dslreports logo
 story category
ATT Raises U-Verse Pricing For Internet, VoIP, TV
User notes $5 a month broadband increases..
After unveiling a new 24 Mbps tier, AT&T appears to be raising prices for their U-Verse service in several markets. One user writes in to note he received a notice from AT&T saying that broadband Internet prices will be increasing five bucks from their current rates starting February 1. The fine print below their current pricing page confirms. Standard pricing for Express (1.5 Mbps) will be $30 a month, Pro (3Mbps) will now be $35 a month, and Elite (6 Mbps) will now be $40 a month. Some users in BellSouth territory still say they pay close to $33, $38, and $43, respectively. Customers in our U-Verse forum say that AT&T is also raising the price for several TV packages and VoIP service in several areas. Happy New Year, U-Verse customers.
view:
topics flat nest 
page: 1 · 2 · next

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

6Mb "Elite" plan?

I think maybe it's time to rename the plans. 6Mb is anything but "Elite". Does Verizon even offer a plan that slow?

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: 6Mb "Elite" plan?

you got a point here. plus they are increasing the plan prices. way to fail at&t
LostMile
Premium Member
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI

2 recommendations

LostMile to Camelot One

Premium Member

to Camelot One
E-"lite" maybe?

IowaMan
Premium Member
join:2008-08-21
Grinnell, IA

IowaMan to Camelot One

Premium Member

to Camelot One
I'll take $40 6 Mb DSL over 3Mb cable as the equivalent package from our cable company is $60 for 12Mb which I simply don't need.
Will drop the cable TV soon as well
($26 for 22 channels versus 50+ from Dish Network)

PamelaTS
Digital Chick
join:2004-04-20
Dallas, TX

3 edits

PamelaTS

Member

Re: 6Mb "Elite" plan?

opps
PamelaTS

1 edit

PamelaTS to IowaMan

Member

to IowaMan
sorry accidental double post

AMDUSER
Premium Member
join:2003-05-28
Earth,
ARRIS CM8200
ARRIS SB6183

AMDUSER to Camelot One

Premium Member

to Camelot One

.
Verizon does, even over its DSL service.. they even over provision so you will get 90%+ of rated speed.

TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium Member
join:2000-11-08
Da Bronx

TamaraB

Premium Member

Re: 6Mb "Elite" plan?

I have the $19.99 VZ Package

Not too shabby!

Bob

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK to Camelot One

Premium Member

to Camelot One
Just more proof they know there's insufficient competition and consumers will have little choice but to pony up--- no matter how unhappy they are with the service.

AT&T profits up despite the bad economy, but nothing is good enough for them. Must always been more, and more, and MORE.

Jon5
Premium Member
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL

Jon5

Premium Member

Nothing here yet

My bill for Dec is $119. Same as it has been since it was installed. Guess I'll see...

Did get a big 5 page privacy policy in the mail from them in an envelope that said "AT&T Annual report" or something. Thought that was a little weird. Maybe something about the rate hike is buried in there.
expert007
join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY

expert007

Member

What happened to

lower prices for consumers?

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: What happened to

ha this is AT&T we are talking about.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: What happened to

I don't think it matters if its cable, fios, uverse or satellite.... prices go up, not down.

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: What happened to

prices go up. not the value.

that spells one thing. anti-consumer.

Koil
Premium Member
join:2002-09-10
Irmo, SC

Koil

Premium Member

Where is the competition??

Here in Columbia, SC, TWC is the main deal, pretty much, esp as ISP's go. Well, its RoadRunner, but piped through them.

Anyway, I would love nothing more than to go to AT&T or some other vendor, but AT&T doesn't even compete...it makes me think they're in corporate agreement to keep the prices the same on both sides for the same level of product.

I currently get 8mb RR Ultra and U-Verse I think is actually MORE than TWC for the same speed...how do you come into a market and not at least undercut the competition a little?

I keep thinking I am missing something, so please....someone clue me in.
jjeffeory
jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04
Bloomington, IN

jjeffeory

Member

Re: Where is the competition??

