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Feeding the iPhone beast
AT&T has found a way to protect users from monster iPhone bills, and make a few extra bucks in the process.
The plan is all about data transfers. As most people know, the iPhone constantly checks in on its e-mail via EDGE or WiFi in hopes of pulling down a new message as soon as it gets sent.
This normally isn't an issue in the US, as AT&T offered all three iPhone plans with unlimited data in hopes of getting Americans hooked on the iPhone's internet features. It is only when traveling out of the states that data becomes a problem...
When iPhone users would roam outside of the US, data usage became a major headache. The constant flow of data transfers would be classified as transfers made while roaming, and thus would be charged a premium. This lead to several cases of users ending up with heart-stopping phone bills for doing little more than leaving their iPhone on during a vacation.
In hopes of stopping these nightmare bills, AT&T has introduced a new data plan for travel. Users can pay an extra $60 a month to receive 50MB worth of data transfers in any of 29 countries. You have to call in advance, and in some cases this can double your normal monthly bill, but it's still better than getting hit up for a couple grand in mobile charges at the end of your dream trip.
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