Verizon Wireless to roll out cheaper smartphone data plan

Apple Online Store“Verizon Wireless expects to roll out a cheaper data plan for smartphone buyers next week, as the largest U.S. carriers cut prices to lure new users to high-powered phones,” Roger Cheng reports for The Wall Street Journal.

“The new plan from Verizon Wireless will let customers get data service for $15 a month, down from $30 a month currently, but will limit them to 150 megabytes, a person familiar with the matter said. Customers who exceed the monthly limit will be charged extra,” Cheng reports. “The $30 plan, which the person said will remain available, offers unlimited data.”

“The move shows that even retailers of fast-selling smartphones can’t ignore the frugal mood of U.S. consumers in their effort to drum up growth,” Cheng reports. “AT&T Inc., exclusive U.S. carrier of Apple Inc.’s iPhone, began offering a $15, 200-megabyte plan this summer in part to attract new smartphone users.”

Cheng reports, “The new $15 Verizon Wireless plan will be available on Oct. 28 for new customers, and requires a two-year contract. Existing customers have the option of moving to the less expensive option, or keeping their current plan… Under the new plan, Verizon customers who exceed 150 megabytes—which amounts to roughly 900 webpages or five hours of streaming music a month—will be charged 10 cents per megabyte.”

Read more in the full article here.

46 Comments

  1. Once again, Verizon solidifies its undisputed title as the world champion of nickle-and-diming its customers.

    I’m still struggling to figure out how can Sprint’s “Virgin Mobile” offer unlimited data and text, PLUS some 300 voice minutes, all for $25 (which includes ALL taxes fees, surcharges, assessments and other incidentals).

  2. Once again, Verizon solidifies its undisputed title as the world champion of nickle-and-diming its customers.

    I’m still struggling to figure out how can Sprint’s “Virgin Mobile” offer unlimited data and text, PLUS some 300 voice minutes, all for $25 (which includes ALL taxes fees, surcharges, assessments and other incidentals).

  3. They can offer unlimited everything because the have no compelling devices to encourage people to actually use all that data. So it’s just a marketing tool – none of their users come close to the amount of data iPhone users consume.

  4. They can offer unlimited everything because the have no compelling devices to encourage people to actually use all that data. So it’s just a marketing tool – none of their users come close to the amount of data iPhone users consume.

  5. I bought my wife an iPhone 2 weeks ago and she reckoned she could use the 200mb plan for $15 without a problem.

    Yeah Right! She burned through 200mb on the first day of purchase! By the end of the week, she had watched 3 movies on Netflix and was at 1.5 gigs. I chimed in at that point and told her to cool it because she was getting too close to 2 gigs and we still had 14 days left on the month. She’s currently at 1.9 gigs with 7 days to go.

    Now Verizon is offering what? 150mb. Do they know they’re getting an iPhone or do they still think that they’re living in some dream world where they can dictate what people can do with their phones? Perhaps its best for them to keep their Android BS phones so that they can rip everyone off. Apple users are not going to stand for this crap.

  6. I bought my wife an iPhone 2 weeks ago and she reckoned she could use the 200mb plan for $15 without a problem.

    Yeah Right! She burned through 200mb on the first day of purchase! By the end of the week, she had watched 3 movies on Netflix and was at 1.5 gigs. I chimed in at that point and told her to cool it because she was getting too close to 2 gigs and we still had 14 days left on the month. She’s currently at 1.9 gigs with 7 days to go.

    Now Verizon is offering what? 150mb. Do they know they’re getting an iPhone or do they still think that they’re living in some dream world where they can dictate what people can do with their phones? Perhaps its best for them to keep their Android BS phones so that they can rip everyone off. Apple users are not going to stand for this crap.

  7. AT&T’s iPhone data plan is $15 for 200 MB of data. There is no price per MB for overage. You are automatically billed for another $15 for 200 more MBs.

    The iPad plan is $15 for 250 MB and works the same way for overage. Only SMSs and MMSs are priced per unit over the particular plan maximum.

  8. AT&T’s iPhone data plan is $15 for 200 MB of data. There is no price per MB for overage. You are automatically billed for another $15 for 200 more MBs.

    The iPad plan is $15 for 250 MB and works the same way for overage. Only SMSs and MMSs are priced per unit over the particular plan maximum.

  9. @ rickw
    It amazes me that people think they should be able to download movies on their iPhone. Many people in north America lack access to dsl or cable Internet at home, but others can’t be bothered to wait until they have a wifi connection. No offense, but you don’t have my sympathy.

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