AT&T’s New Subscription Includes Unlimited Cell and Home Internet, But Not for Existing Customers

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AT&T’s New Subscription Includes Unlimited Cell and Home Internet, But Not for Existing Customers

AT&T is looking to expand its reach with a new subscription service that includes home Internet and wireless service for phones and wearables. AT&T OneConnect, introduced today, includes gigabit broadband and unlimited mobile data for up to 10 voice lines and 10 data devices such as wearables and tablets.

OneConnect offers three pricing tiers, billed monthly:

Per person – $90: One member, one voice line, up to three data devices and one household with 1Gbps internet.
Duo – $120: Two members, two voice lines, up to six data devices and one home with 1Gbps internet.
Family – $225: Unlimited members, up to 10 voice lines, up to 10 data devices and one home with 1Gbps internet.

One notable detail is that the OneConnect subscription prices listed above include taxes and fees, a practice that is quickly becoming rare among major carriers. For many plans, including AT&T’s new wireless plans, those costs are added on top.

By comparison, AT&T’s two-person bundle with gigabit-speed wireless home Internet can cost about $225, including two lines on the AT&T Premium 2.0 plan and AT&T Internet 1000 fiber for $65. For one person, a single Premium 2.0 wireless plan costs $90, plus $65 for home fiber. (It’s also important to note that speed and availability vary depending on your location.)

As with any new affiliate program, you’ll want to delve into the details so you know what you’re getting into.

For example, OneConnect is currently limited to new customers; existing AT&T customers have no migration option to bundle their broadband and wireless services under this digital umbrella. According to an AT&T spokesperson, “Once we gather customer feedback and confirm the experience with our first team, we will make OneConnect available to as many customers as possible.”

It’s also completely BYOD — or ‘bring your own device’: “Limited to bringing your own compatible smartphones, tablets, and tablets, and wearables,” reads the fine print in AT&T’s release. There are no phone deals tied to OneConnect, although a spokesperson did not rule out that possibility in the future.

Unlike AT&T’s standalone wireless plans, OneConnect follows a one-size-fits-all model. Another advantage of AT&T cell service is that each person on the account can choose their own plan. For example, a parent might choose AT&T Premium 2.0, while a teenager might choose the cheaper but more limited AT&T Value 2.0.

Some major carriers offer home internet and mobile service bundles, but they are not packaged in the same way. Verizon and T-Mobile, for example, offer discounts if you sign up for both types of plans.

AT&T is betting that account holders will want a simple, integrated service instead of two separate plans. With unlimited talk, texting, data and AT&T’s Active Armor service to filter unwanted calls and texts, that’s one size that seems to fit all.