AT&T and Verizon Plans Compared

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macworld.com/article/158361/2011/03/compare_ipad_data_plans.html#lsrc.rss_main' target='_blank'>http://www.macworld.com/article/158...l#lsrc.rss_main</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"With the original iPad, you had a simple choice to make: to 3G or not to 3G. But with the addition of Verizon 3G data options alongside those from longtime Apple partner AT&amp;T, you now have to not only decide if you want 3G connectivity in addition to Wi-Fi, but which carrier you want service from as well."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1299450400.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Pretty clear that as you progress in usage, the Verizon tiered plan will actually be more affordable. Nice chart so you can actually compare side by side the two plans, along with some explanation about the charges for the data usage on the iPad.&nbsp;</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Guess the overage pricing is based on what you signed up for to begin with, huh? I'd stay away from the plans that charge more than $10/G, just because I wouldn't put it past the carriers to bill that $15/250M or $20/1G repetatively. After that it is really not that big a difference. Say you think you are going to use 5G. With AT&T you spend $55 ($25 + 3x$10). For Verizon $50. If you don't crack 4G though, you could have spent only $45 with AT&T. I'd almost opt for the lower initial AT&T, because it only winds up about $5 more than the equivalent tier with Verizon. I'd feel worse about wasting the data under using a high tier than spending a few extra bucks when needed.