Android Gamer: AT&T revamps pricing of Mobile Share Value plans with 10GB of data or more

Most folks use the weekend to keep quiet and relax, but not AT&T. The big blue carrier recently took the wraps off of some major changes to its 10GB and higher Mobile Share plans, and if you’re already an AT&T customer or have been thinking about switching, you’ll want to check out the tweaks that’ve been made.

In a move that’s resulted in what AT&T says is its “best-ever prices” for family plans, the U.S. operator has revised the pricing structure of its larger Mobile Share Value plans. Starting with the 10GB bucket, no contract AT&T smartphone customers will only need to pay $15 per month per line for access to the plan, which is significantly less than the $40 access charge that contract customers face.

New subscribers can sign up for the contract-free pricing by purchasing a device through AT&T Next, paying full retail price for a unit or by bringing their own phone onto AT&T. Existing customers are also eligible for these new plans, even if they’re currently in a contract, though those that are will need to go off-contract once their current agreement ends.

So how does the plan pricing break down? Prepare to get educated, friend. AT&T’s larger Mobile Share Value plans offer unlimited talk and text as well as data buckets that include 10GB of data for $100 per month, 15GB for $130, 20GB for $150, 30GB for $225, 40GB for $300 and 50GB for $375. Each no contract smartphone line — up to 10 total lines — then pays $15 per month for access to that plan. For example, a 10GB plan with 4 smartphones would cost $160 per month, while a 30GB plan with 2 smartphones would be priced at $255 per month.

AT&T also reminds us that it’s still offering a $100 bill credit to all new and existing customers that add a line between now and March 31.

Overall AT&T’s revised Mobile Share Value plans look like a pretty significant change that could end up saving customers quite a bit of cash every month. The big caveat with the plans is that consumers will need to tack on an additional payment each month for AT&T Next, shell out the full retail price of a device or find some other hardware to use with the plans. The savings offered by the new plans could end up offsetting those extra charges, though, and so AT&T’s revamped plans are definitely worth a look for consumers with heavier data needs.

What do you think of AT&T’s revised Mobile Share Value plans? Have any of you signed up for one yet?