Say goodbye to unlimited data
Are you coasting with an unlimited data plan on Verizon? Consider yourself lucky.
Starting next month, Verizon will stop offering unlimited plans for new customers, instead offering a tiered data plan depending on your usage. (Yes, that means you need to lock in a plan now if you’ve been shopping.)
According to All Things Digital:
…Verizon will offer plans ranging from $30 a month for 2GB of data to $80 a month for 10GB of data, with tethering to other devices available for an additional $20, including a further 2GB of data. The site says the new plans will go into effect July 7. Verizon declined to comment on specifics of its new plans.
Representatives from the mobile phone industry have repeatedly said that offering unlimited data is ultimately unsustainable for the industry as a whole.
Which mobile plan currently offers you the best bang for your buck? Will that change if unlimited data goes away?
– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter
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36 comments Add your comment
D Bowman
June 22nd, 2011
6:54 am
This is exactly why I switched to another carrier. Verizon is EXPENSIVE. They don’t care if they lose customers because they can make the same amount of money by raising prices and they will have less people on their network. This is a big win for Verizon and a big loss for consumers. Everyone was excited about the release of the iPhone on Verizon and now those people are shaking their heads in disbelief. You can’t even make a call while using the internet – now you can’t even use the internet when you’re not on a call because you will be worried about data usage. I hope everyone boycotts Verizon.
Any
June 22nd, 2011
7:44 am
You mentioned new customers. What about existing ones just renewing a contact?
T-Square
June 22nd, 2011
8:44 am
Any – typically, when you’re an existing customer, as long as you don’t change it, you will still have unlimited data. That’s what AT&T did when they stopped offering new unlimited data plans anyway.
DW
June 22nd, 2011
8:50 am
I’ve been a customer for over 8 years and they just dropped the new every 2 program thanks to the iphone. I can’t wait till my contract is up so I can move on.
joe
June 22nd, 2011
9:02 am
I have T-Mobile and pay $20 for unlimited…but that is the loyalty rate as I’ve been a customer of theirs for over 5 years…they rock! The AT&T buyout does worry me, but I’m hoping my plan or great service doesn’t change…
Bobby
June 22nd, 2011
9:05 am
I’m a current Verizon customer but my contract is up. I’ll probably move over to Metro PCS.
Jeanie
June 22nd, 2011
9:12 am
When my contract is up with ATT I’m moving on to Straight Talk. $45 and everything unlimited. My hubs used to have Verizon and he got a big bill when he went over his mins. I did talk him into going to ATT for the rollover mins. I have had so many service problems thought with ATT with the towers and all that. It’s why I am disgusted and want to switch when my contract is up.
Wah
June 22nd, 2011
9:19 am
Maybe you crybabies can go back to land lines and dialup.
Vino Greasemanelli (a.k.a, The Greaseman "Sgt. Fury")
June 22nd, 2011
9:19 am
“. $45 and everything unlimited”
It is NOT truely unlimited
Read the fine print, or checkout the Facebook page & the complaints. Straight Talk keeps deleting the thread regarding this topic but fortunately it gets reposted by users.
Also, tethering your PC off of your phone’s web connection is prohibited.
Again, it is NOT unlimited. Just (falsely) advertised as such.
Wah
June 22nd, 2011
9:20 am
I apologize for my comment about crybabies.
It was immature and contributed nothing positive.
Richard Branson
June 22nd, 2011
9:38 am
Virgin has the best rate . 40 clams gets you unlimited data , texting , and I think 1200 minutes . They run on Sprints network . Its an off-contract and no phone subsidy rate .Anyhow I priced it out after the stupid AT&T -TMO merger . I’m grandfathered into a 20 dollar unlimited data plan right now with T-Mobile .
You watch . If the AT&T-T-Mobile merger comes to be all grandfathered plans will go . Prices will climb , rather steeply , in time . Verizon and AT&T will have price control . Their stock is looks very appealing .
P F
June 22nd, 2011
9:39 am
Sprint. Unlimited Data, Cell to Cell, and Text. Not wild about the fees if you don’t have auto pay, but it is the best deal around. And the service is hundreds better than ATT, and their coverage has improved 100 fold also.
carla
June 22nd, 2011
9:44 am
I don’t travel much and I’ve been with Metro PCS for 7-8 years now. My bill..with all fees and what have u is $49 per month…real, true unlimited service. I know that service is not always perfect in the rain for some reason..but otherwise I’ve had no major complaints. Of course, I was with AT&T before that..so maybe that’s why I have no complaints now. AT&T are terrible!
MM
June 22nd, 2011
9:53 am
AT&T Baby!!!! To hell with Verizon…..and Metro PCS doesn’t work in rural areas….
Brown Eyed Girl!
June 22nd, 2011
10:33 am
AT&T did not have an unlimited plan. My husband and I both had blackberrys and our bill kept creeping higher and higher. When we left, our bill was averaging about $250 a month. We changed to Sprint earlier this year. Both of us have smartphones (blackberry and android). We have unlimited data plan and equipment insurance. Our bill with fees is around $150 a month. They provided the best plan of all the major carriers. I have not had a problem with the service so far and hope that continues.
SheeshLouise
June 22nd, 2011
10:43 am
Verizon is only doing this to suck money from people who use their mobile phones as tether devices for things llke iPads (which they want to sell you a separate data plan for even though your phone may be unlimited). I cancelled my data plan for iPad when they tried to shaft me with a new full months charge on an overage of only a few minutes and simply tethered to my mobile phone. Verizon just lost a customer altogether with me. We have been with Verizon about 7 years now. NO MORE!
