General at&t question: 44.99 data plan? What gives?

[G5Unit]

Why is the price so high from at&t? T-mobile has a much better deal for only 29.99, and that includes WIFI at their hot spots. Not to mention they have the sidekick plan which is unlimited text, AIM, internet and email for only 29.99(19.99 sometimes). What is it with these companies nickel and dimming us for everything? How are they suppose to get younger people to but these phones? For one plan it could add up to 100 dollars!

/end rant

 

[Aperture]

Maybe it isn't targeted towards the younger crowd? (Which from the price, features, etc it doesn't seem so) In my opinion, AT&T is a premium carrier just like Apple is a premium computer maker. AT&T will charge a premium and people will pay it, it is as simple as that. By the way, where are these hot spots? Any examples?

Hopefully AT&T/Apple will go the sidekick route though, $19.99 - $29.99 for unlimited data & sms. I doubt it, though.

 

[WillJS]

Maybe it isn't targeted towards the younger crowd? (Which from the price, features, etc it doesn't seem so) In my opinion, AT&T is a premium carrier just like Apple is a premium computer maker. AT&T will charge a premium and people will pay it, it is as simple as that. By the way, where are these hot spots? Any examples?

Hopefully AT&T/Apple will go the sidekick route though, $19.99 - $29.99 for unlimited data & sms. I doubt it, though.

At most airports, companies like that set-up WiFi hotspots you have to pay to use.

 

[applehero]

Starbucks is by far the largest, every store has T-Mobile hotspot.

 

[terrrrrible]

This isn't the confirmed price for the iPhone plans right? I assume you're just looking at the PDA Personal Max with 1500 Messages plan?

 

[waterskier2007]

Starbucks is by far the largest, every store has T-Mobile hotspot.

are the hotspots at starbucks free, because for some reason i thought they were

 

[n00basaur]

That price isn't even confirmed.

 

[tho]

are the hotspots at starbucks free, because for some reason i thought they were

It isn't free, you have to have an account with T-MO to get the wifi access. Similar to Barnes & Noble.

 

[applehero]

Or you can pay per day for $10/day, but you still have to set up with T-Mobile. You can do it at the hot spot location though, so it's set up on the fly...

 

[waterskier2007]

It isn't free, you have to have an account with T-MO to get the wifi access. Similar to Barnes & Noble.

oh well theres a panera right by the starbucks near me, and at panera it is free so i go to starbucks, buy stuff to drink then to panera to eat and get online

 

[LtCarter47]

It isn't free, you have to have an account with T-MO to get the wifi access. Similar to Barnes & Noble.

Some are free, though I've only seen a couple. Starbucks in Valley Fair Mall in the bay area for example.

 

[cmschmidt]

Some are free, though I've only seen a couple. Starbucks in Valley Fair Mall in the bay area for example.

i believe any Starbucks that offers free wifi is not using T-Mo's service, but have set up their own internet.

 

[synth3tik]

The SideKick is like a Ford Focus and the iPod is like a Lincoln Navigator... Your rims on your Lincoln are going to cost more then your budget Focus.

 

[cmschmidt]

The SideKick is like a Ford Focus and the iPod is like a Lincoln Navigator... Your rims on your Lincoln are going to cost more then your budget Focus.

but if you're getting basically the same service (rims) on your iPhone that T-Mo gives for the sidekick...you shouldn't have to pay more right?

if you buy rims for your focus and then buy the exact same rims for the navigator, they shouldn't just cost more because you're buying them for a more expensive car.

 

[Eric1285]

Remember that Apple will be getting a cut of whatever AT&T collects on the service plan, so it's in the best interest of both companies to jack up the price as much as possible. Who in their right mind would pay $100/mo for cell phone service though? That makes the price of the iPhone $3000 over 2 years.