By Larry Magid

Apple's iPhone 5C model (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — AT&T is introducing a new program called “sponsored data” that the telecommunications giant said will help customers stay within their data limit. The idea is that AT&T would contract with companies and pick up the data cost of accessing their service.
Netflix was not listed as one of those companies, but let’s say hypothetically for our purposes that they were. As you may know, if you were to watch a lot of Netflix on your phone, tablet or mobile device via the cellular system, it would cost you a fortune. So this new program is almost like an 800 or 888 number. When you call those types of numbers, the company you’re calling is picking up the cost rather than you.

Larry MagidLarry Magid is a technology journalist and an Internet safety advocate.
He serves as on-air technology analyst for CBS News, is co-director of...More from Larry Magid