The Tech Media Minute: AT&T Says Goodbye to Data Overages, as Tekserve Goes on the Block

AT&T says goodbye to data overages, but …

The second largest mobile carrier in the United States is eliminating overages fees on its mobile data plans beginning Aug. 21. AT&T’s changes, however, don’t necessarily mean cost savings.

Mobile Share Advantage plans start at $30 per month. For this, you no longer have to worry about being charged $15 for another gigabyte of data. Instead, AT&T will slow your connection speeds down to 128kbps once you’ve exceeded your plan. You can still buy extra data when needed.

Mostly, the new plans cost more. The least expensive plan rises to $30 a month, but now includes 1GB of data. The previously offered plan included 300 MB of data. A 3GB plan costs $40 a month, 6GB costs $60, 10GB costs $80, and 16GB costs $90. The prices for the 25GB and 30GB plans have dropped to $110 and $135 per month, respectively.

Customers can add up to 10 lines on both plans.

The devil in the details. Under AT&T’s new plans, the monthly cost for each phone is $20. This access fee was $25 for customers who were on a 10GB plan or lower, but $15 for 15GB or higher. Those on a two-year agreement will still pay $40 per month.

Come Aug. 21, you can look at your AT&T account online and see whether the Mobile Share Advantage plans are for you. If they are, you can make the switch. Otherwise, your plans can remain the same, at least for now.

The longest-running Apple service shop, Tekserve, closed its doors on Aug. 15. At the end of the month, collectibles from the iconic New York City location go on the auction block.

Roland Auctions NY has set Aug. 20 and Aug. 22 as preview dates for the lot. The auction begins at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

You can see an online preview of the auction here.

The summer months are usually the time for those dreaded class reunions. Before taking the leap, check out #RulesForClassReunions.

Other trends:

• #ThursdayThoughts
• #abstractions
• #morningjoe
• #debphl16
• Mr. Brexit
• #BadPoetryDay
• #namethemikes
• WIRED Endorses Optimism
• The Boy in the Ambulance

Today, Aug. 18 is Bad Poetry Day.

Rewind: On this day in 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated The 1,000 Islands bridge, connecting the US and Canada.

We’ve looked around the web and found these other stories worth considering:

• Apple Has A Lot Riding On The iPhone 7, Just Ask Target, Forbes
• Apple’s Smart Home Vision Is Finally Taking Shape, Time
• KOBO Aura One Review, Digital Trends