AT&T Offers $99 'Text, Talk & Surf' Plan1.5 Mbps DSL, 450 wireless, unlimited landline & SMS 08:51AM Wednesday Sep 23 2009 by Karl Bodetags: prices · competition · business · bandwidth · Verizon Online DSL · AT&T SoutheastAs phone companies move into the fourth quarter, they're unveiling their new bundle promotions in their fight against cable operators. Verizon this week offered up several new promotions that include a $150 gift card rebate and free installation for FiOS customers, or three months of free DSL for new customers. AT&T also this week announced their " talk, text and surf" plan (albeit only to customers in former BellSouth markets), offers 1.5 Mbps DSL, unlimited landline service, 450 minutes of wireless calling and unlimited messaging for $99 per month. Says AT&T: "Our latest bundle offer brings together all your favorite ways to communicate — including wireless calling and texting, that simply aren’t part of a cable bundle," said Joey Schultz, vice president for wireline consumer marketing for AT&T. "As consumers keep a closer eye on their budgets, they are increasingly seeking ways to bundle all of their essential services to get greater discounts." For a company that said forcing customers to bundle landline service in order to get discounts was lame by 2007 standards, AT&T sure likes to force customers to bundle landline service in order to get discounts. 1.5 Mbps DSL in 2009 is also starting to show its age as carriers begin pushing toward 50 and 100 Mbps. Are these fourth quarter telco DSL deals interesting to any of our readers? Enough to keep you from going to faster cable broadband options?
Related:- Verizon Hopes To Slow DSL Losses With NFL Sunday Ticket
- Shaw Sues Novus For Defamation
- Frontier To Inherit Some Very Shoddy Verizon Copper
- Verizon's New Wireless Pricing Is An Insult
- Comcast DOCSIS 3.0 Hits Denver
- FCC To Investigate Special Access Pricing
- TDS Telecom Launches 50 Mbps Fiber
- Verizon Again Hints At Metered Billing
|
 brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL
1 edit | still not a good deal. Still way over priced. | |
|  | hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | Re: still not a good deal. very true! | |
| | | 
en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·DSL EXTREME
| Re: still not a good deal. It isn't a 'horrible' deal, however, they're attempting to milk POTS/ADSL to death.
For $99, it _should_ include a few other features that are probably not included:
1. Unlimited AT&T WiFi
2. Included 'features' with POTS service that are typical a-la-carte (Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Free Canada calling)
IF AT&T was even slightly serious about gaining customers vs. attempting to PUSH legacy services, then it 'should' be a flexible triple play or similar:
Loaded double play
- $99 for 450 Wireless + sms + unlimited data + Unlimited WiFi + 6Mbps Internet (ADSL or Uverse)
Triple Play
- $120 for 550 family Wireless + sms + unlimited data/PDA + unlimited WiFi + 10Mbps Uverse + VoIP
--
Canada = Hollywood North | |
| | 
Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| said by brianiscool  :Still way over priced. No kidding. AT&T continues to show that they just don't get it. Even my 75-year old father-in-law got fed up with them and is switching to Comcast. | |
| | 
sogmeister
@dai.com
| Reading is f'n fundamental, son.
Does Boost offer HOME internet? no. In fact here's the quote for ye' sonny, bobby, jim, me lad:
"ffers 1.5 Mbps DSL, unlimited landline service, 450 minutes of wireless calling and unlimited messaging for $99 per month. "
As you can see its to go against CABLE offers, not JUST WIRELESS OFFERS.
Damn. | |
| | | 
Telco_Tech
join:2009-05-18
Toledo, OH
| Re: still not a good deal. said by sogmeister :
Reading is f'n fundamental, son.
Does Boost offer HOME internet? no. In fact here's the quote for ye' sonny, bobby, jim, me lad:
"ffers 1.5 Mbps DSL, unlimited landline service, 450 minutes of wireless calling and unlimited messaging for $99 per month. "
As you can see its to go against CABLE offers, not JUST WIRELESS OFFERS.
Damn.
This is still a crappy offer in my humble opinion. With the ability to get "unlimited" 1.5 Mbps or greater WIRELESS via outfits like Millenicom, 1.5 Mbps land line DSL really shouldn't be any more than $20 to $30 (the day is not far away when 1.5 Mbps won't even be considered broadband). With the advent of VoIP, unlimited land line voice service - which is a waste to have anyway - should be no more than $20 a month including taxes and fees. Finally, a 450 minute celly with unlimited texting should NOT cost anything more than $45 a month, especially considering how poor AT&T's network is these days.
Hardly a good deal.
