data plans

Shopping for mobile devices is a curious thing — why do carriers offer data-only plans for the iPad that are cheaper and more flexible than typical plans for smartphones? Turns out that subscribers pay a hefty fee for standard unlimited talk and text and are often trapped into two-year contracts in order to afford their smartphones.

Device plus data packages are usually offered on a month-to-month basis with no contract. It just makes sense. We've compiled a guide to going rogue and getting a data-only plan, with details on how much you'll save, which carriers offer data only, the essential apps you'll need for free talk and text, and what the downsides are.

How Much Will I Save?

Let's take a closer look at Verizon: purchase an iPad, and data will run you $30 per month for 4GB with no contract. The same month-to-month plan for an iPhone (with required unlimited talk and text added on) is $70 per month — that's $480 more per year!

Data-only plans run from as low as $25 per month to as high as $70, but the average user (emailing, web browsing, Instagramming, some streaming) will pay about $35.

Read on to find out which carriers currently offer data-only plans, the available devices, apps you'll need, and what the downsides to cutting talk and text are.

Unlimited data freedom fighters, victory is here. Beginning today, T-Mobile will offer nationwide unlimited 4G data to pay-per-month, contract-less customers.

Users must purchase the $70 monthly 4G service for unlimited capacity; T-Mobile's other no contract plans include $50 per month for the first 100MB of data and $60 per month for the first 2GB of data. Phones available without an annual contract include the Samsung Galaxy S II and III, LG Optimus L9, and the Nokia Lumia 710, among others.

If tied to a data-capped contract for a while longer, you'll want to continue monitoring your phone's data usage.

AT&T announced new data plans for smartphones and tablets today that will take effect starting Jan. 22. As always when it comes to change, there's good news and bad news. Each plan costs about $5 more than the previous plans (that's the bad news), but the good news is that you'll get 100MB more data on the Plus plan and 1GB more data on the Pro plans than you were getting before. Current customers can stick with the plans they're already on or switch up to the new plans, whereas new AT&T customers will have to select one of the new plans at signup starting on Sunday.

Get the details on all the new data plans below.

Smartphones

• AT&T Data Plus 300MB: $20
• AT&T Data Pro 3GB: $30
• AT&T Data Pro 5GB: $50, with mobile hotspot or tethering

It'll cost an extra $20 for an extra 300MB on the Plus plan and $10 for each additional gigabyte on the two Pro plans.

Tablets

• AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $30
• AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50

In the latest chapter of the wireless data price wars, T-Mobile announced today value plans intended to make smartphone and tablet data plans affordable. While Verizon recently announced tiered data plans, T-Mobile now offers its solution for affordable mobile data use.

Set to take effect July 24, the data value plans are available for new and existing customers for single and family lines when signing a two-year service plan. Customers can choose the talk and text plans they prefer and add unlimited data with 2GB, 5GB or 10GB of high-speed data, whichever fits their needs. T-Mobile will not inflict overage charges if streaming too many YouTube videos one month, but the connection speed will dramatically decrease for the remainder of the month to balance the high-data use. Customers can estimate their monthly data usage and which data speed to purchase with T-Mobile's data plan calculator.

The company offers the example that a value family plan with unlimited talk, text and data with 2GB of high-speed data is $49.99 per line for two lines, totaling just under $100 minus taxes. In the accompanying graph, T-Mobile compares their pricing structure to competitors claiming customers can save nearly $1,000 annually.

We knew this day was coming — the end of Verizon unlimited data plans. Verizon confirmed it will switch to a tiered data pricing model for new customers beginning Thursday, July 7.

A Verizon spokesperson dishes on the details saying:

". . . new smartphone customers will choose from one of three options: $30 for 2 GB, $50 for 5 GB or $80 for 10 GB. There will be an overage charge of $10 per GB of data. Verizon will also charge $10 for 75 MB per month for feature phone users."

Good news is current customers on unlimited plans can keep their unlimited plans as they upgrade to new devices. AT&T also recently began usage-based data service; though, their 2GB plan is just $25 per month. Once Verizon's new data policies go into effect, Sprint will be the only top nationwide provider to offer unlimited data packages for smartphone plans.

For those considering a wireless carrier switch, act fast for unlimited data before Verizon's Thursday changeover. If you are already on a tiered data plan — which option do you use?

Just ahead of tomorrow's Verizon iPhone launch, the company announced its pricing options for service plans. A basic voice plan including 450 minutes per month will cost $40; a voice and text plan (including unlimited text messages) will cost $60. The previously announced unlimited data plan will run customers $30 per month, and, as expected, there will be an optional $20 mobile hotspot supplement.

In contrast, AT&T no longer offers an unlimited data option but does have a $25 data option for up to 2GB of data per month. Potential Verizon iPhone customers, don't forget: the unlimited data option is only available for a limited time, so don't snooze on ordering your new phone! Here's everything you need to know.

Verizon held off on announcing its data plan pricing for its new iPhone 4 during this month's press event, which brought up some cost concerns. However, the company has confirmed that it will be offering an unlimited data package for just $30 a month. With AT&T's recent restructuring of its data plans last year, this news may give Verizon a leg up by enticing new subscribers to head on over to its network and finally get its large population of feature phone users to upgrade to a full-fledged smartphone.

But be warned: the data buffet won't be open forever. Find out more after the break.

On the heels of massive smartphone adoption and changing data plans, a new billing concept has emerged: every app has its own data plan. In theory, it wouldn't be an awful idea, since users who spend hours watching YouTube videos or other data-hogging apps would pay more than those who don't spend hours using apps. And the strategy also employs the designation of "preferred apps" that would run on a device free of use charges.

Find out more about the new strategy and what it would mean for you after the break.

International travel just got easier: AT&T recently announced affordable pay-as-you-go data plans for you to order up before you take off. Starting at $25 for 20MB and 200MB for $200, the DataConnect Pass Global gets you online in over 100 countries for 30 straight days.

Perfect for those trips abroad where you just don't want to lose touch, you can choose when your pass begins, buy when you have the dough (or have it added to your monthly AT&T bill), and set it to activate once you arrive to maximize your pass. As you may have expected, you'll need a LaptopConnect card to fire up the data on your laptop, or an AT&T-authorized mobile device (like the iPad) to take part in these new plans.

AT&T and Verizon have been playing nice in the media lately, but the two companies agree on one thing — tiered data plans. Earlier this year, AT&T initiated a new data plan structure, paving the way for other networks to follow suit. Verizon announced recently that it would be flipping the switch on tiered data plans, and according to a tip, those plans will roll out next week.

Verizon's data plans will start at $15 for 150MB of data (costing 10 cents for every MB over the limit), while the company plans to continue offering an unlimited plan for $30 a month.

Get more details on the new iPad pricing when you read more.