AT&T Announces iPhone Tethering For $20… In Exchange, You Give Up Unlimited Data…Wait…WHAT THE F@#K?!

Well, here’s some more AT&T breaking news hitting our news feeds this morning. It seems as though AT&T has announced iPhone tethering. However, what they are asking for in exchange is ludicrous.

They are only offering iPhone data tethering on their $25 “Data Pro” plan. So, if you want data tethering, you have to give up your unlimited $30 a month data plan, just like on the iPad (Except on the iPad, no tethering).

AT&T claims that 98% of their smartphone customers don’t use more than 2GB of data anyways, that’s a load of crap. However, if you pass the 2GB limit, AT&T will charge you $10 more for an extra 1GB of data. gee, thanks AT&T.

Here’s AT&T’s official data plan statement:

  • DataPlus. Provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data – for example, enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 150 emails with attachments, plus view 400 Web pages, plus post 50 photos on social media sites, plus watch 20 minutes of streaming video – for just $15 per month.** This plan, which can save customers up to 50 percent off their wireless data charges, is designed for people who primarily like to surf the web, send email and use social networking apps. If customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle, they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in the cycle. Currently, 65 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 200 MB of data per month on average.
  • DataPro. Provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data – for example, enough to send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, plus view 4,000 Web pages, plus post 500 photos to social media sites, plus watch 200 minutes of streaming video – for $25 per month.** Should a customer exceed 2 GB during a billing cycle, they will receive an additional 1 GB of data for $10 for use in the cycle. Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average.
  • Tethering. Smartphone customers – including iPhone customers – who choose the DataPro plan have the option to add tethering for an additional $20 per month. Tethering lets customers use their tethering-enabled smartphones as a modem to provide a broadband connection for laptop computers, netbooks or other computing devices. Tethering for iPhones will be available when Apple releases iPhone OS 4 this summer.

As with the iPad 3G data plan, all of you who are currently on the unlimited data plan can choose to grandfather it and stay on it, but starting June 7th, all new customers will be limited to the data plans above.

This is some Grade A bullcrap. Sorry AT&T, screw you. I may not be on your network, but I know tons of people who are, and they’re gonna be pissed.

However, I do sense a disturbance in the force. What’s the force? AT&T exclusivity, I think it’s about to end….

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