DailyTech - AT&T Quietly Offers $10 Broadband

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Internet AT&T Quietly Offers $10 Broadband
Michael Hoffman & Gabriel Ikram - June 19, 2007 7:09 AM

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26 comment(s) - last by RjBass.. on Jun 19 at 6:21 PM

First time AT&T customers in 22 states now have the option of unprecedented cheap broadband

AT&T quietly rolled out a $10 per month broadband Internet plan over the weekend, making it the company's cheapest Internet service plan. The new plan is now available across the entire AT&T service range, which spans 22 states. In addition to the low service cost, AT&T is also throwing in a modem for free.

The new $10 offer was launched by AT&T with little enthusiasm and marketing. The plan is barely visible on the AT&T website and is not shown as a plan on AT&T's high speed internet services web page. The only way to access the offer is by clicking "term contact plans" on the Bell South internet services page.

The $10 service includes download speeds up to 768 kilobits per second with upload speeds up to 128 kbps -- which are the same download and upload speeds offered on the company's $19.95 per month plan. The new plan requires a one year contract with Bellsouth / AT&T.

The offers come as a result of the Federal Communications Commission mandate that AT&T must concede low-cost incentives before approval of its BellSouth acquisition. The FCC mandate will force AT&T to keep the low-price offer for at least 2 1/2 years.

In addition, AT&T must offer a DSL plan that does not require customers to have a local phone plan packages. According to AT&T, the company must roll out service with this plan in less than 6 months, or face retributions from the FCC.

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6 months.....

By mdogs444 on 6/19/2007 7:31:58 AM , Rating: 3

While $10/mo is a good deal for the speeds they are offering, I will still wait until a home phone line is not required. With cellular giving out free long distance, no roaming charges, free in network calling, and free nights and weekends - there is no use for a home phone is many peoples eyes. Most that get the home phone, just so they can have DSL, probably dont use it very often. They are just giving that $40/mo to the phone company - so in reality, probably paying $50/mo for broadband.

RE: 6 months.....

By Lightning III on 6/19/07, Rating: 0

RE: 6 months.....

By mdogs444 on 6/19/2007 9:19:31 AM , Rating: 2

One of us is misreading it. This is why i said i would wait until they offer it without phone service.

The article says that right now they are offering DSL for $10/month. It does not say it is without phone service. The article states that they have to offer it without phone service within 6 months from now.

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RE: 6 months.....

By Samus on 6/19/2007 12:42:39 PM , Rating: 2

I pay 38 bucks a month for DSL and a phone line with the 30-call pack. So 30 calls anywhere in the country for an unlimited connect time. The line costs me $16 or so, the DSL costs 21.95 (3mbps/384kbps) and these is no tax on the DSL fee, just the phone fee's, which are mostly government and 911 taxes.

Comcast can't beat that in my area, and sometimes, I actually use the phone for some things like ordering Jimmy Johns or when I can't find my cell. I also use it to receive faxes all the time.

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RE: 6 months.....

By jarman on 6/19/2007 10:00:56 AM , Rating: 2

If I'm not mistaken, AT&T will be rolling out naked (No phone line) DSL in December. Way overdue...

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RE: 6 months.....

By rushfan2006 on 6/19/2007 10:11:11 AM , Rating: 2

Very good point. I know several people who aced their home land line phones completely and just rely on cell phones 24/7/365.

However some folks (of which I'm one) - like the feeling of having a specific "home phone" - if for no other reason, the one that is overlooked -- comfort.

Cell phones are great for their intended primary use -- on the go communications, but with their very small sizes they are hardly comfortable to talk on -- and I'm not just talking about a 1 hour conversation either...my "comfort" limit is about 15 minutes..after that on a cell phone I don't like the feeling of it against my ear. I know its a weird thing, but I never claimed I'm normal either -- just honest.

Also, Cell phones are easier -- MUCH easier to lose or mis place at home. If you have a home phone, chances are great that you'll have it in the charging base and not to mention its much larger than a cell phone (unless you have one of those tiny home phones like my sister -- to which I bust on her constantly for).

Finally, $24.95 is what I pay for home phone service....so wow...big deal $25.

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RE: 6 months.....

By mdogs444 on 6/19/2007 10:26:31 AM , Rating: 2

$300 saved per year is still $300 that you could use on something else, if not put into savings.

I havent had a home phone for probably 5-6 years now. I agree that a cell phone is a pain because you can lose it, or forget to charge it.

