With more of us now owning smartphones and tablet PCs the use of mobile data has grown and has put a strain on networks, and some companies are trying to get us to use less data. Today Verizon Wireless is unveiling their new service plans and we are looking at how you can still keep hold of your unlimited data.
Last month we told you that users that were ‘grandfathered’ into the service using the 3G network would have take up a new plan when switching to the company’s 4G LTE service. Today it is being reported by USA Today that the carrier has revealed it’s new ‘Share Everything Plans’, which will be available starting on June 28th.
These include unlimited minutes and texts including video and picture messaging, as well as a single capped data allowance for up to ten devices. These plans will replace the carrier’s current tiered pricing plans for new customers, which charge an amount based on the amount of minutes and data used.
Using the new pricing scheme a smartphone customer choosing the cheapest option will have to pay $90 before taxes and fees, which is broken down to $40 for a phone access fee and $50 for 1GB. There will also be the option of adding a basic call only phone, laptop, and a tablet to share their data allowance for an extra $30, $20, and $10 respectively.
Data allowances will come in six brackets ranging from $50 for 1GB through to $100 for 10GB, and the carrier are also adding the Mobile Hotspot service for no extra charge. For customers that don’t need much data the carrier are adding two packages that concentrate on voice calls, with $40 getting you 700 minutes, pay-as-you-go text but no data. The $80 package will get you 300MB of data with unlimited voice and text.
Meanwhile an article over on Cnet is looking at how customers can keep their unlimited data plan with Verizon. If any customers decide to upgrade their handset with another subsidized device will have to give up their unlimited plan in favour of a capped plan. If you decide to do nothing there isn’t anything to stop you using your unlimited plan, but you may eventually get tired of your handset or it could eventually die on you.
If you decide to upgrade to a new phone now before June 28th you will be able to continue with your plan, but if you can’t upgrade now your options are reduced somewhat. You could always purchase a new smartphone without the subsidy, but this can be rather costly considering the iPhone 4S starts at $649.99.
This could be one of the reasons that the carrier hasn’t released any high profile smartphones recently, and the Samsung Galaxy S3 is being released on Sprint and T-Mobile on June 21st, but it isn’t reaching Verizon until July.
Are you disappointed with Verizon’s new price plans?