Sony amends PS Vita AT&T data plan prices

Hmm... really doesn't bother me. Who's gonna rely on 3G for all their online needs? Most of the time I'm at my house, so I have WiFi. If I need to play online on games, I'll use wifi. For FB/low data crap/NOT STREAMING I'll use 3G. So I'm getting the 3g version, but I'll be using Wifi 90% of the time, so doesn't bother me.

Sony probably wasn't thrilled by AT&T's changing their mobile data rates just weeks before the launch of their new gadget. For anyone on a budget, I highly recommend sticking with Wi-Fi for gaming purposes. Not only is it faster, but it's pretty easy to find in all but the most rural areas these days. 3G is probably not reliable for real-time online gaming, and it gets expensive quickly for downloading and streaming.

@ everyone that is complaining about no unlimited data plan all providers in the us is getting rid of the unlimited data plan AT&T doesn't even have one any more same with Verizon if you have one from these companies right now is because you are grandfather into them

riiiip off!

@Gunmaster51 actually it will be used for more then just that look at my earlier post to see examples

and my device to everyone that decides to get the 3g model get the 3gig plan for couple of months and see how much of it you use and if you use less then 250mb then switch over to the 250mb plan so you will be saving money if you use less then 250mb why spend $30 on 3gigs plan when the 250mb plan is enough for you and it is cheaper if not then just keep the 3gig plan

@cjburnfist also the 3g service wasn't ment for that it was ment for getting updates on facebook twitter and one some games like in warrior's lair it will notify you when your lair is being attacked it does it with wifi but with the 3g you will no instantly while with wifi you have to be in a wifi hotspot for it to notify you and warrior's lair use it for other stuff has well and same goes with unit 13 and also near works way better with the 3g model these are just couple of examples of what 3g is going to be used for pretty sure there will be many many more

I'm only getting the 3g model because it's included in the first edition bundle. However I won't be getting a 3g plan I'll be happy with just wifi.

So basically, give us money for crap data allowance, or give us far too much money for a good allowance? 3G version will die on the steps of retail.

Sigh.... I still can't believe they contracted AT&T to be the sole provider of 3G, that depressing. Not too mention, isn't everyone is buying 4G phones these days? It's not like cell phones are at the tip-top of technology. Keep the cell phone businesses outta gaming, the only thing they got right is to not require a contract.

Wait...that $15 montly plan just doesn't add up :?. I mean, for $15 more, you'll get six times the amount of usage...kind of makes the $15 a month plan a huge ripoff, IMO.

Still not changing my mind on getting the WiFi version.

So even buying the cheapest data plan available will cost 180 bucks a year. Keep in mind that the 3G won't be able to support realtime multiplayer gaming and I think theres a download limit so its not like you can download full games on the go or anything. The ability to message friends or browse the internet isnt all that useful since most people have smartphones for that. IMO Sony will discard the 3G Vita very quickly and either switch to 4G or go to wi-fi only.

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After it was revealed it only cost 160 a unit and then they increase the data fees, after the ridiculous proprietary memory price, it's really hard being a Sony fan nowadays, make no mistake, I will still get this.

I would of been happy with $15-20 for 2 gigs or so and $25-30 for unlimited. Oh well, I'll just get the Wi-fi only one.

Rip off city

@Daian: incredibly simple, they get paid lots of money to go with AT&T. Consumers be damned, timed exclusivity for all! In all seriousness, it is just money, the only thing these companies care about. Clarification: Game devs(for the most part) care about making good games/games they like Publishers look at $$$, and if quality ever = $$$ then they will go with that. But for the most part, $$$ = hype/advertising, the quality comes second.

get rid of the "AT&T" part and we might talk

Why companies like Krapple or Sony first go exclusive with the terrible AT&T is beyond me.

@fanirama true. but i'm sure you are a gadget geek and represent that top 1% to the fullest. lol...me too

Paying for cell data is so capitalistic and ridiculous that only in the third world country (aka US) we'll have it. I can download 3GB in under 2 min on Verizon FIOS at home but oh! no! you downloaded 2GB in a MONTH, you're a top 1% bandwidth user bs. I won't pay for any data anymore. Screw them.

just scrap it! no one is going to buy a 300 dollar portable from one of the nation's MOST HATED COMPANIES! those things are going to sit on shelves at AT&T stores.

Whats the point of the 15 dollar package? Nobody is going to buy that, if I pay 15 more and get 12x more the data.

@megakick, Actually it's the other way around. Hipsters are the ones at Occupy Wall Street with their mac's and fruity Nintendo DS.

@megakick I plan on buying a Vita (although definitely the wi-fi one). In what way does this make me a hipster?

Pay more for a little more? What this crap? Waiting on the dual stick 3DS. Only a hipster would buy a PSPVista.

I am only getting the 3G version because it is included in the first edition bundle. I'm just gonna use my phone as a hotspot if I need to, my data is unlimited there.

I was going to get the 3G version, but then I took an arrow in the knee.

Is this a phone or a handheld gaming device? N-gage 2?

