∞ AT&T caps data usage, intros $20 monthly tethering with new plans

AT&T on Wednesday introduced new data plans to replace current iPhone unlimited data plans. The company also introduced the long-awaited tethering option for iPhone users. The first plan, called DataPlus, gives iPhone users 200MB of monthly data for $15. AT&T says that’s enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 150 emails with attachments, plus view 400 Web pages, plus post 50 photos on social media sites, plus watch 20 minutes of streaming video.

According to AT&T 65 percent of its customers use less than 200MB of data a month.

The second plan, called DataPro, costs $25 monthly and gives users 2GB of data. Currently, 98 percent of customers use less than 2GB of data per month, according to AT&T.

With the 2GB plan, AT&T says you can send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, plus view 4,000 Web pages, plus post 500 photos to social media sites, plus watch 200 minutes of streaming video.

Users who choose the DataPro plan also have the option to add tethering for an additional $20 per month. AT&T says tethering will be available when Apple releases iPhone OS 4 this summer.

The data plans will also affect iPad users. New iPad customers will get the 2GB, $25 monthly plan instead of the unlimited current customers have.

AT&T said current customers are not required to switch to one of the new plans. Pricing and data limits are for new customers only and are available on June 7.