By Stephen Schenck | February 2, 2011 5:41 PM
AT&T has a readied a one-two punch aimed at gaining some ground with smartphone users who like to share their cellular connection with other devices, announcing both an upcoming hotspot app, as well as an increase to the monthly data allotment offered for this kind of connection-sharing.
Right now you’re limited by AT&T to using your phone’s data connection with just one other device. With the coming AT&T Mobile Hotspot app, you’ll soon be able to expand that capability to connecting multiple gadgets at one time. The company has said that the first phone using the app will be the HTC Inspire 4G when it comes out later this month. We don’t yet know AT&T’s plans for giving its other smartphones access to the program, but it will presumably spread to all compatible models.
The current tethering solution, when bundled with a $25 Data Pro plan, gives you 2GB a month to go through. While there’s a $20 fee for the privilege of tethering, that money hasn’t bought you any additional bandwidth. Now AT&T is giving you a better value for your dollar, adding on another 2GB a month when tethering (or using the new hotspot app), for 4GB a month at $45 total. All existing tethering plans will be upgraded automatically, and new hotspot users will enjoy the same benefits once the change goes through on February 13.
