Clark Howard: Data Plans To Change With New iPhone

The latest iPhone goes on sale Thursday and reviewers said it's a game-changer in the smart phone market.

But it could also mean a change to what you keep in your wallet. That's because AT&T has changed its pricing for data.

When smart phones first came on the market, a lot of us yawned. Wireless networks wanted customers.

Data Plan Changes Accompany New iPhone

"What the networks decided to do was to goose the network ... offer customers an unlimited opportunity to pay a flat rate and use whatever they want," said telecom analyst Jeff Kagan. It worked.

Many of us are now hooked on smart phones. So guess what? Now, AT&T has announced a tiered pay plan. Unlimited data is gone. AT&T said only 2 percent of its customers will have to pay more.

But consumer adviser Clark Howard said he is skeptical.

He said with the functions available on the new iPhone, he thinks people will run through those data caps in no time. So far, AT&T is the only network to announce data caps, but others may follow AT&T's lead.

Clark said the good news is that some companies are going the opposite route. He just bought a Sprint 4-G phone and it has an unlimited data plan. Boost Mobile also offers an unlimited data plan.

And Clark said later this year, Metro PCS will offer an ultra high speed network in Atlanta with no data caps. So Clark's advice? Don't handcuff yourself to any company’s plan. Shop the market.