AT&T has announced that it will offer standard insurance to iPhone owners beginning on July 17th. Previously, AT&T subscribers were able to sign up for a more expensive $12 monthly insurance plan, which had a $199 deductible. Protection will now cost just $4.99 per month with the standard plan and it is expected to have a $125 deductible, which covers all models of the iPhone for loss, accidental physical or liquid damage, theft, and mechanical or electrical failure. “Effective July 17, 2011, the Apple iPhone (all models) will be eligible for coverage with the AT&T Mobile Insurance program (formerly Wireless Phone Insurance),” AT&T said in a statement on its mobile insurance page. “Enrollment restrictions apply. Customers can only enroll within 30 days of a new activation or upgrade, prior activations or upgrades outside of 30 days are not eligible.”

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Via a press release today, AT&T announced a new, comprehensive insurance offering dubbed Mobile Protection Pack. As the company explains, the new offering is a combination of three services: mobile insurance, enhanced support, and mobile locate. Mobile Protection, which will retail for $9.99 per month, covers subscribers against equipment loss, theft, accidental damage, liquid damage, and out-of-warranty malfunction. It also provides users with the ability to locate, lock, and trigger an alarm on a misplaced phone — and includes a handful of setup services. The complete list of covered devices can be found here, and includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Atrix 4G. Users looking to replace a damaged or lost device will have to pay a $50 or $125 deductible and, like all AT&T insurance offerings, Apple’s iPad and iPhone are not eligible. Hit the jump for the full press release.

AT&T Introduces the AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, a First-of-its-Kind Offer to Replace, Support, and Locate Your Mobile Device

Mobile Protection Pack features Mobile Insurance, Enhanced Support and Mobile Locate

AT&T* today announced the availability of the new AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, providing comprehensive protection and service support for several devices in AT&T’s mobile phone portfolio. The new package, available for $9.99 a month, combines two existing AT&T services – Mobile Insurance and Enhanced Support – along with the new Mobile Locate app, offered exclusively as part of the protection pack.

“This package is designed with the customer and their wireless support needs in mind,” said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Voice and Data Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Now concentrated in one service package, customers have a more convenient, affordable and seamless way to protect and manage their wireless device.”

AT&T Mobile Protection Pack combines the following services:

Mobile Insurance. Formerly Wireless Phone Insurance, Mobile Insurance provides replacement for approved claims involving loss, theft, accidental damage, liquid damage, or mechanical and electrical failure after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. Customers can sign up within 30 days of service activation or device upgrade.

Enhanced Support. Customers can take advantage of direct live support (via phone or web chat) for device setup, plus general “how to” help and ongoing troubleshooting assistance. Customers can also grant the service agent permission to remotely access a capable device and/or customer’s computer via a secure connection to help manage account and device needs.

Mobile Locate. Available exclusively within the AT&T Protection Pack, Mobile Locate allows users to remotely locate, lock or sound an alarm on their missing phone via the Mobile Protection Pack website. Compatible phones must be powered-on and be within an AT&T coverage area. Highlights include:

• Locate missing phone in real-time. Customers can locate their phone in real time, plus retrieve the last five locations of the device, including turn-by-turn directions to each of the locations.
• Sound an alarm. An alarm on the device can be activated, even if the phone is on silent or vibrate. The alarm will sound for three minutes unless turned off by the customer.
• Secure data by remotely locking the phone. Customers have the ability to remotely lock the phone if lost. If the phone is found, customers can simply enter a unique pin to unlock the phone.

To enroll in and learn more about the AT&T Mobile Protection Pack, customers can call 866-MOBILITY or visit www.att.com/mobileprotectionpack.Mobile Insurance is available separately for $4.99 per month per enrolled mobile number. Enhanced Support is also available separately for $9.00 per month per enrolled mobile number.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Customers must enroll in AT&T Mobile Protection Pack within 30 days of activation date or device upgrade date. Existing Mobile Insurance customers can upgrade to the Mobile Protection Pack at any time. Both Mobile Insurance and Enhanced Support are available as standalone products, however Mobile Locate is only available as part of the Mobile Protection Pack. If the customer is enrolled in Mobile Protection Pack and decides to drop Mobile Insurance, both Enhanced Support and Mobile Locate will also be dropped. However, the customer can still purchase Enhanced Support separately for $9.00 per month per enrolled number. Mobile Locate is available on select phones. All features may not work on all devices. Visit att.com/mobileprotectionpack for more information.

