AT&T Now Gives You More International Data for Your Dollar

I was really pissed when AT&T killed off their international BlackBerry Plan that you could add whenever you want. Last time I went to Israel I had to fork over $50 for 50MB of data while I was there. That was kind of ridiculous and now it looks like even AT&T has realized that. They have more than doubled most of the international data buckets for the same price. Here are the new prices:

 

• 50MB package for $24.99/month compared to the current 20MB package for $24.99/month
• 125MB package for $49.99/month compared to the current 50MB package for $59.99/month
• 275MB package for $99.99/month compared to the current 100MB package for $119.99/month
• 800MB package for  $199.99/month compared to the current 200MB package for $199.99/month

Check out all the details in the press release below:

International Travelers Can Use A Lot More Data With New Global Packages From AT&T

Available July 17, New Packages Will Offer Better Value and More than Double the Data Allowance in Over 100 Countries

Data Drilling App for PlayBook Breaks Down Spreadsheet Data to Help Analysis

Data Drilling is a really cool-looking PlayBook app that helps you learn more from your data by visualizing it. The app takes spreadsheet data and presents it in a variety of graphical formats to help you study it better. This app is great for app developers because you can export the App World spreadsheet to the app, and break down your app’s downloads based on a variety of factors in order for you to better learn about your users. Another benefit of Data Drilling is that it comes in a free, Lite and Pro version.

Click here to check out the free version of Data Drilling in App World.

Click here for the Lite $2.99 version of Data Drilling.

Click here for a Pro version for $4.99.

Via:  BBCool

Verizon Confirms Stingy Tiered Data Plans Starting on July 7th

We all knew this was coming but now the writing is really on the wall. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed to Fierce Wireless that they will be killing off their unlimited data plans starting July 7 in favor of usage based data tiers. They also confirmed the horrible data plan tiers that now shaft you with less data for your buck. Here is a quick snapshot of the plans with a comparison to AT&T:

 

Verizon Rumored Plans	AT&T Current Plans
2GB – $30/month 4GB – $50/month including tethering 5GB – $50/month 7GB – $70/month with tethering 10GB – $80/month 12GB – $100/month with tethering	200MB – $15/month 2GB – $25/month 4GB – $45/month including tethering NOTE: from here on down its $10 per 1GB unless you are on the 200MB plan where it is $15 for another 200MB

Anybody else kind of dreading the direction this tiered data is taking? What’s next? Paying $30 for 200MB?

via:bbreview

NFC-Enabled ‘Smart’ Car Key Will Connect to Your Handheld Devices

It’s been emphasized here on BBE in recent months that Near Field Communication (NFC) is going to be the next big thing to hit next to Bluetooth.  NFC will be crucial in the mobile payment race, advertising arena, and now we’re hearing-the auto industry. A Dutch company NXP Semiconductors, is in the middle of producing a single-chip solution dubbed KEyLink Lite (codenamed NCF2970) which will enable a connection between a “smart” car key and external NFC-compliant devices, such as the upcoming BlakBerry 9900/9930 device. Check below for features.

Some of the KEyLink Lite features would include:

Special Report: Chicago Users Experiencing Data Outage Due To Power Outage?

Chicago-area T-Mobile users just waking up are alerting us of a data outage currently underway in the Chicago area due to power outages. We’ve independently confirmed potential data and voice troubles through unofficial channels and are waiting to learn more details. Early morning comments on the blog indicate the trouble has been ongoing for several hours. The problem is said to be somewhat limited to areas that have been without power due to yesterday’s storms. We’ll update this post as soon as we get official word.

Updating…

Verizon’s Stingy New Data Plans Detailed Fully in Latest Leak

We have already heard rumors and confirmation from Verizon about their upcoming data tiers but it is all starting to get official now. The new plans go into effect on July 7th and in this case you really do get less GB for your buck. AndroidCentral scored a few data sheets along with an employee email about the new plans. Verizon is even throwing in an extra “Screw You” by changing the business discounts to only apply to the data plan on the primary line and are mostly only 20% despite what other discounts you may have on service.

 

What we do know now is that current unlimited plan customers will be grandfathered into their “Unlimited” 5GB plans even if you upgrade devices. If you sign up with a new plan or want to add unlimited data you still can until July 7th. After then if you create a new data plan or add another line with a data plan there will be no unlimited option.

If you needed any more reason to think that the AT&T and T-Mobile merger would be bad for competition and raise rates then look no further than this. At least AT&T cut $5 off their “unlimited” plans when they brought it down from 5GB to 2GB.

