Apple posts VZW iPhone 4 eligibility checker to website, reaffirms monthly service plans

By on Jan 26, 2011 at 10:38 AM
mobile January 26, 2011

Apple on Wednesday posted details on its website surrounding voice, data and messaging plans that will be offered with the upcoming Verizon Wireless iPhone 4. The company also posted a utility intended to check subscriber eligibility, though it did not appear to be functioning properly at the time of this writing. Apple’s website confirms earlier reports that Verizon Wireless iPhone 4 users will only have two data options at launch: unlimited data for $29.99 per month and unlimited data with 2GB of Personal Hotspot and tethering services for $49.99 per month. Other plan details line up with current Verizon Wireless smartphone plans, for the most part:

Voice

  • 450 minutes/month: $39.99
  • 900 minutes/month: $59.99
  • Unlimited minutes/month: $69.99

Messaging

  • Pay per use: $0.20 per SMS, $0.25 per MMS
  • 250 messages/month: $5
  • 500 messages/month: $10
  • Unlimited messaging: $20

Data

  • Unlimited data: $29.99
  • Unlimited data with 2GB  for Personal Hotspot and tethering: $49.99 ($20 per GB for overages)

The only difference between the iPhone voice and messaging plans compared to Verizon Wireless’ standard plans appears to be the $20 unlimited messaging option. With other smartphones, the $20 messaging option affords subscribers 5,000 messages per month, and the carrier charges $0.10 per message for overages.

UPDATE: The pages have been pulled from Apple’s website as of approximately 10:50AM.

[Via 9 to 5 Mac]

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  • Bringit

    hi.

    • serpentor

      hey, how’s your day going so far?

  • Darkblue31

    Other smartphone plans do have the $20 unlimited text option its called the talk and text plan.

    • http://twitter.com/netposer net poser

      I think he meant the “unlimited” SMS for the iPhone is not “limited” to 5,000 messages like non-iPhone plans.

      I think Verizon only gives you 5,000 SMSs to non-Verizon phones but unlimited to other Verizon phones.

      Either way it’s just the beginning of “exceptions” for iPhone customers…. So Verizon is saying “every one else can suck it”

      • Darkblue31

        I dont see a 5,000 limit on my plan

        Unlimited Messaging
        Applies when sending and receiving (i) Text, Picture, and Video Messages with Verizon Wireless and non–Verizon Wireless customers in the United States; (ii) Text, Picture, and Video Messages sent via email; (iii) Instant Messages; and (iv) Text Messages with customers of wireless carriers on participating networks in Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Premium Messaging programs not included. Messaging is available from within the National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Area.

      • Jordan Moisey

        it is 20 for unlimited texting on a single line plan, 30 for unlimited texting on a family plan. There is a $20 text package that gives 5000 out of network text/ unlimited M2M texting. That package is really only used on family plans where only 1 person is texting

    • Monique

      I have unlimited text for $20 as well…and I’ve had it on previous non-smartphones as well

  • http://benpike.net Ben Pike

    The $10/month 500 messaging offer also includes free Verizon-to-Verizon messaging (doesn’t count against your 500).

  • http://twitter.com/buckeyegoose Richard A Irwin Jr

    The upgrade checker works, all it will do however is tell you what pricing of the device your elegable for. pricing is the same as the AT&T version thus far.

  • Harry H

    I never realized how expensive Big Red was until I read this……$120 a month for unlimited everything??? I’m sorry but I’m not wasting that kind of money monthly for a stupid iphone

    • Anonymous

      it’s the same price as at&t’s plans… jeez louise. ATT = 69.99 unlimited minutes + 20 unlimited sms/mms + 25 (at most now a days for new customers) for 2 gigs iphone data. or , 29.99 for grandfathered iPhone unlimited data…. which is at least 114 plus tax.. or 118 (with the old unl plan).. their 2 gig data plans are the same for all smart phones now.. not just the iPhone… (of course, that’s without any discounts you may have)

  • DisqusUser

    It’s been a LONG time since I’ve paid for my own personal phone (company paid), so I may be a bit out of touch here. But what the hell is this crap? An iPhone with unlimited voice/messaging/data will cost $139.98 per month? Seriously? In 2011 carriers are still charging that much money? That is robbery.

  • serpentor

    Verizon is leaving a ton of money on the table. They could charge a $30 fee (on top of everything else) just for using an iPhone. Apple users being Apple users would actually be proud to pay this premium. It would make them feel better than everyone else.

  • Anonymous

    If could be the $20 pricing is for single lines only. Remember, $20 is the difference between nationwide talk and nationwide talk and text (unlimited texting). Now that Verizon has the iPhone, I’m hoping that more journalists will familiarize themselves with service offerings. ;) This $20 texting issue and the supposed “5gb cap” on “unlimited” smartphone data are two misconceptions that those of us who have the service are getting tired of answering.

  • KrazyVZW

    Really BGR? We dont know Verizons calling plans? They have no changed at all…. $39.99 for Talk…. $59.99 for Talk and Text. Has been the same for about 8 months now….. But I guess since we are throwing in the iPhone now and there is nothing else to make news about today, we are discussing old news

  • Anonymous

    This site, sure loves Apple stories.

