AT&T 'Mobile Share' shared data plans now available

By Adam Zeis on 23 Aug 2012 09:55 am

The new AT&T Mobile Share data plans are available for new and existing customers starting today. We took a look at the plans when they were first announced a few weeks back, so current AT&T customers should have had plenty of time to think things over. There really isn't a huge savings between Verizon or AT&T's on these plans, so neither should be enough to make you switch carriers. AT&T is offering plans in their Mobile Share packages starting at 1GB for $40 with $45 per device, all the way up to 20GB for $200. All packages include unlimited voice and messages.

If you're a current AT&T customer you can sign into your account to view your Mobile Share options and new customers can choose one when setting up a new account. Head over to AT&T for more.

More on Mobile Share at AT&T

Topics: AT%26T Shared Data Mobile Share News & Rumors

Adam Zeis 3118 (articles) 2800 (forum posts)

29 comments

funkyp56 Aug 23, 2012 at 10:03 am

Not sure where you see this, but I can't do it online.

Adam Zeis Aug 23, 2012 at 10:10 am

Go to the Mobile Share page here: http://bit.ly/O9KtJa

Scroll down and either login or register, then you should see all the options

Detective M Downs Aug 23, 2012 at 10:12 am

The real question is, will AT&T and VZW force BlackBerry owners into these plans in order to use vidoe chat, like their doing with facetime?

YourMobileGuru Aug 23, 2012 at 3:42 pm

No. Face Time has never been allowed over cellular on AT&T, but they are now offering it on the new plans only. To the best of my knowledge they have never blocked any other ideo chat service, and they are not going to take something away that users already have.

It would not surprise me if they decided to allow Bridge only on mobile share. That would kind of make sense since they classify it as tethering.

spencerdl Aug 23, 2012 at 10:25 am

I have unlimited data with Sprint....am I missing something here??

jly.public Aug 23, 2012 at 10:59 am

Sprint's data is slower. You pay a premium with VZW or ATT for faster data connection.

djdonnyk Aug 26, 2012 at 4:38 pm

Not sure where you live but here in Texas Sprint data is the same speed or in some cases faster.

sedalia066 Aug 23, 2012 at 10:52 am

In my family circumstance with 3 BB phones and low end data use, the new plans cost more money than we pay today. Not going to change until we are forced one day. We expect to be moved without a choice but we shall see...

YourMobileGuru Aug 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm

They are not going to force anyone onto these plans now or anytime in the near future. As much as I would love to ding AT&T on this they are doing it right. The Mobile Share plans are being offered as an option alongside their existing individual and Family Share plans for the foreseeable future, and not, repeat NOT ending grandparenting in of unlimited data for those who stay on the old plans but sign a new contract.

verteron Aug 26, 2012 at 3:24 pm

You are half-right. I've held off upgrading my phone for a year until the mobile share plan because ATT would not let me upgrade the phone without "upgrading" my unlimited plan. Maybe they are not doing this with mobile share, but they do with the unlimited plan. So the question is: will new devices require upgrading your plan to mobile share?

I even considered buying the phone unlocked, but ATT gives no discount for a non-subsidized phone.

I have been upset all year, but the mobile share works for me. I get more for less. One phone, a tethered playbook, 1GB, plus texting which I had disabled to save $15.

It was a bit confusing to get it though. I had to request that my current plan be upgraded, which took them a day, then I could upgrade my device. I suppose it would have worked through the upgrade order process, but I did not want to buy a new phone unless I got the plan with it, not just a checkbox that said to email me about the mobile share plan.

niss63 Aug 23, 2012 at 11:08 am

I know AT&T would like to see eveyone move over to shared data - and I'm not opposed to it. I guess I'd about break even on the switch.

However, I'm dissatisfied with the service because they haven't released 7.1 yet.

AT&T, you want me to get excited about your new offers, then start offering what I want.

Alpha Omega Aug 23, 2012 at 1:17 pm

Ditto on that

Hamp Aug 26, 2012 at 3:31 pm

The manufacturers/developers are responsible for making software and firmware available to service providers first before the providers can offer it to the consumers.

eve6er69 Aug 23, 2012 at 11:47 am

For me save $5 and lose a total of 3GB or pay 10 more for 1 extra GB than I already have.

Not in the best spot for a switch right now. I'm stuck in the middle.

RoseBud68 Aug 23, 2012 at 11:52 am

This plan will have me paying an extra $45.00 a month. May not seem like a lot but its more non the lest.

green_ember Aug 23, 2012 at 12:42 pm

I guess the difference between AT&T and VZW is whether you frequent Starbucks and McDonalds a lot. The AT&T plan gives you access to all of their wireless hotspots which could save you a bunch on data if you're around them enough

Alpha Omega Aug 23, 2012 at 1:18 pm

I already get the hotspots.

randall2580 Aug 23, 2012 at 3:06 pm

2 BB and 2 Android devices, 1 LTE Tab and with 10Gb for the bunch I would save about $70 a month, too good to pass up - if I have to step up to 15gb I would still save $30 a month - will put the money in the BB10 piggy bank!

