AT&T reacts to iMessage, removes lower tier SMS plans

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/atandt-streamlining-individual-messaging-plans-august-21st-leavin/

by ajg1977 • 15 years ago

31 17 15 years ago

engadget.com

bahman2000• 15 years ago

Quite the way to show some good-will and consumer choice in light of all the negative press re: TMO merger.

Just switch to Google Voice.

jdelsman• 15 years ago

Yeah, I did that a long time ago. Along with iMessage, I can communicate with almost anyone in the world for free. AT&T? Bah, who needs 'em.

masklinn2• 15 years ago

It's really quite funny: mobile operators are deadly scared of becoming little more than "dumb (radio) pipes" for data, yet every single move they do is so wrong on so many level it only ends up with more customers using them solely as dumb data pipes.

gallamine• 15 years ago

I'm still peeved that Google Voice refuses to deliver MMS or even notify you that they won't be delivered. Right now they just drop into a black hole. That's what's keeping me from using it exclusively. There's no way I can tell all my friends and family, "send me SMS, but all pictures have to be emailed." they'll never remember.

fpgeek• 15 years ago

If this is a reaction to iMessage, I wonder if Verizon will react similarly (and carriers overseas, for that matter). I also wonder if we'll see any iPhone-specific targeting (e.g. allowing cheaper/optional message bundles for Android phones, but requiring iPhones to sign up for a data plan that includes a large/unlimited SMS bundle).

RyanKearney• 15 years ago

Cant wait for iOS 6 which includes VOIP so AT&T can remove all but their unlimited calling plan with forced international package too.

masklinn2• 15 years ago

With Facetime, iOS4 already has VOIP (much like iMessages, limited to other iPhones — or at least macs for facetime)

sabat2• 15 years ago

Except you have to be on a wifi network. Skype works well enough on 3G, though, and connects to Android, laptops, whatnot.

kalleboo2• 15 years ago

Why couldn't this just as well be "AT&T reacts to Google Talk"? I know that ever since me and all my friends got Android phones, I've stopped using SMS entirely and only use Google Talk.

hboon2• 15 years ago

Because iMessage falls back to SMS and it's the SMS app everyone with an iPhone uses. So it's easy for people to get started. Certainly many people will start using it unknowingly. Convenience and zero-cost signup is powerful. Carriers are stupid, they can't find decent solutions but they can certainly see trouble ahead.

kalleboo2• 15 years ago

Wouldn't that create the reverse incentive for AT&T though? Jack up prices so that people get used to free iMessage but when get penalized heavy when they use those heavy messaging habits on someone without an iPhone?

technoslut• 15 years ago

The majority of smartphones sold on AT&T are iPhones. Had it been Verizon to do this then it may be attributed to Android. That said, AT&T could be reacting to the Facebook Messenger app. No one really knows.

jwarzech• 15 years ago

I wonder if my $5 for 200 msg will be grandfathered like my unlimited data plan. Its the perfect amount since with having other communications platforms I only use around 180 sms a month.

AT&T reacts to iMessage, removes lower tier SMS plans

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