AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) is altering its messaging plans to essentially include only unlimited messaging options for subscribers.
The carrier said that starting Aug. 21, it will drop its $10/1,000 message plan for new customers. Existing customers will be grandfathered into that plan if they currently have it. Alternatively, customers can choose per-message billing at 20 cents for each text message and 30 cents for each picture/video message. The news was first reported by the bog Engadget.
"Starting Aug. 21, we're streamlining our text messaging plans for new customers and will offer an unlimited plan for individuals for $20 per month and an unlimited plan for families of up to five lines for $30 per month," AT&T said in a statement. "The vast majority of our messaging customers prefer unlimited plans and with text messaging growth stronger than ever, that number continues to climb among new customers. Existing customers don't have to change any messaging plan they have today, even when changing handsets."
In the second quarter, AT&T said that wireless data revenues increased year-over-year by more than $1 billion, or 23.4 percent, to $5.4 billion. AT&T said that total text messages carried on its network increased by 24 percent to 190.8 billion, and multimedia messages increased by 54 percent to 4.0 billion, compared with the year-ago period.
Earlier this year AT&T dropped a requirement that subscribers who purchase one of the company's "quick messaging devices" also purchase a messaging plan.
For more:
- see this Engadget post
- see this Phone Scoop article
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