The timing is suspicious: AT&T just announced a sharp increase of it early termination fee and now follows up with new data plans that will be available on the day of Apple’s keynote, the day when Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone. Could it be that the new iPhone is much more expensive than the old iPhone and could it be that AT&T fears much more data centric applications, such as video calling?

How likely is it that AT&T would reduce the pricing of its data plans for the iPhone? Not very much. Given AT&T’s history and its claims just how profitable its iPhone customers are, those new plans with “reduced pricing” are, sorry AT&T, suspicious.

There is a new $15 per month plan that gives users 200 MB of data per month. And there is a new $25 per month plan that gives you 2 GB of data per month. AT&T says that 65% of its users currently use less than 200 MB per month and 98% use less than 2 GB per month. The $30 unlimited plan is gone.

What if you exceed those 200 MB or 2 GB? AT&T will graciously give you another 200 MB/2GB for the same money, which means that 400 MB can suddenly cost $30 – the same as the previous flat fee. If you run over that limit, you are at the mercy of AT&T’s billing department and your credit card. Price reduction? Sure, whatever you say, AT&T.

The timing of the new data plans may raise speculation about new features of the iPhone that prompted AT&T to sharply curb the appeal of data use on the iPhone. Video conferencing comes to mind. Imagine how much video conferencing you can do with 200 MB or 2 GB per month. Or media streaming. Not much. We also know that Skype is now available for the iPhone and you didn’t think that AT&T would just roll over and accept data calls via its 3G network, did you? Skype on the iPhone may be the least attractive Skype ever: Not only will you pay extra for Skype-to-Skype calls via the iPhone at the beginning of next year. You will also be charged extra if you exceed AT&T new data plans.

AT&T must have substantial reason to fear the new data usage threat of the iPhone 4G. Apple’s new phone could be a wireless bandwidth guzzling data monster.

It appears that Apple may be charging AT&T a lot more money for the iPhone 4G, as AT&T recently lifted its early termination fee from $175 to $325.

But wait, there is good news as well. AT&T now offers tethering, for an extra $20 per month. Of course, the data limit applies here as well.

With the new wireless data plans, pricing for a smartphone voice and data bundle now starts at just $54.99 per month for an individual plan, or $24.99 per month for an additional line on a FamilyTalk plan, $15 per month less than the price of the previous entry level bundle, AT&T said.

For new iPad customers, the $25 per month 2 GB plan will replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required. Existing iPad customers who have the $29.99 per month unlimited plan can keep that plan or switch to the new $25 per month plan with 2 GB of data.

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