- Tate
| |
| | | | | | 
Spatch
Stugots
Premium
join:2001-06-29
Savannah, GA | I just dropped them. That's the starting rate and then they jack it up over time and wonder why you are leaving them. I can't stand those sorry bastards. | |
| | | | | 
BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :$40 (450 minutes) + $38 (1.5 Mbps DSL) = $78 So you have an unlimited landline for $22 over the cost of dry line DSL + cellular. Of course, someone will immediately point out what $38 is a lot for a 1.5 Mbps connection. To which I would answer "Absolutely" though Qwest sells 1.5/896 for $40 here. Still, $22 for an unlimited landline (or $27, however you count it) is comparable to indie VoIP, iwth the reliability that a landline provides. That's decent, right? Sorry I live in former BS area and 1.5 Mbps from at&t is $33 not $38 | |
| | | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: still not a good deal. $33 with phone service though, correct? | |
| | | | |
BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :$33 with phone service though, correct? yes but isn't that included in the $99 package? we are comparing apples to apples right? | |
| | | | |
Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :Actually, scratch my previous comment about this being crazy expensive. The 450 + messaging plan would be $60 alone for AT&T. So the unlimited landline is thrown in practically for free when you buy DSL and wireless. That's a decent deal, though the wireless and DSL components are respecitvely priced $10 and $8 per month too high IMO. Still, even if you look at what prices *should* be, you're looking at a $20 landline. Better than VoIP...though taxes will probably kill ya. I would argue that you should look at the VALUE provided rather than comparing it to what AT&T MSRP's each individual package for. Sure, in AT&T's warped world, this is a good deal over purchasing each package individually. On the whole, it's not a very good bargain unless you require a POTS line. | |
| | | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: still not a good deal. Replace "POTS" with "landline" and it appears to be a better deal. | |
| | | | |
Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :Replace "POTS" with "landline" and it appears to be a better deal. How so? A landline is just a POTS line. | |
| | | | | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: still not a good deal. Or VoIP, or voice over cable. Some people talk a lot at home and thus a wireline phone is more economical for them. | |
| | | | | | |
Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :Or VoIP, or voice over cable. Some people talk a lot at home and thus a wireline phone is more economical for them. I fail to understand how that makes it a better deal. POTS, VoIP, Digital Voice, whatever. As I said, unless you need a POTS line for a specific purpose, this deal doesn't offer much value. | |
| | | | | | | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: still not a good deal. $60 + $38 (or $33) = $93+
So the landline effectively costs less than $10 if you were planning on buying DSL and cellular anyway. A far cry from normal full landline prices and even digital voice/VoIP products.
Make more sense now? | |
| | | | | | | | |
Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :$60 + $38 (or $33) = $93+ So the landline effectively costs less than $10 if you were planning on buying DSL and cellular anyway. A far cry from normal full landline prices and even digital voice/VoIP products. Make more sense now? You continue to gloss over the part where I state: "unless you require a POTS line." You're also still using AT&T's MSRP pricing. $60 for a 450 minute cell package is highway robbery when you can get an unlimited Sprint package (Talk, Text, Data) for $69.
So again, it might be a good deal for AT&T, but the package offers poor value overall. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: still not a good deal. said by iansltx :1. Some people (for whatever reason) want AT&T for wireless service. By some I mean 70+ million. 2. Sprint isn't unlimited talk, text, data for $69. You have to call landlines sometimes. That said, the equivalent Sprint package to the AT&T one is $50. THe equivalent Verizon package on the other hand is...guess what...$60. I'm not saying "OMGOMGOMG this is is a great deal I'm buying it RIGHT NOW" however it is a significantly better offer for folks who want a wireline phone, use AT&T cellular service and are fine with AT&T DSL speeds. The Sprint package is "Any Mobile," so your anytime minutes are only used when you call landlines, not the other way around.
Regardless, if someone is dead set on bundling AT&T's services, doesn't mind slow DSL and an anemic amount of cell minutes, then this will save them money versus buying each individually from AT&T. However, if you compare what you get to what other providers offer, it's not such a good value per dollar at all. | |
| puck0114
join:2005-12-24
Washington, DC | 1.5 Mbps DSL? Seriously? I get 10 Mbps HSI, unlimited voice and almost 200 TV channels with an HD DVR box for 99/month through RCN. Admittedly, it's promotional and will expire after a year, but it's a heckuva better deal than what AT&T is peddling here. | |
| | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA | Re: 1.5 Mbps DSL? Seriously? And your wireless voice and texting plan? | |
| | | puck0114
join:2005-12-24
Washington, DC | Re: 1.5 Mbps DSL? Seriously? Not included, of course, but AT&T isn't offering TV as part of their deal, either, so that balances out (I spend about the same amount per month on wireless and TV).
Of course, AT&T also doesn't offer terrestrial services in my area... | |
| | | | |
Chris G
@att.net
| Re: 1.5 Mbps DSL? Seriously? Amen to hat 1.5 mb dsl. Give me a break in this day and age. Our RoadRunner in Orlando is about 7mb for standard and I know we are super slow. Cablevision is at ridiculous speeds for their plain vanilla cable modem setup. DSL is a joke for speed, especially at that 'mid' tier. Maybe good for latency though. This sounds like AOL in it's death throws with it's $25 dial up. | |
|
Feeder
@carebridge.net | Can't believe this promo will get them much customer.... I think only the ill informed customer will sign up for this. | |
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Can't believe this promo will get them much customer.... I think the "Customer" that will sign up for this will be one that is not a heavy internet user, doesn't use their cell phone as a primary line of service,... still stays home and uses their home phone, maybe work from home, and likes to text alot.
