2G iPhone Owners Can Keep Their Unlimited Plan
June 17, 2010
When AT&T announced the end of unlimited data plans for new iPhone buyers, they allowed existing iPhone 3G and 3GS users to keep their $30/month unlimited plans, even with a iPhone 4 upgrade.
Today, it was announced that even original iPhone users will get a deal. iPhone users might recall that the original iPhone came with a $20 unlimited data plan that included 200 free text messages per month. While this plan was quickly ended and replaced by the $30 plan (which did not include text messaging), many users retained their original data plan and still do today. However, if those iPhone owners want to upgrade, they too will be given an unlimited data plan option, albeit the $30/month unlimited plan which doesn't include text messaging. There is a catch, however, for all previous iPhone users: Grandfathered plan users will not be able to add the new tethering option to their unlimited plan. Rather, only users that select the new $25/month for 2 GB of data will be able to purchase the tethering option. Here is a summary of upgrade options, by iPhone version: Original iPhone - Current users can upgrade to a iPhone 4, and either select a grandfathered $30/plan, new $25 plan with 2 GB of data or new $20/month plan with 200 MB of data. Each plan requires an additional purchase for text messaging and only the $25 plan allows for additional purchase of tethering option. Original iPhone users can only keep their existing $20/month unlimited plan with 200 free text messages by keeping their existing phone. iPhone 3G and 3GS - Current users that have the $30/month plan with unlimited data can keep this plan with any iPhone 4 purchase. However, tethering is not an available option. The new plans are both available, with tethering allowed for an extra fee with the $25/month plan. New iPhone 4 purchasers - New users have a choice of the $15 or $25/month plans. Unlimited plans are not an option and tethering is only available as an additional purchase with $25/month plans.