Not that I agree with this, but I believe that they're competing on quality of services and the value of their brand over TWC. The U-Verse PQ is better than what I've seen from TWC in several markets ( Socal, Wisc, and Columbis, OH). Their channel lineup is better than TWC. They offer more HD channels than TWC. Their DVR is better than TWCs DVR. Also, U-Verse offers faster speeds than 8mbps, for sure. None of these ISPs/Video companies seem to compete on price and they can do this because we buy it the way they sell it. I've had both and I liked Uverse better than TWC.

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

Uncle Paul to Koil

Member

to Koil
What's U-Verse? Here in North Augusta, SC it's all Comcast or ATT DSL (max 3mb).

We're still waiting on the increased competition and lower prices down here.

Jon5
Premium Member
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL

1 edit

Jon5

Premium Member

I don't see it

I just looked at my bill and on Uversecentral and see no mention of a rate hike anywhere.

Edit: Okay I see.
From the current rates link Karl posted in the story
quote:
* Standard retail pricing on 02/01/10 will be: Express - starting at $30.00/mo., Pro - starting at $35.00/mo., Elite - starting at $40.00/mo.

gdm
MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL

gdm

MVM

Re: I don't see it

I don't see anything about the 12meg or 18meg package getting raised or VoIP.

AT&T still doesn't get what the idea of bundling means. Also getting rid of so many freaking internet package. Honestly do we need 1.5. They should just have 3, 6, 12 and 18. When the 24 comes out maybe get rid of the 3 and lowering the pricing on all.

manfmmd
Premium Member
join:2003-01-14
Earth, TX

manfmmd

Premium Member

Re: I don't see it

said by gdm:

I don't see anything about the 12meg or 18meg package getting raised or VoIP.

AT&T still doesn't get what the idea of bundling means. Also getting rid of so many freaking internet package. Honestly do we need 1.5. They should just have 3, 6, 12 and 18. When the 24 comes out maybe get rid of the 3 and lowering the pricing on all.
Some of us can only get 1.5 There is a large majority of AT&T customers that are not Served by RT's or VRAD's that have to live with 1.5, I'm one of them. So yes, please keep a "up to 1.5Mbps" tier.

gdm
MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL

gdm

MVM

Re: I don't see it

I'm not talking about getting rid of 1.5 ADSL. 1.5 U-verse internet because everyone can get at least 12 megs for U-Verse.

manfmmd
Premium Member
join:2003-01-14
Earth, TX

manfmmd

Premium Member

Re: I don't see it

You didn't specify that your comments were directed to U-Verse plans only... "Bundling" is more than just U-Verse.. I am bundling Dish, Cell, POTS, and ADSL.

gdm
MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL

gdm

MVM

Re: I don't see it

This whole topic is about U-Verse which has 3 different products TV, Internet & VoIP not ADSL, cell, Dish, etc.

brian
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mission Viejo, CA

brian to gdm

Premium Member

to gdm
because 1.5 is more than enough for a lot of people.

gdm
MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL

gdm

MVM

Re: I don't see it

You guys aren't getting the point is get rid of the 1.5 drop the 3meg pricing to the 1.5. It's more trouble to have so many speed tiers. Simplify the tiers and pricing.

Killa200
Premium Member
join:2005-12-02
TN

Killa200

Premium Member

Prices

"Some users in BellSouth territory still say they pay close to $33, $38, and $43, respectively."

I hope those are bundled prices... I'm still paying $47.95 for 6Mbit "Elite" in BS territory unbundled. Which is ridiculous for how slow it is.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Prices

If Qwest wasn't doing deep-discount-for-first-year promotions they'd be right along with you; dry-line "up to 7 Mbps" is $46.99.

GvilleDSL
join:2009-11-12
Greenville, SC

GvilleDSL to Killa200

Member

to Killa200
I was paying $47.99 a month as well for a 6 meg naked DSL line which was terribly slow. I was lucky to even see 4-5 meg. AT&T's service is grossly overpriced in the Bellsouth region for their DSL.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: Prices

AT&T had been saying--or delaying--that pricing in the old Bell South region would come in line with the rest of their pricing. The problem was those pesky computer systems! Gosh darn it. They just needed time to be able to drop the monthly fees. Give them time....to integrate. Sigh.