YourMobileGuru Aug 23, 2012 at 3:44 pm

The plans have technically been available since Sunday (soft launch) if you called customer service or went in the store and asked the right person.

jonathon.94 Aug 23, 2012 at 6:06 pm

I have set it up to switch on my Billing cycle (the 15th) I calculated that this plan would cost me the same as what we are paying but I would get tethering plus about another 500mb (since my mother never uses more then 300-400mb a month). So while I do not save any money, I get more value for the same money.

mkmilan Aug 23, 2012 at 9:20 pm

BEWARE, details about the plan are misleading!! I have a 9810 and WiFi Playbook, and thought I could get 1gb data and unlimited minutes/text for $95: wrong! Any additional devices to mandatory initial smartphone has to be Sim-based, so I would have to go to a tethering plan that pushes comparable features by at least $50!! Total customer ream!!!

Hamp Aug 26, 2012 at 3:30 pm

The details are not misleading. It states that a smartphone is required in the fine print directly below the screens and even in the FAQs:

What devices are eligible for Mobile Share?

Our Mobile Share plans REQUIRE AT LEAST ONE SMARTPHONE PER GROUP and all devices must be on the same account. You can share unlimited domestic talk and text for phones and your choice of data with up to nine additional devices per group: smartphones, basic/quick messaging phones, tablets, gaming devices, USB modems, netbooks, laptops or mobile hotspots. You can have more than one Mobile Share group per account.

The plans include tethering so I'm not sure if I understand your concern correctly. I can't fault you though. That's something most people never look at or read...like the customer's contract from every service provider.

One thing I learned from paperwork, read everything to ensure you are not signing into something you don't like!

verteron Aug 26, 2012 at 3:37 pm

The wifi PB has no cell connection. It tethers to your 9810, so you do not have the $10 fee at all. Tethering is already included in mobile share, so it is $85, not $95. ATT does not see the PB as a device since it does not connect itself. I have a 9800 and my wifi PB tethers just fine after switching to mobile share with 1GB data. My 9810 is on order.

franchise22 Aug 23, 2012 at 9:39 pm

I have been mulling over this all day, checking and rechecking my plan and what I use bundled with my wife. I have a 9900 and my wife has an iphone 4S. We each have a separate data plan ($30 for my unlimited and $25 for her 2GB), share 2100 minutes @ $109.99, plus pay unlimited text ($30). With taxes, my bill tops $230. Under this new plan, I'll be under $180 with taxes! We only use about 1GB each and the bulk of our bill was voice and text so this is huge. The only drawback was giving up my Unlimited BB data plan, but it seems worth it with our low data usage. Now that Ive surrendered my unlimited data AT&T....release 7.1!!!!!!!!!!

Hamp Aug 26, 2012 at 3:16 pm

The plans will not fit everyone's lifestyle so those complaining that it is a ripoff should consider it may not fit YOUR needs but it works for others.

If you have an unlimited data plan, consider doing some research and calculate exactly HOW MUCH of that unlimited data do you use/need per month? If it fluctuates greatly, then maybe these plans are not for you, but don't bash AT&T because they don't match what you want.

Also, people need to remember, the manufacturers/developers are responsible for making software and firmware available to service providers first before the providers can offer it to the consumers.

randall2580 Aug 26, 2012 at 3:20 pm

what I would really like to know from AT&T is, since they are going to allow tethering to those with the Shared Data plans, will they allow those users to freely use the bridge now with the PB? It seems like they should.

verteron Aug 26, 2012 at 3:53 pm

Mine works. I just had to reboot. I have a wifi PB, wifi disabled, tethered to a 9800 Torch. I just upgraded to mobile share 1GB with just the 9800 phone registered with ATT. I disconnected wifi on my 9800 phone and I still get internet on my PB.

shemaree09 Aug 27, 2012 at 11:03 am

Does At&t offer a data plan lower than 1GB? Im on Verizon with their share everything and have the 300mb data plan. If you only have a Blackberry on this type of plan, you should save some money or pay the same and get more value (unlimited minutes and texts). I think 300mb should be enough for most Blackberry users if you use wifi for heavy streaming.

Hamp Aug 27, 2012 at 12:20 pm

AT&T offers 300MB plans starting at $39.99, it's their lowest data plan unless you already have AT&T for awhile and are grandfathered, but the grandfathered plans are not available for new and recent subscribers obviously.

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