New plan changes:

DataPlus – 200 MB of data for $15 per month. If you use more than 200 MB, you’ll receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15, replenished as often as necessary during the billing cycle.

DataPro – 2 GB of data for $25 per month. If you exceed 2 GB, you’ll get an additional 1 GB of data for only $10. Each time an additional 1 GB is used up during a cycle, you will automatically receive another 1 GB at the same low price.

This is just the beginning of it all. 200MB of additional data for $15 but the other plan is only $10 for another 1GB (1,000MB). This is just stupid.

How much data do I really use on my iPhone?

Ok, so at first I was really mad about all of this. I use my iPhone all the time. A lot. I also think it’s stupid to have a cap on data. My local cable internet and DLS do not have this so why do cell companies. So, I’ve always been happy that my iPhone had no limit. Then I started thinking, do I use 2GB? I checked my usage on my iPhone and I had only used 500mb or so total. You can reset this number but I hadn’t since I restored it last and I don’t know that date so this didn’t help me. Then I found a way to check online what my usage was.

Here’s how to find it:
1. Just go to http://www.att.com.
2. Log into to your account under “Manage My Account” on the top right.
3. Once logged in, click “Bills and Payment” under the top menu.
4. Click “Billing Reports” from the menu on the left.
5. Change the second dropdown to “Data Usage Trend” and select the date range. (Note: Data usage prior to November 2009 is not available for trending.)
6. Click Submit and you should get a graph like the one above.

You can also find out your current data usage at anytime by dialing *data#

Ok, so yeah, I’m annoyed that I can’t have unlimited but since I haven’t really been using it much, I guess I’ll be fine and it will cost me less. Now this is all in the context of today, and the last few months, but what about the new iPhone 4? And where I live, I’m on EDGE most of the time when not on WiFi. So will iPhone 4 + 3G put me over? I’d say yes. We’ll see when our tower is upgraded to 3G and I get the new iPhone.

Can I keep my current unlimited iPhone plan?

Yes. AT&T will allow you to keep your current plan (unless you activate tethering). Here’s what their website says: “Current smartphone customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension.”

As a current iPhone owner, can I keep my unlimited plan when I purchase my new iPhone 4?

Yes. Although AT&T won’t comment on the new iPhone since it’s not released yet, they will say this:

What if my current iPhone is a 2G and I only pay $20 a month. Can I buy the new iPhone 4 and get unlimited data for $30 or do I have to use the new plans.

You can get the $30 unlimited. Here’s AT&T’s response to the same question on Facebook:

What about the iPad?

It also is losing the unlimited plan. Right now, information is flying all over. According to AT&T’s website, you can still get the unlimited plan and it says nothing about new plans on this page: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/ipad.jsp?wtSlotClick=1-00398R-0-1&WT.svl=calltoaction but according to the AT&T Facebook page the plans will change on July 7th. See the _ tab here: http://www.facebook.com/ATT?v=wall&story_fbid=402179198908#!/ATT?v=app_10442206389.

For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan are not required to change their plans.

This sounds great right? Wrong! Everytime someone on Facebook has asked the following question, they get the same answer:

So, as of right now, if you buy an iPad or already own and iPad and have the unlimited plan, you will lose it if you do not set it to auto-renew each month. This directly contradicts what is posted on AT&T’s website right now:

Extend the data coverage for your Apple® iPad™ Wi-Fi + 3G even further. Sign up for 3G data service from AT&T, the nation’s fastest 3G network. AT&T offers two data plan options – 250 MB or unlimited data, with recurring monthly charge and no long-term contract.

And this is what Apple’s website says:

In the United States, 3G service is available through a breakthrough deal with AT&T. You choose the amount of data per month you want to buy — 250MB or unlimited. If you choose the 250MB plan, you’ll receive onscreen messages as you get close to your monthly data limit so you can decide whether to turn off 3G or upgrade to the unlimited plan. Best of all, there’s no long-term contract. So if you have a business trip or vacation approaching, just sign up for the month you’ll be traveling and cancel when you get back. You don’t need to visit a store to get 3G service. You can sign up, check your data usage, manage your account, or cancel your service — all from your iPad.

iPad makes it easy to choose the data plan that works best for you. When you need more data, you can add another 250MB or upgrade to the Unlimited Data plan. Because you sign up for a data plan in monthly increments, you can cancel your plan at any time and then sign up again whenever you need 3G service.

What about tethering?

You can now tether your iPhone! But guess what? This is just another fail. With the new plan you can pay $20 to enable tethering. The key word here is enable. You do not get more data for $20, you just get to share your data with whatever your tethering with. And no, you can’t keep your unlimited plan and add tethering. If you add tethering, you lose your unlimited plan forever and have to pick from the new plans. And one more thing, you can’t tether your iPhone to your iPad. Great news huh?

