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Why pay for a data plan for the iPad AND the iPhone

Nothing wrong with giving people options...

I posted this in another thread on the same topic:

I've been saying it all along, I'd just be happy if AT&T would let me put the iPad on my current family plan at a reduced rate. Give me a microSIM to use on my iPad and bill me $10 more a month on my existing family plan -- where I'm already paying for TWO unlimited data plans -- and I'd be happy as a clam.

They SHOULD offer discounts for multiple devices, and there's no reason they COULDN'T give you a microSIM to use.
 
I honestly think that for most people who want 3g on their iPads (which not everyone does), you'll be a lot happier if you just pay the $30.

But I'm probably more forgiving on this point since my phone is on a T-Mobile plan that includes unlimited data for a total of $80/month (including voice) and has no contract. AT&T sort of gouges for iPhone data plans IMO.

As far as quality of service, I'm in the suburbs of Washington DC and AT&T usually works great for me. I have five bars at home and five bars at work. I got 1.29Mbps when I tested my 3g speed at home this morning and I just got 1.54Mbps when I tested from work.

$30/month is a dollar a day, to state the obvious. I bought a bag of cookies today for $1.29. I bought a candy bar yesterday for $1.25. Just make your life easier.
 
]I honestly think that for most people who want 3g on their iPads (which not everyone does), you'll be a lot happier if you just pay the $30.[
I don't mind paying $30/month for unlimited 3G for ONE device but for two ? Come on ATT . . . there should be some better plan for more than one device on an account. I like the $10 additional idea :D
 
I thought shared data plans for your Apple mobile devices was the natural solution with rollover megabytes each month.

Not nearly as profitable though. Stinking. I really hate how seemingly everything you have these days has some sort of restriction backed up by some trumpted up corporate excuse.
 
one thought would be to... not pay? if you did you've already voted with your dollars
 
Dang, it sure would've been nice if the OP had written a few short lines like every other following poster. Too much to read. That being said, I have no problem with having a plan on the iPad and the iPhone.
 
Thing is, you're talking about justice or something -

I'm talking about, this is the option available to you, wouldn't you be happier if you just paid the 30 bucks? Setting aside any kind of crusades.
 
Cellular plans have come a long way since they began. I believe one day sometime in the distant future we will see shared data plans.

The thing is however we need more than just Verizon vs AT&T. It seems kind of wrong how they're both allowed to just buy up the little guys, eliminating competition. Soon Sprint will become part of Verizon and T-Mobile apart of AT&T here in the US. Then only 2 companies will be deciding our cellular fate.
 
Pretty fair trade-off, it seems to me.

No shared data plan.

No 30% unemployment.
 
wombat888 said:
I honestly think that for most people who want 3g on their iPads (which not everyone does), you'll be a lot happier if you just pay the $30.

$30/month is a dollar a day, to state the obvious. I bought a bag of cookies today for $1.29. I bought a candy bar yesterday for $1.25. Just make your life easier.
Click to expand...

It's not so much the $30/mo, it's that I like many folks spend time in areas where AT&T has poor service. I find verizon service a bit slower but much more consistent, reliable, and much better coverage in many areas I frequent. Obviously this varies by location but in my case things are bad enough that My future wireless devices won't be with AT&T even if it means leaving apple devices.
 
HLdan said:
Dang, it sure would've been nice if the OP had written a few short lines like every other following poster. Too much to read. That being said, I have no problem with having a plan on the iPad and the iPhone.
Click to expand...

You're right... I edited the original post. I already had posted the link to the original site. No need to cut & paste as well... :cool:
 
Do you guys feel that all the cell phones in your household should all be able to use the same plan for talk + data? Wouldn't that be the same thing?

Now I know that they do allow you to add a line and share minutes which is probably what they should do with the iPad if you are already an ATT customer.

Then again, even with the add a line...its $10 to the extra line PLUS $30 for the iPhone data plan, so you pay twice for 2 iPhones in the same household...why would the iPad be any different?
 
HLdan said:
.... That being said, I have no problem with having a plan on the iPad and the iPhone.
Click to expand...
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So you're happy paying for 2 data plans for 2 devices instead of 1 data plan for 2 devices??? $30 p/mp for 2 devices vs $60 p/mo for 2 devices???
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What am I missing here???
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I can see arguments for both sides for this issue. First, ATT's argument would be that there are two separate devices with separate SIM cards that are accessing their network. Which would lead to more data usage than just using an iPhone alone. (If tethering were supported, read the following) It inherently differs from tethering because it is not using the iPhone to access the network, but the device itself is accessing the network which should be charged separately.

The argument for having one data plan for both would be the following. The devices are accessing the same network and are used by the same person. The person can only be one one device at a time and thus will not use any more data than they would otherwise. Having one data plan for both might cause more users to get iPhones and thus have more profit for ATT through plans.
 
That is exactly why I decided to get the wifi model today. I figured the next iPhone is coming out next month and I really don't want to pay for two data plans. I'm just gonna use my iPad for mobility around the house and my iPhone for everywhere else.

First post with my new iPad!
 
If AT&T did have a one plan, two devices option, what is to prevent people from signing up for this plan, then give the two devices to two separate people to use? How does this work in Spain with the cloned SIMS, can only one device be online at a time?
 
SoCalRich said:
Why do I have to pay $30 for a data plan on my iPhone AND $30 for my iPad. I can only use 1 device at a time.
Click to expand...

You are 100% correct. But if at&t did what you're suggesting, they would only make half the money off people like you. So what exactly is their incentive to give you what you're asking, or to enable tethering, etc?

Yes, we can only truly wish there was a bit more competition here.
 
iBookG4user said:
I can see arguments for both sides for this issue. First, ATT's argument would be that there are two separate devices with separate SIM cards that are accessing their network. Which would lead to more data usage than just using an iPhone alone. (If tethering were supported, read the following) It inherently differs from tethering because it is not using the iPhone to access the network, but the device itself is accessing the network which should be charged separately.

The argument for having one data plan for both would be the following. The devices are accessing the same network and are used by the same person. The person can only be one one device at a time and thus will not use any more data than they would otherwise. Having one data plan for both might cause more users to get iPhones and thus have more profit for ATT through plans.
Click to expand...

The argument is simple... When you're at home using your broadband connection you pay for through cable or dsl, you don't have to pay for each separate computer that connects to it, do you? The answer is a resounding NO. it shouldn't be any different for your data plan from your cellphone provider. I Pay for an unlimited plan, that should include all devices on the plan.

Now i conceded that AT&T may have higher overhead costs for things like cellphone towers all across the country... But to Charge for each device uniquely is just greedy. Give me a break for having a family plan. Instead of $30 x 3 prorate it for each device I add.
 
It sure would be nice for a shared plan. If you can do it with phones and minutes, I don't know why two data devices can't be the same way. I'd consider an unlimited iPad add-on to my plan for $10 more. But the way it is now is a jack.
 
It's simple, I only possess an iphone, therefore I only use iphone service. Now I buy a 3g ipad, I use both devices, maybe not concurrently, but I am doing more, not the same.

By that simple fact why should I pay the same as someone using two devices if I only own the one?

Trying to be devil's advocate here :D
 
EchoTheDolphin said:
It's simple, I only possess an iphone, therefore I only use iphone service. Now I buy a 3g ipad, I use both devices, maybe not concurrently, but I am doing more, not the same.

By that simple fact why should I pay the same as someone using two devices if I only own the one?

Trying to be devil's advocate here :D
Click to expand...

So you're ok if you're charged for two Internet plans at home if you have more than one computer?
 
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