BUt for a $25/mo (+ taxes and fees, so probably $30-35) ill take the savings.

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RE: 6 months.....

By rushfan2006 on 6/19/2007 12:50:47 PM , Rating: 2

True..money is money. But as with everything - its all on perspective. I recently switched my phone service (extremely recently -- like within last two weeks)..Verizon was charging me $60/mo for everything I get now for $24.95 so in my PoV I'm realizing 50% PLUS cost savings already so I do make out in the deal. Not to mention the added bonus of knowing I never have to deal with Verizon again for anything because I hate that company.

Also I choose to have a "normal" phone in the house because of what I stated previously, but also I like having two phone types (home and cell) - if one fails for any reason I have the other for backup.

I'm not a phone person btw...just I'm close with my family and my folks aren't in the best of health unfortunately so I rely on good communications.

Lastly, you could always nitpick to save money...

--unless its business related (ie. revenue generating) none of us *NEED* High speed internet....savings right there get rid of it

--Explain how anyone NEEDS HDTVs, premium cable or DTV service? ...another point of savings right there..

So of course its great to save money, but if I wanted to save that bad - I'd probably look at my cable service or cut down on my monthly DVD or PC game purchases first before anything else.

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RE: 6 months.....

By FNG on 6/19/2007 1:35:18 PM , Rating: 2

Getting a little silly I think. If you wanted to argue, even if it is revenue generating all you NEED is sustenance and air. I believe that the intended point based on the original post is that $25/mo. is a fair sum of money to be giving to a company if the service is not fulfilling an expectation of the consumer. In his case, mobile phones are acceptable. If you choose to have two types of phones for whatever reason, then so be it, you have made the choice. I, personally, have three forms of phone service including my pay as I go VoIP which I use when I am on the road, in Europe, etc...

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RE: 6 months.....

By djc208 on 6/19/2007 10:40:28 AM , Rating: 3

Take a look at the dock-n-talk, it's a unit that allows you to plug your cell into the device and a phone line either to a single phone or into the wall to run a couple of phones (think the limit is 5 or 8). Basically it allows you to use a normal phone, but all the calls come and go through your cell phone. They also have a bluetooth module if they don't support your phone or you prefer no cables. Supports caller ID and most of the other phone features. Gives you the best of both worlds.

They're not cheap (about $140-200+ depending on where you buy and if you get the bluetooth module) but the reviews say it works well.

There are a couple of other options out there too but this seems to be the most versatile. I've seen a cordless phone with bluetooth that basically does the same thing, but then you're stuck with that one brand/style of phone. Other than a rotary phone this is supposed to work with anything.

It's next on my list, the comfort thing is a factor but I also get annoyed because if I don't cary the phone with me around the house I often don't hear it ring.

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RE: 6 months.....

By Rovemelt on 6/19/2007 10:43:25 AM , Rating: 2

Er...I still don't have a cell phone and only use the phone at work or the land line at home to make calls.

I actually never enjoy talking on the phone; I just find it too impersonal. I had a cell phone for a brief period in my life 5 years ago and just decided that it wasn't necessary for me. That and it never seems to be as inexpensive as they advertise.

I may, however, switch plans if AT&T decouples land line service from their DSL service and just get DSL and a cell phone. It might be cheaper at that point.

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$10 FTW

By Brandon Hill

(blog) on 6/19/2007 7:22:28 AM , Rating: 3

$10?

Sheesh, I'm paying like $44.95 for RoadRunner cable and I don't even come close to using all of that speed.

RE: $10 FTW

By enlil242 on 6/19/2007 7:38:44 AM , Rating: 2

Same here, I am paying $55 for Comcast's 8MB plan (and many a time get close to 12MB). But I assure you, I use every bit of that 12MB. Between downlaoding Game demos and HD video off of XBOX-live, Or transferring files from my Work's servers. It gets them lickity-plit.

However, the reason I conceded to cable was that I was paying $18 for my 3MB ATT DSL and that was going up to $25. Plus the cost of the phone line @ $15 would have made it about $40. So $15 for nearly 3 times the bandwidth was a no brainer for me. However, if I didn't need a phone line... Too bad it's only temporary AND for former Bell South members.

