Archive for category iPhone 3G Data Plan

iPhone International Data Plans From AT&T Wireless

Aug 31

Posted by Alan in AT&T Wireless, Data Plans, iPhone 3G Data Plan, iPhone 3G tips, iPhone International Data Plans, iPhone International Roaming, iPhone Tips | 2 Comments

AT&T Wireless has added two more international data plans for the iPhone and now offer travelers a total of four (see chart below to compare). The two new plans are $119.99 for 100 MB and $199.99 for 200 MB per month. The costs are in addition to the original US data plans that iPhone owners already pay for.

The AT&T iPhone international data plans cover an initial 65 countries (AT&T has coverage in 200 countries). The cost of data outside of those 65 countries is on a per kilobyte basis (see chart below). A list of the included 65 countries is after the break.

While the international data plan prices are still exorbitant for most people, they are at least a step up from previous prices and may seem more reasonable to business travelers who expense these costs anyways. In the past, 200 MB would have cost travelers a total of $827.90 ($59.99 for an initial 50MB plus $768 for the extra 150MB).

Price per month	Initial Bulk Data	No. of Countries	Extra Data	Data Outside of Included Countries
$24.99	20MB	65	$0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB)	$0.0195 per kb ($19.97 per MB)
$59.99	50MB	65	$0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB)	$0.010 per kb ($10.24 per MB)
$119.99	100MB	65	$0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB)	$0.010 per kb ($10.24 per MB)
$199.99	200MB	65	$0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB)	$0.010 per kb ($10.24 per MB)

Price per month Initial Bulk Data No. of Countries Extra Data Data Outside of Included Countries

$24.99 20MB 65 $0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB) $0.0195 per kb ($19.97 per MB)

$59.99 50MB 65 $0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB) $0.010 per kb ($10.24 per MB)

$119.99 100MB 65 $0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB) $0.010 per kb ($10.24 per MB)

$199.99 200MB 65 $0.005 per kb ($5.12 per MB) $0.010 per kb ($10.24 per MB)

Note: 1 megabyte (MB) = 1024 kilobytes (kb).

Helpful Links:

AT&T International Roaming Data Plans

List of 65 countries covered with international iPhone plan and type of network

iPhone Travel Tips from AT&T

Read the rest of this entry »

Will My Corporate Discount Apply to the iPhone 3G?

Jul 20

Posted by Alan in AT&T Wireless, Apple iPhone, Retail, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G Data Plan, iPhone 3G tips | 1 Comment

Yes, most corporate discounts apply to the iPhone 3G (but not the first-gen iPhone). The discounts can be up to 25% off, so it’s worth looking into. If your company has a corporate discount (also know as a FAN or IRU discount), you’ll have to contact AT&T Wireless by going to their Business Center website, calling, or going to an AT&T retail store to have it applied. Apple retail stores cannot apply the discount. From Apple’s support website:

Apple Retail cannot apply the IRU discount because the IRU discount is actually a list of many companies that offer a discount to their employees. Only AT&T’s systems are capable of correctly applying the IRU discount to the contract at point of sale.”

If you’re confused by the acronyms, here’s what they mean:

IRU: Individual Responsibility User. A term used for individuals who pay their own monthly wireless bill, not their company.
CRU: Corporate Responsibility User. The company pays the monthly wireless bill.
FAN: Foundation Account Number.

If you’re unsure if your company offers a discount, a simple way to check is to enter your work email address on AT&T Wireless’ Business Center site. (see picture below)

Helpful Links:

AT&T Wireless Business Center.

IRU discount info at Apple.com.

Discussion at AT&T Wireless forums.

Discussion at Apple.com iPhone 3G forums.

Special thanks to my brother Rob for the info.

