AT&T claims every family should have access on the go, which is why they are “introducing” Smartphone data plans for the family.  Only one problem.  There is nothing new about the data plan, which still starts at $15 per month, per line, for up to 200MB of usage.

AT&T changed the plan’s name, but left the same high price in place.  An Internet Overcharging scheme is still an Internet Overcharging scheme no matter how a wireless company pitches it.

The plan, which throws in AT&T Wi-Fi, which customers can also already get, “is designed for families that primarily surf the web, send and receive personal email and visit social networking sites,” says AT&T spokeswoman Mari Melguizo.

But a real data plan for families would let every user on the account share from one data plan, billed once on the account, not per phone.  That’s not on offer from AT&T, although analysts predict the next wave of smartphone upgrades will come only when data pricing comes down, especially on accounts with multiple phones.

AT&T’s new ad for the same old, overpriced product.  (1 minute)

Other stories of interest:

1. Rethink Possible: Overcharging AT&T Customers With Phantom Data Charges
2. AT&T’s New “Money Saving” Wireless Data Plans Will Cost Many Customers More
3. AT&T Calls ‘Data Connect Unlimited’ Customers for Overusing Their ‘Unlimited’ Service
4. AT&T Sued for Fraud & Misrepresentation Over Its iPad Internet Overcharging Scheme
5. ComedyMonday at The Chuckle Hut — AT&T: “Our Customers Like Usage-Based Billing”