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Verizon Wireless may end unlimited data plans this summer

by Kelly Hodgkins May 20th 2011 at 10:00AM

verizon wireless

The Verizon iPhone launched with an 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.



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The Verizon iPhone launched with an unlimited data plan, but that all-you-can-eat option may be disappearing this summer. During the...
 

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waiownsyou

1) Tell them to downgrade you to a regular phone plan for that line with data disabled and get a microSIM. If not, tell them to give you a regular SIM and buy a $10 cutter.
2) Put said microSIM into iPhone
3) Enable parental controls with a passcode as a further safeguard
4) Quit whining over the Internet

May 21 2011 at 12:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Yuusharo

Where does the reuters article say that you'll be forced into the new plans if you switch or upgrade phones? I don't see that in print anywhere.

I'll say this - I've been happy with Verizon since I made the switch from AT&T, but I *still* have an old AT&T account currently suspended with the unlimited plan. AT&T has demonstrated that it is willing to let their users keep their unlimited plan even after upgrading. If Verizon takes away my unlimited plan and replaces it with an unreasonable data cap, I have no problem switching back.

It's not unlimited, but AT&T's tether plan allows you up to 4gb to share between devices. That's more than enough for me. Verizon, don't screw this up.

May 20 2011 at 12:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
austin.federa

does this mean we can cancel out of our contract? For example, could I terminate my line with no ETF (because they changed the contract on me) then sign back up and get an iphone at early pricing?

May 20 2011 at 10:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to austin.federa's comment
Pusta

They're not changing the contract on you. Per the last paragraph: "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."

This means as long as you stay on your current plan, even when off contract, you keep unlimited data. It's only when you upgrade to a new phone

May 20 2011 at 11:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom Payne

But do the current TOS state you'd lose your plan if you get a new phone?

It sounds like current Iphone users with unlimited data will be stuck forever with an the current generation.

I'm not a Verizon customer, I have AT&T with unlimited data, and I've been told by AT&T I can upgrade my phone without a change to my current plan.

May 20 2011 at 6:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Ellerbe

I would love to have one data plan and share it between a ipad and a iphone. I have a wifi ipad but would love to have a 3G ipad but dont want another data plan to pay for. I wouldnt use the 3G all the time so I would be ok with a data plan that is big enough to use on my iphone then when I am not near a wifi hotspot use the 3G on my ipad.

May 20 2011 at 10:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pwrmacgod

Yea, greed. Pure and simple. They let their companies get bloated and they have to support that bloat, so their shares don't fall.

Greedy pukes, they built house of cards and continually ride the line. How I long for one to crash and burn.

Gov't regulation does little, except push corruption across the board and drive prices up.

May 20 2011 at 10:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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