In a move likely to inch along the use of the wireless Internet, AT&T announced yesterday that it had moved to a national flat-rate wireless service price plan. The move applies to standard cellular phones, so those using cellular phones for wireless Net access will feel a difference immediately. Those using other wireless services will not be affected right now, although it’s likely that any move toward simpler (and, perhaps, less expensive) wireless access may move to other wireless areas.
The plan, available today, is called Digital One Rate. Roaming and long-distance charges are gone, as are what an AT&T document refers to as “surprise charges.” (Maybe now there should be a “surprising charge” section on all other cellular bills?)
Don’t expect to take advantage of the new flat rate unless you’re a heavy user of cellular service: it doesn’t kick in until you’ve been using the line for 10 hours a month. Under the plan, 600 minutes of service cost $89.99; 1,000 minutes cost $119.99; and 1,400 minutes cost $149.99. (If you’re addicted to your cellular phone, minutes 1,401 and above cost a quarter).
This is a small step – cellular Internet access still costs roughly 10 to 25 times as much as landline-phone Net access – but it’s a step in the right direction. You can bet that MCI and Sprint will reply soon. Is a wireless price war on the horizon?
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Do you use your cellular phone to connect to the Net? (specialreport@vineyard.com) We want to know.