Killa200
Premium Member
join:2005-12-02
TN

Killa200

Premium Member

Re: Prices

By the time they "integrate" i will be in my new house and off the Bellsouth network, thank god. Shall be trying my luck with charter, which if worse comes to worse, I'll get their business class service when they decide to mess up resi grade, lol
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Any changes on higher-end tiers?

Or is AT&T just trying to push up their ARPU by sticking it to lower-end users?

That said, I know plenty of people who would happily pay for a $30 1.5/1 connection. It's just that all of them are outside town far enough that they'll never get U-Verse.

Jon5
Premium Member
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL

Jon5

Premium Member

Re: Any changes on higher-end tiers?

said by iansltx:

Or is AT&T just trying to push up their ARPU by sticking it to lower-end users?
I'm guessing the majority of their users are on the lower tiers.
The $5 extra doesn't close the gap to the next tier enough to make me upgrade though. If Elite was going to $50, I'd probably throw in the extra $5 and move up to MAX. But the $15 per/mo difference between elite & max is more than I'm willing to pay voluntarily.

Larry TCG
@charter.com

Larry TCG

Anon

You'll pay whatever....

You'll pay whatever they want. Until there is more competition, and there ain't gonna be any in the near future in a lot of markets, you are stuck, or get satellite - which also sucks wind !

Anon Name
@mhs-net.com

Anon Name

Anon

Stuck

my DTIVO is going out, and the contract is about done. i am not sure i want a new NDS box from DTV (and contract, price increases, and reduced feature set), so i am looking for alternatives. UVerse is available - but with ATT being in the holiday spirit and raising the rates, that just turned me off.

hope i can get a mythtv setup and use HULU for my tv (so i can cut out as many $5 panhandlers as possible) . . .
gigante
Premium Member
join:2000-06-30
Anchorage, AK

gigante

Premium Member

Re: Stuck

I'm not a DTV fanboy - but from someone that had both (and if you are an HD head) the picture quality is starkly different.

Getting your TV feed via copper to the home and IP technology still leaves a lot to be desired, IMO.

But U-Verse Internet rocks!

Boricua
Premium Member
join:2002-01-26
Sacramuerto

Boricua

Premium Member

Looking forward to this...

What a Merry Christmas this'll be. I have yet to have my pay restored, but instead I find out this morn the Evil Empire will be increasing rates .

maartena
Elmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA

maartena

Premium Member

Wow.

I am so surprised. And here I thought that the telco companies would do things so differently from the cable and satellite companies....

This is huge, no one could have seen this coming!
bakorican
join:2004-02-28
germany

bakorican

Member

Broadband in the US = Big fat Joke

I can only repeat what i been preaching in the past ad nauseum. As long as no real competition in the US exists there will be no pressure on providers to relax pricing.

Here in Germany I pay 85€ a month for Unlimited EVERYTHING (TV Phone Internet), including unlimited POTS calls to 75% of the world (USA included) with a 50mb/10mb unthrottled unrestricted internet connection. In the Spring of 2010 another provider in the State of Bavaria comes online offering 100/100 with Flat-rate phone service for €29.95.

Many naysayers in the past have responded that the USA is so much bigger then Europe with so many more people, and therefore cant provide fast and cheap internet even in its urban zones. Fact is Europe is over 1 million square kilometers larger than the USA and has over 400 million more population. Other than greed there is no reason why the No. 1 Country in the world, as America likes to call itself, shouldn't be able to enjoy the same.

••••

Hpower
join:2000-06-08
Canyon Country, CA

Hpower

Member

Merry christmas and a happy fee raised holiday!

Nice way to make everyone enjoy their holiday. And watch, another $5 a month increase in spring. "We have to raise prises to keep our amazing stable and lightning fast *COUGH* FIBER *COUGH* network up."
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

if anything, should be cut $5

especially bundled services... these telcos don't know how good they have it JUST TO HAVE SUBSCRIBERS to triple play.. they will have to LEARN THE HARD WAY by way of churn and plain old unsubscribing to overpriced services!

schmucks! at&t does not deserve $60 more a month!

doublea
join:2007-06-04
Rancho Cordova, CA

doublea

Member

Just sad

The 6mb dsl plan was at one time just $30 in my area, and that was not a contract price, that was the every day deal. If anythng 6mb should be less now. Comcast and others don't even offer a plan at this speed.