    • Anonymous

      If you’re tired of seeing things related to Apple, in the news, a tech blog, twitter, a billboard, or on a bus bench… move to the African desert.. where the mass media haven’t penetrated yet. It’s Apple. It’s popular. :P

  • Anonymous

    THIRD APPLE ARTICLE OF THE DAY, ALL IN A ROW

    WHY BGR. WHY?!

    • Anonymous

      sorry, FOURTH article. This is approaching ridiculousness!

  • Tesh

    What is the fuss on price here? With the exception of unlimited data being $30 and rollover minutes, AT&T is EXACTLY the same.

    2GB Data $25.00
    Unlimited Plans $69.99
    Unlimited Text $20

    And most iphone users I know have the $30 unlimited data plan.. SO what is the difference here?

    I am sure you will be able to use Talk & Text, and Family plans which help to reduce the cost.

    • Anonymous

      Not only that, but Tethering with Verizon is $20 more (like with ATT) the difference is with Verizon, tethering is it’s own 2gb limit, the $30 unlimited data remains unlimited on your phone. So verizon data+tethering is $5 more a month, but it gives you a lot more usable data.

  • Monique

    Yeah, these plans are nothing new…they are the same plans for all other phones as well…I pay $160/mth for a family share plan (2 lines, both with Droids) with the 700 talk and text plan(unlimited text and data for both phones)…but I also get a 15% discount so I guess that helps

    • Anonymous

      Given that Verizon offers unlimited mobile to mobile texting, is unlimited texting really required?

      • Anonymous

        Verizon mobile to mobile is for verizon phones only. So if most of your friends have verizon phones, you can get away with the cheaper plan. But if they’re out of network, you want wholly unlimited.

        And if you have multiple lines on a family plan that text, the unlimited option makes more sense. It’s $30, so if you have 3+ lines who text a lot, it’s cheaper to go with the unlimited plan as opposed to ala carte options.

      • Anonymous

        friends and family +google voice + new google voice port = your friend :)

  • Anonymous

    No surprises here.

  • http://www.vgchartz.com SuperChunk

    holy christmas this is getting dumber every day. VERIZON WIRELESS HAS NOT CHANGED ANY PLANS OR PRICING FOR THE IPHONE!!! ITS ALL THE SAME AS WHAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR NOW.

    Quit with these articles that try to say Verizon is doing anything different. It isn’t. Just a new phone in the lineup.

  • Black Album

    Now that the Verizon iPhone rumor mill has locked up, are we just not doing any research at on that Talk and Text plan by Verizon? No wonder I’ve gone to checking this site only once or twice a week unlike before. All this site has seemed to turned into since being bought is Apple this, Apple that(worse than before) and uninformed, uneducated blogs. Guess ArsTechnica, Tech Crunch, and even Gizmodo(!) is where I’ll be going more often for better researched articles. Congratulations sell outs, say hello to Metallica for me.

  • Crazieglued

    Agreed… This site has become about as useful as a turnip in a grenade fight!

  • Anonymous

    any smartphone on any big carrier (Big Red, AT&T, Sprint) has a ridiculous unlimited plan unless you’ve been grandfathered in. The big carrier may shiny up their package a bit by adding something the other doesn’t have (Verizon hot spot or AT&T talk n surf or whatever) but ultimately ur gonna pay 100+ on your phone bill.

  • JMD

    If the Verizon iPhone 4 had 4G capability! I would be all over it! Period! I’d leave BB,…and would ever consider another mobile device!

    Oh well….

    JMD

    • Cree

      I Understand the need for 4G, but wifi speeds are just as fast. What applications do we need to stream/download that require 5Mbps – 12Mbps speeds? Out in the general public 3G service is fine with me. Just need to browse webpages. No need to download 100Mb apps.

      Cree

  • Cree

    I have the Nationwide Family Share Plan 1400 minutes, unlimited data, and txting promo for $139.99. Does this still apply towards iPhone? I also get 18% discount on lines and 20% off data due to my wife working as gov’t employee. My bill comes out to $145 with taxes and insurance on both phones.

    Cree

  • Max

    Another cool phone you Blackberry Ostrich ‘head in the sand’ types won’t get or understand or buy. Stay in 2002, MORONS. The rest of the world doesn’t want you muddying up our data streams in the air. Meanwhile you have ‘efficient’ web browsing. View 10000 pages on your blackberry utilizing only 2kb of data. Nice.

  • http://twitter.com/Krowa09 Phil Borowiecki

    Anyone know if you will be able to pull upgrades from other lines for this?

  • Tinky_30

    Wow only, “2GB for Personal Hotspot and tethering” D’oh!

    • http://twitter.com/VDubb722 Vic Webb

      A lot better than AT&T having you pay $20 to use the same 2GB for tethering…

  • Guest

    Why would anyone in their right mind spend $20 just for texting???? The iPhone has many totally free apps that give you unlimited texting for free. (And with countless features that “regular” texting doesn’t even have at all.)

    • http://twitter.com/thelanai ME and ME

      exactly! that’s why i ported to google voice! so i could keep my number…

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