'eff that, I want to see how many people buy the 3G version. If I need to use the net outside of my home's wifi for some reason, I'll just use my phone as a hotspot with 4G. For some reason I think Sony forgot droids exist

3ds is a kids toy PS Vita is a wet dream 3g is a nightmare wifi is priceless

I do not think the 3g will sell over 100,000 overall. about over 90 percent of the sale will come from the wifi version . I rather use my phone. but 3gb for 30 thats no too bad

Maybe im just getting old but I find it crazy that cell phone companies are now interferring with our gaming. If I wanted a cell phone i'd buy it.

I'm guessing that the 3G version will be abandoned in about a year, if that. The WiFi version should do fine.

I was going to get a 3G version, but I think i'm going to get the WiFi one. I don't like having a cap of 2GB per month.

@RossRichard Agreed. With the post-Japan system's launch so close, I feel like Sony is making some decisions that don't really reflect a sense of confidence in their product. Don't get me wrong, the Vita looks like a very interesting piece of tech, but Sony's behavior lately has me concerned as to whether or not they believe 100% in what they're ultimately selling to consumers.

PSP Vita looks like a total failure because of price increase, but atleats it will last longer than the Virtual Boy. but that isn't saying much

ps vita screams of epic fail.... to its high price tag, its pricey sony only memory sticks,to sony not making real ps vita only games till the user base is stronger and now this.... buyer beware!!!

I have a feeling the vita is going to follow in the same steps as the 3ds did starting out. Consumers have proven that if something seems like it is overpriced, they are probably not going to buy it. Phone companies need to stop with the nickle and dime crap for data as well. This $50 for a 5GB data plan for smartphones may work for grandma cause she doesnt know any better but I dont think its going to fly with gamers. Most gamers know the difference between MBs and GBs. On top of the intial price and the SD card prices, this isnt going to go over well with consumers.

@XBLACKXVIPERX It's very expected for Sony to release new iterations of the hardware over the next couple of years. Everyone is certain that 3G is being used to keep the cost down as much as possible for the launch. LTE will likely be added within a year or two. Thankfully 3G can reach theoretical speeds of 7.5Mbps download which should provide good enough connection for a lot of games. I'm sure the recommendation will always be to connect to WiFi. We may also see the new wireless standard (802.11ac) adapted over the next few years, but that will have a much smaller impact than the change from 3G to LTE.

No thank you. I'm not paying for my data. If I get a PSVita, it will be the Wifi version.

I greatly disagree with AT&T's (and other carriers) data pricing. First off; we're in an era of data. Texting shouldn't be a separate plan from talking minutes on your phone. All phone plans should include a large allotment of texts per month without raising prices. Next is the real issue... At $20 per 300MB, each $1 you spend nets you 15MB. At $30 per 3GB (3072MB), each $1 you spend nets you 102MB At $50 per 5GB (5120MB), eacah $1 you spend nets you 102MB So it seems reasonable to say that AT&T values 100MB of data at $1. However, customers paying for the low-end data plan are getting nearly 85MB less data per $1 spent. I understand AT&T has a right to charge what they want, but I don't agree with an 85% overhead charge for people using data. At the very least, AT&T could do one of the following: * Give customers 1GB for the $20 plan * Give customers an option of paying $1 for every MB used in a month with ability to set notifications for yourself when you are close to and/or reach personal limits

Wait, what evidence do you have that Sony made this change? It seems more likely that AT&T made the change to the plan they're providing and notified Sony about it considering this change affects all of AT&T's other devices as well.

Interesting that the Vita gets a $15/250MB plan while all other new smartphone customers will have to go with $20/300MB. The $30/3GB and $50/5GB is the same for both smartphones and the Vita

Just another nail in the coffin for the Vita. First it was memory sticks with capacity prices that were 5x the price of similar capacity, regular USB flash drives, and now they're tacking on a horribly thought out data plan with laughable data rates. This isn't 10 years ago when the internet was still somewhat virgin territory and people weren't really that informed about technology. In today's world, everyone is informed about new technology and the recessed economy strictly dictates how families are spending their money.The problem with the technology companies are putting into their video gaming platforms is they put in current or near future technology that is expensive to include, then try to gouge customers on high accessories costs to recoup their losses on selling their high-tech systems cheaper. Don't punish the consumer! Wait until technology is reasonably priced, then include it!

Get the wifi version then use a mifi dongle with any network you want. The mifi cost less than $50. You can even use it on pay as you go, no contract.

I'll probably get the 3G version but Im not signing up for the AT &T plan because Im not gonna support a monopoly. I'll stick with my T-mobile and see how it goes. We really need some new Sherman Anti-Trust laws.

Still not really a good deal. 30 bucks for 3 gigs a month? i pay 42 bucks for 150 gigs a month with my internet why the hell would i pay 30 bucks for just 3 gigs? and the 15 bucks a month for 250 megs is a freaking joke. Terrible data plans. Honestly due to this and the pricing of the Vita and not really much of a solid list of vita games much beyond launch i really am wondering if this will not do that well. Think about it ps3 owners may pick it up anyways but what about those who dont have a ps3 (xbox 360 peoples) the vita costs 250 bucks and the ps3 costs 250 bucks. for the price and the selection honestly which would be the smarter choice to get? come on. I am going to hold off on it, may get it once little big planet vita comes out. we'll see.

$15 for 250 mb is stupid, it should be $15/1GB