For THAT kind of user, this is a great deal... so seriously people, get over your high-n-mighty "deliver me the world unlimited for next to nothing" selves.
People here have a tendency to look at the rock bottom pricing of services, expect THOSE prices to be bundled together to make "the deal of the century"... if no one has noticed by now, 1) there is never a "one plan will satisfy all" plan.. 2) there IS always going to be a catch OR something in it for the provider.. after all, this isn't government run socialism, they are in it to make money (what a shocker) and most importantly... this IS competition running play right now.. you're GETTING what you asked for...
.. so everyone, please, stop your damn bitching and stop acting like you're deserved the world, because you're not.. there are MANY liberal / socialist / democrats on this site acting like the "greedy" conservative republicans that they so love to hate.
It's time for a wake up call and reality check.. plain and simple, if this plan doesn't work for you, then why aren't you guys running to all of these other "great discounted offerings" from other providers and spending so much time worrying about a company, that so many dislike in the first place, is doing? | |
| beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Seems Like a good deal to me? Currently 450 cell = ~$40, unlimited text = ~$20, unlimited data = ~$20. So for $10 more you get dsl and umlimited landline? | |
| | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Seems Like a good deal to me? Whoops meant $20 more. | |
| | rhorist
join:2000-10-11
Buford, GA
·Atlantic Nexus
| said by beaups :Currently 450 cell = ~$40, unlimited text = ~$20, unlimited data = ~$20. So for $10 more you get dsl and umlimited landline? I do not see any mention for unlimited data? | |
| | puck0114
join:2005-12-24
Washington, DC
1 edit | There's no unlimited data. Only unlimited messaging. Unlimited data would make it a good value. | |
| | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Seems Like a good deal to me? Ah I see that now. In my mind this goes from being a very good deal to just a fair price then. Still not awful. | |
| | 
cbrigante2
Cubs 20??
Premium
join:2002-11-22
North Aurora, IL | Everything You Wanted There! Are you happy now?  | |
| hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | All this from.... all this comes from a company that doesn't know how to give its business partners discounts on their services. | |
| 
C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Davenport, FL | This might ahve been a good deal... About ten years ago.
Nowadays, it's just laughable. | |
| | neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA
 ·Broadvox Direct
| Re: This might ahve been a good deal... AT&T is behind the times now. I am seriously considering abandoning my $40 cell plan and $30 Blackberry plan (Edge no less) ends up being over $80 and so called "internet" is stuck to the phone. I wonder if Verizon would bundle my FIOS internet and equal Blackberry phone plan. | |
| | 
funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
| said by C0deZer0 :About ten years ago. Nowadays, it's just laughable. Nowadays, it's just laughablesad. Tremendously sad. If the Internet is the road to the future, AT&T seems determined that America's roads will never be paved.
Maybe I'll learn to speak Korean before starting my 3rd career.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL
Test your Broadband connection today! -- »measurementlab.net/ | |
|
User123
@verizon.net | They have got to be kidding! This offer is for the ill informed. I get cable and internet from my cable provider and all I can eat data plan form my Sprint carrier. I dropped AT&T a few months back because their plans a bit too expensive base on my usage. | |
| 
lordfly
join:2000-10-12
Homestead, FL
·AT&T Southeast
| Ditching AT&T for other providers. In my case, I pay for a basic land line (no long distance) with call forwarding and have a 1.5/256 DSL line with AT&T.
The landline costs $26.06 and the DSL is $32.95. This comes out to $59.01 per month. I am honestly thinking of switching to a local WISP that can provide me local, long distance and internet for $50 per month. The speeds depend on distance from the tower, but I should be able to easily get 3 meg or more downloads and the latency is very small.
Has anyone else had experiences with using a WISP? | |
| 
Skwhirl
join:2009-08-13
Knoxville, TN
·Comcast
·AT&T DSL Service
| I got rid of AT&T's landline about 6 years ago. I just never used the landline after cellular service became reasonably priced.
When limited channel AMPS analog was the only cell service around, bills were high and airtime was 50 cents or more a minute, just for airtime, on top of standard carrier long distance.
Since the recent improvements in price and things like Enhanced 911 , I no longer could justify paying additional for a POTS line... In my case, paying for a landline in addition to a cellphone no longer makes any sense.
I've found cell service nearly as reliable as POTS. I had times when I had no landline due to equipment failure, broken lines after storms, auto accidents into a telco box or pole, etc. | |
| | | |
|
|
·