AT&T & Verizon Working On Data Sharing Plans

The next big thing coming from cell carriers could be the bundling of data across iDevices. In fact, these types of plans are already available for some in Europe, according to All Things Digital. Considered the first major carrier to do so, France Telecom’s Orange unit is now allowing iPad owners in Austria to share one allotment of data with a phone. Similar plans are also showing up in France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Although each plan is slightly different, they all have the same basic premise. For a few extra dollars a month, users can share data between different devices like most can already do with minutes. So far, the results are promising. In Austria, 38 percent of iPad owners who use the Orange network are using a shared data plan. In the U.S., it looks like data sharing is coming too. According to All Things Digital, both AT&T executive Ralph de la Vega and Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said their companies are exploring similar offerings. All this sounds terrific, assuming the price is right. After all, as the number of iDevices in each household grows the demand for data sharing plans will only increase. Thoughts?