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RE: $10 FTW

By VERTIGGO on 6/19/2007 8:24:05 AM , Rating: 2

Try $50 a month for 450Kbps dn/50kbps up (which you never really get, and you have to survive the ping: we're lucky to get under 100ms on the nearest BF2 server). Mediatti has a monopoly on the entire island.

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RE: $10 FTW

By therealnickdanger on 6/19/2007 8:24:24 AM , Rating: 2

I would rarely miss the 7,000kbps download I get right now. The largest files I DL are torrents and I almost never get above 960kbps when downloading. 128kbps upload sucks, but it's not the end of the world. This is perfect for gamers. You get the low latency (which is all you really need for games) without the high price.

Too bad Comcast has a MONOPOLY here in Minnesota. AT&T and TW both cut and run...

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RE: $10 FTW

By nerdboy on 6/19/2007 10:24:35 AM , Rating: 2

I pay 40 a month for Insight Cable and they give you 12MB down and 1MB up. So its not bad here.

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great reporting guys

By audiophi1e on 6/19/2007 10:15:11 AM , Rating: 5

although i'm not serviced by BellSouth, I'm thrilled to see this kind of reporting here at DailyTech. Thank you for 'making public' what AT&T probably wanted noone to know.

...

By drebo on 6/19/2007 10:31:37 AM , Rating: 1

quote:
The $10 service includes download speeds up to 768 kilobits per second with upload speeds up to 128 kbps -- which are the same download and upload speeds offered on the company's $19.95 per month plan.

ATT doesn't have a $19.99 plan. They have a $14.99 plan, which is the same speed as this $10 plan offering. And the have a $24.99 plan which is 3.0/512.

And here I am paying Charter $44.99 per month for a 5mb connection that I barely get 3.5mb out of and it cuts off on me every morning. Wonderful. Can't wait for my contract to end so I can switch back to DSL...DSL wasn't available when I moved here, but it is now, so...

RE: ...

By KristopherKubicki

(blog) on 6/19/2007 12:47:34 PM , Rating: 4

quote:
ATT doesn't have a $19.99 plan. They have a $14.99 plan, which is the same speed as this $10 plan offering. And the have a $24.99 plan which is 3.0/512.

That varies state by state.

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No service to VA?

By AmberClad on 6/19/2007 7:43:18 AM , Rating: 2

D'oh! Apparently Virginia doesn't get serviced by AT&T/BellSouth (go figure...). I guess we're stuck with Verizon.

RE: No service to VA?

By djc208 on 6/19/2007 10:45:25 AM , Rating: 2

Asuming you actualy get DSL where you live. I looked into their DSL service but they don't offer it in my neighborhood, guess I'm stuck with COX, not that their service is bad but it's getting pretty expensive at $40/month+taxes.

Meanwhile they're running FIOS in VA Beach 10 minutes away, go figure. Can't get DSL to my house but they have fiber down the street.

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DSL only Phone line

By googamu on 6/19/2007 1:12:58 PM , Rating: 2

you can actually get a DSl and 911 only phoneline from AT&T for $5/month so really you can get high speed internet for $15 a month

RE: DSL only Phone line

By RjBass on 6/19/2007 6:21:32 PM , Rating: 2

show me the link to that.

I know a few people who will sign on now.

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Very interesting...

By ryedizzel on 6/19/2007 7:27:08 AM , Rating: 2

768 kbps isn’t very fast but for $10 and a free modem this should hopefully eliminate any more people using 56K. On a similar note my dad was subscribed DSL-Lite with Bellsouth prior to the AT&T buyout and when I visited on father’s day I noticed his connection was a little faster than usual. I ran a speed test and noticed he was getting 3 Mbps. So I wonder if this is another “silent” part of the FFC mandated changes

Does that include both the line and the ISP?

By sheh on 6/19/2007 9:43:15 AM , Rating: 2

Does that include both the line and the ISP?

or you can

By dispo on 6/19/2007 1:47:31 PM , Rating: 2

try to negotiate a fee.

i pay $12.95/mo for DSL with 3 mbps down, 1 up from earthlink. this was negotiated after i called them up and told them i was leaving for a time warner tv/phone/internet package. ive been an earthlink customer since the compuserve days and plead my case. they listened.

combined i pay $40 for a land line (no long distance) and 3 mbps DSL with all fees and taxes. not what i consider to be unreasonable at all. especially when my cell service has free long distance and i dont pay the bill anyway (work phone).

why dont i just kill my land line and save more money, you ask? very spotty cell service in the hills where i live ;-)