Verizon will stop offering unlimited data plans to smartphone customers this week. Verizon has confirmed the termination of the unlimited plan, and indicates big red will shift to metered plans similar to, but maybe not as generous as, rival AT&T's data plans.
According to a report from 9to5Mac, Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney confirmed that new pricing will begin on Thursday, July 7, and that "smartphone customers will chose from one of four options: $10 for 75MB per month, $30 for 2GB, $50 for 5GB or $80 for 10GB." If a user goes over their plan alottment, they will be charged "$10 per GB of data."
If you already are on contract with Verizon with an unlimited data plan, you will get to keep it. Also, if you upgrade on or after July 7, you will be able to stay on the unlimited plan as well.
However, when compared to the data plans offered by AT&T for smartphone customers, it appears Verizon will be a little more expensive on the front end, but will go easier on you if you smoke your monthly limit. For instance, Verizon's entry plan starts at $10, but only offers 75MB; AT&T starts at $15, but for that price you get 200MB. However, AT&T will charge you $15 for any overage up to only 200MB; Verizon will hit you for only $10, but give you up to 1GB of overage.
These new data packages come at the same time as recent rumors that Verizon will soon begin offering the iPhone 4 for only $150.
eroccia
July 05, 2011 at 12:15pm
I wonder if Big read is going to pull anything when we current unlimited data clients go to upgrade to a new smart phone. I know i am not going to be affected on Thursday but whats going to happen once I upgrade to a new smart phone?
Adrian Hoppel
July 05, 2011 at 1:19pm
So, currently the line is "if you upgrade on or after July 7" you will be able to keep your unlimited data plan. I suspect so long as you don't change your data plan, you will be able to keep it for an unlimited amount of time. These things do, however, change...