Cost of iPhone 3G Without a Contract: $599 for 8GB and $699 for 16GB

Jul 1

Posted by Alan in AT&T Wireless, Apple iPhone, Data Plans, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G Data Plan | No Comments

AT&T Wireless has finally gotten around to posting official pricing information about the iPhone 3G. Of particular note is a “coming soon” announcement of a contract-free iPhone 3G for $599 for the 8 gb and $699 for the 16 gb.

For those interested in buying an iPhone 3G for unlocking and use on another wireless network, some crucial terms of the process are still unclear. It’s possible AT&T will require buyers of unsubsidized iPhone 3Gs to activate phone service with AT&T in order to purchase the phone. This could put a damper on the very profitable unlocking business, but not completely destroy it.

iPhone 3G Subsidy: How to Qualify for the AT&T Wireless Cell Phone Upgrade

Jun 17

Posted by Alan in AT&T Wireless, Apple iPhone, Data Plans, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G Data Plan, iPhone Contract | 1 Comment

*Update* iLounge has confirmed that current iPhone users do qualify for the subsidized pricing, regardless of how long they’ve been on contract. Via iLounge:

According to Mark Siegel, Executive Director of Media Relations with AT&T Mobility, only “[c]urrent iPhone customers, new customers, and current non-iPhone AT&T wireless customers who are upgrade eligible will get the iPhone 3G at the $199/$299 price points.”

Here are AT&T’s current rules to qualify as “upgrade eligible” (for AT&T customers who don’t own an iPhone):

24 months of cell service since the activation of your current phone, or
24 months of cell service since your last upgrade.

Or,

21 months of cell service with contract but no upgrades, and have a data plan and standard voice plan that costs between $68.99 or $98.99 a month, or
12 months of cell service and pay more than $99 a month for data and standard voice plan.

If you pay less than $68.99 month, you have to wait until month 21 of your contract to get the upgrade pricing, and you have to pay an undisclosed fee (rumored to be around $20).

Helpful Links:

Wirefly.com details AT&T Upgrades.

iLounge “Not all AT&T customers eligible for $199 iPhone 3G.”

Cost of the iPhone 3G Data Plan and Other Pricing Facts

Jun 15

Posted by Alan in AT&T Wireless, Apple iPhone, Data Plans, HSUPA, Text Message, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G Data Plan, iPhone AGPS, iPhone GPS | 4 Comments

The iPhone 3G data plan costs $30 a month for unlimited data. That $30 does not include text messages or a voice plan. The voice plans start at $39.99 for 450 minutes of talk time.
Requires a two-year contract.
Text messages usually cost 20 cents a piece, or $5.00 for 200, but there is no official word yet on what they will cost for iPhone 3G.
Subsidized pricing is $199 for 8 gb iPhone. $299 for a 16 gb iPhone.
With all costs added together, the minimum monthly cost of iPhone 3G is $69.99 (without text messages).

The total 2-year cost of an iPhone 3G starts at $1,855, compared with $1,815 of the original iPhone.
The iPhone 3G will require activation at the store you buy it from, either AT&T’s store or an Apple store. The process usually takes around 15 minutes to complete.
AT&T will not allow tethering of the iPhone’s 3G connection, meaning, you can’t use the iPhone 3G as a broadband modem for your laptop. Some other AT&T smartphones offer this utility.
Business data plans start at $45 a month. The higher charge is because AT&T offers an “enterprise connection” to Exchange servers.
For international travelers, a separate international data plan will be required.
There is no GoPhone, prepaid plan, or pay-as-you-go plan for the iPhone 3G.
3G iPhone with no contract: $599 for 8GB and $699 for 16GB.
You can return the iPhone up to 30 days after date of purchase.
First-gen iPhone customers who already have two-year contracts have to qualify for an AT&T Upgrade and have good standing with AT&T (ie, have you paid your bills lately?).
Limit of 3 iPhones per purchase.
Anyone who bought a first-gen iPhone on of after May 28, 2008, can return it and receive a refund of the difference in price between a comparable iPhone 3G, minus a 10% restocking fee.
Access to GPS is free.

Art of the iPhone