Mar 28

Written by:
3/28/2011 10:57 PM 

Since the announcement of the merger between AT&T and T-Mobile last week, it would be not be good news to cell phone users. I have been using T-Mobile for the past four years and like their data plans. I rarely use voice minutes. Even though T-Mobile's cell phones were not the best, they offered the best data plans. Tethering has been a plus on TMO. I've had the HD2 when it first came out and I've been using it as a modem for my laptop. In addition, their family plans allow my kids to get access to the Internet and YouTube at a cheaper price than with other carriers. 

With the changing habits of users texting and using more data then voice calls, carriers will start to shift to charge more for data plans and less on voice minutes. It was a large mistake for carriers to give unlimited texting plans to customers. In the old days, it would cost .15 to .25 cents per text to send and receive. I recall complaining to TMO on how to stop people from texting me and costing me for each receiving text. There was no way to turn it off. People generally use texting as a quick communication tool and more convenience then talking. Once the unlimited texting plans became available, users changed their habits from voice calls to texting. Texting was not as visible as talking on a cell phone and was more accepted at public places. My kids alone, text about 10K a month. If there was no unlimited plans, I would be shelling out thousands of dollars every month. 

Today's smartphones are a reason for carriers looking to change their method of charging users. In the past few years, carriers were touting unlimited data plans and allowing multiple smartphones to connect with family plans. Earlier phones and transmission towers were not capable of streaming hours of videos and websites. Generally, with Edge technology, people got frustrated with the streaming and web surfing that many simply avoided it. With the 3G and 4G, that changed the way how users use their cell phones. Now, you can watch full length movies from sites such as Netflix or Hulu. Carriers now has the opportunity to change their plans to take advantage of these new options and charge extra for it. I give it another year before the term "unlimited" will disappear from all data plans. Even now, the "unlimited" is changing to 4GB or 5GB of data. Once you go over the limit, either the carriers will charge you extra or cut you off. 

So what does this mean if AT&T and T-Mobile merge? It basically removes one more options for the general public to choose from. It will be between AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Sprint is sounding more like a lame duck and I wouldn't be surprise if Verizon gobbles it up to over take AT&T. Carriers will change their plans or offer deeper discounts on their phones to attract new customers. If T-Mobile disappears, there is one less competition to worry about and the carriers will have the upper hand on charging for data plans.  

Which carrier do you use and do you like price of the data plans?