AT&T data plans

[vracer]

Has anyone been able to negotiate better data plan rates?

Here is my situation: AT&T family plan with four phones - two upgrades available & two coming up shortly. We have three B'berries and one iPhone 4(non S). Unfortunately my wife downgraded my iPhone from unlimited to 200 Meg. (Although the truth of it is that I rarely get into a second 200 Meg. situation.) I'm presently test driving a Skyrocket, and I'm pretty happy with it, but the three B'berries want to upgrade to iPhones. Once the kids get into the data plan, I anticipate them blowing through the 200 Megs in about two days.

You are probably aware that Verizon will give you four Gigs for $30 with new service vs. AT&Ts 400 Megs for the same $30. Verizon hinted to me that they would pay my early termination fees to get our four phones.

I would 'kind of' like to stay with AT&T because I believe that their 3G & HSPA signal is better than Verizon here in the SF Bay area - and because I like the S'rocket better than anything Verizon has. I have also read that Verizon CDMA phones burn through their batteries faster than GSM. (I've been generally happy with the S'rocket battery usage.)

I have two AT&T company stores nearby, and I know they're able to do a certain amont of wheeling & dealing to get & retain customers. So, finally, back to my question - has anyone negotiated better rates for data plans?
Thanx,

 

[blazeplacid]

Ive had good luck negotiating prices of the phones but never on the data/voice packages

 

[fcummins]

I can't comment as to "negotiating" better rates but you've been misquoted re: AT&T's (or misunderstood it) . . . The 200 mb plan IS $15. However, the 2 GB plan is $25. According to Verizon's site, their 2 GB (NOT 4 GB) is $30, so AT&T's is actually $5 cheaper. Mind you, that is strictly according to what I saw on their websites.

 

[Mr. Ed]

I can't comment as to "negotiating" better rates but you've been misquoted re: AT&T's (or misunderstood it) . . . The 200 mb plan IS $15. However, the 2 GB plan is $25. According to Verizon's site, their 2 GB (NOT 4 GB) is $30, so AT&T's is actually $5 cheaper. Mind you, that is strictly according to what I saw on their websites.

Verizon has a holiday special...4gb for $30

Op...you are correct.. my 10yr old blows through the 200 MB plan in 2 days. Now with him he is restricted to wifi only.

I have never seen someone negotiate plans.. but some searching and reading might find you a method to trick atts system into allowing grandfathered unlimited data for $30 a month

 

[vracer]

I was just notified that I was at 90% of my 200Meg, $15 plan; I went to my local AT&T store where they were happy to switch me to a 2Gig, $25 plan effective immediately. Couldn't ask for more.