Itsmeagain
June 22nd, 2011
11:32 am
Well fancy that. Verizon gets the iPhone and low and behold, everyone suddenly no longer likes them, just as nobody likes AT&T. Who saw that coming?
Sean
June 22nd, 2011
11:39 am
Well… sounds like I’m riding this contract out & then moving along.
Tee
June 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
Thanks for the heads up. My AT&T 2 year contract expires at the end of the month and I’m planning on switching to Verizon since they have better coverage in the SE and less drop calls so I will be sure to lock into something this week and not go another month to month. Thanks Lauren!
Adgurl
June 22nd, 2011
11:54 am
I have an UNLIMITED plan with AT&T and so glad I do. Everyone was talking about Verizon and switching when they got the iPhone…I knew that unlimited data plan wouldn’t last for long.
KB
June 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm
Would be nice if they offered a 1GB or 500MB tiered plan at a sub-$30 monthly rate for those of us who use less. Might make us believe the “trying to curb data consumption” argument.
Nope…this is a profit move just like the rate they charge for SMS. Still not sure why that isn’t considered data. Last time I check it was 1’s and 0’s just like the internets…
ChillyMutt
June 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
$70 per month. Unlimited data and tethering with T-Mobile. No contract. Service isn’t perfect but sounds like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and Metro PCS all have their issues as well.
iPlan
June 22nd, 2011
12:06 pm
Funny how 2 years ago when I got my iPhone with AT&T, I cursed about a $30 unlimited data plan. Now I’m happy it’s grandfathered in and I don’t have to worry about it. Now if only the iphone 5 would come out sooner than later…..
Verizon people will pay and not worry
June 22nd, 2011
12:07 pm
I mean, they already pay for an iphone they can’t talk and surf with simultaneously – what’s the big deal about a few extra dollars to them. I’m a happy AT&T customer (even if I’m in the minority, I don’t care!)
CDW
June 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm
I have had Verizon for years and used to pay for the unlimited plan. I finally realized that I don’t need anywhere NEAR that much and switched to 150MB per month for $15, and I still use less than half of that every month (I have a Blackberry, and yes, I use my browser).
So before you fuss about the change in plan options, LOOK at your bill and see if the demise of the unlimited plan really even has an impact. I ditched mine months ago.
TS
June 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
Whether or not Straight Talk data is “unlimited” is largely irrelevant since they don’t offer smart phones. You can hack it, but most people won’t do that.
However, if you don’t really need internet, Straight Talk is pretty tough to beat for talk & text. The coverage is fantastic (running on Verizon’s network) and so cheap.
Imp
June 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm
Yes, Verizon IS expensive. In their defense, I travel in state and out of state very often and I’ve been able to connect about 99% of the time. No sense having a cheap rate if you can’t make a phone call.
I do agree with CDW, you may actually save money if you look at your usage history. Lowering our iPad plan with AT&T saved us $15.00 per month.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
T.A
June 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
The Verizon plan sounds more expensive than the AT&T plans. I’m a user of AT&T and while I am not always thrilled by the service (we’re essentially still on 3G, or rather 3G+ as opposed to 4G LTE like Verizon is in certain areas like Atlanta), I’m not going to switch from them when I currently have unlimited data.
Tatiana
June 22nd, 2011
12:53 pm
How do you guys feel about sprint? Will they do away with their unlimited data plan?
Jimmy Jam
June 22nd, 2011
12:59 pm
Yet another reason why the AT&T buyout of T-Mobile is going to hurt. With AT&T and Verizon being dominant, no carriers left to keep them both honest. Oh well, the rich gets richer. I refuse to pay more, I just want use it unless it’s included in my plan. I am one who do not have to have anything other than air and my Wii to get through the day.
Deb M
June 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
Had AT&T but service was terrible…had Sprint, but it didn’t work in areas where I needed it, so I went to Verizon and have absolutely NO complaints….as mentioned above, you get what you pay for….I do anything I want on my phone, unlimited, never lose a call and have never been anywhere where I did’t have service….no complaints!
Tired
June 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
Yea I have been a Verizon customer for over ten years and have been through so many different changes…I am leaving once my contract is up…has anyone any information on The Walmart Family Plan?…I think that is where I am headed. I realized we are to focused on the hype of 3g and 4g and apps and internet and these companies realize this. They can make all these changes because people have made themselves so dependent on these devices. Not me…no more random extra money out of my pocket.
Imp
June 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
Tatiana.. I don’t know about Sprint’s voice plans, but I use the Sierra Wireless Mobile HotSpot device for my internet access at home. The speed (4G) is fantastic compared to my previous service with Verizon. Still use a Verizon blackberry, but their mobile device speed is horrible (in my opinion).
Josh
June 22nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Jail breaking really isn’t that hard some of you should try it (iPhone only)
truthpaste
June 23rd, 2011
7:00 am
I have the lowest tiered plan on ATT and barely use half. They don’t you for data if you are on a wi-fi signal at the time. Too many hotspots in Atlanta for me not to be able to get on a wi-fi signal.
AT&T, VZW SUCKS
June 24th, 2011
1:53 pm
2 HTC EVOs, unlimited text, m2m minutes, free mins after 6pm, unlimited internet, shared 1500 mins for landlines during “peak” hours= $150/mth WITH INSURANCE AND TAXES=SPRINT!!!! Best Deal out there. Can AT&T and VZW beat that? HECK NO….. Plus the VZW network is overrated and GARBAGE. Got a Droid Incredible and it NEVER worked and returned it within 7 days, cancelled my service and VZW sent a $950 bill. Had to fight for 5 months to get it off of me. VZW is the WORST- DO NOT SIGN UP WITH THEM!!! Go with SPRINT!!