AT&T Unveils New Data Plans: $50 for 5GB with Mobile Hotspot [AT&T Updates Data Plus, Data Pro & DataConnect Plans, Prices Go Up, So Does Mobile Data]

Posted on TFTS by Chris Smith on Wednesday, 18. January 2012 under: Computers & Computing, Mobile/Cell Phones, PCs, Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets

AT&T has officially announced price changes for its mobile data plans, and before you ask, yes, the carrier will still throttle you in case you make it to the top of hardcore data users. The good news is that the new plans offer more data, but the bad news is that you’ll have to pay more cash to get it.

The carrier explained the changes by saying that mobile device users require more and more data and AT&T is simply trying to better cope with the situation:

“Customers are using more data than ever before,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Our new plans are driven by this increasing demand in a highly competitive environment, and continue to deliver a great value to customers, especially as we continue our 4G LTE deployment.”

Here’s what you need to know about the new smartphone and tablet plans:

AT&T Data Plus 300MB: $20 for 300MB
AT&T Data Pro 3GB: $30 for 3GB
AT&T Data Pro 5GB: $50 for 5GB, with mobile hotspot / tethering
AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $30 for 3GB
AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50 for 5GB

Smartphone owners that want more data each month can order an extra 300MB for $20 (Data Plus subscribers) or 1GB for $10 (Data Pro subscribers). Tablet owners can either keep their current plans, including the $14.99 for 250MB plan which will remain available, or upgrade to a DataConnect plan.

AT&T doesn’t mention any details about new LTE data plans, but we’re certainly not surprise to see them missing in action as the carrier offers very limited true 4G coverage, especially when compared with Verizon’s current LTE network that covers 200 million Americans. On a different note, it will be interesting to see whether other carriers will respond to AT&T’s data plans change in the following days. After all, not just AT&T smart device owners are using more and more data, are they?