Verizon Wireless may end unlimited data plans this summer

OneMoreThing... · May 20, 2011

Verizon Wireless may end unlimited data plans this summer

The Verizon iPhone launched with a unlimited data plan, but that all-you-can-eat option may be disappearing this summer. During the Reuters Global Summit, Verizon chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo hinted that the carrier's unlimited data plans would be replaced by a mega-data plan.

These new data plans would offer data in the same way a family share plan handles voice minutes. A subscriber would buy a tiered data plan whose GB allotment could be shared by multiple devices. Shammo did not mention pricing or even when these mega-plans would roll out. He said these plans were "a logical progression" for the carrier. Such a plan would make sense for someone with a Verizon iPhone and a 3G iPad, as long as the pricing is kept in check.

No worries if you are already on an unlimited data plan, you will be able to keep your plan as long as you keep your iPhone. If you switch to another phone or buy a new phone, then you will have to upgrade to these new plans.

Verizon Wireless may end unlimited data plans this summer originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 20 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SourceÂ*|Â*PermalinkÂ*|Â*Email thisÂ*|Â*Comments

JohnCL · May 23, 2011

For my needs a shared data plan across all devices would be welcomed. I have phones that can do data but don't just because of the added cost. I will be anxious to see how all of this pans out.

RONE · May 23, 2011

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Verizon stated when they first released the iPhone with the unlimited plan that it was a promotional plan and would be going away.

cwa107 · May 23, 2011

JohnCL said:
For my needs a shared data plan across all devices would be welcomed. I have phones that can do data but don't just because of the added cost. I will be anxious to see how all of this pans out.

Yeah, I tend to agree... but only if they have some kind of mechanism that warns you when you approach the cap. It's too easy to hit a threshold like 1GB, depending on what you do.

But I would like to have two iPhones, each with a $15 data plan. My wife has been eyeing up my iPhone for the past few weeks lately and I know that she'd jump on it if it wouldn't spike up our bill by another $30... and since I use less than 1GB on average, the threshold wouldn't have to be too high.

JohnCL · May 23, 2011

Yes, something would be needed to notify the users. I like on the iPad that AT&T sends a push notification that less than x% is remaining for the current billing period. My wife and I usually use less than a gig a month on our iPhones, and the MiFi only gets a gig or so. I would love to see a 5 to 10gig plan spread across all devices and that would allow my son with his Env touch to get data too.

Daddy Elmis · May 23, 2011

Data will follow the same trajectory as voice plans . . . we all started out with "pay as you go" voice plans that are now essentially "all you can eat" with some upper limits. Ultimately, each carrier will provide a data plan usable by any device you have up to some limit for a flat rate. As hard as each is trying to avoid being a commodity provider, the fact is that bandwidth is a commodity and the market will drive it there over the long run (despite momentary fluctuations that will cause all manner of hyperventilating in the short run).

Verizon Wireless may end unlimited data plans this summer

OneMoreThing...

JohnCL

RONE

cwa107

JohnCL

Daddy Elmis

Shop Amazon