Mobile Insurance: A nonrefundable deductible of either $50 or $125 applies, depending upon the device model for each approved claim. Claims may be fulfilled with a new or remanufactured device. Customers are allowed 2 claims within any consecutive 12 months with a maximum device value of $1,500 per occurrence. Customers can cancel the optional coverage at any time and receive a prorated refund of unearned premium. Mobile Insurance is insurance underwritten by Continental Casualty Company, a CNA company (CNA), and administered by Asurion Protection Services, LLC (in California, Asurion Protection Services Insurance Agency, LLC, CA Lic. #OD63161. In Puerto Rico, Asurion Protection Services of Puerto Rico, Inc.) a licensed agent of CNA.

One of our AT&T ninjas just hit us up with some news that will excite those of you who have a chronic case of the dropsies and own an iPhone. AT&T will be launching a new insurance service starting June 6th, named MobileProtect, designed specifically for the Apple iPhone. The insurance plan, which will be run by Asurion, will carry a price tag of $13.99/month and will be available for purchase through Apple’s App Store. The charges will be billed to the credit card on file with Apple. The deductibles range from $99 for an 8GB 3G to $199 for a 32GB 3GS, which is pretty steep — but not quite as steep as $699 for a new 32 GB 3GS off-contract. You must enroll in the plan within 30-days of upgrading/purchasing a new iPhone. AT&T is launching this service as: “Lack of iPhone insurance is a leading source of iPhone related customer complaints.” What say you? Is this a winner? We think $168/year is a pretty steep price to pay to protect your iPiece. We’ve got an additional image for you after the break.

We’re not joking people, BGR ninjas don’t sleep. On Monday we told you that AT&T was finally coming around and getting ready to offer decent handset insurance. We’ve all had those rough nights that end up with a smashed cell phone and a walk of shame. No worries though; that walk is about to get slightly less shameful. Internal AT&T memo as follows:

Wireless Phone Insurance offers customers protection against loss, theft, or accidental damage to their wireless device. Beginning June 2, 2008, Wireless Phone Insurance will expand its coverage to include all high-end phones and PDAs.

What is changing on June 2 with Wireless Phone Insurance?

Wireless Phone Insurance eligibility is being extended include high-end phones and PDAs (except Apple iPhone).

Depending on model, device deductibles will be in two tiers:

Equipment Tier 1: $50 non-refundable deductible per approved claim.

Equipment Tier 2: $125 non-refundable deductible per approved claim (for incident dates on/after November 3, 2008; $50 deductible for pre November 3, 2008 incident dates).

For new activations and upgrades if Wireless Phone Insurance is not selected as a feature on the account, a pop-up message in the billing system will alert sales reps to advise customers that they have 30 days in which to enroll in Wireless Phone Insurance.

For more information, see Know the Facts or the presentation on Wireless Phone Insurance Expanded Coverage for High-End Devices and PDAs.

Who could have guessed that the ONE device not covered by the new insurance offering would be the iPhone? Hmmm, everyone.

[Thanks Anonymous Tipster]

Soon the days of worrying about accidental damage to your ATT Tilt, or other PDA device, will be long gone. While we have yet to confirm this with AT&T themselves, it looks like the wireless company is getting ready to roll out a new insurance program that will cover all of the devices that they currently offer. Previous insurance programs have only been available for low-cost phones, with high-end smartphones left out to dry. Beginning June 2nd, however, that will be a thing of the past. For $4.99/month, subscribers can secure a replacement device should their current handset suffer some unmentionable fate. Better yet, the new plan only requires a $50 deductible for replacement. Good news all around, folks.

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