The Missing iPhone Data Plan

does unlimited data mean anything or is that not what he said?

I'm not sure what the ownership experience of the iPhone will be like, but there's no question that the buying experience of the phone stinks. Not having the details of the phone's calling plan is intolerable. Because I don't know the details I'm not about to run to get one on opening day. And since not getting one opening day might mean a long wait, I'm in a bind. How to resolve it? Start shopping alternatives through my current provider (Sprint). Or, alternatively, Apple and AT&T could have this startling insight: consumers hate being left in the dark, uncertainty doesn't drive sales, and crappy buying experiences shade the product experience as a whole.

Cinguar's data plans have always been a mess, and it looks like it has carried over to AT&T. It took me several weeks and talking to a lot of people to figure out how it all works, but here is the rundown:

$20 Mediamax and similar: Unlimited data using wap.cingular.com

$40 Plans: Unlimited data using isp.cingular.com. This gives you CSD, your own IP, etc. You need this for VPN stuff.

$60 Plans: Depending on who you talk to, you're supposed to get this plan if you have a PDA, because the "screen is bigger, therefore it has to download more data" (no, seriously, a Cingular rep said this!)

$80 Plans: These are if you plan on tethering to your laptop.

All the plans are essentially the same, except for isp.cingular vs. wap.cingular. If you call up and say you want the $20 plan and they tell you your phone is too nice for the cheap plan, just tell them you don't need CSD (that's circuit switched data) or VPN capabilities. Most cingular reps won't know what you're talking about, but if you act like you know what you're talking about they'll give it to you before admitting they don't have any idea what you're talking about.

Even if you pay for the more expensive plan, I've never heard of Cingular resetting the phone to isp.cingular.com which gives you CSD, an IP address, and better priority on the network. Most people pay for the expensive plan but still use wap.cingular because nobody told them anything different.

Another reason they should give you the cheap plan is because it come pre-configured on all Cingular phones. If you're not supposed to use it on the 8525, then why does it come pre-programmed in?

I've been using the $20 unlimited data plan for a few years now, first on a Treo 650 and now on a Cingular 8525. I've never been billed over the $20 despite sometimes heavy usage. If you do get billed, Cingular will remove the charge because you have an unlimited plan (this happens sometimes, but they've always fixed it).

One last thing for working with Cingular: call in the middle of the night. The people who answer the phones at 2am are a lot less stressed and therefore more helpful then the daytime crew.

Man, I should write a book on dealing with cellphone companies.

I met with an AT&T Small Business rep today and signed up for 5 IPhones with a $39.95 unlimited data plan for each phone, under a business plan of course. I was told unlimited means unlimited, data, "web, email and SMS". The rep claimed he didn't know what the individual plan would cost. I'll get more details by tomorrow or Wednesday.

I wonder what'd be the cost for someone currently on a family plan with Cingular -- um, AT&T -- and looking to upgrade.

there are quite a few sidekick users who only buy the data plan, so maybe this may be in option on the iPhone? who knows?

being a sidekick user, i never knew what other people paid for data. i'm thinking that at&t will make some sort of unlimited data/text plan like t-mobile does for the sidekick, for around the same price (currently, i pay $20). it makes sense, as the iPhone and the sidekick seem to be grouped in the same "smart phone for non-smart phone people" demographic.

I'm wondering the same thing as in comment 20. Right now, I'm on a prepaid plan simply because I don't use enough voice minutes for any of the monthly plans to be worth it!

Leonard, if they announced the plans today, rather than on 6/28 ("pre-6/29"), they'd generate more buzz if the plan were cheap (e.g. $15 unlimited). For all you know, AT&T's trying to gauge reaction and see if they will still be able to sell out their inventory with a pricey $40 unlimited plan.

How about this? Can you JUST get the data plan and not the minutes plan? I already have a phone and am not breaking my contract with Verizon. I would however like to get iphone to use as a ipod, net browsing on the go and messaging. I know you can do this with T-Mobile's Sidekick 3. I hope I can do it on iphone. Anyone know anything?

@7 -- yes, but at least it's someone who is willing to put their actual name on the line with the info, which gives him way more weight in my mind than some shadowy anonymous tipster. if you read the comments on that page, he also hints at knowing more stuff that he's not at liberty to talk much about right now.