You can check out the full email sent to indirect resellers and analysis over at AndroidCentral

via:bbr

Rumor: Verizon Wireless to unveil new tiered data plans July 7th?

Word around the web has been hinting at Verizon Wireless bringing some changes to both their family and data plans. Now it seems that July 7th might be the big day for these changes to go into effect, with tiered data plans and data + tethering plans. Supposedly at this time just for new customers and possibly current customers that are up for renewal, the new plans are shaping up to look something like:

Data plans:

• 2GB – $30/month
• 5GB – $50/month
• 10GB – $80/month

Data + tethering plans:

• 4GB – $50/month
• 7 GB – $70/month
• 12 GB – $100/month

So it looks like tethering is $20 extra per month for an additional 2GB of data. Additional data beyond your plan allotment will cost you $10/GB and tablet data plans will change to $30 for 2 GB. If this information plays out to be true, and you’re looking at switching carriers, will it affect your decision regarding which company you go with?

Source: Droid-Life 

via:cb

Rumor: Verizon Data Tiers Coming With Prices Worse than AT&T

So you thought you had it bad with AT&T and their tiered data plans at 2GB for $25? According to a new rumor by Droid-Life users on Verizon are about to get it worse. According to that rumor Verizon will be changing its data tier to 2GB for $30 which is obviously $5 more than AT&T’s already stingy data plan tiers. If you want to get the same 5GB you get today you will have to pony up $50 a month or $80 for 10GB.

Verizon Rumored Plans	AT&T Current Plans
2GB – $30/month 4GB – $50/month including tethering 5GB – $50/month 7GB – $70/month with tethering 10GB – $80/month 12GB – $100/month with tethering	200MB – $15/month 2GB – $25/month 4GB – $45/month including tethering NOTE: from here on down its $10 per 1GB unless you are on the 200MB plan where it is $15 for another 200MB

 

If you want tethering added to your data plan you can get an additional 2GB added to your plan for $20/month. That translates into 4GB for $50/month, 7GB for $70/month, and 12GB for $100/month. In other words Verizon is also charging an extra $5 more than AT&T for 4GB of data with tethering. On the other hand Verizon is charging $5 more for 5GB instead of 4GB for tethering. Tablet plans are priced at 2GB for $30 instead of the 1GB for $20 current plan. There is no difference between 3G and 4G devices in these tiers according to the rumor.

There is even a new email that is going to Verizon employees hinting that these structured data plans are coming without the details. Luckily current users will be grandfathered into their current plans but any hope of tiers getting cheaper anytime soon seems to be going out the window. Maybe that is good for the data sipping BlackBerrys and RIM. These new tiers are rumored to come once the unlimited data promotion on Verizon ends with these plans taking effect for new customers on July 7th.

This is all currently in rumor stage but this does sound like typical Verizon…

via:bbr

Video: Device Switch/Data Saving features from OS 7

Device Switch & Data Saving to SD Card in OS 7 from BBLeaks on Vimeo.

When the BlackBerry Torch 9850 (Monaco) Simulator was leaked a few days ago, we got excited to see what treats the included OS (v7.0.0.144) had hidden within it’s depths.

Well, one of the first goodies is a new Backup feature that’ll let you save e-mails, contacts & other important data to your SD card. This feature also includes the ability to switch devices using the data on SD Card.

Can you imagine switching devices & having all your emails/settings/etc synced with only using your SD card, rather than Desktop Manager?

via:bbos

T-Mobile Offers A Year’s Worth Of Free Data For Father’s Day

 

Looking for a Father’s Day gift that just keeps giving? How does a year’s worth of mobile data sound? On June 18, T-Mobile is hooking up new and existing customers (with at least 18 months of contract tenure) with 12 months of free data for signing a new talk, text, and data plan on a two-year contract. So if you’re looking to save Dad from all those data overage charges, perhaps the one-day-only Father’s Day sale at T-Mo is the way to go.

Here’s how it works: if you sign up for T-Mo’s 200MB data plan, the pink carrier will reimburse you every month with $10 in credit, covering the whole $120 cost of that size plan. If you opt for one of T-Mobile’s larger data packages – 2GB, 5GB, or 10GB – with unlimited talk and text, T-Mobile will still offer $10 in monthly credit, which means you’ll at least save $120 on data over the course of the year. The same rule applies for customers who sign up for mobile broadband plans.

Remember, this deal is for one day only so, if you haven’t already marked down Father’s Day in your calendar, at least put “T-Mo Sale” in the little box marked June 18.

Via: