Verizon to offer family data plans; move to tiered data pricing for all customers this summer

By on May 19, 2011 at 1:05 PM
General May 19, 2011

In a report today, Reuters noted that Verizon Wireless’ cellular data offerings are in for a major overhaul. “Verizon Wireless plans to kick off pricing changes this summer by eliminating smartphone plans that allow unlimited Web access for a flat fee,” reads the article. “It will replace them with tiered pricing that forces heavy data users to pay more for mobile data.” The report goes on to paraphrase Verizon Communications’ CFO, Fran Shammo, who explained that “after this change, which forces heavy data users to pay more, the company will look to soften the blow by offering more options such as family plans for data services.” Currently, Verizon Wireless smartphone users with family plans are required to pay $29.99 per line for cellular data. Non-family-plan smartphone customers can purchase unlimited mobile data (with a 5GB allowance) for the same monthly price.

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  • Verizon_and_ATT Suck Ass

    All wireless carriers that advertised “Unlimited Data” and place a data cap on their unlimited offerings should be sued up the ass for false advertising. It’s absolutely ridiculous that consumers bend over and take it from these ass clowns.

    • serpentor

      I think “unlimited data” is just an marketing term so they can get away with it.  Just like VZW saying you can “rule the air” but being a VZW customer doesn’t literally allow you to rule the air.

  • Levi Ward

    Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t one of the major selling points of LTE that towers can carry more data, and allow for more simultaneous connections, than current 3G networks? If that’s true… well then congrats, Verizon, because “problem solved!” And yet… they will institute caps. I’m not saying they don’t have the right to maximize profits (they are a business after all), but be honest with me. Dont say “Oh, um, gee, its about network quality.” Say, “you people aren’t talking on the phone anymore. And we can’t divide by ‘unlimited.’”

  • Anonymous

     I love Verizon but i always said they had the worst family plans compared to other carriers. Hopefully they will help their loyal customers implementing more affordable data packages. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ben-Cave/15601620 Ben Cave

     Familyplan like pricing for data would be great!  I don’t rely too heavily on browsing downloading on 3G, and do most of that via WiFi.  But having the option of paying around $40 for my wife and I to share 2gigs of data per month vs. $60 for the two of us unlimited would be nice.

  • Anonymous

    Family pricing would be great…… I don’t use that much data now….. I loved shared data…. Hopefully they will help their loyal customers….. I love Verizon……. 

    Getting dicked in the a$$ is never fun. And that’s what Verizon is doing, only they are lubing up the stick first, so it glides in real easy like….Tiered data blows chunks.

    • Petey

      “Getting dicked in the a$$ is never fun. And that’s what Verizon is
      doing, only they are lubing up the stick first, so it glides in real
      easy like…”

      I guess you’re speaking from experience huh?!

      • Anonymous

         Did your mom invite you over to watch?

  • J Dub

    Would I pay 30$ for 2 GB? No. Do I pay 30$ per smartphone? Yes. Do both phones need a 30$ unlimited plan? No. I use a lot of data. My wife doesn’t. Hoping something good maybe comes from this, but I doubt it.

  • Nofan

     I wonder how many people would just pay $5 more to keep “unlimited?”

    • Anonymous

       I wonder how many people would like to pay $5 less? Fucking dumba$$ question…….

  • Cryptaliptic

    For phones its unlimited… Not sure why you have 5 gb in parenthesis?

    Thats only for mbb devices for $50 unlike everyone elses $60

  • Anonymous

    fyrfyter33 The $10 charge is for smartphones only. So if you are on a family plan with 2 smart phones and 1 dumb phone. You will only pay $20 extra.
    If they raise the price $10 like you are saying, then even the dumb phone will have to pay it.

    If it were only for individual plans then i would agree.

  • Matthew

     verizon unlimited mobile data (with a 5GB allowance) really just like AT&T and Tmobile say their unlimited data actually means 2GB, how can they say unlimited when it is not unlimited???

  • Duncsdad

    Guest
    I currently have a family plan with unlimited data with Verizon.  I want to upgrade to a smartphone and I have been told that I HAVE to change my current calling plan that has been grandfathered in and pay for the data package.   But I wouldn’t have to change the calling plan if I upgraded to a non smart phone.    Then I get another call stating I can keep my current calling plan but still have to have the data package.    That the unlimited data I currently have will not handle the data required for the smartphone that is “always on”.   When I asked what the difference was between the unlimited data I have and the data package was, the supervisor couldn’t tell me.   Can anyone tell me how to get the Smartphone activitated w/o the data package which will cost an additional $29.99/mo?  Frustrated.

  • Angelchelle1024

    You can’t. Sounds like.you’re either on the connect or premium.plans. those plans were built for the feature phones. Depending on how many phones you have actually on that plan…for example.. 1 as the primary, 1 billed at 19.99 or 29.99 sharing the unlimited data or if the secondary lines are billed at only 9.99 ( meaning they aren’t getting the unlimited data, only text) then it could actually be cheaper changing your plan. Just.depends on what you have.

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