Sunday, March 9, 2008 -- 5:35 p.m. -- at my desk

I mentioned last month that AT&T had joined the unlimited plan bandwagon and extended that option to iPhone users.

That's now available.

For $119.99, you get to talk all you want anytime. But, SMS is still limited at 200 per month. Of course, my opinion is if you are spending $119.99 for an unlimited option, it makes sense to spend an extra $20 and get unlimited texts as well. That is, if you text much.

And here's something totally weird. Rollover minutes are included. Well, if you have unlimited calling, I'm not sure what a rollover minute really is. Maybe AT&T just forgot to remove the column. It's still funny though.

I don't know if there will be an unlimited family plan. Currently that information is not shown on Apple's page.

Are you going to sign up for an unlimited plan? If so, please let me know. I'd love to know.

Thanks for calling.

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Scott,

hmmm. That would be pretty amazing to have an unlimited family plan!! By the way, do you know if you can have two iPhones on a Family plan? Do you have to pay for the data for each phone?

Neil

SCOTT'S REPLY: I agree, Neil. Very amazing.

As far as family plans go, you pay one price for multiple iPhones and you share from a pool.

Each includes a certain amount of shared minutes, unlimted data, unlimited nights and weekends, visual voicemail, 200 text messages (you can add more), Rollover minutes and unlimited Mobile to Mobile. The charges range from $109.99 a month to $339.99 a month depending on the number of minutes. The "cheaper" end includes 700 shared minutes, while the most expensive includes 6,000 shared minutes.

Hope that helps.

Do you know if there's a way to pay for increased text messages without changing your minutes plan? Other than paying the 5 cents extra for every text over 200?

SCOTT'S REPLY: I believe, Brad ... I'd need to check ... that you can call AT&T and add on the extra texts without changing your plan. You can't add iPhone features on the Web site ... you need to call.

As of right now, I have over 1500 rollover minutes with the minimum plan, and I've never felt compelled to keep my conversations short to save minutes. I most often use e-mail with my friends in addition to talking with them once or twice a week. As long as I have unlimited data, I'm fine.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I feel the same way. I'd rather text and e-mail than talk anyhow.

My AT&T bill went up the normal $20/month for the data plan when I bought my iPhone. I have tons of minutes left over each month and have never used up my quota of SMS, so I have absolutely no need to change to any other plan right now as I am perfectly happy with my $60/month cost.

SCOTT'S REPLY: It's funny that you mention that, Glenn. When I was typing this, I got to thinking about looking at my account -- I pay it automatically each month so I don't always go to AT&T's site. Turns out, my Rollover minute total is 2,800 minutes. I'm pretty set myself.

I won't be going unlimited (once I get my iPone, that is) until they do an unlimited family plan at a good price.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Actually someone asked about an unlimited family plan. I would assume it will come at some point. It seems like the next logical step.

I originally had a 1500 minute family talk plan with my old phone when I switched to the iPhone in October. Except for the unlimited data addition, I was able to keep my old SMS plan (1500 texts per month), my family plan rollover minutes (at over 6000 minutes now), and all for the $20 upgrade. Ask the AT&T representative; you will probably be able to keep your same plan. Several of my co-workers were able to do the same thing I did. There is absolutely NO need to get unlimited if you already have a Family Plan that you are satisfied with. Robert.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Excellent advice, callers, from Robert. Thanks.

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