AT&T: ‘Yes, we are thinking about gutting the iPhone data plan’

From the “it’s about damn time” department comes news that Apple’s sole U.S. distribution partner sees a gradual economic recovery and that they’re prepared to do their part by cutting iPhone buyers a little slack.

Reuters reports that AT&T is considering reduced data (200MB vs today’s unlimited offering) plus phone plans for less than the current $70 iPhone threshold plan. The head of the company’s mobile division says that cutting the data price would be difficult if not impossible.

“Right now we continue to study what is the best thing that is available, not just from an iPhone point of view, but what you can do to stimulate additional demand,” said Ralph de la Vega, CEO, mobile. “Our business is to sell services,” adding that “We view Apple as a strategic partner for us, a very good partner to have now and into the future.”

The example data plan offered up Reuters write up is the 200MB offering AT&T netbook subscribers are getting for $40 a month in Atlanta and Philadelphia, two of the test markets where the company is trying its hand at data only services tied to a cut-rate, ultra-mobile computer.

A bass-akwards approach?

To date, iPhone owners have used prodigious amounts of data. That is, whereas users of Apple’s hot-selling ultra-mobile computers handsets account for about 20 percent of smartphone sales volume, they use the majority of the data as measured by web metrics firms, such as Net Applications.

So, will a gutted data plan help attract buyers to a device that’s primarily know for its data chewing prowess? For this long watchful iPhone wannabe (whose Verizon account is coming due soon), AT&T’s taking exactly the wrong approach, as I’d pay $40 a month for an unlimited data-only iPhone with zero to little prepaid phone service.

Which direction do you think AT&T should take? Same data for less or a little less for less data and a little phone? I’m not seeing the attraction of the ideas de la Vega is trying to float…

What’s your take?

See also:
— Verizon, Apple in talks regarding ‘media pad,’ ‘iPhone lite …
— Cameras coming to the iPod touch, iPod nano?
— ‘iPod touch on steroids’ [aka Mac touch] not until 2010?

• 

Related posts:

1. What AT&T’s data plan changes mean
2. AT&T killing unlimited iPad [and iPhone] data plans
3. AT&T lowers unlimited iPhone data price
4. iPhone 3G in-store activation only, no GoPhone plan
5. AT&T announces new data roaming deals for iPhone users