AT&T is looking to broaden its reach with a new subscription service that combines home internet and wireless service for phones and wearables. AT&T OneConnect, launching today, includes gigabit broadband plus 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:
Individual - $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 household with 1Gbps internet.
Family - $225: Unlimited members, up to 10 voice lines, up to 10 data devices and one household with 1Gbps internet.
One notable detail is that the OneConnect subscription prices listed above include taxes and fees, a practice that's quickly becoming increasingly rare among major carriers. On many plans, including AT&T's newest wireless plans, those costs are added on top.
For comparison, an AT&T bundle for two people with unlimited wireless and gigabit-speed home internet would cost about $225, including two lines on the AT&T Premium 2.0 plan and AT&T Internet 1000 fiber at $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 speeds and availability vary depending on your location.)
As with any new connection plan, you'll want to scrutinize the details so you know what you're getting into.
For instance, OneConnect is currently limited to new customers; existing AT&T customers have no migration path to combine their broadband and wireless services under this digital umbrella. According to an AT&T spokesperson, "Once we gather customer feedback and validate the experience with our initial cohort, we will make OneConnect available to as many customers as possible."
It's also entirely BYOD -- or 'bring your own device': "Limited to bring your own eSIM compatible, unlocked smartphones, tablets, and wearables," reads the fine print on AT&T's press release. There are no phone deals tied to OneConnect, though the spokesperson didn't rule out that possibility in the future.
Unlike AT&T's standalone wireless plans, OneConnect follows a one-size-fits-all model. One benefit of AT&T mobile service is that each person on an account can select their own plan. For instance, a parent might choose AT&T Premium 2.0, while a teen could opt for the cheaper but more limited AT&T Value 2.0.
Other major carriers offer home internet and mobile service bundles, but they're not packaged in the same way. Verizon and T-Mobile, for example, provide discounts if you've signed up for both types of plans.
AT&T is betting that account owners will want a simpler, bundled service instead of two separate plans. With unlimited talk, texting, data and AT&T's Active Armor service for filtering out unwanted calls and texts, that's a size that does seem to fit all.
