Let’s Price This Mobile Share Thing Out

Last time I brought up shared data, I was talking about Verizon’s recently announced Share Everything plans and how they pretty much screw anyone over who doesn’t already pay for a lot of minutes. Since then, AT&T has announced their Mobile Share plans that effectively do the same thing.

One factor I haven’t added into either of these yet was my discount from work (which tops out at 16%). Currently my plan is broken down as such:

• $60 – 550 min Family Share
• $30 – Unlimited Text
• $25 – 2GB Data
• $9.99 – Additional Line
• $25 – 2GB Data
• $9.99 – Additional Line
• $15 – 200MB Data
• $9.99 – Additional Line
• $15 – 200MB Data

For a grand total of $199.97, plus associated taxes/fees/bullshit. And the only things my discount apply to are the $60 plan and the two 2GB data plans for a grand total of $17.60 saved. My typical bill is $207.35, so adding in the discount, my bill would work out to be around $225 (probably a tiny bit higher as I’d bet the discount amount would be taxed as well if it weren’t removed). The fees and taxes alone are just a few pennies shy of $25 actually, so that number is probably about right.

We use about 4GB of data a month and with 4 smartphones. With AT&T’s Mobile Share plans, that would run us about $230 BEFORE taxes ($70 for 4GB of shared data, and $40 x 4 devices). Funny thing is that it would cost me exactly the same for 6GB of shared data ($90 for 6GB of data and $35 x 4 devices).

So… $230 before tax for Mobile Share vs $200 before tax right now. Fantastic.

What about that discount? It’s still 16% – but it ONLY applies to the initial data portion, NOT the “per device” cost. Then oddly enough it would end up being cheaper to go with the 6GB option given the higher data cost over the 4GB plan. But even then that’s 16% off of $90 (which is about $14.40). Which is just about $3 less of a discount than my current one. WTF?

Figuring the same $25 in fees/taxes as before, my total bill could be as much as $255 prior to any discount. Take out the $14.40 and we’re still looking at about $240. That’s a mind boggling $33 MORE than what I’m paying right now. Just to get shared data.

Fuck. That.

Yes, you can argue that the Mobile Share plans come with unlimited talk and text but a) I already pay for unlimited text and b) I have absolutely NO USE for unlimited talk. We don’t use hardly any of our 550 minutes per month as it is. We have over 4000 rollover minutes that will just go on to expire and be replaced with new rollover minutes that we’ll never use!

You also get free tethering/mobile hotspot. Whoopty doo. All that takes is a single app from the Google Play Store. Still free.

Bottom line, these shared data plans are a fucking disgrace and a prime example of the wireless companies in it just to screw everyone over in the name of “unlimited talk and text.”