What will I do?

Right now I already have my iPad ordered. It won’t be here for a couple more weeks. I’m really hoping that AT&T changed their position and allows me to turn on and off my unlimited data per month. If not, I’ll use the 3G much less. I’m on Wifi most of the time so I’ll just deal with it. I plan on keeping my unlimited data on my current iPhone 3GS and moving it to my new iPhone once they are released. For me, the main issues with all of this is that the reason I wanted the iPad was to be able to turn on and off unlimited data at anytime, without a contract, for $30 a month. As of now, this is not possible. Hopefully AT&T gets enough bad press/comments and changes things.

What will you do?

Let us know in the comments what you plan to do? Also, if you see any other hard information please let us know so we can update our article. If you have questions not answered here, ask them in the comments and I’ll get them added to this page.

PDANet Toggle allows you to easily toggle PDANet, a tethering application, on and off. When you install the application, the toggle is automatically added into your SBSettings’ toggles. I’m not sure if this allows you to close PDANet while connected (without using Backgrounder) and still tether to your computer or if it is just a toggle for the actual app…when on, you can use PDANet, when off, you cannot. I’m not sure because, when I tested it (a million time!!) I couldn’t get it to work but, I’m not going to blame that on the toggle…I blame it on my lame AT&T connection! Let me know in the comments if it worked for you. You can get PDANet Toggle via the BigBoss source.

ScreenShots

ScreenShots

My kids and I are on a FamilyTalk plan. I’m not eligible for an upgrade for iPhone 3GS but one of my kids is upgrade ready. Can I swap lines and take his upgrade eligibility on the 19th? Will I need to start a new two-year service agreement?
Yes, you can rearrange your account to take advantage of your child’s upgrade eligibility – and yes, you will need to sign a new 2-year service agreement.
If I’m switching from a competitor, what do I need to do?

Am I eligible for an upgrade?
Upgrades are based on a number of factors including the outstanding time left on your service agreement, payment history and other factors. Check online, visit our store, or dial *639# from your AT&T handset for information about if or when you may be eligible for an upgrade.
Questions from our Customers

Even if you’re not yet eligible, you still have a number of choices:
    • Wait until you are eligible…
    • Pay the early-upgrade price for iPhone 3GS…
    • Purchase iPhone 3GS at the no commitment price…
    • Or, continue to use your current iPhone 3G, which is eligible for the free upgrade to the new software on June 17 and has many compelling new features. Learn more by visiting http://www.apple.com/hotnews/

Will AT&T offer MMS and tethering?
Later this summer, as part of the 3.0 software, AT&T will make multimedia messaging (MMS) available at no extra cost to customers with a text messaging bundle. And, in the future, AT&T will offer tethering capability for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

Can I buy it and use it on another carrier?
We do offer No Commitment pricing, however, iPhones sold in the United States are configured to work only with the wireless services provided by AT&T.

Here’s the No Commitment pricing for both devices:
    • iPhone 3GS (16 GB): $599
    • iPhone 3GS (32 GB): $699
    • iPhone 3G (8 GB): $499
    • iPhone 3G (16 GB): $549 (while supplies last)

PdaNet has recently updated to version 1.50. You can now tether using the USB cable instead of Wifi. This will help save battery on both the iPhone and the laptop you are using. Also, when connected via USB you can ssh or scp using the address “my.iPhone”. Finally, if your iPhone switches from 3G or EDGE to Wifi it will continue to share to the computer when using USB. These are all great, useful features and I recommend updating soon!

I finally got some time to go on vacation so I thought I would try out PdaNet. It’s an application that shares your cellular internet connection to your laptop via Wifi. Note that I’m on a PC running Windows XP. I’m not sure the process for Vista or Mac.

First, install the app from Cydia. Then change your wifi connection on your laptop to adhoc. To do this right click on your wireless connection in the task bar down by the clock, then select “View Available Wireless Connections”. Then on the left click “Change Advanced Settings”. Another window will open; select the “Wireless Networks” tab and then the “Advanced” button. Here you will change to adhoc connection. This will allow you to connect your iPhone’s wifi directly to your laptop without a router.

Now you will need to go to your iPhone’s Settings application and connect to your computer’s wifi called “NETSHARE”. Once this is connected all you need to do is open the PdaNet application and the connection should be established.

If you close the application you will lose your connection. There is a way around this by using the backrounder app. I’m using it and it’s working great!

Warning: This will drain your battery fast! I had it plugged into my laptop and it still had trouble keeping my battery above 20%. Since I was traveling in a RV I was also trying to use GPS every once and a while which drained the battery even faster. I also had my brightness turned all the way down. I’m sure running the wifi, EDGE and GPS at the same time is very power draining. 3G would be worse.

Tethering your iPhone may be against your contract with your carrier. Please check with them before using this application.