AT&T Mobility refreshes prepaid

That's pretty cool of at&t offering newer data packages on PAYG.

Before, when I tried prepaid to check out local coverage, I was spending 3x the normal amount I'd spend on a standard postpaid service due to data consuming my balance too fast.

Everytime I'd send a picture message or check my Yahoo email, I'd get slammed.

 

That's why I decided to get a extra line on my Sprint account.

This is great news. I hope it goes well and AT&T expands on this.

 

theyre doing a really good job at attracting customers

if i recall correctly.......Virgin has packages like these with texting right?

 

Yes, VM does have a few Message Packs that their prepaid customers can choose from. Cellphone Text Messaging from Virgin Mobile

 

I understand the "Pick your plan" pre-paid plans now offer unlimited SMS for the $19.99.

 

Correct. The old Cingular PYP only included 3000 domestic text messages sent and received for the price of $19.99.

 

as well pay as you go can add 3000 N&W and unlimited text... 19.99 per feature... it has to be renewed every 30 days

 

well it is prepaid.........of course it has to be renewed every month.......they cant depend on prepaid customers in any way for money

 

Well with the pick your plan pre-paid, it will automatically deduct payment from your CC or bank account, where with pay as you go, you can get the refill cards & with the right minute plans, don't expire every month but last up to a year.

I believe what he is saying is for the unlimited SMS, you would have to pay the $19.99 each month to have that feature.

 

I'm surprised that at&t would even offer these plans on their PAYG service. With the limited number of minutes for the money that they are giving their customers now, I don't see how the extra $19.99 would be worth it. If I were going to go with one of at&t's prepaid services, I think I'd have to go with one of their PYP, with a SMS package added on.

 

for the pay as you go (not pick your plan) you physically have to buy it every 30 days... this feature availability came into effect 4 jun

 

it's all relative...for the person who does not want to spend 69.99 to get MtM and have N&W its a saving....

 

This is exactly what Fire14 just said in his post.

 

This all depends on how many minutes the PP customer is using per month. PAYG minutes can end up costing you alot more than the $69.99 plan would.

 

For me it is definitely a savings. My Cingular pay As You Go costs me $25+tax every 3 months and I have over $50.00 accumulated.

 

you grasped the meaning of my statement quickly

 

For me TMobile To Go is cheaper at only $10.00 per year, with $85.00 accumulated. For PP customers like us that are only using PP as a backup to another service it isn't very hard to save. But for those customers that are using PP as there main form of mobile service, I don't think they would save with the PAYG plans. The PYP are definitely a better option.

 

TM does have lower rates, unfortunately there is a small matter of their service in my area being rather medicore to poor.

As the primary form of mobile service, the PYOP compared to a Post Pay account has never made much sense to me if one is not in contract, or does not mind being in one. That too if one does not need a phone at reduced price, it is possible to be on month to month with a Post Pay plan.

The $29.99 PYOP plan has only 200 mins, and no M2M, no N/W

The $39.99 PYOP does not have M2M and is not as good a deal as the $39.99 Post Plan in minutes & N/W.

The PYOP coverage although much better than the Pay As You Go is still not as extensive as the Regular Plan atleast in my area.

Just my 2 cents

 

I agree with you here that postpaid is the cheaper option in terms of getting more. However, there are customers who do not qualify for these postpaid plans due to poor credit. This might be the reason why Cingular created these PYP, but I'm not really sure.
If it's a matter of the customer not wanting to be in a contract, then I would recommend that they go with one of at&t's regular plans on the "No Commitment" option. I wanted this as well when I looked into their $39.99 plan, but unfortunately at&t's 3G service was dropping a signal to much in my area when I had thier new RAZR 3G handset.

 

I don't know how prevalent it truly is, but I've found myself falling into this trap and I've seen a few others do it as well - I think people who utilize their phones very little for voice services tend to see either prepaid option (PayGo or PYP) as a "bucket" of $'s to be spent as they choose. Whereas when you are on a post paid plan, you tend to feel like you are spending $40/month for unused voice service in order to obtain the SMS/data service that you desire.

To your point, I think generally a post paid plan is still probably less expensive in terms of the total monthly charge (although honestly - if they don't now beef up - or "down" - the post paid SMS/data packages, I'll have to look at the new prepaid options again soon); but for some there is that psychological barrier to overcome with purchasing a post paid plan that includes services they won't utilize. Just my perspective.......


(from one who rolls over at least 400 minutes/month and cares nothing about M2M or N&W - until N&W applies to SMS/data usage :biggrin: )

 

Lol, you and I are on different ends of the spectrum on Post Pay vs. Pre Pay.

I use my Post Pay all the time since they are my minutes (yeah I know too many Cingular commercials). On the other hand I watch my Pre-Pay carefully and only use it when absolutely necessary.

I was thinking of dropping my Pre-Pay but for $25+ tax every 3 months, it is hardly worth it. Also it is another one of my numbers whose last 4 digits match my other lines, landline & house no. - no I don't know what's wrong with me. (SteveW , if you are reading this, it is still not the "A" word )

(From one over who comes dangerously close to the limit for minutes & messaging every month. )

 

I agree - prepay is an inexpensive way for me to maintain a "backup" phone/SIM as well.

I also don't know what is wrong with me, but clearly something is - and additionally, I have to remember three phone numbers.

 

It is scary, I have my personal AT&T cell, my pre-paid T-Mobile SIM & my County SprintNextel Buzz iDEN/CDMA phone.
Next will be a Verizon demo phone, if the person comes thru with what they said.