makes the iPhone truly useful for Web surfing, texting, and checking e-mail.

AT&T has been widely criticized for the cost of the iPhone plans since the device was first released. The price cuts could be a way to attract customers from other wireless carriers if Apple remains with AT&T.

[helmet0628]

maybe they should cut out charging for texting too, Data is all a text message is why should you be charged 10 cents a message?

[Alex Alexzander]

Worried about the palm pre, eh AT&T. You should be.

Spint has the better data plan, better coverage, and it's about to have the better phone.

Let the equity speculation begin.

[kellymcgowan]

yeah, and they should be worried about us going back to the telegraph too.

[seven7dust]

better coverage ?
Depends on where you live I guess
sprint has horrid coverage in my area
At&t is bad enough IMO but sprint is by far the worse in both service and Customer service !

[Lakebook]

I got an LG Incite free from wirefly with no data plan with ATT Love the phone and use Wi-fi with a tone of free applications.

[irondog1970]

One of the reasons I stuck with the original iPhone (which I love) is that I didn't want to pay $10 more a month for 3G access when 3G access wasn't guaranteed.

Since my EDGE access is spotty at best where I work, I would definitely settle for limited access for wireless data plans. The kicker, though, is that such limitations would have to be reasonable. I doubt AT&T would get that concept.

[gt1948]

iPhone rules now and for ever....Palm pre is for kids and PC users hey?

[DMAN3k]

I went to the Church of Steve Jobs. There I found the gateway to hell.

Apple is pure evil.

[Alex Alexzander]

Really, Blackberry blew it away in the last quarter. Blackberry sold 7.9 million phones for the quarter. iPhone sold 3.89 million. Blackberry sold me mo Curves alone than Apple has sold iPhones in all.

#1? BWHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA Pah leez

[jypeterson]

@Alex Alexzander, do you know why? The only reason is that Blackberry had to resort to buy-one, get-one sales tactics across multiple carriers to pull that off. The quarter before that, the iPhone sold more units than Blackberry.

Oh, how many Blackberry models are there?

And, how many iPhone models?

One quarter does not make a trend. Blackberry is fighting against a tide of users who want more functionality -- without the sacrifice of usability. RIM is still three years behind in developing a decent answer to the iPhone. If they cannot offer anything compelling, they will go the way of Motorola -- once the top dog, and now only the mut waiting for market scraps.

RIM has either got to stick with what they do best or step so far outside of the box (just to compete with Apple) that they risk loosing it all. I wonder what they will decide to do...

[motenak]

What a stupid comment! The Pre is for ANYONE WHO NEEDS A SMARTPHONE AND WON'T BUY AN IPHONE BECAUSE AT&T'S COVERAGE/SERVICE SUCKS! I have Sprint and don't remember the last time I dropped a call! The only AT&T users that can truthfully say that either don't make phone calls or have Alzhimers!

[swenk22]

I have Att family plan now and like it.. but no iPhone. Reduced monthly cost not a big factor. I still use my palm Tx. I'd go for the palm pre if it wasn't locked up w/sprint.

[kliefy]

The data pack is the best thing AT&T has going for it in regard to the iPhone. I have one and have to say that the actual Phone part of iPhone sucks pretty bad. The handiest thing is being able to use data related apps on the phone. I would suck if they began to limit the only semi-reliable component. In fact.. I would probably follow suit with my friends and pick up the storm and go to Verizon.

[kliefy]

Editing the typo.

err.. *IT would suck if...

[FreddieT]

It all depends upon what will be limited. I for one would love to have a plan with much fewer "anytime" minutes (i.e. 100 minutes/mo) and free SMS. I hardly use my iPhone to make/receive phone calls. About 95 percent of my time spent on it is for SMS, e-mail, twitter, web and other apps.

[ikramerica--2008]

My parents would welcome lower charges. They just don't use the internet features that much, but do like having them. They mostly like the large screen, ease of use, syncing with mobileme, etc.

[SWATCAT1]

Hi Jim !
I have two original iPhones very seldom do I use Safari because of the Edge network.
At&T should lower prices on the 3G iPhone the same as original with text messaging included if not lower.
3G networks are available here in the Washington DC area and soon 4G networks.
It's just AT&t's greed charging outrageous prices at this time especially when there are rumors of an iPhone being developed for Verizon

MacCentral Forever
"swatcat"

[Stormspace]

I'd get an iPhone in a minute if I could get it without the data plan. I for one could resist using the 3G internet unless it was an emergency, and then I wouldn't mind the extra charge. I have a Touch now and rarely need to use the internet when I'm not near a wireless access point. I'm not paying for data when the plan is as outrageously priced as it is and required for a phone.

[skellener]

I'd love to see the option of an iPhone not data plane and a data plan only - no minutes. Many people have different needs. AT&T is not offering enough variety with it's plans.

[Shawn7676]

I use to hate Mac computers for being overpriced and underpowered. But I love my IPhone 3G, it's the best device that I've ever owned, period. And that includes my Honda civic.

[Padaas]

The cost of the data plan is making me reconsider my strong desire to get an iPhone. I have an iTouch, so it'd be natural to replace my old phone with iPhone, but extra $30/month for data plan is too high for me. With a BBerry, I can cancel the data plan, but as I understand it ATT doesn't allow this with an iPhone. That's ridiculous.