Infact comcasts economy 1.5mbps plan is now cheaper than dsl, that's just wrong uverse has caught up to comcast in crapppy prices.
nishiko7
Premium Member
join:2007-05-01
Pleasant Hill, CA

nishiko7

Premium Member

This is a stupid move by AT&T, but...

... as one (or maybe a couple) posters noted, AT&T does offer a higher quality service compared to most competitors out there. SD picture quality is better, Internet (and thus also TV since it's IPTV) is super super stable, comes with a superior and free DVR on U200 or above.

So, while I think this is a stupid move for AT&T (increases churn), even at $5 more, they are still fairly competitive with most of the "competition". Unfortunately, the extra churn will just neutralize the increase. Idiots.

Plus, UVerse won't be able to compete with raw DOCSIS 3.0 internet speeds anytime soon (though easily can on stability!), so they should leverage prices against that... now they're doing the exact opposite to that. Not smart.

Like some have noted, I've also never understood the pricing of their higher tiers of Internet. Why previously was there only $5 jumps between lower tier speed doubling (6 Mbps and under), but a $20 jump from 6 to 12 Mbps, and another $10 more to the 18. made little sense to me. It's not like the VRAD's 1 Gbps fiber link can't support most users at the higher speed, especially when statistical usage models are analyzed. It's true, this increase take a step at closing this strange pricing gap if it indeed only applies to lower tiers, but they SHOULD have lowered the price of the higher tiers by at least $5 to accomplish the same, in my opinion.

Oh well, fwiw... my two insignificant cents worth...

Murdoc49
Premium Member
join:2009-02-08
Manitowoc, WI

Murdoc49

Premium Member

Shouldnt we get a discount for the spying?

Or are we paying a spy recovery fee?

I also cancelled ATT because of constant pricing increases on just a landline, dealing with tech support,...you better have 90 minutes free to you in that day. I think that immunity just gave them a "blank check" to screw us even more.
rid0617
join:2003-07-20
Greer, SC

rid0617

Member

What was that about competition?

As usual law makers swallow the stale BS how allowing them into the pack will create competition and lower prices. That went well as usual
slckusr
Premium Member
join:2003-03-17
Greenville, SC

slckusr

Premium Member

cool

Guess ill quit donating the 5$ a month to them for the ability to have 5cent long distance rates.

Net increase 0.

greed doesnt so anyone well, especially when your company is lagging behind publicly and privately maybe roll this price increase into providing better coverage with your faster speeds.

Awee hell its ATT this will just fatten the shareholders wallet.

PamelaTS
Digital Chick
join:2004-04-20
Dallas, TX
Asus RT-AC66
HTC 5G Hub

4 edits

PamelaTS

Member

Re: cool

said by slckusr See Profile
Awee hell its ATT this will just fatten the shareholders wallet.
You as they say hit the nail on the head. The downfall of the banks, insurance, auto, telco and cable is and can be solidly traced to the flawed realignment of their corporate missions from providing the best product/service value for consumers to the priority of provide profits for investors. This changed who was the customer from the consumer to the investor
PamelaTS

2 edits

PamelaTS

Member

LD affected also

I do not have V-Verse or VOIP. Being curious did I miss something in my bill regarding my DSL-ELITE nothing mentioned there. On the POTS side of the bill though I found this:

Important Information
Effective February 11, 2010, the AT&T Unlimited
Nationwide Calling Advantage 4 plan monthly
recurring charge will increase by $5.00. On the
same date, this plan will no longer be offered
to new customers. You may keep this plan until
it is discontinued entirely, or until you move or
change your service. If you move or change your
service, you must select another long distance
price plan. For more information or to discuss
other long distance calling plans, please refer
to the phone number on the front of your bill.
Thank you for choosing AT&T Long Distance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I only recently added a combo that was to lower my POTS additional services that included this. Prior to that I had contemplated dropping POTS altogether and going BARE DSL, looks like when I move next month I'll either go BARE DSL or switch to TW/RR BARE HS same price as AT&T and slightly faster down and slightly slower up, their (TW/RR) max tier here being twice as fast down slightly faster up for $10 more is looking more attractive.

The price point advantage AT&T had, has now vaporized. No longer the best bang for the buck!
page: 1 · 2 · next