A new report indicates that the AT&T shared data plan for iPhone and iPad might be close to launching. AT&T CEO had revealed the network was working on this service last year.
AT&T subscribers have a love hate relationship with the network. There are frequent complaints of calls being dropped, low cell reception and poor data service. Subscribers were also taken aback when AT&T started throttling unlimited iPhone data plan only after 2GB of usage. Nevertheless, there is still much hype about this offering which would literally let you share your iPhone data plan with your 3G iPad.
The news comes from Engadget. They have received a picture of a memo which depicts internal changes the network has made prior to publicly offering AT&T shared data plan service.
According to the memo seen above, Telegence has been tweaked to include a new group-level data feature node “in preparation for the launch of Shared Data.” This verbiage seems to suggest the new plans are coming in the very near future, but the communication is quick to point out that the launch date has yet to be determined. Unfortunately, since the new adjustments aren’t functional just yet, it could simply mean the company’s beginning the first wave of crucial internal testing.
AT&T was the exclusive carrier of first ever iPhone in USA. Verizon Wireless was added in 2010 and Sprint Nextel in 2011 after iPhone 4S release. Both of these networks have considerable iPhone subscriber base. Verizon CEO had hinted that the network might launch a shared data plan well before AT&T shared data plan had even been mentioned. Looks like AT&T will end up releasing this plan well before Verizon Wireless.
If you come to think of it, the prospect of being able to share a data plan between iPhone and iPad does sound good. Will you be interested in an AT&T shared data plan?