AT&T Debuts New Mobile Share Options to Positive Reviews

AT&T is rolling out new Mobile Share Value plans that the carrier says offer customers more savings and provide no-annual-service-contract options.

The no-contract options let smartphone customers save $15 per month on Mobile Share Value plans, AT&T said. Customers can get these savings when they: 1) get a new smartphone for no down payment with AT&T Next (the carrier’s device upgrade service); 2) bring their own smartphone; 3) buy a smartphone at full retail price; or 4) when their smartphone is no longer under contract and they switch to the new plans.

All Mobile Share Value plan customers get shared data plus unlimited talk and text. They can connect up to 10 devices, including tablets and other wireless devices, while business customers will be able to connect up to 10, 15, 20 or 25 devices, depending on the plan.

Smartphone customers can get unlimited talk and text plus 300MB of data for $45. Qualifying smartphones can be added to any Mobile Share Value plan for $25 more per month per phone; tablets can be added for $10 more per device. Customers with basic and messaging phones get a monthly rate of $40 for unlimited talk, text and 300MB of data. For another $20 per month per phone, additional basic and messaging lines can be added to any Mobile Share Value plan. In addition to the 300MB option, AT&T Mobile Share Value plans offer data options ranging from 1GB up to 50 GB, all with unlimited talk and text.

A new AT&T Next plan with an 18-month upgrade option is coming too. It will be available to consumers for up to four smartphones, and to select small-business customers, who may provide employees with up to six company-owned devices.  

The new plans are available to both new and existing customers beginning Sunday, Dec. 8.

Consumer Reports has already analyzed the new plans, giving them positive reviews. The consumer magazine says AT&T’s new offerings can save customers 10 to 15 percent per month.

AT&T has been under pressure to offer no-contract options ever since rival T-Mobile entirely did away with monthly contracts for new customers earlier this year. The Magenta Network attracted twice as many new customers last quarter as AT&T did.

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