Verizon announced the new "Share Everything" option on Tuesday, which includes unlimited talk, text and tiered shared data plans for both smartphones and tablets as well as data-only plans, is slated to start on June 28.
Up to ten devices can share data under the new plan with varying pricing for device type. For example, line access for a smartphone like Apple's iPhone is $40 per month while a tablet adds on $10. Mobile hotspots are also included in the Share Anything plan and can be added for an additional $20 per month.
The carrier is introducing a number of new data tiers to its existing one-line offerings, and shared data users can now select one of six levels ranging from $50 per month for 1GB of bandwidth to $100 per month for 10GB. Data overage is still in place and looks to be $15 per gigabyte across the board but users can opt to up their data plans in 2GB intervals before reaching their limit.
As an example, Verizon offers a $180 access plan that includes two smartphones at $40 each, one feature phone at $30 and 4GB worth of shared data which carries a cost of $70 per month.
Data-only customers have four tiers to work with starting at $30 per month for 4GB and topping out at $60 per month for 10GB. Mobile hotspots and tablets with mobile hotspot functionality are included in this pricing model.
The new Share Anything plan is a step in the direction of what many believe is the future of wireless in the U.S. In an early June report, AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson said that his company was also working on rolling out a shared data plan, though that plan has been in the works for over a year.
Verizon's new Share Anything plan outlined on the company's website. | Source: Verizon
Verizon was recently the target of a media blitz when CFO Fran Shammo said "when [customers] migrate off 3G they will have to go to data share," which caused a fracas because many thought the company would forcibly move unlimited data users to more profitable tiered pricing. The issue was quickly clarified in a Verizon statement that said only customers who choose to take carrier subsidies when upgrading to another smartphone will be forced out of out of their unlimited plans. In either case, it is clear that the telecom is pushing for tiered pricing, a trend that has become increasingly popular as wireless providers acknowledge the profitability of soaring data use.
34 Comments
If the next iPhone has LTE and this sharing plan can be used with the iPad then I think I'll be jumping to Verizon.
The ipad is supported however the pricing is a complete rip off unless you use a lot of minutes. they charge you between 50 and 100 a month for the data plan and then $40 a month for each iphone including primary and 10 a month for each ipad.
How is this a good thing for consumers? For me to use the same amount of minutes and data, I'd be paying $100 more a month for 2 iPhones. This is a scam. Make it $50/10GB and it'll be a fair deal. Starting at $50 for a single GB? I mean, do they think that's acceptable??? ... Just as important: Telcos are killing LTE before it even becomes mainstream. And it's not even good LTE at that.
Complete garbage. I will not buy an iPhone until it comes to T-Mobile prepaid. I only pay for the minutes I use. The most I pay is $30 a month with texts and minutes left over. I can wait for data use until I get to a location with wifi, or I can use my iPad's LTE connection, which is an additional $20 a month, but I would still be paying only $50. Why do you people pay $90,100, 150, 200 a month for service that is equal to a developing nation?
I have an iPhone 4 on AT&T and asked them if I would be kicked off my grandfathered data plan when I upgrade to my next iPhone and they said NO. Since I'm considering switching to Windows Phone, I asked if that only applied to iPhones and they said it applied to any of their phones, including 4G. So that's pretty cool of them.
Any of you have Sprint? They're the best deal in town right now and I'm considering them for my next contract.