Verizon to start offering unlimited data plans
13 Feb 2017
Verizon will start offering unlimited data plans to customers starting today.
Customers will be able to retain their current plans or opt for an $80 monthly plan, for a single line, with unlimited data, talking and texting. Customers would need to agree to AutoPay and paper-free billing. Families could also opt for $45 per line for four lines (a total of $180).
Verizon's move comes as competition heats up in the wireless space. Verizon has not offered unlimited data plans, which had seen T-Mobile and, to a lesser extent, Sprint, and No 2 provider AT&T gain ground with their unlimited offerings. With increased video and photo sharing via social media networks, T-Mobile and Sprint had grown their user base with users who did not want to be bothered about using more data than their plan allowed.
According to commentators, the offerings were aimed at stopping any further exodus. "Verizon is offering something nobody else can: The unlimited plan you want on the wireless network you deserve," said Ronan Dunne, president of Verizon's wireless division, in a video posted Verizon's website yesterday.
According to Verizon, its unlimited plan would allow users to stream video at an "HD" resolution.
Verizon added that the plan would also provide unlimited calling and texting to Canada and Mexico, along with 500 MB per day of LTE data in those countries. A $10 per day pass would allow the same allotment of data outside of North America.
At $80 per month starting point, Verizon's unlimited plan was costlier than T-Mobile One, which started at $70 per month for a single line, and Sprint's unlimited data plan, which normally cost $60 per month.
It however, beat AT&T's unlimited offering, which started at $100 per month and only came bundled with a subscription to the carrier's DirecTV or U-Verse services.
