AT&T offers unlimited GoPhone pre-paid plan

[JFB]

*Press Release*

Let Freedom Ring with New GoPhone Unlimited Talk and Text Feature Package

New Pay-As-You-Go Feature Offers Unlimited Talk and Text to Anyone Nationwide
Dallas, Texas, October 9, 2009

Talk all day and text all night? Now you have the freedom to talk and text all you want for just $60 a month with AT&T* Unlimited Talk and Text. Available beginning October 12, the new GoPhone prepaid feature package offers unlimited nationwide calling and unlimited texting to anyone in the U.S., plus it includes texting to Mexico, Canada and more than 100 other countries worldwide. With this new package option, customers can also send unlimited IM, picture and video messages.

“We recognize GoPhone customers have a need for unlimited calling or texting without the commitment of an annual contract,” said Judy Cavalieri, vice president of Prepaid Products for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The new Unlimited Talk and Text package enhances our prepaid options to give customers the flexibility of a national network with no contract requirement.”

GoPhone offers prepaid without compromise on AT&T’s national wireless network. AT&T GoPhone also offers a great selection of devices including full keyboard devices like the popular LG Neon, available in all AT&T stores, as well as other retail locations. GoPhone customers on the Simple Rate plan can purchase the Unlimited Talk and Text package by calling 611 from their handset, or 800-901-9878 from a landline phone. More information will be available beginning October 12 at Prepaid cell phone, GoPhone® - | Wireless from AT&T.

AT&T also offers “Pick Your Plan” options that allow users to pay in advance for a monthly rate plan, without a contract, credit check or deposit.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit Wireless, DSL Internet, Digital TV Services, and Phone | AT&T.

1Simple Rate plan required for Monthly Unlimited Talk & Text Feature Package. Feature package available for 30 days as long as your account balance is not expired. Standard rates apply if feature package is not renewed after 30 days. See rate plan brochure for details. A complete list of the countries with unlimited text messaging is available at att.com/gophoneintlText.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

[Shizam76]

60 bucks for unlimited talk and text on prepaid.

I just looked at the regular individual plans and it says Unlimited VOICE only was still $99?

Something isn't right here!?

[elmo01]

Originally Posted by Shizam76

60 bucks for unlimited talk and text on prepaid.

I just looked at the regular individual plans and it says Unlimited VOICE only was still $99?

Something isn't right here!?

the major difference is coverage

go to this link

AT&T Coverage Viewer

compare the regular coverage with gophone... thats why gophone is 60bux a month....

[Shizam76]

Originally Posted by elmo01

the major difference is coverage

go to this link

AT&T Coverage Viewer

compare the regular coverage with gophone... thats why gophone is 60bux a month....

For prepaid, that is still pretty big coverage. I even see "partner" roaming coverage with gophone map. The only thing that is knocked out is the roaming in the dakotas, wyoming, etc....in the west. East of them, the map is pretty much the same as the post paid one.

[hme83]

There is a large coverage difference (even between the PayGo and PYP maps) in Kansas, Nebraska, etc. too. And I was on vacation about 18 months ago with both a post paid and a prepaid phone - once you left the major interstates in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska - I can vouch that the PayGo coverage was VERY spotty.

But I do see what you mean - the PayGo map shows some partner coverage near Indianapolis, and I always thought that PayGo offfered no roaming off of the native at&t network.

The $60/month unlimited voice and text is certainly a good deal for someone who is in an area with good PayGo coverage and who doesn't travel much - or at least doesn't travel to rural areas.

[elmo01]

Originally Posted by Shizam76

For prepaid, that is still pretty big coverage. I even see "partner" roaming coverage with gophone map. The only thing that is knocked out is the roaming in the dakotas, wyoming, etc....in the west. East of them, the map is pretty much the same as the post paid one.

the whole thing being the coverage... and there is no contract... no international roming restrictions on what device you can use and you buy your phone outright... the factors add up

[Mobile Mike]

The GO Phone program is pretty darn good as it is, so this only makes it better.

I wonder if (and hope) the other carriers follow suit.

[Der84]

I agree, I would love to see other carriers take this into consideration.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by hme83

The $60/month unlimited voice and text is certainly a good deal for someone who is in an area with good PayGo coverage and who doesn't travel much - or at least doesn't travel to rural areas.

That's what's nice is someone like me in this area, this plan would be perfect, especially with some area's in PA that wouldn't have native coverage it wouldn't matter anyhow.

[hme83]

The improvements in the PayGo plans over the last several years really are amazing.

I'm not a heavy user and never have been - virtually no voice use at all - but very consistent "medium" data usage - when I first switched to post paid (2005) from an ATTWS GoPhone, it was pretty much a push (there were no feature packages for prepaid back then) - I averaged about $5 more/month for the post paid service.

Now with my usage and the feature rollover on prepaid service, I could be using it exclusively for approximately $12/month, compared with the $60/month I'd have to spend for the same thing with the post paid account ($51 with my FAN discount).

Unless some adjustments are made to the post paid plans, it seems the disparity will start driving many users to switch from post paid to prepaid service (where the lack of roaming coverage isn't an issue). I haven't pulled the plug on my post paid service yet - but it is certainly under consideration. (I've spent quite a bit of time traveling in rural areas the last couple of years, and I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the roaming coverage.)